SCOTT THE FORESTER 335 



day. You logged over the mountains, wasted three-fourths 

 of the timber, burned up the young trees, dried up the streams, 

 overstocked the ranges and left the land a barren waste. But 

 your day has passed. These national forests are for all the people — 

 the home-seeker, the careful liimberman, the camper, the farmer 

 in the lowlands dependent on the streams for irrigation — in short 

 the present generation as well as future generations — and 

 the sooner you learn this the better. Good morning, (the 

 Forester turns and leaves.) 



WILLIAMS 

 You contemptible upstart — I — 



MOLLIE 

 Father — please come with me — the Forester must treat every- 

 body alike. 



WILLIAMS 

 Daughter, I would not have taken that from any man if you 

 had not been here, (he strikes a match, lights his pipe and 

 throws the match in the grass.) The Devil take his rules. 



MOLLIE (looking for the match) 

 Oh father, you must not do that — you might set the woods on 

 fire. 



WILLIAMS 



What's the difference. A little blaze would give these loafing 

 rangers something to do. Come on daughter. Fred and I 

 must get started. Can we have a lunch? 



(Curtain) 



ACT II. THE DREAM PAGEANT 



Time, about mid-day of same day. vScene, a glade in the forest 

 through which a stream flows. Late summer flowers are in 

 bloom near the stream — tiger-lily, golden-rod, columbine, coreopsis. 

 Elsewhere the grass is dry and brown save where a spring makes 

 a green oasis under some oak trees. The Forester is sawing a 

 dead limb from an oak tree. Near by is his ax. The Forester 

 stops sawing, wipes the persj^iration from his face and leans 

 against the oak tree where he commands a fine view of the moun- 

 tain landscape. 



