 I want to thank the town of Calis for allowing us to do this through its select board. And I also specifically wanted to thank Judy Roberts in our cast and clerk. And Donna Hitch with Anne Frankler and the Historic Preservation Commission, especially Scott Bazich who really spearheaded this whole event. And Toby Talibot for reconstructing the entrance so that we could be up to the fire encode. And Chris Miller for building this magnificent stage with Nancy Tuas. And Nancy also painted the sides of the stage just at the end of the day. So this idea came to me when I heard that this space might be available for performances. I love our town. I was in the production of the women's dill many years ago. Completely fell in love with the play. It's a play that celebrates small town life. So I thought it was very appropriate. And it's also a play that specifically gets rid of all the trappings of theater. There's no set. This is basically what Thornton Wilder says in the stage direction. The only set are a couple of tables and some chairs. And all the props are paneled. They're supposed to be paneled. So we're doing our best. The actors, of course, this is a staged reading. So nobody's memorized lines. So the actors have to read the script. And so the panel lines are a little more limited than it would be in the normal production. So that's about it. And I hope you enjoy the show. If you like it, tell everybody you know we're going to do it again tomorrow, same time, same place. Written by Thornton Wilder. The name of the town is Grover's Corner in the Hamster. Just across the Massachusetts line. Life of two, 42 degrees, 40 minutes. Longitude, 70 degrees, 37 degrees. The first act shows a day in our town. The day is May 7, 1901. The town is just before dawn. And it shows some streaks of light over the east behind our mountain. Morning star, always gets wonderful bright. A minute before it has to go out. Done. Well, I'd better show you how our town lines. Now, up down here is Main Street. Way back there is a railway station. Trax going that way. All this town is across the tracks. Some can up down there. Over there is a congregation of church. And across the street is a bacteria in it. Methodist, Unitarian over there. Down in the hall by the river. Catholic church is over beyond the tracks. Here's a town hall and post office behind it. The jail is in the basement. You know, Brian wants to make a speech. He's a better step to it. And along here is a row of stores. Pitchet boats and horse blocks in front of them. First off in the village. Going to come along in about five years. Along the back of Kapa, a richest city. This is a big white house up down in the hill. Here's a grocery store. Here's Mr. Morgan's drug store. Hope everybody in town can just look into those two stores. Once a day. Public schools over younger. High schools still farther over. Water at nine in the morning. New time at three o'clock afternoon. The whole town can hear the yelling. Screaming from those school yards. Now this is our doctor's house. Doc Gibbs. This is the back door. This is Mrs. Gibbs's garden. And there's a corn, peas, beans, hollyhocks, and ileopathy, and a whole lot of blood. In those days, our newspaper come out twice a week. Grover's Corners Center. And this is at the west. And this is Mrs. Wernherfgaard. And just like Mrs. Gibbs is on my throttle, I've got a lot of sunflowers, too. Right here, there's a big button at three. Nice time, you know what I mean? Nobody's ever in a month of work come out. Looks so far as we know. Early as Tuesdays dawned in the cemetery. Up there, mountains say 1670, 1680. There's Grover's, Poplar's, Gibbs's, and Hersey's. The same names are around here now. Well, as I said, it's about dawn. Only lights are in the ground in college over by the tracks where a Polish mother just has twins. And then there's Joe's proud house with Joe Jr. getting up there to deliver the paper. And in the deep over, Shorty Hawkins is getting ready to fly at 5.45 for Boston. And naturally, out in the country, all around, they could light it on for some time, whether it was Melton and so on. Count people sleep late. So another day's gone. There's some kids coming down Main Street now, coming back from that baby base here with his wife coming downstairs to get breakfast. It's about to get it shot in 19th century. A new hospital in England. This is it. It's shot for a long time. But she went down to visit her daughter, her legs were made of the churns, man. And Kent and I decided to come on to Boston to bother you with the clothes back here. She's up at the cemetery now in with all the messin' gifts and stuff. She was coming to the hospital before she met a doctor yet. Come and get me a shirt over there. See, in our town, we like to know the facts about everybody. It's broken shoes. That's the doctor yet. That doesn't fall all that fast. And there comes Joe crowd junior. So it is Mr. Webster. Morning, doctor. Morning, Joe. Somebody been sick, doc? No, just some twins. Poor Lord and cold aged child. Do you want your paper now? Yes, I'll take it. Anything serious going on in the world since Wednesday? Yes, sir. My school teacher, Mr. Foster, is getting married to a fellow over at Fokker. Well, I declare. How do you boys feel about that? Well, of course it's none of my business. But I think if a person starts out to be a teacher, she ought to stay home. How's your knee, Joe? Fine, doc. Never think about it. Only like I said, it always tells me what's about to rain. What's it telling you today? Going crazy? No, sir. Sure? Yes, sir. Do you ever make a mistake? No, sir. Joe was also right. He graduated from high school in Vienna and headed his class. So he got a scholarship and instituted tech rather than headed his class. That, too. He was all rolled up from Boston paper at the time, going to be a great engineer. It all worked. But the war broke out. And he died in France. Or in the vacation, but nothing. You see, what's the matter with you today? Ah, you have to come to power. You have to live in the mountains. Don't make a mistake. Where are Twins? Oh, we're going to Mrs. Woslowski's. Oh, Twins, huh? This town keeps getting very ripper here. Going to rain, Howie? It'll be a fine day. This will burn through. Come on, Bessie. Oh, hello, Bessie. Ah, how old is she, Howie? She's going on 17. Bessie is all confused about the group these days, since Lockhart stopped taking her milk every day. She wants to stop the legal court just the same. It's closer than I thought it would be. Mrs. Woslowski, Doc's just coming down the street. Oh, is he? Oh, seems like you're late today. Yeah, somehow the separator caught quite sure what it was. Mrs. Wentworth's coming in 11. Guess I know what it's about, too. Her stomach ain't pointed out to me. All told you won't get more than three hours of sleep. Frank, yes, I don't know what's going to become of you. I do wish we'd get away someplace and take a real rest. I think it would do you some good. Emily, help me and all. I can't even get him to copy someone. Is he sad to build you? Lines. All he thinks about is that baseball. George, Rebecca, you're going to be late to school. George! George! Your father's been out all night and needs his rest. I washed and ironed a blue game before your special. But you know, I have a wonderful memory. Eat your breakfast. I'll speak to your father about it when it seems to be 25 cents a week's enough for a boy your age. I declare I don't know how you spend it all. Oh, Mom, how do I have things to buy? Strawberry cross-bait. Let's see how Rebecca comes to have so much money. She's more than a dollar. I can save you that much. Well, dear, I think it's a good thing to spend some every now and then. Eat your breakfast. Mom, that's first battle. Morning, Merkel. How's your cold? I told Charles I didn't know if I'd go to choir practice tonight. I wouldn't be in use. Have you tried singing over your voice? I'd do that and stay on key. While I rest in myself, I thought I'd string some of these things. Of course, it kills me. The children say they hate them, but I notice they're able to get them down. If I don't tell somebody I'm the first. Why don't you get this? Here, give us more hints. What are those second-hand furniture men from Boston come to see you last Friday? No. And first, I thought he was a patient wanting to see Dr. Piazz. And he learns his way into my car. And for the whip, he offered me $350 for Grandma, Wethner, and Sly Roy, as I say here. Why, Julie, here you said that little thing. Why, it was so weird. I didn't know where to put it. I almost gave it to the cousin. That's your will cost. What are you gonna take it, aren't you? To take the money and go away sometimes on a real trip. Like, you know, Merkel, it's been a dream of my life. Paris France. I know what it sounds crazy, I suppose. For years, I've been promising myself that if we ever got the chance, that was the doctor feel of that. Well, I beat around the bush with a little hand. So then if I've got a little energy, that's how I put it, I'd make him take it somewhere. Mm-hmm. And what do you say? Well, you know, I haven't heard a serious word out of him since I've known him. No, he said if I make him discontented with Rose Coleman to go drape-sing about him, you're right. I don't know if I would have known he says. Every two years, he takes his trip to the battlefields of the Civil War and that's enough to be for anyone he's asked. Wait. Mr. Webb just admired the way Dr. Gibbs knows everything about the Civil War. Mr. Webb is a good mind to give up and pull in and move on over to the Civil War. Only Dr. Gibbs, being one of the greatest experts in the country, just makes him despair. In fact, Dr. Gibbs is never so happy as when he's at that T-dome or Gettysburg. That time's on a walk over those hills in the open, stalking him through the bush and pacing it all. I'll let her invite people. Well, if that second hand man is really serious about buying a Julia, you sell it. Then you'll get to see Paris, alright? Just keep dropping hints from time to time. That's how I got to see the Atlantic Ocean. I'm sorry I mentioned it. Only seems to me, once in your life before you died, you ought to see the country where they don't talk in English and don't move in that way. Thank you, ladies. Thanks very much. Here you are. First, we want a little more information about the town. Kind of a scientific concept, I'd say. As Professor Willard of our State University to get into the few details of our past history again, is Professor Willard again. Professor Willard of our State University. A few brief notes. Thank you, Professor. Unfortunately, our time is up. Yes, yes. Let me see. The greatest corners lies on the old place to see Granite and Abolition Range. I may say it's some of the oldest land in the world. We're very proud of that. Just inches of Mesozoic shade and some sandstone outcroppings, but that's a lot more recent, a mere 200, 300 million years old. So highly interesting fossils have been found. Why don't you say unique fossils two miles out of town inside of Peckham's Carpastre? They can be found in museums at the University at any time. Professor Gruber's notes on the meteorological situation, mean precipitation, et cetera. I'm afraid of the world on the history of man. Oh, yes. No evidence before the 10th century of this era. Now entirely disappeared. Possible traces in three families. Migration toward the end of the 17th century of English, brothel, symbolic, blue-eyed stone. For the most part. And since then, some slobs. End of the Korean population, Professor Gruber? Yes, yes. Oh, and the location at the moment is 2,642. The postal... Oh, yes, yes, yes. I meant the population at the moment. 2,642 postal district brings in 607 more, making the total of 3,249. Mortality and birth rates constant by the person's age. 6.03. Thank you. Thank you. Much obliged. Do you aren't sure? Not at all. Thank you again. You're welcome. Everything went well. He just cut his hand while he was eating an apple. Oh, thank you, Mrs. Webb. Charles, everyone's waiting. I'm just saying. Webb has published and edited out the growth on his son. I don't have to take a beer. I'm run here by a lawyer selectman. All animals vote age 21. Women voted direct. Sprinkling of professional man. 10% illiterate laborers. Politically rate, 6% Republicans. 6% Democrats. 4% Socialists. Rest indifferent. Religiously, we're only at 85% Protestants. 12% Catholics. Rest indifferent. How do you plan on, Mr. Webb? Very ordinary town, I'm asking. Little better behavior than most. How many young people here seem to like it a lot? 90% of them graduated twice or something. Even when they went to college. Now, if anyone in your audience would like to ask at the web anything about the town. Are we keen? I don't know much. It's happening to me. I guess the forehands, me down in the green house, they will be hallowed or something. We've got more to a town drunk, but they're always having on forces every time an evangelist comes to town. I mean, I think I'd say that you're ready to bring everything along here. Check. That is a yes. But it was safe, I think, always was. Is there no one in your family? Is there no one in town aware of social despotism and address your inequality? Yes, everybody in his town took his animal. See, if I'm very much there at that time, I'm talking about who's rich and who's poor and why aren't they doing it. I guess they're all hunting like everybody else. We're the diligent, sensible and righteous at the top of the legacy of ours. I think it's a lot of them. Maybe it's a lot of them. Meanwhile, we do all we can to not lose their health themselves. Those that can work, they go home. Any other questions? Oh, Mr. Webb. Mr. Webb, is there any culture of a beauty involved in this? Oh, ma'am, very much. I'm not going to censure me. I'm going to think of this on the girls' play. They have the arrow as a high school commencement. Ain't nothing about it. No, ma'am, there isn't much culture. But maybe this is the place to tell you that we have a lot of pleasures of the kind here. We like the sun coming up over the mountain there in the morning. And we all understand that birds. We think of attention to that. And we watch the change of the seasons. And as everybody knows about them, but those other things, I don't think they're right now. They're very much. Moments in Perusso and the Bible and in Slardom, I don't know that. This is love. It's just about as far as we go. So my thought. Thank you, Mr. Webb. Yes, thank you, Mr. Webb. We'll go back to the town. The early afternoon of 2600 toward Q had the dinner all the dishes at the bar. The early afternoon calm in our town. A buzzard hunting from the school building. Only a few buggy from Main Street. A horse and a doe against the principal. Y'all don't know what it's like. Doc Gibbs is in his office and having people and making them say, aww. Mr. Webb is a cussed lawnmower. One man in tents thanks to the privilege of being a cussed lawnmower. No, sir. It's later than I thought. I don't know how the children come home from school or all that. I can't, you'll miss. I'm about to go home and help my mother. It walks in later. Papa, you're terrible. Why don't you tell me to stand up straight in the next minute and call my names? I just don't listen to you. Golly, I've never got questions like a great lady before. I need to make a speech up on the road. I'll drink for the last minute. It's corporate. I made me talk about what we said and purchased and said. I worked an awful long time. It's funny, Emily. From my window up there, I can just see your head back when you're doing your homework over there. I certainly do stick to it, Emily. I don't see how you can sit still that long. I guess you like school. You just have to go through. Yeah. I don't mind it really. It passes the time. Yeah. Emily, what do you think? We might work out a kind of telegraph through a window to mine. And once in a while, you can give me a hint or two if I'm one of those algebra problems. It don't mean the answers, Emily. Of course not. Just some little hint. I think hints are allowed. So, if you ever get stuck, George, you can listen to me. I'll give you some hints. Emily, you're just naturally right, I guess. I figure it's just a way somebody's born. Yeah. But you see, I don't want to be a farmer. My uncle Luke says whatever I'm ready, I can come over and work on a farm. Any bit I can just gradually have. You mean the house and everything? Yeah. Well, thanks. I better be getting out to the baseball field. Thanks for the talk, Emily. That's for Mrs. Webb. To New George. So long, Emily. So long, Emily. Emily, come help us drink these beans. For the winter, George gives. Oh, you let himself have a real conversation. I know. Let me see. Must be almost 16. Mama, I gave a speech in Boston, and I was very good. I must recite it to your father and son. What was it about? The Louisiana gorgeous. Looks like silk off a spool. I'm going to make speeches all my life. Any questions? Serious? Serious me? Serious. Serious me. Of course, yes. All my children have got good features. It would be a shame if they haven't. Mama, it's not right here. I mean it is. I've already told you, yes. That's enough of that. You have a nice, young, pretty face. Never heard of such foolishness. Mama, you never tell us the truth about anything. I am telling you the truth. Mama, for you? For you? The prettiest girl in town. Who's next to me? You're right. Mama, you thought this was something about me. People interested in you. Emily, you make me tired. Let's stop this. You know, you're pretty enough for all... There's a rock here again. Thank you. This is where I thank Emily. There are some things we want to explore about this town. This is a good time to tell you that Cartwright has just begun to live in the new bank he drove with Connors. Has to go to Vermont for the models. It's hard to say. If they ask the president of Iowa they should push Connors to them for people to dig up a thousand years. Well, of course, they put a copy of New York Times, under the copy of Mr. Ware, the sent one. We're kind of interested in this because some scientific fellows have found a way of painting on a green matter with a glue. A soda glue that'll make it keep a thousand, two thousand years. We'll put them in the Bible. And the constitution of the United States. And a copy of William Shakespeare's play. What do you say, folks? What do you think? You know, that alarm once had two million people. No, we know about them. Names of the kings and copies of the weak convoys. And convoys for the sale of slaves. Yeah, every night all of the soldiers sat down for supper. And the father came home from his work and the smoke went up the chimney and the evening greets and groans all we know about the real life of the people is what we can piece together out of the jokin phones and comedies they wrote for their parents. So I'm going to have a copy of this play for the constitution. People a thousand years now know a few simple facts about it. More than three years this time this is the first fact people a thousand years come down, this is the way we were in the provinces of New York, north of New York, at the beginning of the 20th century. This is the way we were in our growing up man, and in our village, a team. You can hear in why the children part of home from the north they run around part of home. You couldn't beat her if you wanted to. That's so terrible. Did you get the third problem? Which? The third? I guess George the easiest of them all. I don't see it. You give me a hint. Answers in yards. How do you mean? It's square yards. Oh, square yards. That's George, don't you see? Yeah, thanks a lot. You're welcome. Quiet practice going on. I think if you hold your breath you can hear the train on the way to Kentucky. Hear it? What do you know? I guess I better go back and try to work. Good night, Elvira. Good night, Elvira. We'll do the same music we did at Jane Chover just last night. Now, we'll do our now weary day. I'm 16, I'm almost 70. What do you want to do after school is over? I eat a pot. I want to be a farmer, I want to lose stock. You'll be willing, willing to keep the stock. You'll be able. Sure I will. Well, George, and what do you think it was? It was your mother chopping wood. There it is. I suppose she just got tired of asking you. She just gave up and decided it was easier to do it herself. You eat her meals and put on the clothes she keeps nice for you and run off and play baseball like she's some hired girl we keep around the house but that we don't like very much. Well, I knew all and to it, here's a handkerchief of some George or money 25 cents a week. Not, of course, the chopping wood for your mother because that's the present you give her. Well, because you're getting older and I imagine there are lots of things to do. Let's see here. Tomorrow is your pay day. You can count on it. Hmm. Rebecca probably will feel she ought to ask some more too. It's only half past eight. I don't know why she's in that old choir. She hasn't got any more voice than an old crow traipsing around the streets at this hour of the night. It's just about time you retired. Don't you think? Yes, father. Look at that move. Take a look at the chore. Well, naturally I didn't want to say a word about it in front of those others but now I know really it's the worst scandal that was ever in this town. What? Silence did some narrow work. But you have to have an ordinance of a church break right here. Here, you know who's talking about it. Down below. We all know about that one. We all know about the troubles that he's been through when Dr. Ferguson knows to when Dr. Ferguson keeps him on that job and all the rest of what we do is just not to notice. You don't have to notice it's getting worse. No, it isn't. It's getting better. I've been in that choir twice as long as you have. It doesn't happen anywhere near so often. Mom, I hate to go to bed on a night like this. I'm in a hurry. Those children will be sitting up till all hours. Good night, Lueva. Can you get on the same floor? Oh, it's a bright day. I can see Mr. Soho scouting the window now. You think I'd come to the dance ladies men for what I'm carrying on. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. And you've stopped at the corner with a lot of heads. Now it's the right one. Don't be grouchy. Oh, I read as usual what the girl's gossiping about tonight. Dr. Ferguson can't forgive him forever. Dr. Ferguson can't forgive him forever. Dr. Ferguson can't forgive him forever. I guess I know more about Simon Stinson's affair than anybody in this town. Some people ain't paid for small town life. I don't know how that'll end, but there's nothing we can do but just leave it below and come. No, no, no, Frank. I'm worried about you. What are you worried about? I think it's my duty to make plans when you get a real arrest and change. And if I get that legacy, well, I'm going to insist on it. No, Julia. There's no sense of going over that. You're unreasonable. Come on, Julia. It's getting late. I gave Georgia a piece of my mind tonight. I reckon you'll have your woodchop for a while anyway. No, no, no. It's time to get upstairs. Pick up the things. You know, Frank, Mrs. Fairchild was lost in her front door. I don't mind all those people on that part of town. They're all getting sinified. That's the trouble with them. They haven't got nothing fit to burgle than everybody knows it. You sure only do. On Moon, we're getting nearer the guys that sit up all night with telescopes. We'll see it first when they tell about it and it'll be in all the newspapers. Here comes Attica Webb. At Moon? Yeah. All quiet tonight. Simon Smith is rolling around a little just for a little bit of comfort so I'll get away. There he is now. Good evening, Simon. Do you know what seems to have sounded out? Thank you. Yes, what's the tellin' sound of it now? Simon? I guess we've been good to see him. Tell him what's wrong. I don't know how it's gonna end, Mr. Webb. Have you seen him in trouble? Something after another. Oh, well, if you've seen my first smoking cigarette let's just give him a word, will you? He thinks a lot of you will. I don't think he smokes no cigarettes, Mr. Webb. At least a way, not more than two or three a year. I hope not. Good night, Bill. Good night, Mr. Webb. What's that up there? Is that you, Merva? No, it's me, Papa. Why aren't you in bed? I don't know. I just can't sleep yet, Papa. The room light's so wonderful. The smell of Mrs. Gibbs's Heliotrope, can you smell it? Hmm, yes. You have been in trouble for a long time, haven't you? Troubles, Papa. No? I don't know myself. I don't have your mother catching up there. Good night, Papa. What's funny about that? You heard Jane the letter down the envelope. She dresses like this. Zett, Jane Herbert, The Herbert Barn, Whoever's Corners, Staten Piazza, New Hampshire, United States of America. What's funny about that? But listen, it's not finished. United States of America, continent of North America, Western Hemisphere, the Earth, the Solar System, the Universe, the Mind of God. That's what it said on the envelope. What do you know? I'm supposed to write it just the same. What do you know? Well, that's the end of the first act, friends. You can go and smoke now. You know, is that smoke coming? When it's cracked, it's a little bit more and the rain has brought down some of the dirt. Some days, the one days more and more has begun to soften regular sentences already and a number of people who thought they were right, young and spry, have noticed that they can't bound up a flight of stairs that they used to. All that can happen in a thousand days. Nature and queen can thrive in another way too. A number of young people fell in love and got married. Yes, monsters got bit away at fractions of an inch millions of gallons watered by the men and here and there a new home was set up on the roof. Almost everybody in the world gets married and now it's time for on holiday and interaction. It's called marriage what's called the daily life. This act is called love and marriage. After this I reckon you can guess what that's about. So, it's three years later in 1904 it's July 7 just after the high school commencement and most of our people jump up as soon as they pass their last examinations in South Geometry and it just rose for a reason. Looks like they're suddenly killing themselves. Didn't do that. It's early morning on this time it's been raining. It's been four and it's time to miss the gift of the garden and miss the wet tear drenched all of the bean-poked drenched all yesterday on our main street the rain looked like it was going to rain again again any minute by all this time. Over the last 40 three days a day one for 20 years the other 40 an old summer vacation they brought two children to feed wash, clean the house another another straight it's like what one of those little red goats said you've got the love life the haze life you've got the haze life that's what they call a vicious circle get up let's see here comes how I do it another shy crowd will live in the bed like his brother before what a sight any of the pictures we'll have to know not much except the news about the best baseball the pictures were the stories I've ever had George Davis he could hit one of the bases too yep, plenty of fine ball there whoa, Bessie just like to stop in there I don't see how we can give up a thing like that just to get married should I? I can't tell, I never had to tell what? good morning see what I'm doing see what it says remember it's been rising all night shy crowd they're all worried about George Gibbs retired and potential yes sir, that's the way it goes back in 84 we had a player even George Gibbs couldn't touch him named Hank Todd went down and made him become a parson a wonderful wonderful ball player not as well as you not too bad, I think they did good morning morning Howie I think it's going to rain again I don't know, I think it's going to rain so heavy I need to clear up unless you want to be I'm going to have a household of relations today Howie looks like I'll need a three degree even to a mill just to tell you how they went thanks a lot Howie I hope she can get there to the wedding she'll be there, she'll be there good morning Mr. Newsom I told you four quarts of milk but I hope you can spare me another two or three will it start raining again Mr. Newsom? I was just saying this is gifts it may lighten up Mr. Newsom told me to tell you that we both hope they'll be very happy you're all there and thanks to Mrs. Newsom for counting on seeing me at the wedding oh, we hope you get there who missed that come on Mr. Newsom I don't know if they're in or off listening and singing like these lads don't they every now and then he says I do to the mirror see to it that he's put warm things on frankly too young Emily won't think of such things he'll catch a death of cold with a wee I was remembering my wedding morning no no no stop I was the scariest young fella in the state of New Hampshire I thought when I saw you coming down that line I thought you were the prettiest girl I've ever seen but the only trouble was I've never seen you before Kate heard to make it and I had to do something what a sleep last night a lot of the hours struck off yes I'm in shock every time I think of George sitting down to be a family man that great ganglin' thing I tell you Julia there's nothing so terrified in the world as a son the station of father and son is the mother and daughters no picnic either let me tell you they'll have a lot of trouble I suppose that's not a long business everybody has a right to their own troubles yes people are meant to go through life two by two take natural to the moon sun Julia you know one of the things I was scared of along with you I was afraid we wouldn't have material for conversation but it lasted a few weeks I was afraid to run out and eat our meals in silence that's the fact well you and I have been conversant for 20 years now without any noticeable bare spots well with the bad weather take your choice but I always find something to say did you hear Rebecca no on the day of the year Rebecca hasn't been managing everybody's business she's hiding in the room I got the impression she's crying oh lord I'm so glad to see my daughter now George you put on your overshoes it's raining oh my it's just a step George you'll catch a death a cold you'll cough all through the service George do as your mother it's not a sense he sees her in church oh that's just a superstition Mr. Webb you don't believe in that superstition do you there's a lot of common sense on superstition George how is Emily she hasn't waked up yet I haven't heard a sound yet Emily's asleep you're some baby too but don't be long about it Mr. Webb what sense is there see on a wedding morning George and one thing or another seems to be best built there yes I never thought the girl's head goes up to be my nervous on a wedding night I wish I felt like a big Mary not all that marching up and down every man's ever lived is built up by a better George hasn't been in years it's the women who built up weddings my boy for a while now and it's pretty small on a wedding George those good women stand and shoulder to shoulder making sure that nots tied in a winding public way but you believe it don't you Mr. Webb yes yes yes don't you Mr. Webb a marriage is a wonderful thing don't you forget that George no sir Mr. Webb how old were you when you got married well you see I'm not going to take a little time to get settled Mrs. Webb she wasn't much older than what everybody is hey Chasen much to do with the George but compared with other things what were you going to say I don't know was I going to say something I was thinking the other night when I got married Charles he said start out early showing who's boss he said best thing to do is give an order even if it doesn't make any sense just so she'll learn who to obey and he said if anything about who my theoretates here or conversation or anything just get out and leave the house that'll make it clear yes that'll make it clear oh yes he said never never let your wife know how much money you have well Mr. Webb so I took the office to my father's advice not to have me ever since let me listen to you George never ask anybody's personal advice on personal matters George you're going to have chickens on your phone oh you can raise chickens on your phone well Uncle Luke's never been much interested in that a book came into my office the other day George on the final system chicken time so I'm thinking of beginning in a small way in the backyard I'm going to put an incubator in the cellar Charles are you talking about that old incubator again I thought you two would be talking about things worth why well if you want to give the boy some good advice I'll go upstairs George Emily's got to come downstairs and eat a breakfast she sent you her love but she doesn't want to lay eyes on you she's an old one what do you mean George since it came in no way you should see us on the wall on the day of the wedding he doesn't grab in the rock here again I don't know how this weather this plan to spend a lifetime together I'm more interested in how big things like that begin you know 21 22 and you make some decisions you're 17 you've been the lawyer for 50 years that's why I have a lady at the side that needs no more 50,000 meals how does such things begin George and Emily are going to show you now conversations they have when they first do that that as the saying goes that they were meant for one another but before they do I want you to try and remember what it was like to have been very young and particularly the days when you were first in love when you were like a person sweet walking and you didn't quite see the street you were in and didn't quite hear everything them said you're just a little bit crazy will you remember that please now, 3 o'clock George has just been elected president of the junior class and as it's June that means he'll be president of the senior class all next year and Emily has just been elected secretary and treasurer I have to tell you how important that is yep early on I'm down main street now I can't, it's a lease, I'm about to go home goodbye, Ernest can you come over tonight and do mine I think this is the road to the worst tell you what you have to goodbye, Ellen goodbye, Fred and give them so long I'm actually glad you were elected too Emily it's been so funny lately since you asked me I might as well say it by back what is it I don't like the whole change that's come over to me in the last year I'm sorry that hurt your feelings but I've got to change the better a change well up to here about what I used to like you a lot but I used to watch you and see you did everything because we were friends so well I think you began spending all your time in baseball you never stopped to speak to anybody anymore not even to your own family you did it and George, it's a fact you've got an awful conceited and stuff out and all the girls say so little say such your face that's what they say about you behind your back and it hurts me to hear you say it but I've got to agree with them a little I'm sorry for hurt your feelings but I can't be sorry I said it I'm glad you said it Emily I never thought that such a thing was happening to me I guess it's hard for a fellow not to have faults creeped into his character that would be perfect and I think we should be oh I don't think it's possible to be perfect Emily well my fault her is there's no reason on earth why you shouldn't be too well I feel it's the other way around that men aren't actually good but girls are actually I don't know what made me say it but I can see it's all true at all and I suddenly feel that it isn't important anyway Emily would you like an ice cream soda or something before you go home how are you good afternoon Mrs. Slocum awful scare Mr. Morgan she almost got run over by that hardware store wagon everybody says that Tom Huckins drives like a crazy man I'll say thank you Mr. Morgan no Emily have an ice cream soda thank you so much Mr. Morgan I was in here the best thing to do is just stay home what can I do for you no no don't you think of that we're celebrating our election no I'm celebrating because I've got a friend who tells me all the things that ought to be told to me George please don't think of that I don't know why I said it it's not true I'm glad you spoke to me like you did but you'll see I'm going to change so quick you better change Emily I want to ask you a favor what Emily if I go away to state agriculture college next year will you write me a letter once in a while certainly I certainly will George certainly seems like being away for years to get out of touch with things maybe letters from Herbert's Corners wouldn't be so interesting after a while Herbert's Corners isn't a very important place when you think of all of New Hampshire it's a very nice account the day wouldn't come when I wouldn't want to know everything that's happening here no that's true try to make my letters interesting you know Emily whenever I meet a farmer I ask him if he thinks it's important to go to agriculture school to be a good farmer why George yeah some of them say it's even a waste of time you can get all those things anyway out of the pamphlets the government sends out and Uncle Luke's getting old he's about ready to for me to start taking over his farm tomorrow if I could and like you say and gone all that time in other places and meeting other people gosh if anything like that I don't want to go away I guess people aren't any better than old ones I bet they almost never are Emily I feel that you're a school of friends that got I don't need to go with the other people in other towns George maybe it's very important for you to go and learn all about cattle farming soils and all those things so Emily I'm going to make up my mind right now I won't go I'll teleport out of town George I don't see why you have to decide right now it's all over here away Emily I'm glad you spoke to me about that fault in my character what you said was right there was one thing wrong that was when you said for you that I was noticing people and you for instance while you say you were watching me when I did everything I was doing the same about you all the time why sure I always thought about you as one of the chief people I thought about I always made sure where you were sitting on the bleachers and who you were with for three days now I've been trying to walk home and something always gotten away yesterday I was standing over against the wall waiting for you to walk home and miss corporate George I saw full funny how could I have known that I thought I'm going to tell you why I'm not going to agriculture I think that once you found a person that you're very fond of I mean a person who's fond of you too and likes you enough to be interested in your character well I think that's just as important as colleges and even more so I think it's awfully important too Emily? Emily if I do improve and make a big change I mean could you be I I am now I guess this is an important talk just wait a minute I'll walk you home get the money to pay you for this it'll only take me a minute you mean to tell me yes for kind reasons Mr. Morgan look here's my gold watch to keep you until I come back with the money all that's all right keep your watch I'll trust you I'll be back in five minutes I'll trust you ten years George not a day over get home when you're traveling yes thank you Mr. Morgan it was nothing I'm sure I get that like this year's debt a few minutes people will make for this to buy a tune this is a good question people are so put together that even though I have good but there's a lot of confusion way down deep in people's minds we thought that that ought to be a normal way too the real hero of this scene you know who that is it's like what one of those Europeans always said every child born into the world is nature's attempt to make a perfect human being well we see nature pushing contrival for some time now we all know that nature's interested in quantity but I think she's interested in quality too that's why I'm interested and don't forget all the other witnesses that's this way the ancestors millions of them most of them set out to live two by two also build as all my children want to live on there's nothing to cry about came over me at breakfast this morning eating a breakfast and she's done for 17 years now I suppose that's it she suddenly said and she put her head down on the table and she cried I've got to say it there is something downright cool about sending our girls out into marriage this way some of her girlfriends have told her too you don't have to say anything I went into it my life is a bad control the whole world is wrong that's what's the matter here they come why is everybody pushing me no love listen mom for the last time I asked you all I want to do is be a fella what? where's Emily? cheer up mom I'm getting married now mom you say Thursday nights Emily and I are coming over to dinner every Thursday night you'll see mom what are you crying for come on we've got to be ready for this don't you remember what you used to say all the time what you used to say all the time that I was your only girl places we can go to I'll work for you I can keep house George best of all come on Mr. Webb I want to I want to try I'm going to do my best I love you Emily if you love me help me I want someone to love me I will only I'll try and I need brethren do you hear everything come on they're waiting for us you know what love is wedding you saw oh I do love a good wedding don't you doesn't she make a loving wife I do do you Emily take this man George to be your wedding hub don't know when I've seen such a loving wedding but I always cry don't know where he is but I always cry I just like to see him I don't do all the things lovely I've met over two hundred couples in my day do I believe in it I don't know if never is in never is in the college the gold car on the afternoon drives the poor the first rheumatism the grand children the second rheumatism the death bed the reading of the will wanting a car on time but I'm sure that we're happy I always say happiness that's the crazy important thing is to be happy I've heard about a windy storm up the sky up there by Lake Synergy Lake Minasaki you've got to be glad you can see the water and Mount Washington North Conway Conway is of course I think it's mountain mountain and all these towns are far around it East Daffy Peterborough Delton there quite a ways down and some beautiful spot up here Mountain Wall I often wonder why people want to be there it's woodland but at the same time I'm getting the answer over there are the old stones 1670 1680 strong mining people come a long way to the independence some of them walk around and that's the funny word they don't do any harm and genealogists come up from Boston they get paid by city people for looking up their ancestors they want to make sure the daughters of the national revolution and the nation well, I guess that don't do any harm either wherever you come from near the human race there's layers layers of honestness over there Civil War veterans and 500 grade new handsome boys had a notion that the union ought to be kept together though they'd never seen more than 50 miles of themselves all they knew was the name friend the United States of America the United States of America and they wasn't died of now this year the new part of the cemetery is your friend Mrs. Gibbs let me see Mr. Stimson organist at the congregational church Mrs. Stone to enjoy the wedding so you remember a lot of others had to wear before the boss he was a pendict but he was on a poor scalp trip to Crawford Mountain you know that an awful lot of sorrow was sort of quiet down here people just quiet and brief brought in relatives up to this hill we all know how dead and then time sunny days rainy days snow we're all glad that in beautiful places we're going to get ourselves when I'll get over it now there are some things we all know but we don't take them out and look at them very often we all know that that something is eternal thousands that ain't names that ain't earth that ain't even the stars that everybody knows in their moment that something is eternal and that something has to do with human beings all the greatest people ever lived have been telling us that about dinner and if you'd be surprised our people are always losing hope there's something way deeper down that's eternal about every human being now you know as well as I do that the dead don't stay here because they've not lived for very long rather they lose hope in the earth and the ambitions they had and the pleasure they had and the things they suffered and the people they loved they get weaned away from the earth that's the way I think weaned away and they stay here while the earth part of them burns away burns out and they slowly get into it what's going on in all those corners their weight the weight of something the field is common something important and rich aren't they waiting for the eternal part in them to come out here the things they want to say maybe you'll hurt your feelings but that's the way it is mother and daughter husband and wife enemy and enemy money and life all care and important things kind of grow pale around here what's left when memory is gone and your identity is consistent there are some good people here who started out on the takers who provided them a new way of grave and you know the grover's corner for them left the town and go out and quack good afternoon Joseph good afternoon how can you see that so I know you I'm Sam Craig ohhhh good mistake so I all the people I should have known you'd be back for the funeral you've been alone you've been away a long time with Sam yes I've been away over 12 years I'm in business having buffalo now yeah but I was in the east when I got news my cousin said so I thought I'd combine things a little and come and see the old home will you look well yes yes I can't complain very sad our journey today Sam yes yes yes I always said I hate to surprise when a young person will take it they'll be here in a few minutes now I had to come here early today my son's supervising it perhaps old farmer Cardi I used to give chores for him after school he had the lump bagel yeah we bought old farmer cardi here a number of years ago now this is my aunt Julia I forgot we achieved of course yeah the doctor gives Austin's wife two to three years ago about this time and today's another pretty bad part for him too that's my sister Carrie's boy Sam Sam Craig I'm always uncomfortable when they're around today I always choose their own verse less no, not your jewel mostly to read to pick a verse doesn't sound like Aunt Julia there aren't many of those Earthly sisters left now let me see where are I wanted to look at my father and mother's over there with a craze happening there he was an importantist at the church wasn't he trying a lot we used to say nobody was supposed to know about it he seen a pack of chalk on the night you know oh, did he? I don't know if he's open to have it they they tried to hush it up but of course it got around he chose on his own ever that you can see it there in any vaguely verse why it's just some nose and music what is it? I wouldn't know it was written up in the news it got Boston papers though at the time what did she die of? oh, my cousin oh, did he know? had some trouble bringing a baby into the world it was for a second there was a little boy about four years old the grave's gonna be over here yes, very much more moon for their gifts so they're opening up a whole bunch of new gifts section over by the avenue Avenue B excuse me now I see the outcome what is it Julia? it must have been awful wedding what did she die of Julia? childbirth childbirth I'd forgotten all about that my was something awful and wonderful wonderful was it? Simon, I remember I remember it was wedding was it at a wedding and I remember her reading the classical and the graduation exercise Emily was one of the brightest crews that were graduating from high school I've heard Fritz at the moment say so time after time I called on them at their new farm just before I died perfectly beautiful farm yep, right smart farm I always liked that new it's in the new oops, Emily hello my kids hello it's raining yes you'll be gone soon dear just rest yourself it seems thousands of years inside I'll remember that I wish I'd been here a long time I don't like being new here how do you do Mr. Stacey? how do you do Emily? mother Kibbs George and I have made farm into just the best place you ever saw we thought of you all the time we wanted to show you the new barn the great long cement drink mountain for the stock we bought that out of the money you left us I did don't you remember mother Kibbs the legacy you left us I was over $350 yes yes well there's a patent device on the drink you found so that it never overflows mother Kibbs and it never stinks below certainly hardly have there it's fine it's a lovely farm live people don't understand what you're doing today no dear, not very much the sort of shop in little boxes don't you remember I feel as though I knew that once a thousand years ago my boy is spending the day at Mr. Carter's Mrs. Carter my little boy is spending the day at your house he loves it there mother Kibbs we have before too never gives any trouble don't drive though mother Kibbs when does this feeling go away of being one of that houses just just wait and be patient look they're finished they're going mother Kibbs is bringing some of my flowers to you looks like just like George doesn't he no mother Kibbs I never realized before I'm troubled in having the dark I love to so from morning till night that's all they are troubled a little cooler than it was yes that rains cool at all trouble if it isn't a rain it's a three day blow but mother Kibbs one can go back one can go back there again into the feel it I know it just under a second I was thinking about how far and for a minute I was there my baby was on my lap his cleanest day yes of course you can go back there again and live on those days over why not all I can say is Emily don't isn't it I can go and live back there again yes someone tried but they soon come back here don't do it Emily Emily don't it's not what you think it'd be we'll live over a sad day I'll choose a happy one I'll choose a day I first knew I was on George I should not be painful you're not only living but you watch yourself living yes and as you watch it you see the thing that they down there never know you see the future you know what's going on after that it's that painful why? that's not the only reason why you shouldn't do it Emily when you've been here longer you'll see that our life here is to forget all that and think only of what's ahead and be ready for what's ahead when you've been here longer you'll understand other games how could I ever forget that life it's all I know it's all I have really isn't but it's a thing I must know for myself I'll choose a happy day all the way no, at least choose an unimportant day choose the least important day of your life it will be important enough then I can't be since I was married since the old baby was born I can choose the birth day at least can't I? I choose my 12th birthday alright February 11th 1899 of Tuesday do you want any special time of the day? how I want the whole day well we'll begin at dawn you remember it had been snowing for several days but that start the night before on then had begun clearing the road the sun was coming up there's May Street that's Mr. Morgan's drug store before he changed it there's the livery stable yeah it's 1899 this is 14 years ago it's the town I knew as a little girl look there's the old white friends that used to be around our house I've forgotten that I love it so are they inside? yeah one of them they were coming downstairs in a minute to make a breakfast and you remember your father had been away for several days he came back on the early morning train no he's been back to his college to make a speech in western New York how could he do so he died oh that's it that's it Mr. Morgan you're up early investment party got drunk and lay on the snow thought he was in bed when I shook him why are you so proud good morning Mr. Morgan morning Ellie I'm a kitchen fire I feel like I'm a hurry morning Mr. it's a burn it's cold it's cold mama I can't find my there were a snake in it by chance yes good morning Elle morning Mr. Webb you're up early you asked just to be back to my old college in New York State do you have an angel over here well I was called up to this morning and the rest of you were Polish about that darn air frozen that he was now we must get him to be here good morning mother no Charles everything all right here yes can't make up anything that's happened special in bright cold now he is some sense it's 10 below over in his barn yes well it's cold with that at Hamilton College student sales are falling off named Christian didn't have any mistakes in it none that I noticed coffee's ready when you watch birthday did you remember to get her something yes I've got some here where's my girl what is I like to get old mama I'm here I'm grown up I love you all I'm returns there's some surprises waiting for you on the kitchen table well you shouldn't be eat your breakfast good and slow I want you to grow up and be a good strong girl that there are new papers from your Aunt Perry I reckon that you can guess who brought the postcard album found it on the doorstep when I brought in the milk George Gibbs must have come over in the cold pretty early right when I said that before on a cold day I want you to look at me one minute until you really saw me mama 14 years have gone by you're a grandmother mama I married George Gibbs mama I said too mama I said I get sparks from a kitten trip to North Carolina don't you remember just for a moment now we're all together just for a moment we're happy let's look at one another and that there in the yellow paper something I found in the end among your grandmother's mother's things you're old enough to wear it now I thought you liked it this is for you my mama is just lovely it's just what I wanted it's beautiful well I hoped it liked it but I couldn't find one in Concord so I had to send it all the way to Boston while he has something for you too he made it a manual training class and he's very proud of it he sure he made a big fuss about it when your father has a surprise for you too don't know what it is for yourself here he comes where's my girl I can't I can't go on and go so fast it's time to look at one another my grave but first wait one more look a sunflowers and new iron dresses hot baths never realized my love in it no the saints and poets maybe they do song I need to go back were you happy I should have listened to you these are blind people look it's clear enough stop Mr. Stimps that I should have listened to them yes now you know now you know that's what it was to be alive to move about in a cloud of ignorance to go up and down trampling on the feelings of those those about you to spend waste time as though you had a million years to be always in the mercy of one self centered passion or another now you know that's the happy existence you wanted to go back to ignorance and blindness Simon Stimpson that ain't the whole truth if you know it Emily I forget its name oh boy Joe was a sailor do them all he said on the 14 games and tell them all by name yes sir I wonder if a star is a mighty good company yes yes it is that's funny ain't no doubt on one of them to be here goodness sake oh boy Joe overdue the stars he used to say until millions of years should that speckle like to get to the earth don't seem like a body could believe it that's what he used to say billions of years goodness that ain't no way to behave you ought to be the one yes yes I understand do that notice yes it's clear enough there are a lot of stars doing their own oldest craft journeys in the sky scarves haven't settled in there yet but they seem to think there aren't no goodby beings of the chalk or fire only this one is straining away straining away all the time to make something of itself a strain so bad every 16 hours everybody lies down and gets a rest loving the clock grows its corners you get a good rest too