The White Feather
By Tom Leverett 
©1997 All Rights Reserved

Adapted from a story in The Friendly Story Caravan, Pendle Hill Publications,Wallingford PA, 1990.

NARRATOR (JOSEPH NEWLIN): 	A Quaker child in Ohio
THOMAS NEWLIN: 			Joseph’s father
JOSHUA FULLER: 				Joseph’s best friend
SAMUEL FULLER:				Joshua’s father
FIRST INDIAN
SECOND INDIAN				(role for a very young child)

[JOSEPH comes out in front of the closed curtain at the beginning.]

JOSEPH: 
Hello. My name is Joseph Newlin. This is a true story about something that happened when I was growing up, in a small Quaker community in Ohio. My best friend at the time was Joshua Fuller. His father was Samuel Fuller. One day we heard a wagon come up the road by our house. My father, Thomas Newlin, went to see what it was.

[As the curtain opens we see a boy and a man on a wagon that is loaded with bedding and household goods. The man jumps down. Thomas runs to meet him. Joshua stays in the wagon looking very serious.]

SAMUEL: 
All I can say is that you are crazy to risk it! How can you stay here?

JOSEPH: 
Hello Josh! 

[JOSH does not answer; he looks down]

THOMAS: 
I cannot feel as thee does, Samuel, and I am firmly convinced that I
am doing right. For years we Quakers - and you too, Samuel, thee and the others have agreed - we have said that as long as we felt toward the red men as toward human brothers, they would not harm us. But now there is danger, and now thee and the others forget, and flee in unworthy terror!

SAMUEL: 
Thomas Newlin, how can you say it! I tell you, Kentville was burned to the ground last night; not a man, woman or child remain. From every side we have heard tales of murder and ravage. The Indians are on the war-path, and at any moment may descend upon Cincinnati. We are among the last to leave the town.

THOMAS: 
Pardon me, Samuel, but I realize well what I am saying. In Kentville the white people were fully armed, and aroused the anger of the Indians with their harsh treatment of them. Thee wastes words upon me, neighbor. Thy indignation grieves me, but much more it grieves me that we, of all the twenty families in Cincinnati, are the only ones who will risk a test of our Christian principles. But I am ready, and so is my wife, and little Joseph here.

SAMUEL: 
Thomas, are you armed?

THOMAS: 
I am not, nor wish to be.

SAMUEL: 
You are mad! Come, Joshua, we must go!

JOSEPH: 
Farewell Joshua! I may not see thee again!

JOSHUA: 
Farewell! 

[SAMUEL jumps on wagon; curtain closes]

JOSEPH: (to THOMAS) 
I am sad and lonely! I will miss my best friend!
THOMAS: 
This is not the time to be sad, my son, but joyous and brave.

JOSEPH: 
Father, please let me go pick berries!

THOMAS: 
Certainly, but please remember. If Indians approach, speak politely to them, as you would to our neighbors. Invite them to our house for food. They are our friends. 

[They exit.]

[FIRST INDIAN enters; is followed by SECOND INDIAN. They come to front.]

FIRST INDIAN: 
White man kill Shawnee brother.

SECOND INDIAN: 
Kill.

FIRST INDIAN: 
Make promise. Not keep promise. Carry gun.

SECOND INDIAN: 
Gun.

FIRST INDIAN: 
Now Shawnee brother find white man.

[THOMAS enters at left with JOSEPH.]

THOMAS: 
Look! Our red brothers have arrived!

[FIRST INDIAN stops suddenly, in front of THOMAS, and puts hand out facing backward; SECOND INDIAN also stops. They look very serious, as if about to kill.] 

THOMAS: 
Good day, brothers. 

[No answer. They wait a minute.]

JOSEPH: 
Father, they are rude; they do not speak.

FIRST INDIAN: 
Guns!

SECOND INDIAN: 
Guns!

THOMAS: 
None! Go look! Joseph - go bring the large loaf and some butter! [to FIRST INDIAN] Eat?

FIRST INDIAN: 
No guns! Want food.

SECOND INDIAN: 
Food!

JOSEPH: 
Are the Indians hungry, Father?

THOMAS: 
Yes, son.

FIRST INDIAN: 
Ugh – brother - white man!

SECOND INDIAN: 
Ugh!

[FIRST INDIAN puts white feather in doorway, Indians leave]

THOMAS: 
It is the Indians' sign of peace. All red men will respect it. They have respected the peace in our hearts, to which we have been steadfast.

[Curtain Call]