PRICE 15 CENTS THE GOLDEN GOOSE BECKLEY- (ARDY COMPANY Chicago BEST BOOKS AND HELPS FOR TEACHERS OF ALL GRADES Morning Exercises for All the Year. By Joseph ('. Sindelar, author of the "Nixie Bunny"' books, etc Contains over 300 exercises, arranged day by day. there being an exercise for each morning of the ten school months, beginning with the first day in Sep- tember and ending with the last day in .lime. 252 large pages. Cloth. Price, 60 cents. Language Games for All Grades. By Alhambra G. Deming, Princi- pal Washington School, Winona, Minn. Designed to establish the habit of correct speech and to increase the child's vocabulary. 90 pages. Cloth. Price (with 53 cards for pupils' use), 65 cents. Easy Things to Draw. By D. R. Augsburg. A teacher's handbook, with 203 simple drawings for reproducing on the blackboard. 77 large pages. Paper. Price, 30 cents. Simplex Class Record. The most convenient, compact and practical teacher's class book published. Provides space tor 432 names. 76 pages, ruled in three colors. Size, 4^4x7% inches. Cloth. Price, 30 cents. Simplex Seat Plan. A simple card and pocket device for keeping a correct list of the pupils for easy reference. Size, 6x9 inches. Cloth. Price (with 100 cards), 35' cents. District-School Dialogues. By Marie Irish. A collection of twenty- five new. humorous dialogues for children of all ages. 160 pages. Paper. Price, 30 cents. The Best Christmas Book. By Joseph C. Sindelar. Dialogues, reci- tation-, songs, drills, pantomimes, tableaux, etc.. for Christinas entertainment. 192 pages. Paper. Price, 30 cents. Best Memory Gems. Selected and edited by Joseph C. Sindelar. Con- tains 400 of the choicest gems culled from the best in litera- ture, and indexed. Ijy authors, by first lines, and by sentiment. For primary, intermediate and grammar grades. 64 pages. Paper. Price, 15 cents. Best Primary Recitations. By Winifred A. Hoag. Over 200 original recitations for first and second grades. 88 pages. Paper. Price, 15 cents. Best Primary Songs. By Amos M. Kellogg. Nearly sixty songs for primary and ungraded schools. 48 large pages. Paper. Price, 15 cents. Merry Melodies. By S. C. Hanson. A book of school songs. Over one-half million copies already sold. 64 large pages. Paper. Price, 15 cents. 128-page illustrated Catalogue of Books mailed upon request BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY Publishers CHICAGO THE GOLDEN GOOSE A Mother Goose Play for Children BY ELIZABETH F. GUPTILL Author of "Twelve Plays for Children" L?*i BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY CHICAGO p Copyright, 1916, by BECKLEY-CAEDY COMPANY TMP96-007G54 4 Or DEC 261916 ©CI.D 45901 CHARACTERS Mother Goose Miss Muffet Bo-Peep Jill Betty Blue Goose Girl Fairy Jack Boy Blue Simple Simon Old Grimes Jack of the Beanstalk Tom // necessary, Betty Blue may also take the part of the Goose Girl, and Tom that of Old Grimes, making only eleven characters in all instead of thirteen. Costumes may be dispensed with, if desired, Boy Blue being distinguished by his horn, etc. Time of Playing: About twenty minutes. 13] COSTUMES Mother Goose — Wears a quilted yellow skirt, a red pointed waist, and pannier overskirt, high-heeled black shoes with large silver buckles, and red stockings. She has a white chemisette, and a tall pointed black hat with a red band. Miss Muffet — Wears a pink dress, coming to her ankles, over which she wears a thin white slip with low, round neck and elbow sleeves. Ruffles edge the neck, sleeves, and bottom of this slip, which is caught up a little. A broad pink sash passes around her, high under her arms, and is tied in a large bow behind. She wears a full mob cap of the white over pink, edged with a frill. A pink ribbon is put around it, with a bow at one side. Low shoes and white stockings; also, long black mitts. Bo-Peep — Wears a quilted blue skirt, with a waist and overskirt of flowered blue. It has a low, square neck edged with a narrow frill, and frilled elbow sleeves. The overskirt is looped up with bows of blue ribbon. On her head is a large straw hat, trimmed with forget-me-nots, and tied down, gypsy fashion, with blue ribbons. She carries a crook covered with silver paper, a large blue bow tied just below the crooked part. Jill — Wears a gingham dress and a print apron trimmed with ruffles. This has ties behind, which are untied. She wears a sunbonnet, hanging on her neck, and should be barefoot. Part of the time she takes off the sunbonnet and swings it by the strings. Betty Blue — Wears a blue Empire dress, blue stockings, and low shoes. A blue ribbon passes around the very short waist and is tied at left side of front in four short loops and long ends. Large hat, shirred, with broad ties. [5] The Goose Girl — Wears a red dress, a white kerchief, and a print apron. Her hat is a pointed one of straw, with a red band. She carries a long switch. The Fairy — Has a short white skirt, made very full, and several starched petticoats beneath it, to make it stand out. The waist has a point in front, and has a low, round neck and short sleeves. Her shoes and stockings are white. Her hair should be long, light, and wavy, and held back by a band of silver tinsel with a star above the forehead. She carries a slender wand, tipped with a star. She should be smaller than the others. Jack — 'Wears a shirt and overalls, and is barefoot. His overalls are rolled up, and he has a battered straw hat on the back of his head. Boy Blue — 'Wears a suit of blue. This may be a Russian suit, or a sailor suit, according to the age of the boy. He wears a leather belt, to which his horn is fastened by a cord ; also large haymaker's hat with a blue band. Simple Simon — Wears a carter's smock frock of brown or linen color, and a small felt hat, in which is stuck a chicken feather. Old Grimes — Wears a very long old dark blue coat, with a row of brass buttons extending down the entire front. He wears an old-fashioned cocked hat. Jack of the Beanstalk — Wears a costume of red and black. The doublet is black, close-fitting, and laced behind with red. The full, short trunks are of red and black, striped. He wears long leggings to meet the trunks, of black or tan cloth or leather. He has a sword and belt, and a red hat with a long black plume. Tom — Wears a brown Greenaway suit, with long trousers, buttoned over a short, tight waist, a frill collar, and small round hat. The Hen and The Goose — Are made of cloth, stuffed with cotton. One of each is sufficient. [6] THE GOLDEN GOOSE SCENE I Mother Goose's Home. This is a frame covered with paper, painted to represent a book. "Mother Goose" is painted upon the door, which is in the center. A couple of windows should be painted on. There should be a wooden doorstep. Tied to the doorknob is a long black streamer and two long feathers, crossed. Little Miss Muffet sits on the door- step, crying into her apron. Her spoon is in her lap, and her bowl is on the ground, upside down. [Enter Bo-Peep.] bo-peep Why, what is the matter now, little Miss Muffet? What makes you sit down there and cry? It can't be a spider this time, I am sure, For there do n't seem to be any nigh. [Notices door.] Why, what does that mean? Is it crape on the doorknob? Who's dead? Not our mother! [7] Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE MISS MUFFET [Sobbing.] The Goose. She swallowed a fishbone. It stuck in her crop, And medicine was of no use. BO-PEEP The Goose? Why dear me, now! Oh, where is my kerchief? I know I am going to cry. Come, let 's cry together now, all nice and cosy. Oh, why did our poor goosie die? [She sits down beside Miss Muffet and both cry together.] [Enter Jack and Jill.] JACK Now what in the world is the cause of this crying? BO-PEEP She 's dead. JACK Oh, she is? Well, who's she? MISS MUFFET The Goose. JILL Just the Goose? Well, who cares if she is dead? [8] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I BO-PEEP [Looking up.] Why, you're as horrid as ever can be. JACK [Sings. Jill joins in."] Tell Aunt Abbie, tell Aunt Abbie, Tell Aunt Abbie, the old gray goose is dead. [Boy Blue enters.] [Joins song.] One she was saving, one she was saving, One she was saving, to make a feather bed. [Simple Simon enters.] [Joins song.] She died easy, she died easy, She died easy, in the shed. SIMPLE SIMON [Noticing door.] Is some one dead, really, though? JILL Only the Goose. BOY BLUE And what was the matter with her? [9] Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE BO-PEEP She swallowed a fishbone. MISS MUFFET It stuck in her crop. SIMPLE SIMON Well, the thing did n't get very fur. Why didn't ma call Doctor Foster? MISS MUFFET She did; but he couldn't do one bit of good. Though he operated, she didn't survive. JACK I shouldn't suppose that she would. MISS MUFFET Well, he gave her two cupfuls of good castor oil; And almost a hundred blue pills, And a strong mustard plaster all over her crop — JILL Oh, dear, what a jumble of ills! BOY BLUE Thought he operated? [10] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I MISS MUFFET He did, later on, But the silly thing wouldn't keep still; And when he was giving her ether to smell, She drank it all up with her bill. And now she is dead. BO-PEEP [Crying again. ] Yes, oh dear, and oh dear! JILL And just see the crape on the door. BOY BLUE S'pose mother feels bad, but — well — old Mrs. Goose Can't tell on this kid any more. JILL She was an old tattle-tale, every one knows. I do n't see why you girls should cry. I 'm going to thank Doctor Foster, myself, For helping that old bird to die. SIMPLE SIMON Is she dead? Are you sure? Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE BO-PEEP Why, of course we are, Si. She 's as dead as an old goose can be. SIMPLE SIMON Then I 'm going to get me a whole cherry pie, If you're sure she can't tell ma on me. JACK Three cheers for the doctor. Old Foster's all right. ALL THE BOYS and JILL Hurrah, and hurrah, and hurrah ! [Door opens suddenly. Mother Goose comes out. Boys start to run.] MOTHER GOOSE Come back here, this instant now, you noisy boys; Come back, and let's see who you are. [They come back, slowly. ~\ Now, what were you making all this noise about? Don't you see there is crape on the door? Have you no more heart than to holler that way When our dear old gray goose is no more? JILL That's why we were cheering; because we were glad. [12] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I SIMPLE SIMON She can't tell on us any more. JACK She was an old tattle-tale, mother, you know. BOY BLUE Yes, really, that bird was a bore. MOTHER GOOSE And you 're glad she is dead? Glad my old pet is gone ? Why, children, how heartless are you ! JILL [Sulkily.] Well, she told when we quarreled, and told when we shirked. MOTHER GOOSE Well, she's dead, and oh, what shall I do? [Mother Goose sits down on doorstep and be- gins to cry.] miss muffet I 'm sorry, dear mother, the old goose is gone, Though she did call me "Fraid Cat," and such. BO-PEEP And T 'm sorry as well, though she would wake me up. [13] Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE BOY BLUE She never would let me snooze much. MOTHER GOOSE Oh dear, and oh dear, my beloved gray goose ! Without her my heart is so sore. Run away now and play, you hard-hearted young things; But don't you dare cheer any more. [Boys and Jill step of a little way. Mother Goose cries. .] She followed me around, and she ate from my hand. Without her I 'm lost as can be ; Without her, I 'm sure, I do n't know what to do, For she always seemed human to me. [Goes back into house, crying. .] JACK No accounting for tastes. Why, she really feels bad. I 'm sorry for ma, I declare. Let's get her another, a better one, too. BOY BLUE Why, yes, so we will, Jack, but where? JACK Oh, we '11 hunt till we find one. There must be a lot. [14] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I MISS MUFFET That can't talk? JILL And won't tell any tales? BO-PEEP And will lay a big egg every day of her life? SIMPLE SIMON Gee. I bet they're as scarce as pink whales. JACK Well, after the funeral let us all go And find a nice bird for a pet. We '11 just travel on till we come across one. Will you all go and help me? SIMPLE SIMON You bet. BO-PEEP Let's go find some flowers to make her look nice. JILL She never looked pretty before. Though I 'm sorry that mother is sorry, of course, Still, I'm glad that old bird is no more. [15] Scene I THE GOLDEN GOOSE BOY BLUE Let 's not wait for the funeral. Let us go now. We'll search all the rest of the day. JILL If we find her a new one, then mother, of course, Won't mind laying the old one away. SIMPLE SIMON But which way shall we go? To the east or the west? JILL You say, Jack. We will go where you will. JACK Why, I'm sure I don't know — but stay — I've a good plan. Though / do n't know, I do know who will. JILL Who, Jack; who will know? BOY BLUE Yes, who is it, old chap? JACK Let's ask the old owl in the tree. He '11 be cross if we wake him up now, I suppose, But he's wise as an old owl can be. [16] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene I SIMPLE SIMON Gee whiz! We will find one, sure, if we ask him, Though mother did say, t' other day, That he was n't as wise as her goose, she was sure. JILL Come on, then. Let's hurry away. [All pass out.] [Curtain.] [17] SCENE II An outdoor scene. The entrance to a wood. A rustic gate leads into the wood. Before this gate is a large open place,- which occupies most of the platform. A few small trees are so arranged that a winding path can be made among them, leading to the gate. If this is not practicable, it may be dispensed with, but the characters, with the exception of the children of Mother Goose, who were shown in Scene I, must enter through this gate. [Enter Children.] BOY BLUE [Looking all around him.] Yes, this is the place where she said we must wait. This is Hazelnut Wood and, see, here is the gate. SIMPLE SIMON That stupid old owl would n't wake up at all. He was lazy as lazy could be. JILL If we had wakened him up, don't believe he'd have known. [ Takes off sunbonnet and swings it by the strings.] [18] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II SIMPLE SIMON No, I think he's as stupid as me. BOY BLUE Oh, he couldn't be, Si. Why, the very idea ! There is no one as stupid as you, Not even a hop-toad. SIMPLE SIMON Now, do n't be so smart ! There is no one, I s'pose, wise as you. MISS MUFFET Don't quarrel. Let's rest while we wait for the goose. I 'm afraid it is awfully late, And I 'm tired as ever a small girl can be. JILL [Throwing herself down.] Well, suppose we sit down while we wait. JACK [Taking a piece of paper from his pocket.] Now, who do you s'pose threw this note down to us? SIMPLE SIMON Perhaps it just fell from a tree. [19] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE MISS MUFFET But it did n't grow there. Do n't be silly, now, Si ! BO-PEEP It's as funny as funny can be. BOY BLUE We were standing right there, looking up at the tree, And trying to wake that old owl — JILL The idea of any one calling him wise, That most disagreeable fowl ! JACK And this fluttered right down, just a little way off, And I picked it right up, and it said — BO-PEEP And we heard that wee noise, as of fluttering wings, And a silvery laugh overhead. MISS MUFFET Now, was it a fairy? BOY BLUE Or was it a bird? [20] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II JACK Well, that is the question, you see. If any one knows, he can just speak right up, For I 'm sure the whole thing puzzles me. JILL Just read it again, Jack. Just what does it say? JACK [Reading.] "Dear children: It is of no use To wake the old owl. I can tell what you want. You are seeking the fair golden goose. Oh, a wonderful bird is the one that you seek. She is wise, and she's handsome and good. If you 'd see her to-day, go and wait by the gate At the entrance to Hazelnut Wood." JILL And so we just came. SIMPLE SIMON Yes, and here we be now. BOY BLUE And here 's somebody coming. Look there. MISS MUFFET It's a man. [21] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE SIMPLE SIMON And a hen. JILL Now, who can that chap be? [Old Grimes, who has been coming down the path, and has just reached the gate.~\ OLD GRIMES Here are six little folks, I declare. \He conies through the gate, and advances to th^ group.] Good afternoon, children. SIMPLE SIMON Now, who may you be? I'm sure we don't know who you be. We 're looking for some one to come through the gate, I wonder if you can be he. OLD GRIMES Just look at my coat, Si, with buttons so bright, I am sure you have seen me before. JILL [Sings. 2 "Old Grimes, he wore an old blue coat, All buttoned down before." [22] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II CHILDREN [All sing.] "All buttoned, buttoned, buttoned, buttoned, All buttoned down before. He used to wear an old blue coat, All buttoned down before." OLD GRIMES Oh yes, that 's me. I thought you 'd know This old blue coat of mine. It's getting quite old-fashioned, now, But it fits, and feels quite fine. BOY BLUE How does it happen you are here? I thought you blew away When came the north wind from the south, while you were drinking whey. CHILDREN [All sing.~\ "And blew, and blew, and blew, and blew, And blew Old Grimes away. There came a north wind from the south, And blew Old Grimes away." OLD GRIMES Oh, when the wind changed, I blew back. 'T was easy as could be. [23] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE I hear you 're looking for a goose. Now, won't you trade with me? JACK But you 've no goose. That fowl 's a hen. OLD GRIMES She's smart as she can be. She always lays two eggs a day, And Sundays she lays three. CHILDREN [//// sing.~\ "And Sundays, Sundays, Sundays, Sundays, Sundays she lays three; She used to lay two eggs a day, And Sundays she laid three." OLD GRIMES [Petting hen.] Yes, here she is, the best old bird! She's handsome, you'll allow. I Ve plenty of her chicks at home. What do you offer, now? SIMPLE SIMON But it 's a goose, you see, we want, for ours up and died; She got a fishbone in her neck; and ma feels bad. She cried. [24] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II OLD GRIMES She 'd like my hen, I 'm very sure. JACK No. 'T is n't any use To try to make a trade with us because we want a goose. OLD GRIMES I '11 sell her to you very cheap. I want some money bad. Wife wants a new spring bonnet. What will you give, my lad? CHILDREN [All together.] No, no. It is a goose we want. A goose it's got to be. OLD GRIMES Well, well, old Speckle, we '11 go on. [Passes on, past the children, and out of sight.] JILL Here comes another. See? [Enter Goose Girl, zvith a goose under her left arm and a long switch in her right hand.] SIMPLE SIMON You 've got a goose. [25] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE GOOSE GIRL Of course I have. Why should n't I have one, pray? I Ve a whole flock of them back there. [Points off to one side.~\ This bad one ran away. [Shakes goose a little, and cuffs it gently. .] SIMPLE SIMON A bad one? Gee! That 's what we want. Ours was so dreadful good She told ma on us all the time. JILL [Looking at goose.~\ I wonder if she would? GOOSE GIRL Of course she wouldn't. Geese can't talk. MISS MUFFET Ours could; but now she's dead. GOOSE GIRL Indeed. And was that why she died? Her smartness go to her head? BO-PEEP No, 't was a fishbone in her crop. About your other geese, Where is your flock? [26] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II GOOSE GIRL [Pointing.] Off there a ways. It's just a little piece. BOY BLUE Can any of them talk at all? GOOSE GIRL Of course they can't; but then, I shouldn't think you 'd want her to, for she might tattle then. I never tried to teach them to. Perhaps you could, you know. Just come along and see them. They 're all as white as snow. BO-PEEP Our goose was gray. SIMPLE SIMON But she 's all dead. BOY BLUE Have you a golden goose? GOOSE GIRL Of course not. Come along, old Sal. To talk with them 's no use. [Passes on, stroking! goose.~\ [27] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE SIMPLE SIMON She needn't got so huffy. MISS MUFFET Oh dear, what is the use of waiting such an awful while? We '11 never find a goose. JACK But if the note is true, you know. BOY BLUE But is it? That's the thing. BO-PEEP I think it is. JILL And so do I. JACK It has the real ring. MISS MUFFET A golden goose. Ma must be pleased if we should bring her that. SIMPLE SIMON You s'pose she'll lay two eggs a day? Old Grimes's hen did that. [28] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II JILL Here comes a boy. JACK He's got a hen. They're plenty, seems to me. Of course he wants to trade her. Who can the fellow be? [Jack of the Beanstalk steps through the gate and speaks. ~\ JACK OF THE BEANSTALK Good afternoon, young ladies and gentlemen. I hear you want to buy a goose. boy blue [Pointing to hen.] Is that a goose, I pray? JACK OF THE BEANSTALK Well, not exactly. That 's a hen. Now, did n't you know that? She's better, though, than any goose. She's hand- some, wise, and fat. SIMPLE SIMON And who be you, young feller? How very pert you be. [29] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE JACK OF THE BEANSTALK I 'm Jack, who climbed the beanstalk. You must have heard of me. I cut it down one day, you know, to make the giant fall. He struck quite hard; it broke his neck, beside our garden wall. I have his harp, his money, bags, his treasures, and his hen. JILL Is that the one you 're carrying? JACK OF THE BEANSTALK You bet it isn't, then; But it's one of her chickens. SIMPLE SIMON Can it lay a golden egg? JACK OF THE BEANSTALK I rather guess it can, sir. What will you give, I beg? BOY BLUE What will you take? JACK Yes, what's the price? [30] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II JACK OF THE BEANSTALK What do you offer me? MISS MUFFET And will she lay two eggs a day, and Sundays lay us three? JACK OF THE BEANSTALK No, Old Grimes keeps that breed of hens. Mine lays but one a day, But that's of gold; a richer egg than any his can lay. You'll never get a better chance to trade. You'd better buy. They 're the best hens on the market, and geese are dreadful high. BO-PEEP But 't is a goose we want, sir. Our old gray goose is dead. We 're waiting for the golden goose. JACK OF THE BEANSTALK Oh, trade now. Come ahead. JACK We have n't cash enough for both. We '11 trade some other day. [31] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE JACK OF THE BEANSTALK [To hen.] Well, come along, my beauty. We must hurry on our way. [He passes on. Tom comes in sight. ] SIMPLE SIMON Here comes a boy what's got a goose. Now sir, who may you be? TOM [Coming through gate.] My name is Tom. Don't bother me. I must be on my way. BOY BLUE But that's a goose you're carrying. TOM [Sarcastically.] You do n't say. Is it now? Who ever would have thought it? I thought it was a cow. JACK Now do n't you get too funny. Do you want to sell your goose? [.32] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II TOM Well, no, I don't. You can't buy her. To ask it is no use. BO-PEEP We want to buy a goose, sir. Our old gray goose is dead. TOM That so? I didn't kill her. You can't have mine, instead. She '11 be a dead goose soon, though. I have a plan, you see; And when I've killed this tough old bird, a rich lad I will be. BOY BLUE How 's that, I 'd like to know, sir? JILL Will you be rich to-day? TOM Yes, as quick as I have killed her. She lays an egg each day Of purest gold; and so, you see, I '11 get it all at once In a great big lump, and I '11 be rich. [33] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE JILL Oh, what a little dunce! If you kill her, you'll have nothing instead of one a day. You 'd better sell her to us. We 'd keep her, anyway. TOM I guess no one will keep her. She's going to lose her head. I '11 be as rich as Midas when this old bird is dead. I must hurry up and find an axe, and, then, hurrah for me ! I '11 go up to the city and cut a dash, you see. [Tom passes on.~\ JILL Now, wasn't he a foolish boy? SIMPLE SIMON Was that the golden goose? JACK I really do believe it was; but 't wasn't any use To argue with that fellow. He didn't know a thing. MISS MUFFET That goose was white; not even a gold feather in its wing. [34] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene JI JACK I believe it was the one, though. It laid a golden egg- JILL And is an egg a goose, Jack? Just answer that, I beg. BO-PEEP It might be some times, surely. Here 's another one. Oh dear. It's just another white one. Now why is that one here? [Betty Blue comes through gate, with a goose under her arm.~\ MISS MUFFET Why, Betty Blue, where have you been? Is that a goose you've found? BETTY BLUE It's only Goosey Gander. He's been running all around. Up the stairs, and down the stairs, as usual, you know; And in my lady's chamber, where he 's always bound to go. [35] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE JILL And did you know the goose was dead? BETTY BLUE No! Is she? I don't care. I wish that Goosey Gander 'd die next time he saw a stair. I 'm tired chasing that old thing. I 'm just a-going to go And chain him with an ox chain; then he'll have to stay, I know. [She passes on.~\ • BOY BLUE Let's give it up! I'm tired, and it isn't any use. I think the whole thing was a sell. There is no golden goose. SIMPLE SIMON And I be awful hungry. I could eat a tiger, raw. JACK I guess he'd do the eating, and you'd be in his maw. SIMPLE SIMON Well, anyhow, I 'm going home. Why, here comes Betty, back. [Betty hurries back, without Goosey Gander.~\ [36] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II JACK What is the news, Miss Betty? BETTY BLUE You couldn't guess, Sir Jack. The goose was not dead after all; she really has come to, And is eating on the doorstep. She's just as good as new. And mother's glad as she can be. She's busy as can be Getting up a celebration. There '11 be lots of things for tea. I saw her making frosted cake, and ice cream; and oh my. For every single one of us she 's made a cherry pie. She's invited Dr. Foster. I met him on the way, And he had a bag of peanuts. SIMPLE SIMON Hurray, hurray, hurray ! BETTY BLUE And mother says, come home to tea ; there '11 be a celebration, Because her goose is still alive, the finest in the nation. [37] Scene II THE GOLDEN GOOSE BOY BLUE Well, I 'm glad we did n't make a trade. What would the old goose say If we brought home another one to take her place to-day? JILL I 'd like to know who dropped that note about the golden goose. We tried so hard to buy her, but 't was n't any use. [The Fairy suddenly appears, having come swiftly along the path while they listened to Betty Blue.] fairy I dropped it, little maiden, as I was flying by. You wished to help your mother, so I thought that you might try. JILL But we did n't help her any, so 't was n't any use. FAIRY Yes, you learned a needed lesson while hunting for a goose. In thinking of your mother, yourselves you quite forgot, And, though you didn't know it, the golden goose was caught. t3«] THE GOLDEN GOOSE Scene II The goose your mother cared for was to her the golden goose; Though you 'd brought her fifty others, she 'd have found them of no use. But the love that tried to please her, to her is better far Than all the golden eggs or geese in many kingdoms are. And I Ye a fairy secret that I will tell to you, How to keep the Goose from tattling. JILL Oh, tell us, Fairy, do. FAIRY Just be sure, when mother's out of sight, that all the things you do, Are those you Ye willing she should know; then the Goose won't tell on you, And you shall all be very happy. Now run along to tea, For there you '11 find the Golden Goose, your own old goose, you see. [Curtain.] [39] SUPPLEMENTARY READERS FOR ALL GRADES BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW By Georgiana M. Craik. Edited by Joseph C. Sindelar The story of a young dog and cat, and one of the few books for beginners in reading that may be classed as literature. The story, the style, and the moral are all good. 32 illustrations in colors. 95 pages. Cloth. Price, 30 cents THE NIXIE BUNNY BOOKS By Joseph C. Sindelar Nixie Bunny in Manners-Land — A Rabbit Story of Good Manners Nixie Bunny in Workaday- Land — A Rabbit Story of the Occupations Nixie Bunny in Holiday-Land — A Rabbit Story of the Holidays The Nixie Bunny Books have been read by over 75,000 children in two years. They are unsurpassed in popularity by any children's books ever published. Adopted as supplementary readers in the second and third grades by hundreds of towns and cities all over the country, including Chicago, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Worcester (Mass.), etc. Sc'ected by fourteen states for reading circle and school library purposes. They are interestingly written, attractively illustrated, pedagogieally arranged, well graded, and teach enough of value to pay for the time spent in their reading. Each book has 144 pages, with from 64 to 90 illustrations in colors. Cloth. Price, each, 40 cents. THE PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL CLASSICS A new series of reading books, which offers the highest class of literature for all grades at very small cost. No other series at so low a price contains the valuable features of this series, namely: accurate and authentic texts, notes and numbered lines for reference, portraits, biographical sketches, illustrations, new type, good paper and bind- ing, and convenient size. Bow-Bow and Mew-Mew — Craik — Grades 1-2 — 95 pages (12 cents) Peter Rabbit and Other Tales — Grades 2-3 The King of the Golden River — Ruskin — Grades 4-6 Rip Van Winkle and the Author's Account of Himself — Irving — Grades 5-8 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow — Irving — Grades 5-8 Thanatopsis, Sella and Other Poems — Bryant — Grades 5-8 The Courtship of Miles Standish — Longfellow — Grades 6-8 The Pied Piper of Hamelin and Other Poems — Browning — Grades 6-8 Evangeline — Longfellow — Grades 6-8 The Great Stone Face — Hawthorne — Grades 6-8 The Man Without a Country — Hale — Grades 6-8 Snow-Bound and Other Poems — Whittier — Grades 6-8 Enoch Arden — Tennyson — Grades 6-H. S. The Vision of Sir Launfal and Other Poems — Lowell — Grades 6-H. S. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner — Coleridge — Grades 7-H. S. The Cotter's Saturday Night and Other Poems — Burns — Grades 7-H. S. The Deserted Village (Goldsmith) and Elegy — Gray — Grades 7-H. S. Price, per copy, 5 cents, postpaid, unless otherwise mentioned 128-page illustrated Catalogue of Books mailed upon request BECKLEY-CARDY CO. Publishers CHICAGO LANGUAGE GAMES FOR ALL GRADES — — — — ^^— ^— By Alhambra G. Deming — — — — ______ Principal Washington School, Winona, Minn. With Introduction by J. N. Adee, Supt. of Schools, Johnstown, Pa. Designed to establish the habit of correct speech and to increase the child's vocabulary. The book contains thirty language games. teaching the correct use of troublesome words and forms of expres- sion in a pleasant way, and which will serve to eliminate the common errors in grammar of oral and written speech among pupils. In his introduction Superintendent Adee says: "The use of correct English is a habit. To get a habit thoroughly rooted in a child's life takes careful drill and constant repetition. Children like to repeat; they enjoy doing and saying things over and over again. There are only twenty or thirty grammatical errors that persistently occur, and if we can put the correct expression for these errors in the form of a game, we will have an excellent motive to get these correct forms frequently repeated and their use a fixed habit on the part of the pupils. This is the purpose of this little book, Language Games for All Grades." It is a volume that will be welcomed by all progressive teachers. 90 pages. Cloth. Price, 40 cents CARDS TO ACCOMPANY LANGUAGE GAMES FOR ALL GRADES Fifty-three cards, size 4y 2 x 6V 2 inches, for pupils' use. Price, per set, 25 cents EASY THINGS TO DRAW By D. R. Augsburg Prepared particularly as an aid to teachers who lack training in drawing, or who may be in need of drawings made in the simplest possible way — often with but a few strokes of the crayon or pencil. Contains 203 drawings which may be easily transferred to the black- board to illustrate lessons on plants, animals, history, geography, etc. They will also furnish subjects for stories. Every principle of drawing is presented. 77 large pages. Paper. Price, 30 cents BEST PRIMARY SONGS By Amos M. Kellogg A collection of nearly sixty songs, suitable for primary and intermediate grades, and for ungraded schools. There are morning and welcome songs, nature songs, marching and motion pieces, social and ethical songs, farewell and closing sentiments, etc. The words have been carefully chosen and the music is attractive and simple. 48 pages. Paper. Price, 15 cents; per dozen, $1.50 BECKLEY-CARDY CO. Publishers CHICAGO LIBRARY j* gEEj ■■■■■ ia3 806 4