Little Dramas For Primary Grades

Timid Hare. Oh dear! Oh dear! If the sky were to fall, what would happen to me? Oh, what would happen to me! What is that noise? 23Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh, I am sure the sky is falling! It is! It is! It is! [Timid Hare runs.]

Brother Hare. Why are you running away, little hare?

Timid Hare. Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling!

Brother Hare. [Frightened.] Oh dear! Oh dear! The sky is falling!

Deer. Why, what is the matter, little hare?

Timid Hare. Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.

Deer. [Frightened.] What shall I do?

Sheep. Where are you going, little hare? Why do you run so fast?

Timid Hare. Oh, the sky is falling!

24

Sheep. [Frightened.] Dear me, dear me!

Camel. Stop a minute, little hare! What’s the matter?

Timid Hare. Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.

Camel. [Frightened.] No, no, it can’t be.

Elephant. Why do you run so fast, little hare? What has happened?

Timid Hare. I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.

Elephant. Can that be true?

Lion. What is this you say?

Timid Hare. I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.

Lion. How do you know this?

Timid Hare. I saw it.

Lion. Where did you see it?

25

Timid Hare. There, by that tree.

Lion. Oh, what nonsense! There are no signs that the sky is falling. Come with me and I’ll show you.

Timid Hare. No, no, I must hurry along. I am afraid to go back.

Lion. Yes, you shall come with me to that tree. I will take you there myself. [Lion and hare go to the tree.]

Lion. There, do you see? The sky is not falling. A little acorn fell upon a leaf. It made the noise that frightened you. Let us go back now, and tell the other animals.

Old Mouse. Oh dear, dear, dear! That old cat ate Squeak Nibble to-day. What can we do?

Second Mouse. Well, we must do something! She’ll eat us all, one by one!

Third Mouse. How can we keep her from catching all the rest of us?

Fourth Mouse. Yes, how can we? If we could only know when she is coming. Her paws are so soft that we cannot hear her.

Second Mouse. I have it! One of us will watch her all the time. When 38the cat is coming he must squeak as loud as he can.

Old Mouse. Watch her, indeed! She’d soon catch that little mouse.

Fourth Mouse. No, that will never do.

Third Mouse. Let’s stay in our holes. Then she’ll starve to death.

All the Mice. Ha-ha-ha! A fine plan.

Old Mouse. A fine plan, indeed! Do you think the cat eats nothing but mice? And how should we get anything to eat if we stayed in our holes?

Fourth Mouse. My friends, listen to me. Let us hang a bell round her neck. That will tell us when she is coming. Then we can run and hide.

39

Second Mouse. Good, good!

Third Mouse. The very thing!

Fourth Mouse. Nothing could be better.

Old Mouse. [Thoughtfully.] But who will hang the bell on the cat’s neck?

Second Mouse. I will not.

Third Mouse. Not this little mouse.

Old Mouse. But some one must do it. Who will?

All. Sure enough, who?

Crow. Ah! Some one has left a bit of cheese for me. I’ll fly up into that tree and eat it.

Fox. [To himself.] That cheese is for me, as sure as I am a fox.

  Good day, Mistress Crow.
How well you are looking.
What bright eyes you have.
I am sure your voice must be sweet.
Just let me hear you sing one song.

Crow. Caw—caw—caw.

Fox. [Snaps up cheese.] That bit of cheese was all I wanted.

Second Chick. It is so hard to scratch;
I’m as hungry as can be,
I wish a bowl of meal
Were standing here by me.

Third Chick. It is so hard to scratch;
I’m as hungry as can be,
I wish a nice green leaf
Would drop right down to me.

Mother Hen.59 See here, you lazy chicks,
Here’s the green garden patch,
If you’re hungry as can be,
You should come here and scratch!

Little Bird. [Going to Big Tree.] Oh, please, Big Fir Tree, may I rest here in your branches? I have hurt my wing, and I cannot fly.

Big Fir Tree. No, I cannot have any little birds in my branches. I must grow straight and tall, for I mean to be a Christmas tree some day.

Little Bird. [Goes to Little Tree.] Oh, please, dear tree, may I not find shelter from the cold in your branches? My wing is broken, and I cannot fly. I 61have come a long way over the ice and snow.

Little Fir Tree. No, I cannot give shelter to any birds in my branches.

Little Bird. But I’m very tired, and I shall do your branches no harm.

Little Fir Tree. It cannot be. I must hold my head up high and my branches out straight, for I mean to be a Christmas tree.

Little Bird. I’m afraid I shall freeze out here in the snow. [Little Bird goes on.]

Little Bird. [Softly.] Please, Littlest Fir Tree, may I rest in your branches? I am so cold and hungry. I do not think I can go any farther.

Littlest Fir Tree. Yes, yes, Little Bird. 62Creep up close to my trunk. I will cover you as best I can with my little branches. Come close. I’m glad to have you here.

Little Bird. Thank you, kind tree.

---

Big Fir Tree. I hear sleigh bells. The bells come nearer and nearer. Some one is coming this way. Some one is coming through the woods.

Little Fir Tree. Who is it, Big Fir Tree? I cannot see so far as you can. Tell me what you see.

Big Fir Tree. I see a sleigh and reindeer. Some one all wrapped in fur is in the sleigh.

Little Fir Tree. Oh, I feel that some 63one is coming for me. Now I am going to be a Christmas tree. The bells sound nearer and nearer. I see the sleigh.

Santa Claus. [Alights from his sleigh and looks at Big Tree.] A fine tree—tall and straight! But it is too tall for my Christmas tree. I must look farther. [Goes on to next tree.] Ah! Here’s another; but there’s a little one I see just at the foot of the hill. I believe it is the most beautiful tree in all the wood. [Goes to Littlest Tree.] Little tree, you hold your head up straight, and your branches spread out in all directions. I must have you for my Christmas tree. [Seeing Little Bird.] Who is this 64that has found shelter in your branches? A little bird. I will take it, too, and it shall be some little child’s Christmas present.

First Mouse. Christmas is here again. The air is full of the smell of good things to eat!

Second Mouse. It’s a gay time for us. I know there’ll be plenty of crumbs around now.

First Mouse. I wish Christmas came every night. But look at those old toys in the corner. I wonder why they look so sad.

French Doll. Look sad, do we? No wonder. It’s Christmas Eve and we 66don’t like to be here in the dark and cold. It isn’t fair!

Tin Soldier.67 We once hung on a Christmas tree.

First Mouse. It must have been a long time ago.

Tin Soldier. It was, indeed! But the children do not care to play with us now that we are so old.

French Doll. Old, sir? How can you say that? Just look at me! If my hair were combed and I had a new dress on, I’d still be a very nice doll! Old, indeed!

Second Mouse. Yes, I’m quite sure you would be very pretty.

Tin Soldier. And I’d be as good as 68any other tin soldier, if I had a new leg, a little paint, and a fresh gun.

First Mouse. Oh, I believe that, sir.

Lion. [Proudly.] Only my mane’s gone. [To Elephant.] But I see you have lost your trunk!

Elephant. Yes, some one broke it off. Now if I had a new trunk, I’d be all right. But look at the tiger! He has cracked his paint, and his stripes are all gone. It would be hard to make him look new again.

Tiger. Do you mean me? Oh, a few stripes of new paint, and I’d be as fine a tiger as you ever saw. Listen! Woolly Dog is trying to speak.

69

Woolly Dog. [In a whisper.] My voice is almost gone. Some one punched me too hard once and broke the spring. If I had a new spring, I’d bark louder than ever. We’d never even hear your squeak then, little mice.

Jack-in-the-box. I never could get back after my lid came off. A hinge and a few screws, and I’d be as good as new. It’s a shame to leave me like this.

Mice. Hush! Some one is coming up the stairs.

French Doll. Who are you?

Mrs. Santa Claus. I am Mrs. Santa 70Claus. Every Christmas Eve I find all the old toys I can. I change them into new ones. Then I send them to the little children who have no other Christmas toys. I knew I’d find some old toys in this attic! Come here, all of you. Let me see what each one needs. Please, only one at a time! [Toys come about Mrs. Santa Claus.] Now, French Doll, I’ll begin with you. There! I’ve washed your face and combed your hair. You’re as good as new.

First Mouse. She does look fine!

Mrs. Santa Claus. Now, Tin Soldier, what can I do for you?

Tin Soldier. Give me a new red coat, 71and mend my leg. Oh, yes, and I’d like a new gun, too.

Mrs. Santa Claus. Here you are, sir. Now, Jack, down in your box while I mend the lid. There, now you can bob up as well as ever.

Lion. If you please, I want a new mane. A little boy pulled mine off. I haven’t had one for a long time.

Woolly Dog. Please don’t forget me. I can’t bark till I get a new spring.

Mrs. Santa Claus. Come, Elephant and Tiger. I’ll do you next. There, I’ve seen you all. You are now as good as toys can be.

French Doll. Are we to stay in this old attic?

72

Tin Soldier. Can’t we be put on a Christmas tree again?

Mrs. Santa Claus. No. Listen to me. You are all to go out into the world to-night. Each one of you must make one little child happy. Go the way you wish, but be sure to find the child that needs you most. I must hurry to another old attic over the way. Good night, toys.

First Mouse. Will each toy try to make some child glad on Christmas morning?

Second Mouse. I hope so. How happy they all looked as they went out!

Camel. Pray, sir, where are you going?

Man. I am going to the Wise Man to seek my fortune.

Camel. Seek mine, too. I have had these sacks of gold on my back for a long time. I cannot lie down. Seek mine, too.

Man. I will.

Tiger. Pray, sir, where are you going?

Man. I am going to the Wise Man to seek my fortune.

Tiger. Seek mine, too. For a long time I have had this thorn in my 80foot. I cannot rest. Seek mine, too.

Man. I will. [Man comes to Wise Man.]

Wise Man. I pray you, sir, why are you here?

Man. I seek my fortune. I am a very poor man.

Wise Man. Then, I fear you have been living only for yourself. Think of making others rich and you will become rich.

Man. In the jungle I met a camel. He carried two sacks of gold on his back. They were so heavy that he could not lie down. He asked me to seek his fortune, too.

Wise Man. Take the sacks off his back. Then he will be free, and 81you will have the gold. Why did you not do it before?

Man. I was thinking only of myself. After that I met a tiger. For many days he has had a thorn in his foot. He cannot rest. He asked me to seek his fortune, too.

Wise Man. Take the thorn out of his foot, and both of you will gain by it. Why did you not think of this before?

Man. I was thinking only of myself. [Man goes homeward. He meets the tiger.]

Tiger. Have you found my fortune?

Man. The Wise Man told me to take the thorn out of your foot.

Tiger. Thank you. Here, take my 82treasure. I did not think of giving it to you before. [Man goes on.]

Camel. Have you found my fortune?

Man. The Wise Man told me to take the sacks off your back.

Camel. Thank you. But stop! These sacks are full of gold. Take them, and both of us will be happy. Why did we not think of this before?

Man. We were thinking only of ourselves.

Thrush. Oh, Mrs. Magpie, I wish you would teach us how you build your nest. Every one says your nest is made better than any other.

Magpie. Is that true? Indeed! Come nearer then, and I will show you how I do it. [Birds draw near.] You see I take some mud and make a round cake with it.

84

Thrush. Oh, that’s how it’s done! I can make one now. [Flies away.]

Magpie. Oh! the thrush went too soon. It is not yet done. Now I lay some twigs in the mud this way and that way, this way and that way.

Blackbird. I see! I see! [Flies away.]

Magpie. What! Has the blackbird gone, too? Next another layer of mud—twigs and mud, twigs and mud.

Wise Owl. Oh, that’s very easy! [Flies off.]

Magpie. Does the wise owl think that’s all? Now more twigs round the outside. Up and down; in and out; round and round.

85

Sparrow. The very thing. [Flies off.]

Magpie. Oh! but the nest is not lined yet. I make it soft and warm inside with feathers.

Starling. That suits me. [Flies off.]

Magpie. Has the starling gone, too? It will take just one minute more.

Turtledove. Take two, Tousey, take two-o-o.

Magpie. One is enough.

Turtledove. Take two, Tousey, take two-o-o.

Magpie. One is enough, I tell you. Oh! are they all gone but you, silly turtledove? And I have just finished my nest. None of them will make a nest like mine.

Mr. Sparrow. There! I’m glad enough to see the last of that snow. Chirp, chirp! Did you notice, my dear Mrs. Sparrow, how quickly it melted at the last?

Mrs. Sparrow. Yes, it seemed in a great hurry to go. It did the same 87thing last year when the warm days came.

Mr. Sparrow. Yes, yes, it always does—and don’t you know why? How could the little worms and green things come up out of the ground if the snow stayed all summer long? And then what should we do for good things to eat?

Mrs. Sparrow. Oh, yes, of course!

Mr. Sparrow. I see a worm now. You stay right here and I’ll get him for you. [He flies down and carries away the worm.]

Violet. That’s good. Worms are such dreadful creatures; always wriggling about one’s feet. I wonder what they are good for. Dear 88me, there’s Miss Crocus. Good morning! Did you have a good sleep?

Crocus. Yes, indeed. But I can’t unroll my petals far enough, I just want to stretch and stretch.

Violet. But it’s good to be back in the sunshine again.

First child. Oh, just see what I’ve found, a violet—a real one—and it’s a white one, too. Won’t Mary be glad.

Second Child. Oh, oh, can’t you find another?

First Child. No, there is just this one. I am going to take it up by the roots. Then it won’t wither.

Pussy Willow. [In basket.] Dear me! What does this mean? Why, Violet, you’ve got some dirt in my eye and on my nice new fur.

Fern. [In basket.] It Serves you right for being so proud. You think yourself better and prettier than others. Something always happens to any one who does that.

Pussy Willow. I wasn’t speaking to you.

Violet. Oh, please don’t quarrel. I am sure I am sorry if I have hurt any one. It was not my fault. I didn’t want to come here a bit. How I wish I could get out.

90

Fern. Humph! Little good it will do to get out. I think these are the very people that Mr. Oak Tree was telling me about. They come every year looking for ferns and flowers. He says some of my ancestors for many generations have gone the same way. They always choose the finest, at any rate.

First Child. Oh, Mary, I found the sweetest little violet for you—a white one. I dug it up with all its roots, so it will not wither.

Mary. How lovely! You are very kind to bring me such beautiful flowers.

Second Child. It’s the first one that came up.

Mary. How I’d love to hunt for the violets! But it’s hard for any one who is lame to go to the woods. I don’t suppose I shall ever go there myself.

92

First Child. Yes, you shall. Some day we’ll all go together.

Mary. Poor little flower! I wonder if it was sorry to leave its place in the woods to stay with me in this room. Please give it some water to drink. Then it will go on living.

Violet. How thankful I am that I came. Just a few days later and I might have withered there in the meadow. I would have been of no use to any one. Now I can make this little girl happy. I am so glad I grew. The best of all is to make some one happy.

Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid
And the nice nest I made?

94

Cow. Not I. Moo-oo! Moo-oo!
Such a thing I’d never do!
I gave you a wisp of hay
But didn’t take your nest away.
Not I! Moo-oo! Moo-oo!
Such a thing I’d never do.

Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid
And the nice nest I made?

Bobolink. Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plum tree to-day?

Dog.95 Not I! Bow-wow! Bow-wow!
I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow!
I gave hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take!
Not I! Bow-wow! Bow-wow!
I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow.

Yellow-breast. To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid
And the nice nest I made?

96

Bobolink. Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plum tree, to-day?

Cuckoo. Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!
Let me speak a word, too!
Who stole that pretty nest
From little Yellow-breast?

Sheep. Not I! Oh, no! Oh, no!
I wouldn’t treat a poor bird so.
I gave wool the nest to line;
But the nest was none of mine!
Oh, no! Oh, no! I wouldn’t treat a poor bird so.

Yellow-breast.97 To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!
Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid
And the nice nest I made?

Bobolink. Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole a nest away
From the plum tree, to-day?

Cuckoo. Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!
Let me speak a word, too.
Who stole that pretty nest
From little Yellow-breast?

Crow. Caw, caw! Hear the crow!
I should like to know
What thief took away
A bird’s nest, to-day?

Hen.98 Cluck! Cluck! Hear me then!
Don’t ask me again!
Why, I haven’t a chick
Would do such a trick!
We all gave her a feather
And she wove them together.
I’d scorn to intrude
On her and her brood.
Cluck, cluck! hear me then,
Don’t ask me again.

Bobolink,
Cuckoo,
Crow. Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr!
All the birds make a stir,
Let us find out his name
And all cry “For shame!”

99

Little Boy. I stole that pretty nest
From poor little Yellow-breast.
And I feel so full of shame
I do not like to tell my name!

Girl. We’ll call her the Lady Silver Mist.

Woodcutter. [Looking at the big bamboo tree.] Here is a tall, straight tree. It will do for a mast. I will cut it first.

Boastful Bamboo. [To Little Tree.] Good-by,—I am sorry for you. I shall see the world now and do great things. Good-by, Little Tree!

Little Tree. Good-by! Good fortune go with you! [Big tree falls.]

103

Boy. I’m glad he didn’t take our little tree.

Girl. [To Woodcutter.] Please don’t cut down our little tree. In all the forest we love it best.

Woodcutter. Ah, I see the little tree has friends.

Girl. Yes, we call her the Lady Silver Mist, and she is our playmate.

Woodcutter. But I’ve been sent to cut down all the trees in the forest. You must dig it up and carry it away, if you wish to keep it.

Boy. I’ll dig it up. We’ll take it home and plant it in our garden by the sea. [Children carry off the tree.]

Columbine. Spring, Spring! Oh, you naughty boy. Why are you here?

Spring. They didn’t want me, and neither do you.

Columbine. Oh, you poor dear boy. Come along at once to the fire and have some breakfast.

Spring. I didn’t come in before, because I thought you wouldn’t want me. [All sit down to breakfast.]

Clown. Sausages? I’m tired of sausages; such ages since we had anything else.

Pantaloon. Ho! ho! ho! [Waves his wand.] 106We’ll have rabbit pie, then. [Dish of sausages turns to rabbit pie.]

Clown. Do you know how they get the rabbits into the pie?

Spring. [Shakes his head.] No.

Clown. Would you like to know?

Spring. Please, sir.

Clown. Well, first of all, you make a nice rich brown crust, and you put it over a large dish. Then you cut a round hole from the pie crust. Fill the dish with lettuce and put it out on the lawn.

Spring. On the lawn?

Clown. Yes. Then the rabbits come. They pop down the hole in the crust to eat the lettuce. When the pie is 107full of rabbits, you run from behind a tree, cover the hole in the crust, and then with the dish in your arms, you dash into the kitchen,—pie in the oven, oven hot, fire bright—and, here we are!

108

Columbine. Don’t you believe him.

Pantaloon. [To Spring.] Why did you come back?

Spring. The farmers said I made the buds come out too soon. I only stroked the trees and the little sticky buds peeped out to kiss my hand. The gardeners were angry because, where I stepped, the flowers came out too soon, they said, and then—

Columbine. Never mind, dear. We are all glad to see you.

Pantaloon. And then?

Spring. Then East Wind came and 109Snow and Jack Frost, and they nipped my flowers, and hurt my trees, and made my lambs shiver behind the hedges. The goblins who sing in the fire hobs sang and sang till the people turned their backs on me and crouched up to the fire again and began to tell ghost stories.

Columbine. But you must go back now, and fight Jack Frost and scare Winter away. You have had your breakfast, dear, and now like all the world, you must do your work. Yes, dear, you must keep on working till summer wakes up.

Spring. Good-by.

Daisy. Oh dear, Miss Rose, do tell me please,
Is it you holds up the sky?

Rose. Dear Daisy, no, no, indeed,
I cannot reach so high.
111And very far above me
Is the blue and lovely sky.

  But if you wish to know.
To find out I will try.
Perhaps that tall fir tree
Is holding up the sky.

  You lift your head so high,
Do you hold up the sky?

Fir Tree. [Shaking his head.]
Oh no, indeed, sweet Rose
It surely is not I!
It may be this lofty elm,
Who stands to me so nigh.

Elm. No, no, it is not I.
But a mountain very tall
112In the distance I can spy,
And on his shoulders rests,
I think, the wondrous sky.

  You lift your head so high,
Do you hold up the sky?

Mountain. And who is it who would
For these secrets pry?
I’ve stood here many an age,
But I never touched the sky.

Rose. Sweet Daisy, dearest friend,
I fear before we die
We never shall find out
Who is holding up the sky.

Daisy and Rose.113 [Together.]
O Bird, you fly up so high,
Will you not please tell us
Who is holding up the sky?

Bird. ’Tis He who made the daisy
And He who made the rose;
’Tis He who made the fir tree,
The elm, and all that grows.

  ’Tis He who made the mountain
And made the bird to fly—
The good and Heavenly Father,
Who holdeth up the sky.

Tom. [To lobster caught in a lobster pot.] What, have you been naughty, and have they put you in the lockup?

Lobster. I can’t get out.

Tom. Why did you get in?

Lobster. I came in for that ugly piece of fish.

Tom. Where did you get in?

Lobster. Through that round hole at the top.

Tom. Then why don’t you get out through it?

Lobster. Because I can’t. I have jumped upwards, downwards, backwards, 118and sideways, at least four thousand times, and I can’t get out. I always get up underneath then and can’t find the hole.

Tom. Stop a bit. Turn your tail up to me, and I’ll pull you through hindforemost, and then you won’t stick in the spikes. [Tom pulls lobster.] Hello, here is a pretty business. Now take your great claws and break the point off those spikes, and then we shall both get out easily.

Lobster. Dear me, I never thought of that!

Gluck. What a pity my brothers never ask anybody to dinner. I’m sure when they’ve got such a nice piece of mutton as this it would do their hearts good to have somebody to eat it with them. [Knock sounds at the door.] It must be the wind. Nobody else would dare to knock double knocks at our door. [Gluck goes to the window.]

Little Old Gentleman. Hello! That’s not the way to answer the door. I am wet. Let me in.

135

Gluck. I beg your pardon, sir. I am very sorry, but I really can’t.

Little Old Gentleman. Can’t what?

Gluck. I can’t let you in. I can’t, indeed. My brother will beat me, sir, if I thought of such a thing. What do you want, sir?

Little Old Gentleman. Want? I want fire and shelter. There’s your great fire there blazing, cracking, and dancing on the walls with nobody to feel it. I only want to warm myself.

Gluck. He does look very wet. I’ll just let him in for a little while.

Little Old Gentleman. That’s a good boy. 136Never mind your brothers. I’ll talk to them.

Gluck. Pray, sir, don’t do any such 137thing. I can’t let you stay till they come.

Little Old Gentleman. Dear me. I’m very sorry to hear that. How long may I stay?

Gluck. Only till the mutton’s done, sir, and it’s very brown. [Little Old Gentleman seats himself before the fire.] You’ll soon dry there, sir. Mayn’t I take your cloak?

Little Old Gentleman. No, thank you.

Gluck. Your cap, sir?

Little Old Gentleman. I am all right, thank you.

Gluck. But, sir! I’m very sorry, but really, sir, you’re putting the fire out.

Little Old Gentleman. It’ll take longer to 138do the mutton then. That mutton looks very nice. Can’t you give me a little bit?

Gluck. Impossible, sir.

Little Old Gentleman. I’m very hungry. I’ve had nothing to eat yesterday nor to-day. They surely couldn’t miss a bit from the knuckle.

Gluck. They promised me one slice to-day, sir. I can give you that.

Little Old Gentleman. That’s a good boy.

Gluck. [To himself.] I don’t care if I do get beaten for it. [Loud rap at the door. Schwartz and Hans enter.]

Schwartz. What did you keep us waiting in the rain for?

Hans. Ay, what for, indeed!

139

Schwartz. Bless my soul, who’s that?

Gluck. I don’t know, indeed, brother.

Schwartz. How did he get in?

Gluck. My dear brother, he was so very wet.

Schwartz. Who are you, sir?

Hans. What’s your business?

Little Old Gentleman. I am a poor old man, sir, and I saw your fire through the window and begged shelter for a little while.

Schwartz. Have the goodness to walk out again, then.

Little Old Gentleman. It’s a cold day to turn an old man out, sir. Look at my gray hairs.

140

Hans. Ay, there are enough of them to keep you warm. Walk!

Little old Gentleman. I’m very, very hungry, sir. Couldn’t you spare me a bit of bread before I go?

Schwartz. Bread, indeed! Do you suppose we’ve nothing to do with our bread but to give it to such fellows as you?

Hans. Out with you.

Little Old Gentleman. A little bit?

Schwartz. Be off!

Little Old Gentleman. Pray, gentlemen.

Hans. Off!

Little Old Gentleman. Gentlemen, I wish you a very good morning. At twelve o’clock to-night I’ll call again. But 141you will not be surprised if that visit is the last I ever make you.

Schwartz. If I ever catch you here again—[To Gluck.] A very pretty business, indeed, Mr. Gluck. Dish the mutton, sir. If ever I catch you at such a trick again—bless me, why the mutton’s been cut.

Gluck. You promised me one slice, brother, you know.

Schwartz. Oh, you were cutting it hot, I suppose, and going to catch all the gravy. It will be long before I promise you such a thing again. Leave the room, sir, and have the kindness to wait in the coal cellar till I call you.

Schwartz. [Starting up.] What’s that?

Little Old Gentleman. Only I, Southwest Wind.

Hans. The room is full of water, and the roof is off.

Little Old Gentleman. Sorry, gentlemen. I am afraid your beds are dampish. Perhaps you had better go to your brother’s room. I’ve left the ceiling on there. You’ll find my card on the kitchen table. Remember, this is the last visit from Southwest Wind.

Tiger. Let me out of the cage, Brahman!

Brahman. No, I will not. If I let you out of the cage, you will eat me.

Tiger. O Brahman, indeed I will not. I could not be so unkind as that. Only let me out to get a drink of water. Then I will come back. [Brahman opens the cage.]

Tiger. [Jumping out.] Now, I will eat you first and then I’ll drink the water.

Brahman. Alas! How foolish I was to let you out. Only do not kill me hastily. Let me ask the first three things I meet to tell me whether it is just and fair that you should put 161me to death. If all of them say it is just and fair for you to kill me I shall be willing to die.

Tiger. It shall be as you say. You may ask the opinion of three.

Brahman. O Tree, hear my story and tell me who is right. The tiger begged me to let him out of his cage, to drink a little water. He promised not to hurt me if I did so. But now that I have let him out he wishes to kill and eat me. Is this right?

Tree. I give shade to all who pass by, but when they are rested they cut my branches and break off my leaves. Why do you complain?

162

Brahman. Alas! Alas! [Goes on.] O Buffalo, hear my story and tell me who is right. The tiger begged me to let him out of his cage to drink a little water. But now that I have let him out he wishes to kill and eat me. Is this right, O Buffalo?

Buffalo. Look at me! See how hard I work. When I was young I had the best of food. But now that I am old I am kept here in the field. I have only the coarsest food to eat. Why do you complain?

Brahman. Alas! Alas! [Goes to Road.] O Road, hear my story and tell me who is right. The tiger begged me to let him out of his cage to drink a 163little water. But now that I have let him out he wishes to kill and eat me. Is this right, O Road?

Road. Poor Brahman! How can you hope for anything else? Think of me. Here I am useful to every one. Yet all, rich and poor, great and small, trample on me as they go past. Why do you complain?

Brahman. Alas! Alas! Alas! There is no help for me. [Turns homeward.]

Jackal. What’s the matter, Mr. Brahman? You look very sad.

Brahman. I am sad. As I was walking along the road I came to the tiger in his cage. He begged me to let him out to drink a little water. He 164said he would not harm me if I did so.

Jackal. Did you let him out?

Brahman. I did. As soon as he was out he tried to eat me. I asked him to wait till I could get the opinion of the first three things I came to whether it was right for him to kill me. I asked the tree, the buffalo, and the road. Alas!

Jackal. What did they say?

Brahman. They all said it was right.

Jackal. Who said it was right?

Brahman. Why, the tree, and the road, and the buffalo.

Jackal. Oh, it’s very confusing. Let me see! Perhaps matters are not 165so bad as you think. But it’s very confusing. You say the tiger said the tree and the road and the buffalo were right?

Brahman. No, no, no. The road and the tree and the buffalo said the tiger should kill and eat me!

Jackal. It all goes in one ear and out the other. It’s very confusing. Take me to the place where it happened. Then I shall be able to understand.

Tiger. You have been away a long time. I want my dinner.

Brahman. Just wait until I make the jackal understand how it all 166happened. He is so slow in his wits! I must explain things to him.

Jackal. Show me where you stood.

Brahman. Here, by the cage.

Jackal. Right there?

Brahman. Right here.

Jackal. Where was the tiger then?

Tiger. I was in the cage!

Jackal. Yes, yes. Let me see, how did it all begin?

Brahman. Tiger was in the cage and I came walking by—

Jackal. Yes, yes, I see. You were in the cage and the tiger came walking by—

Tiger. [Angrily.] Not at all! I was in the cage.

167

Jackal. Yes, my lord. Dear, dear, it’s very confusing. It has all got mixed up in my mind. Let me see, the tiger was in the Brahman and the cage came walking by! No, no, that was not it, either! Well, don’t wait for me. I shall never understand.

Tiger. Yes, you shall understand. Look here, I am the tiger.

Jackal. Yes, my lord.

Tiger. And that is the Brahman.

Jackal. Yes, my lord.

Tiger. And that is the cage.

Jackal. Yes, my lord.

Tiger. And I was in the cage. Do you understand?

168

Jackal. Yes, my lord. But please, my lord, how did you get in?

Tiger. How did I get in? Why, the usual way, of course!

Jackal. Oh dear me! My head is beginning to whirl again. Please don’t get angry, my lord, but what

is the usual way?

Tiger. This way. Now do you understand? [Tiger jumps into cage.]

Jackal. Yes, I understand now. And I think we had better leave you just where you are. [Locks cage door.]

Elephant. Dear me—we must find one.

Tiger. One what?

Elephant. A story-teller for the lion. He wants one who will tell him stories one after another without stopping. It’s a task indeed.

Camel. Yes, yes, and he will put us to death if we fail to find some one who can do so.

Tiger. He’s king, and they say the king kills when he will. I do not know what we shall do.

170

Fox. Let me think. I have it—Tell the king you have found the story-teller that he wished for.

Lion. So, Mr Fox, you are to tell me stories without ceasing.

Fox. Yes, O King Lion.

Lion. Very well—begin.

Fox. There was once a fisherman who went to sea. He had a large net. He spread it out far and wide. One day a great many fish got into the net. Just as the fisherman was about to draw it up, the cords broke, and a small hole was made in the side of the net. Now, this hole was just large enough for one fish 171to slip through at a time. So, one fish got out—[Fox stops.]

Lion.172 Yes?

Fox. Then two fishes got out. [Fox stops.]

Lion. What then?

Fox. Then three escaped. [Fox stops.]

Lion. [Impatiently.] Yes, yes! but the story? I tell you, go on with the story. What then?

Fox. Then four fishes got out.

Lion. Come, come, sir, you are not telling me anything new.

Fox. O King! Each lot of fishes was different from the rest.—Then the hole grew a little larger and—

Lion. But, wherein is the wonder?

173

Fox. Why, your majesty, what can be more wonderful than for fish to escape in lots, each lot greater than the other by one?

Lion. [Impatiently.] How long will it take all those fishes to get out?

Fox. O King Lion, it was a large net—there were thousands and thousands of fishes in it.—Then the hole grew a little larger and—

Lion. Stop, stop! I can not stand this. Leave my court at once—anything to stop those fishes.

Fox. [To animals.] Fear not, I have saved you all. The tyrant won’t try that plan again.