Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/dramaticstoriesfOOskinrich DRAMATIC STORIES /or READING AND ACTING BY ADA M. SKINNER ST. AGATHA SCHOOL, NEW YORK CITY AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO .v^^^ u^^', s^ Copyright, 1914. by ADA M. SKINNER. Copyright, 1914, in Great Britain. DRAMATIC stories FOR READING AND ACTING. E. P. I Go, little book, and wish to all. Flowers in the garden, meat in the hall, A living river by the door, A nightingale in the sycamore. Robert Louis Stevenson. 376372 INTRODUCTION Learning to read is more than learning to recog- nize and pronounce printed words. Reading in a listless manner is a dull and unprofitable exercise. In teaching children to read, the good primary teacher seeks, therefore, by furnishing an incentive through interesting material, and by stimulating intelligent and reasoned activity, to prevent discouragement and to banish ennui. Hence the value of selections that are dramatic in quality, and, to some extent, dramatic in form ; for they encourage the children to read as if they were participants in the action of the story. Such material satisfies the child's love of action, stim- ulates his imagination, and, by keeping his faculties alert, helps him to read with understanding and with intelligent inflection. Thus the gap between the spoken language of his daily life and the printed lan- guage of the page is bridged over, and reading be- comes to him a real way of acquiring and conveying ideas. Like many other good modern ideas in education, the dramatic work in the schools has often been car- ried to a ridiculous excess. Dramatization presup- poses a certain emphasis, a certain heightening of eflfects. But the school is not a training-ground for 5 6 , • INTRQDUCTION the stage ; and the dramatic exaggeration in good reading should fall below that of the stage, and even below the more exciting passages in real life. Good reading suggests the action and the emotion ; it does not mimic or reproduce them. It does not call for shouting, for fierce gesticulation, for violent action ; if it avoids, on the one hand, dull and lifeless mono- tones, it also avoids, on the other hand, all boisterous- ness and affectation. In short, the school is not the place for melodrama or for the abandonment of those restraints that indicate good breeding. Such excesses do not educate. The stories in the present volume are admirably chosen and admirably told. They are classics, by virtue of their place either in well-known folklore or in the books that all educated people know. They are dramatic in quality because they are full of action, because the action is steadily developed in the dia- logue, and because the dialogue leads up to a climactic situation that is interesting in itself Whether acted or merely read — and it is properly within the author*s plan that they may be handled in either way — the dramatic quahty of these stories will make itself felt. They are free from the driveling emptiness and mean- ingless conversation that leads nowhither ; and they are equally free from the bad taste of stridency and bombast. FRANKLIN T. BAKER. Teachers College, Columbia University CONTENTS Seeing the World . -The Race of the Hare and the Hedgehog A Strange Friendship Explained Susie's Dream One Little Feather A Good Thanksgiving . The Stone in the Road . Little Half-Chick . The Servant of All Old Billy . Hans' the Shepherd Boy . Why the Tip of the Fox's Tail is White The Rat's Daughter Shingebiss . . ' . Wee Robin's Yule Song Babouscka . The Cold Country The Tw^elve Months The Weather Hen What was her Name ? . The Skylark's Spurs The Traveler and the Camel Florence M, Lansing . Adapted from Grimm . Western Folk Tale Adapted from Sydney Dare Suggested by H, C. Andersen' Story Marian Douglas Old English Tale Spanish Folk Tale A, and E. Keary Hindoo Tale From the German English Folk Tale Japanese Folk Tale North American Indian Legend Scottish Tale Edith M. Thomas Adapted from S. Weir Mitchell Bohemian Tale . Dion Clayton Calthorp . Laura E, Richards Adapted from Jean Inge low Adapted from Maria Edgeworth 15 22 26 29 32 35 39 45 54 58 61 66 72 11 81 85 91 104 108 [14 120 8 CONTENTS The Forest Full of Friends Raymond McAlden PAGE . 124 Work .... Mary K Prescott 132 Swan, Hold Fast . Adapted from Grimm . 134 Why Animals Fear Fire Margaret Bemister 146 A Mad Tea Party Lewis Carroll 151 The Baby Seed's Song . E, Neshit . 163 The Lark and the Rook A?io?iymous . 164 Pandora .... From the Greek Myth . 166 The Brownies Juliana H, Ewing 175 Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp .... From Arabian Nights . 181 King Alfred English Legend . 189 The Fisherman and the Genie From Arabian Nights . 196 The Knight of the Silver Shield Raymond McAlden 201 The Feast of Lanterns . Chinese Folk Tale 209 Note to Teachers 223 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS For permission to use valuable material belonging to other publishers, the author makes the following acknowledgments : To The Macmillan Company, for " Shingebiss/' and " Why Animals Fear Fire/' from Bemister's "Thirty Indian Legends*'; for "The Servant of AH/' by A. and E. Keary ; for " The Rat's Daughter/' from James's " Green Willow and Other Japanese Fairy Tales." To Doubleday, Page & Company, for " The Race of the Hare and the Hedgehog," as adapted by Kate Douglas Wiggin in " Tales of Laughter." To Dana Estes Company, for " What was her Name ? " by Laura E. Richards. To The Bobbs- Merrill Company, for "The Forest Full of Friends," and "The Knight of the Silver Shield," adapted from Raymond McAlden's " Why the Chimes Rang," copyright, 1906. To Florence M. Lansing, for the story entitled, " Seeing the World," from " Quaint Old Stories/' published by Ginn & Co. To Edith M. Thomas, for the poem, "Babouscka," from " Children of Christmas," published by Richard Badger. 9 lo ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To the Century Company and S. Weir Mitchell, for the adaptation of the story entitled, "The Cold Country." To John Lane Company, for " The Weather Hen,*' by Dion Clayton Calthorp. To Stead's Publishing House, London, for " The Feast of the Lanterns,'' adapted from " Books for Bairns — Fairy Tales from China." To Charles Scribner's Sons for the lines by Robert Louis Stevenson. DRAMATIC STORIES SEEING THE WORLD A little pig was standing at the door of his sty. His mother stood behind him. "Ho, ho!" said the little pig, "the farmer boy has left this door ajar and I can push it open. I have always wanted to see the world, and now is my time ; I'm off." "No, no," said his mother; "stay here with me. You will be safer in the sty." "No," said the little pig; "I have always wanted to see the world, and I'm going. It 12 DRAMATIC STORIES would be of no use for you to come. You would be in my way, and in your own as well, for I know you do not care to see the world. Good-by." " Take care, take care. It may be well to go out in the world if you must, but it is best to stop at home if you can," call'ed his mother. " Poor old thing ! Pm off ; " and out he walked into the square, walled-in farmyard. "So this is the world. What a large place it is. Dear me, I must take care or I shall be lost. I must keep close to the edge of the world. Then I shall not lose my way." " Quack, quack," called two geese, standing in his way and putting out their heads at him. " I don't Hke this," said little pig. '' Pll go as fast as I can." " Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck," cried four hens that were standing by the wall a little farther on. " What does this mean ? How much I shall have to tell when I get home ! " On he went until he came to a door. A red cow was stand- ing there. " This must be the end of the world. See that great, ugly pig with the big horns. I will SEEING THE WORLD »3 jfS COMSTOCH get out of her way as fast as I can. I will make haste. Why, here I am back at the door of my own sty." " So here you are back again," said his mother, when she saw him. " Here I am." "What have you seen?" she asked. " Oh, such things. I have been round the world. I find it is square and has a wall all around it, lest pigs should fall off. In fact it is like a big sty." " Well, to be sure ! " said his mother. " And the end of the world is made of wood and has two high posts, one on each side to mark the place. The first thing that I saw in 14 DRAMATIC STORIES the world was a pair of the queerest pigs. They had but two legs, and they had very long necks. There are but two in the world. Think of that ! Then I saw four smaller pigs, and they said * Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.' " " What does that mean ? " asked his mother. " Oh, it is what they say in the world. It is of no use to tell you what it means, for you have not been there, and you wouldn't under- stand. Then I saw a huge red pig with two horns. There is but one pig of this sort in the whole world." " Well, to be sure ! " said his mother. ** I should have made friends with her, but she did not look my way. And then as I had gone all round the world, I came home. Ah, the world is a fine place. To think that you have never seen it, you poor old thing. Now the farmer boy may shut the door when he likes. I know all about the world." ''Well, to be sure!" said his mother as she trotted off. THE RACE OF THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG One day a hedgehog went for a walk in the fields to see how his turnips were getting on. He had not gone very far when he met the hare who was out on the same errand. *^ Good morning," said the hedgehog, when he caught sight of the hare. The hare, who thought himself a high and mighty person, did not answer the hedgehog's greeting. He only asked, " Why are you out in the fields so early this morning ?" ** I came out for a walk," said the good- natured hedgehog. '' Out for a walk ? I should think you'd try 15 i6 DRAMATIC STORIES to use those silly little legs of yours for some- thing better than that." Now the hedgehog was a good-natured fellow, but he did not like being made game of. "No doubt you think your legs are better than mine," he said. " I do, indeed," answered the hare. ** That remains to be seen. For my part, I think my legs quite as good as yours," said the hedgehog, in rather a sharp way. " As good as mine ? Nonsense, hedgehog ; you can only walk with your legs." " Only walk ? I'll run a race with you any day, and I bet I shall outstrip you, Mr. Hare," said the hedgehog. " How absurd ! You, with your little legs. But if you wish to try, I have no objection." ** We'll start right away," said the hare, who was now anxious to begin. " Very well, if I win the race, all the turnips in the field are mine." "Agreed," said the hare. " But I haven't had any breakfast," said the hedgehog, "and I feel a bit faint. I'll just run home and take a bite and be back here in no time." RACE OF HARE AND HEDGEHOG 17 **Very well, and I'll run to the cabbage field and back while you are gone " ; and off scampered Mr. Hare. Away trotted the hedgehog to his home. Then he thought to himself: '^ That hare thinks a lot of his long legs. But he's not so clever, ril get the better of him this time, and all the turnips — see if I don't." As soon as he got home he said to his wife, ** Quick ! get dressed. You must come out with me." " Oh, what is the matter ? " said Mrs. Hedge- hog. " The hare and I are going to run a race. If I win, I am to have all the turnips. He thinks he'll beat me, but I'll show him. Get ready, quick ; I want you to be there." '' Good gracious me ! have you lost your senses ? How can you think of racing with DRAMATIC STORIES- i8 DRAMATIC STORIES him ? You'll lose, and then we'll not have a turnip to eat/' << We've no time to talk. Listen ! We are to run our race in that plowed field. The hare will run in one furrow and I in another. We start at the top. All you have to do is to lie low at the other end of my furrow. As soon as the hare reaches the end of his furrow, you must jum^ up and call out, ' Pm here already.' " " Ha-ha-ha," laughed Mrs. Hedgehog. " I see, I see. That's a good joke. He will think that I am you,'' " Exactly. Look sharp ; now put on your things and we'll make off." They reached the field. The hedgehog told his wife where to lie low, and he went on to the other end of the furrow. The hare was waiting for him. " Well, are you ready ?" asked the hare. " I am ready." Each took his place. *^ But wait a minute," said the hedgehog. " Who will do the counting ? " " Leave that to me," said the hare. " Ready! One — two — three, go!" RACE OF HARE AND HEDGEHOG 19 ** I cannot understand this," said the hare. 20 DRAMATIC STORIES Away went the hare like the wind, not looking to the right or the left. The hedge- hog took about three steps, turned back, and ducked down in his furrow; and there he sat, laughing and laughing and laughing. Now, the moment the hare got to the other end of his furrow, Mrs. Hedgehog called out, " Pm here already."' " Well — well — well. I do not understand this ; let us run back to the starting point. Are you ready ?" " As often as you like. I am ready," said Mrs. Hedgehog. ** Very well, one — two — three, go ! '' Away went the hare running as fast as he could. But Mrs. Hedgehog ran a few steps, turned back, and ducked down in her furrow. When the hare got to the starting point, up jumped the hedgehog. " I'm here already," he called out. '^ I cannot understand this," said the hare. " We must run again." "As often as you like, I am ready," said the hedgehog. They tried again and again, running backward and forward a great many times. But every RACE OF HARE AND HEDGEHOG 21 time the hare arrived at one end of the furrow or the other, the hedgehog or his wife called out, ** Pm here already." At last the hare, tired out, said, " This is very strange." " Shall we run again ? " asked the hedge- hog. " No — no," answered the hare ; '' the race is yours." ** A7td the turnips! " said the hedgehog. But the hare did not hear him ; he had scamp- ered off over the fields. So the hedgehog and his wife went home very well pleased with themselves. On the way, Mrs. Hedgehog said, '' Mr. Hedgehog, you may be short on legs, but you are long on wits.'' A STRANGE FRIENDSHIP EXPLAINED Once upon a time a strong friendship grew up between a lion and an elephant. The other animals of the forest thought this very strange. They could not understand how a lion, the king of beasts, could feel such admiration for so clumsy, rude, and ugly a creature as an elephant. One day the animals met together at a clearing in the forest to talk the matter over among them- selves. " Is it quite true that the lion and the elephant are friends ? " asked the deer, in disgust. "Quite true," answered* the fox. ''See, there they go now." '' I could not have believed it," continued the deer as he caught sight of the two animals on their way to the forest together. '' Ele- phants can't run swiftly. I watched one only the other day come lumbering along. I have always felt that one's friends should be able to bound gracefully in and out of the forest at a moment's notice, — just as I do. Then his eyes are so very small, not at all like mine. A STRANGE FRIENDSHIP EXPLAINED 23 The Lion and the Elephant. 24 DRAMATIC STORIES One needs large, soft eyes. Oh, he is a huge ugly beast." And with that the deer made a graceful plunge into the stream close by, swam across it and bounded away into the woods. " The deer is quite right," said a little squirrel. ** The elephant is clumsy and rude, too, particularly to little creatures like me. The other day he came up to the tree where I was gathering nuts. The way he crowded and pushed me was shocking. And his manners when he is eating are not at all like mine, I do not dare to think of them." With that he whisked up the nearest tree and had a nut in no time. Down he came with it and he sat eating it in his own dainty way just to show what he meant by fine squirrel manners. ** I must say it has puzzled me for a long time," said the fox. " Just look at his ridiculous tail, more like a rope than anything else. It makes me laugh every time I see it. One could understand the lion's admiration if the elephant had such a splendid bushy tail as I have." He walked up and down before the other animals, holding his tail high as if he meant them to see^ that he had much to be proud of. " I can forgive him his funny tail," said the A STRANGE FRIENDSHIP EXPLAINED 25 bear. " Tails are nothing to be proud of any- way ; but he should have some good sharp claws like mine. He can't climb up a tree or over the rocks, he can't scratch, he can't dig in the ground. Why, he hasn't a claw to his feet ! For my part, I don't see how a friendship can spring up without claws," and the bear walked away to sharpen his on the nearest tree trunk. ^' Pm sure it's the tusks," said the cow. ** No doubt the lion thinks they are horns. Of course no one can help admiring horns, but the ele- phant's tusks turn dow7i instead of up, as mine do. I wonder the lion didn't notice that." Then she tossed her head proudly just to show how beautiful she thought her own horns were. '' Stop," said the donkey. " You need not discuss this matter any longer. Come, gather around me and I'll explain it to you all. Listen ! Have you never noticed that the ele- phant has long, beautiful ears, — just like mine ? " And off he walked, making his way quickly to the stream near by where he could see the reflection of his own ears in the clear, smooth water below. SUSIE'S DREAM Susie carried her baby sister out to the great farmyard. She laid the baby on some hay. Then she sat down by her side and sang softly : — " What will you give, what will you give For my little baby fair ? Nothing so bright as her bonny blue eyes. Or soft as her curling hair. " What will you bring, what will you bring To trade for my treasure here ? No one can show a baby so sweet Anywhere far or near." " Moo, moo," said the Jersey cow, as she came and looked at the baby. " What will I give ? Can she kick up her heels and run all over the yard.?^'' 26 y r SUSIE'S DREAM 27 " Why, no/' said Susie; " she can't walk yet." " Ah, how old is she ? " "Nearly a year old," said Susie. ** Nearly a year ! My little one walked be- fore she was two days old. I will not trade my baby for yours." And the cow walked away. " Baa, baa," said an old sheep. " Let me see. She is a nice little thing. Has she only two legs ? " "That's all," said Susie. " Then my lamb is worth twice as much. And I see she has no wool. I do not wish to trade with you." And she trotted away. " Quack, quack," said the duck. " Let us have a look. Can she swim well?" " Oh, no ; she can't swim at all. It isn't safe for her to go near the water." " All my darlings can swim." And away she waddled. r " Cheer up, cheer up. Let me see," said a robin. " Can she sing?" " She is not old enough yet," answered Susie. " All my children sang when only four months old," said the robin. " I wouldn't trade my babies for yours." And away he flew. 28 DRAMATIC STORIES " Cluck, cluck ! " said the white hen. *^ I haven't much time to look. Can your baby sister peep when she is hungry ? " ^'No; when she's hungry, she cries," said Susie. '* Well, that's a funny baby. At any rate I see her legs are not yellow. All my children have yellow legs." And away she went to find her twelve chicks. " Meow, meow, meow ! " said the pussy, as she came up. '' Can she catch a mouse ? " " No, she's afraid of a mouse," said Susie. " Let me see her claws." " She hasn't any. She has pretty pink fingers." " Well, she is pretty. I think Til take your baby and let you have one of my kittens. I have three." And Pussy took hold of the baby's dress as if she were going to carry her away. " Oh, no. Pussy," said Susie, " I don't want to trade her at all. I'd rather have my baby sister than all the chickens, lambs, ducks, chicks, and kittens in the whole world." And Susie awoke with a start and carried her baby sister away. f ONE LITTLE FEATHER *' Dear me," said a little white hen as she flew up on the perch, '* there goes another feather. How funny I shall look if one falls out every time I scratch myself" She was a merry little hen. But she forgot all about the feather and was soon fast asleep. A little red hen, sitting next to her, heard all that the little white hen said. At least, she thought she heard. *' How dreadful of little white hen ! She said she had scratched out nearly all of her feathers. I must run and tell the others." The little red hen left the hen house and made her way quickly to the barnyard. ** Have you heard the news ? " asked the little red hen. '' A little hen, — I shan't say which 29 30 DRAMATIC STORIES one, — said she had scratched out all her feathers." " Shocking," said the gray goose, " I never heard of such a thing." And the gray goose went to visit the owl who lived in a tree close by. "Have you heard?" she asked the owl. " Have you heard about that little hen who scratched out every one of her feathers and now is not fit to be seen ? " '' Who, who ! " hooted the old owl. "Where did you hear that ? " " I heard it in the barnyard this morning. It is as good as seeing it with my own eyes," said the gray goose. " I believe it, I believe it," said the owl. " Coo-ooo," cooed the pigeons as they flew from the tree. " Did you hear it, too ? " asked the owl. "Yes, yes," said the pigeons. "We heard it in the other barnyard. They say the little hen plucked a// her feathers out, and is going about quite bare. She'll freeze to death if she's not dead already," and away they flew back to the barnyard. "Have you heard?" said the pigeons to a little black hen. ONE LITTLE FEATHER 31 '' Heard what?" asked the httle black hen. " The dreadful story. A little hen plucked out all her feathers and went about quite bare. I should think she would freeze to death. No doubt she has done so by this time."' Now the little black hen was the little white hen's friend. So she ran right to the hen house to tell the story. There was the little white hen just waking up from her nap. " Have you heard about the little hen who plucked out all her feathers and went about quite bare ? They all think she is dead by this time/' said the little black hen. " I don't believe it. Who told you this ?'' " Oh, I heard it from the pigeons, and they heard it — " '' Never mind ! Let's go and see if we can find that little hen, and then I shall believe the story." Little white hen and little black hen went out of the hen house together and into the barn- yard. Do you think they ever found that little hen .? A GOOD THANKSGIVING Said old Grandfather Gay, " On a Thanksgiving Day, If you want a good time, then give something away." So he sent a fat turkey to Shoemaker Price, And the shoemaker said, " What a big bird ! how nice ! And since a good dinner's before me, I ought To give poor Widow Lee the small chicken I bought." A GOOD THANKSGIVING 33 "This fine chicken — oh, see ! " said the pleased Widow Lee, " And the kindness that sent it, how precious to me ! I would like to make some one as happy as I, So rU give Mrs. Murphy my big pumpkin pie." '* And oh, sure," poor Mrs. Murphy said, "'tis the queen of pies ! Just to look at its yellow face gladdens my eyes. Now it's my turn, I think. So a sweet ginger cake For the motherless Finnigan children I'll bake." " A sweet cake, all our own ! 'Tis too good to be true ! " Said the Finnigan children, Rose, Denny, and y Hugh ; " It smells sweet of spice, and we'll carry a slice To little Lame Jake — who has nothing that's nice." " Oh, I thank you, and thank you ! " said little Lame Jake ; " Oh, what beautiful, beautiful, beautiful cake ! DRAMATIC STORIES 3 34 DRAMATIC STORIES And oh, such a big slice ! I'll save all the crumbs ! And will give them to each little sparrov^ that comes ! " And the sparrows, they twittered as if they would say. Like old Grandfather Gay, " On a Thanksgiving Day, If you want a good time, give something away." / THE STONE IN THE ROAD There was once a king whose home was in a beautiful castle near a village. He loved the people of this village and did everything he could to make them happy. But, try as hard as he might, they were never satisfied. The truth was, that they thought the king should make them rich. As soon as the king learned the cause of their discontent he said to one of his courtiers : '' So these people wish to be rich. They do not love work well enough for that. I have felt for a long time that they are unwilling and often afraid to do hard things. Come, see if I am not right. I'll place a big stone in the middle of this highroad, and you may watch to see if any one of them will take the trouble to move it." They found a large stone and rolled it right into the middle of the road. " Now," said the king, '^ hide behind these bushes and see what will happen." 35 36 DRAMATIC STORIES The courtier took his place while the king went back to the castle. By and by a farmer came along. '^ Ah, the laziness of these village people," he said. '' Here is a stone, a big one, right in the middle of the road. I am sure it has been here a long time, and no one has taken the trouble to move it. Such laziness ! " So saying, he turned to one side and passed on. Soon an old woman came by. " Such care- lessness ! " she said. " Who can have left this great stone here where people must pass up and down ? " Then she walked around it and went on her way. Presently a soldier came that way. He carried his head so high that he did not even see the stone until he stumbled against it. *' A fine road, this ! " he said. " I wonder how long that stone will lie there. It's a pity some neighbor could not move it out of the way.'* And lifting his head he wenjt' on. Towards evening a farmer's boy came past on his way home. He had been hard at work in the fields all day and was now very, very THE STONE IN THE ROAD 37 tired. When he saw the stone, he stood still and looked at it. " That's a big stone to be in the road," he said. " Fm glad it was not too dark for me to have seen it. But it will soon be night. Some one may fall over it in the dark and be badly hurt. I'll roll it out of the way." He pushed the heavy stone with all his might till at last he moved it from its place. " What's this ? " he said as his eyes caught sight of a small leather bag, tied with a string, lying in the place where the stone had been. He picked it up. The bag was full of bright golden coins and on it was written these words : *' This gold is for the one that moves the stoned 38 DRAMATIC STORIES " For me ! " said the farmer's boy, aloud. " Yes, it is for you," said the courtier, as he came forward from behind the bushes. '' Our king will be happy to learn that I have found one villager, at least, who is not afraid to do hard things." LITTLE HALF-CHICK There was once a handsome black hen who had a large brood of chickens. They were all fine fat chicks, but one. He was very odd and very ugly. With only one eye, one wing, one leg, half a head, and half a beak, he was a real half-chick. One day his mother called her brood to her and said, " My chicks, you may go out into the world and seek your fortune. But you, my little Half-Chick, you must stay at home with me." '' Indeed, mother, I am tired myself of this barnyard. It's too small for me. I am going out to seek my fortune, too." 39 40 DRAMATIC STORIES ''To seek your fortune, my little Half- Chick?" said his mother. "Nowhere will you find a better barnyard than this. Here you have plenty to eat and drink and some one to care for you." ''Quite true — and everything may be good enough for the other chicks. But it does not suit me at all. I shall go to Madrid." " To Madrid ! " said his mother. " You silly chick. It's a long way, and you will be tired to death before you get halfway there." " I shall go to Madrid, I say — and then to the palace." " To the palace r My son, my dear Half- Chick ! You do not know what you are saying." " I shall go to Madrid — and then to the palace to see the king." " To see the king ! Well, well, well, I shall say no more about it," cried his mother, who now saw that he would go. "To Madrid — to the palace — to the king! I'm off," and away he flew. " Be sure you are kind to every one you meet, Half-Chick," called his mother. But he did not hear a word she said. LITTLE HALF-CHICK 41 Away flew Half-Chick across the field. *' Tm quite big enough to go alone," he said in a very proud way. He had not gone far when he came to a small brook so choked up with weeds that the water could scarcely flow. He was about to hop over it when the brook said : — '' Oh, Half-Chick, do help me. These weeds are choking me, and I am so weak I cannot help myself." ** Help you, indeed ! Help yourself. I have no time to stop. I am off to Madrid — to the palace — to see the king." And away he flew. A little farther on, he came to a fire which was burning very low. "Oh, Half-Chick," called out the fire in a very weak voice, " do help me. In a few minutes I shall go out if you don't put some sticks and dry leaves on me." " Help you, indeed ! Help yourself. I've no time to gather sticks and dry leaves to help you. I am off to Madrid — to the palace — to see the king." And away he flew. A little farther on he saw West Wind caught in the branches of a large tree. 42 DRAMATIC STORIES '' Oh, Half-Chick, do help me. See what has happened. I am caught in the branches of this tree and I cannot get away. Do help me/' " Help you, indeed ! Help yourself. Shake yourself off the branches. I have no time to stay here with you. I am off to Madrid — to the palace — to see the king/' And away he flew. Towards evening he came to a large town. There he saw the king's palace. " I shall wait here at the gates till the king comes out. He will be pleased to see me," said the vain little Half-Chick. But just as he hopped past one of the windows of the palace the king's cook saw him. "Ha, ha, ha, ha," he said, "this is the very thing I want for the king's dinner," and with that he stretched out his arm through the win- dow and caught poor little Half-Chick. "There, pop into the pot you go." Down, down went poor little Half-Chick into the water. " Oh, water, water, please have pity on me. Do not wet me," he called out. LITTLE HALF-CHICK 43 " Oh, Half-Chick, when I was a little brook choked with weeds and leaves, you would not stay to help me. I can do nothing for you now." " Oh, water, I am 'drenched from head to foot,'' pleaded little Half-Chick. " Now ril put him into the oven and roast him," said the king's cook. ** I'll make up a good fire." " Oh, fire, fire, please have pity on me ! " cried Half-Chick. '^ Do not scorch me like this." *'Ah, Half-Chick, you would not help me when I was dying in the woods. I can do nothing for you now." At last the cook opened the oven door. 44 DRAMATIC STORIES '* Dear me, this chicken is burned up. The fire was too hot. I can't send this up to the king's table," and he took Half-Chick by the wing and threw him out of the window. West Wind caught liim and whirled him round and round. For a few minutes he did not know where he was. *^ West Wind, have pity on me. Do not blow me around like this." '* Oh, Half-Chick, you did not help me when I was caught in the branches of the tree. I can do nothing for you now." '' Where are you taking me. West Wind ? " asked Half-Chick in a frightened voice. ^' Wait, and you will see. I am going to put you where every wind can blow you whichever way it chooses and you shall stay there for ever and ever." Then with a sudden whirl. West Wind took Half-Chick up over the roofs of the houses to the top of a tall church steeple. And there he stands to this very day. . THE SERVANT OF ALL '' My master told me that if I sell this drove of pigs in the town that lies at the other side of the forest, I may have the money for my own/* said Carl to himself. '' Mine — my own ! " *^ Your own, Carl?'' said a voice close to his ear. Carl turned and saw an old man sitting down with a book in his hand. Carl peeped over the old man's shoulder. " Trying to peep into my book, I see," said the old man. ^' Oh, indeed, I beg your pardon," said Carl. " No offense, I assure you,'* answered the other. " Sit down by me and you shall read as much as you like." 45 46 DRAMATIC STORIES So Carl sat by the old man and looked into his book. • ^* It is only a list of names/' said Carl. " Do you see nothing that interests you ? '' *' I see one thing," said Carl; "one of the names is written in gilt letters. What is that for?" "That name is the name of a king," an- swered the old man, shutting his book. "And what is a king?" asked Carl. "I have never seen one, though I have been a swineherd these three years and walked about a good deal." " You may see one this evening, for the peo- ple of yonder city to which you are going ex- pect to find a king to-day. They have been looking for one for a long time. All the people are waiting, for they think the king will come to-day." "I will walk on, then," said Carl, "for I should certainly like to see him." So Carl walked on. Presently Carl overtook a thin, miserable- looking donkey, who was trying in vain to drag after him a cartload of wood. THE SERVANT OE ALL 47 '' Good Master Carl," said the donkey, " will you not help me on with this load a little way ? I am so tired I shall never reach my master's cottage." " Never despair, my good friend," said Carl, as he placed himself behind the cart and began to push it vigorously along. By and by he said to the donkey, ^* That will do now. I think you can go your way and I will go mine." *' But I can't go my way," said the donkey, standing stock-still and beginning to bray. '' Now I really think you are a little un- reasonable," said Carl. " Look what a long distance I have pushed you." But the donkey went on braying. " He can't help being a donkey," said Carl, " and I dare say he's very tired." 48 DRAMATIC STORIES So Carl went on pushing the cart for him, until they came to his master's cabin. " Thank you, thank you, good Master Carl," said the donkey. " Good-by,'' said Carl, and he ran after his pigs. '' They are eating their dinner, so I think I may as well eat mine." And then Carl sat down and pulled his bread and cheese out of his pocket. " Master Carl," said a little voice at his elbow ; and Carl saw a rabbit sitting beside him. " Now, little rabbit," said Carl, " I do hope you're not going to say, * Carl, give me some bread and cheese,' for indeed I'm very hungry, and there's not nearly enough for us both." " Then I must go without my dinner," re- marked the little rabbit. " That's altogether ridiculous," answered Carl. " Don't you see how many dandelions there are all about under the trees." " But it's so unwholesome living entirely on green food," said the rabbit. " It gives one the heartburn, I assure you, and I'm particularly ordered to eat bread and cheese." " Very well, then," said Carl, " you shall eat THE SERVANT OF ALL 49 bread and cheese/' and he fed the Uttle rabbit out of his hand, and kept only a very little piece for himself. ^' I am so much obliged to you/' said the rabbit, when she got up to go away. " Well, really, I think you ought to be,'^ answered Carl, " for I am very hungry yet." On went Carl through the woods — but sud- denly he stopped. He saw some one sitting under a tree. It was a beggar, all in rags, looking very miserable. Carl went up to the beggar and said : '' I am very sorry for you. Can I do anything ? " " God bless you, my little master," answered the beggar. ** See how sore my feet are from walking so long upon the stony ground without shoes or stockings." DRAMATIC STORIES- 50 DRAMATIC STORIES ii You shall have mine," said Carl, sitting down and pulling off his shoes and stockings. ** And from having no hat on, the sun has made my eyes quite weak," added the beggar. " I see," said Carl, " and my eyes will very soon be weak if I give you my hat, but I will do so, nevertheless. So here it is, and good-by." Then he put his hat on the beggar's head and ran on, bareheaded, after his pigs. " Carl, Carl ! " said a voice from the ground. ** Where are you ? " asked Carl. " Here, under the stone, under the — " " Speak a little louder, will you ? " said Carl. " I can't hear what you say." ^' Here I am then," said the voice, " almost crushed beneath the stone, just beside your right foot. Will you not stoop down and lift the stone and save me ? " ** Can't you just wait till I have passed the cavern, and then I'll come back to you?" " And in the meantime I shall be crushed to death," answered the worm. Carl stooped down and lifted the stone from the back of the half-dead worm. THE SERVANT OF ALL 51 A throne was standing empty. 52 DRAMATIC STORIES " I thank you, Carl/' said the worm. " Now go and look after your pigs." " But they are all gone into the enchanted cavern and, once in there, it's not a bit likely they'll ever come out again," said Carl ; ** but ril go to the town at any rate and see whether the king has come." " What do you want here, Carl ? " asked the porter at the gate of the city. " I came to sell my pigs." " Where are they ? " " I do not know. I've lost them," said Carl. " Then come down with me to the market place.'' He led Carl to the market place where a throne was standing empty. In front of the throne stood the old man who had spoken to Carl in the morning, and beside him Carl saw the donkey, the rabbit, the beggar, the worm, and an army of soldiers who had been Carl's pigs. "Carl," said the old man, "where have you been to-day ? " " Through the woods," answered Carl. " What have you been doing there ? " THE SERVANT OF ALL 53 '' Indeed I hardly know." *^ Carl helped me with my load of wood," said the donkey. " Carl fed me with his own dinner," said the rabbit. " Carl gave me his cap and shoes," said the beggar. *^ Carl saved me from being crushed," said the worm. '' And who are these?" asked Carl, turning to the soldiers. " We are your pigs, Carl," they answered. ** Soldiers, what do you think of Carl ? " asked the old man. " Carl is king,'' they all shouted. " And I never knew it," said Carl. OLD BILLY There was once an old goat who was noted far and wide for his shrewdness. One day he found himself in a lion's den. " Dear me, this will never do.*' He turned to go out, but suddenly stopped. He heard a deep roar. The lion was coming home. " My horns, however sharp, will be of no use to me against this monster," thought Old Billy. ** I must try what wits can do." 54 OLD BILLY 55 In stalked the lion, hungry and out of temper. Seeing Old Billy, he paused, surprised, and then crouched to spring upon him. '' Oh, how lucky I am,^^ called out Old Billy. " What is this ? '' roared the lion, angrily. " You mean how lucky / am, for it is great fortune to find a good fat goat waiting for me in my own den when I am hungry." '' No," said Old Billy, " I am the lucky one. I am a lion hunter, and good fortune has sent you to me just when my horns are needing exercise — Whoop ! " And Old Billy pretended to jump for joy. " An old goat a lion hunter ! I never heard of such a thing," said the lion. " Never mind. Now you see a lion-killing goat, but you will not live to see another one. This has been rather a dull week for me so far — only four lions. Prepare to die this minute." Old Billy lowered his horns and rushed at the astonished lion. The lion, taken by surprise at Old Billy's boldness, turned and fled out of the cave. Old Billy slipped out as soon as the lion had disappeared and ran in the opposite direction as fast as his legs could take him. 56 DRAMATIC STORIES The lion had not gone far when he met a jackal. He told the jackal the story. ** You say it was an old whiskered goat ? " asked the jackal. " I know him. That's Old Billy. Ha, ha, ha ! You say he called himself a lion killer ? That's a good joke. Why, he could not kill a rabbit." *' What's this you tell me ?" asked the lion. " It's Old Billy, I say. He scared you with his big talk. Come, let's hunt him up and kill him. I'll take his carcass if you don't want it." Back went the lion and the jackal to catch Old Billy. Old Billy saw them coming. He knew they would overtake him in a few minutes, and he feared that all was lost. " I can't run away from them, and I can*t fight them. I must try what I can do again with my wits." Turning around he ran toward them. ^^ Ha, jackal ! " he called out in an angry tone. ** How is this ? You promised to bring me three lions to kill and you have brought me only one, and a small one at that. Go and find two more at once. No, wait ! Wait till I kill this one." OLD BILLY 57 Old Billy rushed at the lion. The lion roared at the jackal, then bounded down the valley. The jackal, too, got away as quickly as he could. '' Ha, ha, ha ! " laughed Old Billy, as he trotted homeward. HANS, THE SHEPHERD BOY Hans was a little shepherd boy who tended his master's flocks, day by day. One morning, as he was keeping the sheep near a great forest, a hunter rode up to him. " How far is it to the next village, my lad ? '' asked the hunter. " It is just six miles, sir," answered Hans. ** But there is only a sheep track through the woods. If you do not know the way, you might easily get lost, sir." " I am already lost, my lad, and tired and 58 HANS, THE SHEPHERD BOY 59 hungry. Show me the way so that I lose no more time, and I will pay you well." Hans shook his head. ^* I cannot leave the sheep, sir. They might stray into the woods and get lost or be eaten by wolves.'' '' If such a thing should happen to any of your sheep, I will pay you more than the sheep are worth. Come, show me the way." '' Sir, I cannot go," said Hans. " These sheep are not mine — they are my master's. He pays me to take care of them, and if harm should come to any of them, no one would be to blame but me. I cannot go." *' Since you will not show me the way, then find some one else that can do so," said the hunter. " I will take care of the sheep for you while you are gone." Hans shook his head again. " No," he said, / " I cannot do that. You are a stranger to the sheep, and they do not know your voice, and — " "And what?" asked the hunter. "Can't you trust me ? " " No," said Hans. " You tried to make me break my word to my master. How do I know that you would keep your word to me ? " The hunter laughed. " You are right, my 6o DRAMATIC STORIES lad. Show me the path of which you spoke and I will try to get to the village without a guide/' Just as he finished speaking, several hunters came out of the forest near by. When they saw their master, they shouted for joy. " Oh, Prince," cried one, '' we feared your Royal Highness was lost." "Or killed," cried another. "A prince," said Hans, in surprise. "Oh, sir, I hope you are not angry with me." " No, no, my lad. I wish I could trust my servants as your master can trust you." And the men went on their way. A few days later a servant was sent by the prince to bring Hans to the palace. " My good boy," said the prince to Hans. " I want you to leave your sheep and come to serve me. You are a boy whom I know I can trust." " Oh, sir, I thank you for my good fortune. As soon as my master can find another boy to keep his sheep I will come and serve you." And Hans went back to his master's flocks. WHY THE TIP OF THE FOX'S TAIL IS WHITE There was once a farmer's wife who wantejd to hire a shepherd for her sheep. " It is of no use for me to try to do without one any longer," she said. So one day she went out in search of a shepherd that could watch her cattle and call her sheep properly. ,On the way she happened to meet a bear, and the bear asked her where she was going. 6i 62 DRAMATIC STORIES ** Oh, I am going to hire a shepherd/' she answered. '* Will you take me for your shepherd ? " asked the bear. '' Yes," said the woman, " if you can watch over the cattle and call the sheep properly." ' " I can, hear me. Ho-o-o-y," growled the bear. ^' No, that will not do. I cannot hire you," and on she went. Soon she met a wolf. ** Where are you going ? " asked the wolf. " Oh, I am going to hire a shepherd," an- swered the woman. " Will you take me for your shepherd ? " asked the wolf. " Yes, if you can watch over the cattle and call the sheep properly," replied the woman. '' I can do that. Uh-uh ! " howled the wolf. '' No, I cannot hire you," said the woman. A little farther on she met a fox. "What is the matter, friend ? " called out the fox. " Matter enough," said the old woman. "I am trying to find a shepherd that can watch my cattle and call my sheep properly/^ THE FOX'S TAIL 63 "Only that?'' said the fox. "Take me for your shepherd. Nothing would suit me better.'' " Can you watch my cattle and call my sheep properly ? " " Nothing is easier for a fox," was the answer. " Then let me hear you." " Dil-dal-holom, dil-dal-holom," called out the fox. " Good," said the woman. " I will hire you. Come along with me." And she took the fox for her shepherd. The farmer's wife was busy all the afternoon over the butter tub, making butter. Every now and then she would stop her churning and run to the door to look for her new shepherd. But evening came and still the fox did not return. " It is time my cattle and sheep were back from the fields. I can't leave my churning, or I'd soon find out why they are not here. Here comes the fox now. Well, my shepherd, where did you leave the cattle and sheep ? " she asked, seeing that he had come back without them. " Their heads are in the brook," answered the fox. 64 DRAMATIC STORIES *' What is this you say ? " asked the woman, in surprise. " And their bones are in the bushes," he con- tinued. " Come, come, fox, you are talking nonsense. I see I must go for myself and find out how things are." And away she went. As soon as she was out of the cottage the fox sprang to the butter tub. " Ha, ha, some fine cream for me," he said. " Two feasts in one day, and such feasts ! " He put his head into the tub and drank up nearly all of the cream. He was about to take the last drop when the farmer's wife came back. She saw what he had done. ** Wretched beast, you have eaten all my sheep and you have taken nearly all my cream. Out THE FOX'S TAIL 6.5 with you ! " She seized a clot of cream that still remained in the tub and flung it at the fox, so that it made a white spot on his tail. ^^ There, take that for all your wicked ways. You'll never get rid of that spot to the end of your life." DRAMATIC STORIES- THE RAT'S DAUGHTER Mr. Rat was well-to-do in life. His home had long been in a snug, warm, and cozy bank by one of the largest rice fields in the country- side. He had a beautiful daughter whom he wished to marry to the highest in the land. But no one among the people of Mr. Rat's neighborhood could tell him where to find the mighty person. *' I will go to the oracle for advice. There is no one around here who can help me," said the rat, and off he went. " Welcome, Mr. Rat. What does this visit mean ? " asked the oracle as soon as he caught sight of his visitor. " I have a beautiful daughter,'' said the rat, " and I wish to marry her to the highest in the land. No one can tell me who he is, and so I have come to you.'' " There is no doubt," said the oracle, slowly, " that His Majesty, the Sun, is the highest per- son in the land. Had I a daughter, I should 66 THE RAT'S DAUGHTER 67 make my visit to him, and I should lose no time about it/' '' A thousand thanks/' said the rat. *' I shall go at once.'' " Good fortune go with you," said the oracle. Mr. Rat lost no time, as you may be sure. He presented himself to the sun just as His Majesty was about to set. "Your Majesty," he said, '' I have a beautiful daughter whom I wish to offer you in mar- riage." 68 DRAMATIC STORIES " I thank you, Mr. Rat, but why, may I ask, have you chosen me for this honor? " " I wish to marry her to the most powerful person in the world," answered the rat, ''and that is why I offer her to you/' " Alas, you are wrong in thinking me the most powerful person in the world. I have found one more powerful than I am. It is to him you should marry your daughter." " And who is he, may I ask ? " '' Certainly," said the sun. '' It is the cloud. He comes across my path and covers my face so that the people cannot see me. As long as he can do that I am not the most powerful per- son in the world. You should give your daughter in marriage to no one else than the cloud." '' A thousand thanks ! " said the rat. *' I will go to the cloud at once." He journeyed on till he saw the cloud lying on top of a tall mountain. '' Oh, cloud," he said, '' I have a beautiful daughter whom I wish to marry to the highest in the land. His Majesty, the Sun, said that I should offer my daughter in marriage to you." THE RAT'S DAUGHTER 69 " I am, indeed, honored, Mr. Rat. It is quite true as the sun says. I can go across his path and cover his face so that people cannot see him. But if you wish to marry your daughter to the most powerful person, you must seek the wind. I have no strength against him. When he blows, I must fly away where he chooses. Marry your daughter to the wind." ^^ You surprise me,'' said the rat, " but I be- lieve you. Will the wind soon come this way ? " " I am afraid I cannot tell you that. If I were you, I would go down to the seashore and await his coming,'' said the cloud. 70 DRAMATIC STORIES " A thousand thanks, I shall go at once/' said the rat, and he ran toward the seashore. The wind in the fairest good humor came over the water toward Mr. Rat. " Ah, wind," he said, '' I have a beautiful daughter whom I wish you to marry. The cloud tells me you are the most powerful person in the world. He says he has no strength when you blow." " Nonsense," said the wind, '* the cloud well knows I have no strength to match his. Where do you come from, Mr. Rat ? " . " I have a snug, warm hole in a cozy bank near the largest rice field in the country." " Well, well ! I know where you live. Near that very place there is one stronger than I am. It is a stone wall that fences in the home of one of your neighbors. I have no strength against that wall. If you would marry your daughter to the most powerful in the land, wed her to the stone wall. I wish you a good day.*' " There is nothing for me to do but return home," said the rat. " I know that wall very well." And off he started. THE RAT'S DAUGHTER 71 "Mr. Wall/' said the rat, "the wind tells me that you are the most powerful in the land. I wish you to marry my daughter." "I, the most powerful?" said the stone wall, in surprise ; " that shows how little he knows. Only yesterday your nephew, a big brown rat, gnawed a hole right through me. I, the strongest thing in the world! Marry your daughter to the big brown rat'' "'It shall be so. She shall marry one of my people. I have thought for a long time that we rats are the highest in the land." SHINGEBISS A little duck whose name was Shingebiss lived by himself in a little hut and was very, very happy. Every morning he went to the large pond near his home in search of food. It was all very well when the days were warm. He could catch the fish with no trouble at all. But in winter, when the ice formed over the water, it was a different matter indeed. He had to hunt for places where the rushes came through the thin ice. Then he would pull out the rush with his strong bill and have an open- ing to the water in no time. He had only four logs to keep his fire. " That will be enough for me," he said. *^ Each log is large and will burn a month. I do not 72 SHINGEBISS 73 need another log, for there are only four cold months in the year/' Summer and winter he was a happy little duck. One day the North Wind watched the brave little duck come out of his hut and go in search of food. He said to himself, " What a strange creature this is ! He sings and is out on the coldest days. But I shall stop his singing. Woo-oo-oooo-oo-oo.'' He blew a cold blast which froze the ice on the pond. Happy Shingebiss did not notice the cold blast. He went on to the pond, caught his fish, and ran back home, singing : — " Blow you may your coldest breeze, Shingebiss you cannot freeze.'' " How strange ! '' said the North Wind. " I cannot freeze him out here, so I will go and visit his hut. I will blow my icy breath upon him and freeze him then, through and through." That very night he went to the door of the hut and knocked. Shingebiss was within, sit- ting on one side of the fire and singing : — " Cold North Wind, I know your plan ; You are but my fellow-man." 74 DRAMATIC STORIES He heard the North Wind knock at the door, but he pretended that he did not. He went on singing : — " Heigh, for life ! ho, for bliss ! Who's so free as Shingebiss ? " He felt the cold wind on his back. ** I know who is there,'' he said. But he went on sing- ing:— " Cold North Wind, I know your plan ; You are but my fellow-man/' North Wind heard and grew very angry. He blew his coldest blast. Shingebiss felt the cold wind, but he went on singing as before : — " Heigh, for life ! ho, for bliss ! Who's so free as Shingebiss ? " SHiNGEBISS 75 *' I cannot freeze him ; perhaps I can put out his lire/' said North Wind. " He cannot live long after I have done that.'* Then North Wind opened the door and walked in. He took a seat beside the fire. Shingebiss still pretended not to see him. He went on singing : — " You may blow your coldest breeze, Shingebiss you cannot freeze." Shingebiss took the poker and stirred the fire. It grew too hot for North Wind. He pushed back his chair from the fire, and tried to blow his icy breath on the blazing logs. Shingebiss went on singing : — " Blow the strongest wind you can, Shingebiss is still your man." " I cannot stay here,'' said North Wind. So he pushed his chair still farther from the fire. " I am melting, and I cannot put out his fire. My icy breath does not trouble this duck. But I will freeze the pond so deep that he will not be able to catch any more fish.'' Then North Wind blew his coldest breath. '' The ice on the pond is very thick this morn- 76 DRAMATIC STORIES ing," said brave little Shingebiss. " I must go from place to place till I find a thin spot." E3 CoMJToc/( At last he found some rushes growing up through the ice. With his beak he pulled them out and made a hole. He looked down into the hole, and saw several fine fish. " A good meal for me,'' he said, and he sang : — " Cold North Wind, I know your plan ; You are but my fellow-man.'* North Wind heard the song. "This is a wonderful duck. Some spirit must help him. I will leave him in peace after this." And Shingebiss never saw North Wind again. WEE ROBIN'S YULE SONG One day an old gray pussy saw a Wee Robin Redbreast hopping on a brier, and pussy said, " Where are you going. Wee Robin ? '' And Wee Robin said, *' I am going away to the king to sing him a song this good Yule morn- ing." And the pussy said, '' Come here. Wee Robin, and I'll let you see a bonnie white ring around my neck." But Wee Robin said, " No, no, gray pussy ; no, no ! You worry the wee mousie, but you shall not worry me." So Wee Robin flew away till he came to a turf wall, and there he saw a gray, greedy hawk sitting. The gray, greedy hawk said, *^ Where 77 78 DRAMATIC STORIES are you going, Wee Robin ? '' And the Wee Robin said, *' I am going away to the king to sing him a song this good Yule morning." And the gray, greedy hawk said, '' Come here, Wee Robin, and ril let you see a bonnie feather in my wing." But Wee Robin said, " No, no, gray, greedy hawk ; no, no ! You pecked at the wee linnet, but you shall not peck me." So Wee Robin flew away till he came to the hollow of a big rock, and there he saw a sly fox sitting. And the sly fox said, " Where are you going. Wee Robin?" And Wee Robin said, *' I am going away to the king to sing him a song this good Yule morning." And sly fox said, '' Come here. Wee Robin, and I'll let you see a bonnie spot on the tip of my tail." But Wee Robin said, ''No, no, sly fox ; no, no ! You worry the wee lammies, but you shall not worry me." So Wee Robin flew away till he came to a WEE ROBIN'S YULE SONG 79 bonnie brook, and there he saw a wee hunter sitting. And the wee hunter said, " Where are you going, Wee Robin?" And Wee Robin said, '' I im going to /p the king to sing him a song this good Yule morning." And the wee hunter said, '^ Come here. Wee Robin, and Pll give you some crumbs out of my pouch." But Wee Robin said, " No, no, wee hunter ; no, no ! You shot the goldfinch, but you shall not shoot me." So Wee Robin flew away till he came to the king. There he sat on a window sill and sang and sang a bonnie song. " What shall we give to the Wee Robin for singing us his bonnie song ? " said the king to the queen. ** I think we should give him the bonnie Wee Wren to be his wife, don't you? " " Oh, yes," said the king, '' that will be best ; for they are both beautiful and good." So they called Wee Wren and asked her if 8o DRAMATIC STORIES she would be Wee Robin's wife. And Wee Wren and Wee Robin flew away together. ** O Wee Wren and Wee Robin ! may you always sing sweetly as now," said tlfe king and queen. BABOUSCKA A RUSSIAN LEGENP OF CHRISTMAS Russian children think that their Christmas gifts are brought to them by a little old woman called Babouscka. Every Christmas Eve she goes from house to house, leaving her gifts w^herever there is a child. She hopes that among the children she may some day find the one she has sought so long. But alw^ays w^hen she asks for the child, the answer is the same, ** Farther on ! Farther on ! '* The ST:Rangers Three Babouscka sits before the fire, Upon a winter's night. The driving winds heap up the snow, Her hut is snug and tight; The howling winds, they only make Babouscka's fire more bright. She hears a knocking at the door ; So late — who can it be ? She hastes to lift the wooden latch (No thought of fear has she). The wind-blown candle in her hand Shines out on strangers three. Their beards are white with age, and snow That in the darkness flies ; DRAMATIC STORIES 6 8 1 82 DRAMATIC STORIES Their floating locks are long and white, But kindly are the eyes That sparkle underneath their brows Like stars in frosty -skies. " Babouscka, we have come from far : We tarry but to say, A little Prince is born this night Who all the world will sway. Come, join the search ; come, go with us Who go these gifts to pay." Babouscka shivers at the door, " I would I might behold The little Prince who shall be King ; But, ah ! the night is cold. The wind so fierce, the snow so deep. And I, good sirs, am old." The strangers three, no word they speak. But fade in snowy space. Babouscka sits before the fire. And looks with wistful face. " I wish that I had questioned them So I the way might trace. ** When morning comes, with blessed light, ril early be awake, BABOUSCKA 83 Babouscka's Search. 84 DRAMATIC STORIES My staff in hand. Til go — perchance, Those strangers overtake — And for the Child some Httle toys ril carry for His sake." Babouscka's Search The morning came, and, staff in hand, She wandered in the snow ; And asked the way of all she met, But none the way could show. "It must be farther, yet," she sighed; '/Then farther will I go." And still 'tis said on Christmas Eve, When high the drifts are piled, With staff and basket on her arm, Babouscka seeks the Child.. At every door her face is seen, Her wistful face and mild. At every door her gifts she leaves. And bends and murmurs low. Above each little face half hid By pillows white as snow ; " And is He here ? " — then softly sighs, " Nay, farther must I go ! " THE COLD COUNTRY Ever so many days ago, and ever so far away, up among the great lakes, it was always summer. There the trees were green, and the flowers never ceased to bloom, nor the birds to sing. Every one was merry and happy because it was summer all the year. But at last the animals and the trees and the flowers made up their minds that it was un- pleasant to have hot weather all the time. 85 86 DRAMATIC STORIES '' Ah me ! " said the Bear. ** I get so fat. It would be as easy to roll as to walk/' ** Just so," sighed the trees. " What a bore to have to make leaves all the time ! " " I am comfortable," said the Owl, and he gave his feathers a lazy shake and went to sleep again. " For my part," said the Fox, " I think that we should go in search of cold weather and bring a little back with us by way of change." " We agree," said all the discontented ones. '* I, for one, will go," said Trowel-Ku, the Beaver. " I am tired of summer and of build- ing dams." " Fewer feathers or else a little cold would suit me best," said Kanecri, the Loon. " ril go. It's always too hot for me," said Weeska, the Fox. " We cannot do without the Owl, he looks so wise," said the Beaver. At last they agreed that the Beaver, the Loon, the Fox, and the Owl should go in search of cold weather. " All ready ? " asked the Fox. '' All ready, except Hoots, the Owl," was the answer. " I am comfortable. What's the use } " said the Owl, and he fell asleep again. THE COLD COUNTRY 87 But the Fox pulled his toes, and the Loon sang in his ears, and at last they woke him. " I am comfortable," he said. "But you must go; we cannot do without you," said the Beaver. " He shall go," said the Fox. " You must pull out one of his feathers every time he falls asleep, Beaver ; that will keep him awake. " Now, my comrades, fill a birch-bark bag with food, and we will set off at once." After a long journey they came to the hut of the Weather Spirit. *' What now ? " asked the Weather Spirit, when he saw the four. *' Sir," answered Trowel-Ku, the Beaver, " I am tired of summer and of building dams. Tell us where we can buy a little cold to take home for a change." " And I," said the Fox, " I find it always too hot." " For my part," said the Loon, Kanecri, " you have given us only summer. Either give me fewer feathers or else a little cold. As for the trees, they are all growling about having no rest at making leaves." 88 DRAMATIC STORIES " And what do you want?'' said the Weather Spirit to the Owl. '' Oh, Fm comfortable/' said Hoota, the Owl, and he went right to sleep. " Well,'' said the Weather Spirit, '' I will take you to the cold country, and you can all take home a bag of cold to your friends. We will start at once." "Dear me," said Trowel-Ku, the Beaver, " this must be the cold land. OO-OO-OO." " Let us fill our bag and be off," cried Weeska, the Fox. THE COLD COUNTRY 89 " Here is too much cold for me ; Pm not comfortable/' said Hoota, the Owl. "Boo, hoo, how it bites my toes ! " They filled their bags with cold, of which there was plenty, and started homeward ; but after a little while they all became so cold that their teeth chattered. " What now ? " asked the Weather Spirit. " Too much cold," said the Beaver. ** I think one bag will be enough,'^ said the Fox, "and we could carry it by turns." "I'm not comfortable," said the Owl; "my toes are frozen." " Could you not help us carry the cold home, Weather Spirit ? " asked the Loon. " Ho," answered the Weather Spirit, for now he was very angry. " You wanted winter, and I gave it to you. You had leave to take as much cold as you wanted, and you were greedy and took too much. Now you want me to help you carry the cold home ! I will warm you a little and send your cold home, too. I will tear the sunset out of the west and throw it a thousand miles into your country, and I will take these bags of cold and throw them after the sunset." 90 DRAMATIC STORIES They watched him as he did so. Then he turned to them and said, " Be gone/' When the animals reached home they saw a great change. The trees told their story. ** The sunset stained some of our leaves yellow — some red and some brown. We were so frightened when the sunset burst that we let all our leaves fall.'' "I see," said the Fox, *' where the white cold has fallen in little fleecy blankets on the naked trees. Ooh! Ooh!" he cried, and ran shivering into his den. '' Woe is me," said Trowel-Ku, the Beaver, " the water has become white stone." *^ I am comfortable once more," said Hoota, the Owl, and he fell asleep in a hollow stump. THE TWELVE MONTHS Katrinka and Dobrunka were sisters. Their father and mother were dead and they Uved with a cross old woman in a hut near a deep forest. Katrinka, the younger sister, was gentle and good, but the cross old woman was very unkind to her and made her do all the work in the house. Dobrunka, idle and lazy as she was, sat at home and did much as she pleased all the day long. 91 92 DRAMATIC STORIES One winter morning the cross old woman said to Katrinka, ** Come, finish your sweeping and cooking and spinning and weaving. You have been at it a long time and there is other work for you to do." " Yes, Katrinka," added the idle sister. "You must go into the woods this morning and get me some violets. I want some violets this very day." " Dear Dobrunka," said Katrinka, " it is winter and the ground is all covered with snow. I cannot get violets in the woods now." " I must have a bunch of violets. So say no more about it, but do as I tell you," said Do- brunka. " Yes, hold your tongue and go to the woods as you are told. If you come back without the violets, I shall punish you." As the cross old woman finished speaking she opened the door and pushed Katrinka, who had not so much as a shawl to throw about her shoulders, out into the cold. Katrinka made her way to the forest through the deep snow, but not a leaf or a blade of grass was to be seen anywhere. There was not even a path among the trees. THE TWELVE MONTHS 93 " Violets — where shall I find any ? Snow, snow everywhere. I believe Pve lost my way." Poor Katrinka shivered with the cold. As she went on, she saw a light at- the top of a hill just beyond her. Katrinka stopped and looked, for she could scarcely believe her own eyes. ^' Can it be a fire ? It is, it is. I'll go to the top of the hill and see if I can just warm myself.'' Still shivering with the cold, she climbed the hill. As she drew nearer she saw twelve old men wrapped in cloaks from head to foot, sitting on stones around a blazing fire. ** There are twelve of them," said Katrinka to herself. '' Three of them have on cloaks white like the snow on the ground. Three of the cloaks are green, three are yellow, and three purple. But I am not afraid. Fll go up to 94 DRAMATIC STORIES them and ask if I may warm myself a little at their fire." The twelve old men did not seem to notice the child until she drew quite near. " Please, good men, may I warm myself a little at your fire ? I am very cold," she said. " Welcome, dear child," said one who wore a white cloak. " Come near the fire. We are the Twelve Months." " Thank you," said Katrinka. She went for- ward and seated herself. " I fear I have lost my way." " What brings you into the woods when the snow is deep ? " asked one of the old men. ** Oh, I came for violets." "Violets? This is not the time for them," said January. " I know it, but I want the violets for my sister, and if I do not get them, I shall be pun- ished when" I go home. Can you tell me where I can find them ?" " This is our work," said the three men in the green cloaks like the leaves of spring. " We will do what we can to help this child." March, April, and May rose and stirred the fire ; then, waving their long staffs, they vsaid : — THE TWELVE MONTHS 95 " Blow, wind ; melt, snow ! Bloom, flowers; sing, birds ! " Child, spring is here. Gather your violets/' Katrinka lost no time, and she picked as many as her little hands could hold. " Thank you, good men, thank you all. Now I must run home.'' And away she went. No sooner had she gone than the three old men with white cloaks waved their staffs over the fire, and it was winter again, everywhere. The next day as the twelve old men were sitting in their places around the fire, they looked up and saw Katrinka standing once more before them. " Please, good men," said the child, " may I warm myself again at your fire ? I am very cold." '' Welcome, dear child," said January. " But what brings you back to us ? " " I came to find strawberries for my sister," said Katrinka, whose teeth were now chattering with the cold. " Strawberries ? " said January. *^ This is not the time for strawberries." 96 DRAMATIC STORIES " I know it/' said Katrinka, " but my sister says she must have strawberries for her supper to-night. If I do not get them, I shall be pun- ished when I go home. Can you tell me where I can find them ? " " This is our work," said the three old men in the cloaks yellow as the ripe grain of summer. " We will do what we can to help you, child." June, July, and August rose and stirred the fire ; then, waving their staffs, they said: — " Melt, snow ; sing, birds ! Bud, trees; bloom, flowers! Shine, warm sun ! " Child, summer is here. Gather your straw- berries." THE TWELVE MONTHS 97 Katrinka filled her apron with the ripe red berries. " Thank you, kind sirs," she said. " Thank you. Now I must run home." And off she went. Again the three old men in the white cloaks waved their staffs over the fire, and a deep snow covered everything. Once more Katrinka went to the forest, and once more she found the twelve old men sitting around the bright fire. " Welcome again, dear child. Come and warm yourself, then tell us why you have come to us this third time." *^ My sister says she must have some ripe red apples," said Katrinka, as she drew nearer the fire. " Ripe red apples, child ? " said January. ** This is not the time for ripe red apples." *^ I know it," said Katrinka, " but my sister wants some red apples, and I dare not go home without them. Can you tell me where 1 can find some ? " " This is our work," said the three old men with cloaks purple like the grapes of autumn. " We must do what we can to help this child." DRAMATIC STORIES - 98 DRAMATIC STORIES September, October, and November rose and stirred the fire. Waving their wands, they said : " Melt, snow ; shine, sun ! Chirp, crickets ; ripen, nuts ! Trees, put on your dresses of red, brown, and gold ! " Child, autumn is here. Shake the tree only twice. You may have all the apples that drop.'' THE TWELVE MONTHS 99 Katrinka shook the tree. One apple fell. She shook the tree again. Another apple fell. '' Only two apples," said Katrinka to herself, *^ but I cannot ask for more." Then she said to the old men, '' Thank you, for all your kind- ness to me. Now I must go home." Once more the three old men in white waved their staffs over the fire, and snow and ice covered everything and a cold wind blew. < " Where did you get these apples ? " asked Dobrunka, looking at the two ripe ones Ka- trinka had put into her lap. ^* Out in the woods, dear sister. The tree was full of ripe red apples," said the kind Katrinka. " You have brought me but two. Why did you not bring me more ? " " I could not. I was allowed to shake the tree but twice, and these two apples were all that fell." " You do not tell the truth. Whoever heard of only two apples falling ? " said the old woman, in a very cross way. " You ate all the rest on the way home," said Dobrunka. " There must be a great many 100 DRAMATIC STORIES more where these came from. Come with me," she said to the cross old woman, " you and I will go to the woods and find the tree ourselves. Then we can have as many apples as we wish." They wrapped themselves up well in warm cloaks and set out for the forest. " I see nothing but snow, snow, snow, snow everywhere, and I do not see a tree in bloom," said Dobrunka, who now began to feel the cold bitterly in spite of her warm clothing. " That looks like a fire at the top of the hill. Let's go to it," said the cross old woman. They soon reached the place where the twelve old men were still sitting around their fire. Dobrunka went forward. " We saw your fire on the hill and have come to warm ourselves," she said. " Why^ have you come here, child?" asked January. " I will not tell you," said Dobrunka. " Then we cannot help you," said the old men. " Well, if you must know," called out the cross old woman, " we came for ripe red apples. THE TWELVE MONTHS loi Tell this child where to find them, and be quick about it. Don't keep us waiting in the cold.'^ The twelve old men looked very angry, but they did not say one word. Then the three in white cloaks stood up and waved their staffs. Out went the fire. A bitter wind blew and a deep, deep snow began to cover everything. " The fire has gone out and it is getting dark. All the men are gone. Where are we?" called out Dobrunka, in great fear. '' I do not know. I do not even know the way home. We are lost, Dobrunka — lost, I say. Where shall we find shelter for the night?" Blinded by the thick snow, they trudged on and on, searching for a path that would lead them out of the forest. Katrinka, alone in the little hut, waited and waited. " Oh, I wish they would come. They've been in the woods so long that I fear some- thing has happened." As she spoke these words a knocking was heard at the door. "' There they are," said the child ; and she ran to welcome them back. But what was her 102 DRAMATIC STORIES surprise on opening the door to find, instead of Dobrunka and the cross old woman, her twelve friends of the forest standing before her. " Welcome, my friends of the woods. Come m. '* We have come to tell you, Katrinka, that Dobrunka and the cross old woman will never come back. The hut and the garden and every- thing is yours,'' said January. " And we shall still be your friends and bring violets to your door every year," said March, April, and May. THE TWELVE MONTHS 103 " We shall bring ripe red strawberries and plenty of sunshine," said June, July, and August. "We shall bring ripe red apples on your trees, and you may shake the trees as often as you like," said September, October, and November. " And we shall make the fire glow in your chimney and cover the roof of your hut in winter with a soft blanket of snow," said De- cember, January, and February. THE WEATHER HEN Everybody — men, women, and especially chil- dren — knows that there is a neat little red brick^ cottage on the slopes of Mt. Olympus. It is set in the midst of a great garden. There is a beehive on one side of the path to the front door and a butterfly hive on the other ; and at the end of the garden is a well through which you can look down on the world below. In this cottage, which is closed all winter, lives Harlequin, Columbine, Pantaloon, and Clown. One cold gray day Clown said : '^ The weather is depressing. Let's have the Weather Hen down and complain." " She has an awful temper,'' said Columbine. *' But ril whistle for her if you like." She put her lips together and made a little sound. In a moment the Weather Hen pushed open the garden gate. " Who blew ? " she asked fiercely. " I did," said Columbine. " What for ? " asked the Weather Hen. " Please, Mrs. Hen," said Columbine, " could 104 THE WEATHER HEN 105 you change the weather ? We are so tired of this." The Weather Hen waddled on to the grass, put her head on one side, and looked at them crossly. " Never," she said, and she ruffled her feathers and went to sleep. *^ What are we to do now ? " said Columbine. '' Sing to her," said Clown. '' Pll begin." " An elephant flying too high Hit a bumble bee straight in the eye." The Weather Hen opened one eye. " You sing next," said Clown. " ' When there's room up above, Why come here and shove ? ' Said the bumble bee, starting to cry." io6 DRAMATIC STORIES / The Weather Hen opened her other eye. '^Splendid/' she said, waking up completely. *' Now ril tell you the news. You know the way the Weather Cock sits on the top of church spires and makes believe he rules the wind — its ridiculous, isn't it ? " " It is," said Columbine. " We Weather Hens never get our rights. Why, if I didn't change my mind several times a day, the wind would always blow from the same quarter. But bless you, my dears, ' the Weather Cock always gets the credit. So I was annoyed this spring and just set my foot down.'' " Please take it up," said Columbine, ** and give us some nice weather." '* And what credit shall I get for it ? " said the Weather Hen. " The Weather Cock will spin around and swell up his comb for all the world to think he has altered the weather him- self. And any way, its grumble, grumble, grum- ble, day and night, no matter what the weather is." " Plenty of sunshine again will put everybody in a good humor," said Columbine. "The new potatoes are frostbitten, and the flowers and the fruit are coming to dreadful harm." THE WEATHER HEN 107 ''Well, ril see, my dear," said the Weather Hen. ''If I think the world will be a bit more grateful for fine weather, I shall do what I can." " It's very important to the world — fine weather," said Columbine. " Of course it is," said the Weather Hen. " The weather has more effect on the day's work and the day's happiness than most people ever know." " And when people learn not to grumble," said Harlequin, " and are happy, all days will seem fine." " Bosh," said the Weather Hen. They heard a low whistle. The Weather Hen started up. " That's for me," she said. " Promise," said Columbine, " promise sun, sun, give us our summer." They heard a sound like a gate creaking. " That's the wind changing," said the Weather Hen. " Now look out." And she was gone. They all ran to the well to look down at the world below. WHAT WAS HER NAME? ** Wake up," said an old gentleman dressed in brown and white, as he gently shook the shoulder of a lady in green who was lying sound asleep under the trees. '* Wake up, ma'am ! it is your watch now, and time for me to take myself off." The young lady stirred a very little and opened one of her eyes the least little bit. '' Who are you ? " she asked drowsily. " What is your name ? " "My name is Winter. What is yours?" re- plied the old man. "I have not the faintest idea," said the lady, closing her eyes again. " Humph," growled the old man, " a pretty person you are to take my place. Well, good day. Madam Sleepyhead, and good luck to you." io8 WHAT WAS HER NAME? 109 And off he went over the dead leaves. As soon as he was gone, the young lady opened her eyes and looked about her. '' Madam Sleepyhead, indeed," she said. " I am sure that is not my name, anyhow. The question is, What is it?" She looked about her again. '' Nothing to be seen here but the bare branches of the trees, and the dead brown leaves and dry moss under- foot," she said. '' Trees, do you happen to know what my name is ? " she asked. " We do not know," they said, " but perhaps when the wind comes he will be able to tell you." The girl shivered a little and drew her green cloak about her and waited. By and by the wind came blustering along. He caught the trees by their branches, and shook them a rough, friendly greeting. " Well, boys," he shouted, '' old winter is gone, is he ? I wish you joy for his departure. But where is the lady who was coming to take his place? " " She is here," answered the trees, '' sitting on the ground, but she does not know her name, which seems to trouble her." ''Ho, ho!'' roared the wind. "Not know no DRAMATIC STORIES her own name ? That is news, indeed. And here she has been sleeping while all the world has been looking for her and calling her and wondering where upon earth she was. Come, young lady, we^ll show^ you the way to your dressing room, which has been ready and waiting for you for a fortnight or more.'* So he led the way through the forest and the girl followed, rubbing her sleepy eyes and drag- ging her cloak behind her. Now it was a very singular thing that what- ever the green mantle touched instantly turned green itself. The brown moss put out little tufts of emerald velvet, fresh shoots came push- WHAT WAS HER NAME? iii ing up from the dead dry grass, and even the shrubs and twigs broke out with tiny swelling buds, all ready to open into leaves. By and by the wind paused and pushed aside the branches which made a close screen before him. " Here is your dressing room, young madam,'' he said with a low bow. *^ Be pleased to enter it and you will find all things in readiness. But I beg you to make your toilet speedily, for all the world is waiting for you." Greatly wondering, the young girl passed through the screen of branches and found her- self in a most marvelous place. " How strange,'* she said, " the pine trees make a dense green wall all around, and the ground is carpeted with pine needles, soft and thick and brown. And here are piled great heaps of buds all ready to blossom — violets, anemones, hepaticas, blood- root, and the pale pink buds of the Mayflower. They are all asleep and waiting for some one to waken them. Perhaps if I do it, they will tell me in turn what my name is." She shook the buds lightly, and lo ! every blossom opened its eyes and raised its head and 112 DRAMATIC STORIES said : " Welcome, gracious lady ! Welcome ! we have looked for you long/' The young girl took the lovely blossoms and twined them in her fair locks and hung them in garlands round her white neck. " What a beautiful carved casket hidden under this pile of spicy leaves," said the girl. " And a soft rustling sound comes from the inside of it — the softest sound that I ever heard. I'll lift the lid." She lifted the lid. ^'Butterflies, rainbow-tinted, thousands and thousands!" she cried. Out they flew, softly, glitteringly, gayly, flutter- ing, and hovered about the maiden's head. The WHAT WAS HER NAME? 113 soft sound of their wings seemed to say, " Wel- come, welcome ! " At the same moment a great flock of beautiful birds came flying and lighted on the branches, and they, too, sang, *^ Welcome, welcome." The maiden clasped^ her hands and cried: " Why are you all so glad to see me ? I feel — I know — that you are all mine, and I am yours. But how is it ? Who am I ? What is my name? " The birds and the flowers and rainbow- tinted butterflies and the pine trees all answered : '' Spring ! The beautiful, the long-expected ! Hail to the Maiden Spring ! " DRAMATIC STORIES- THE SKYLARK'S SPURS Out in the meadow grass sat a fine young skylark looking very unhappy. *' What is the matter with you, eoiusin?" asked the meadow fairy. ** I am so unhappy. I want to build a nest and I have no mate," replied the lark. "Why don't you look for a mate, then?'' said the meadow fairy, laughing at him. '* Fly up and sing a beautiful song, and perhaps some pretty lark will hear you and want to be your mate." " Oh, I don't like to fly up," said the lark. 114 THE SKYLARK'S SPURS 115 '* If I do, my feet will be seen and no other bird has feet like mine. My claws are enough to frighten any one, they are so long.'' "Let me see them," said the fairy. The lark lifted up one of his feet which he had kept hidden in the long grass. '* It looks very fierce," said the fairy. " Your hind claw is at least one inch long, and all your toes have very sharp points. Are you sure you never use them to fight with?" " Never," said the lark. " But these claws grow longer and longer. I am so ashamed of their being seen that I often lie in the grass instead of going up to sing as I should like to do." " I think, if I were you, I would pull them off," said the fairy. '' That is not so easy to do,'' said the lark. " You cannot think how fast they stick on." " Well, I am sorry for you. You must be a quarrelsome bird or you would not have such long spurs. I cannot help you. Good morn- ing." So the fairy went off and the poor lark sat moping in the grass. By and by a grasshopper came chirping up ii6 DRAMATIC STORIES to the lark and tried to comfort him. '' I have known you for some time/' said the grasshopper, '' and I have never seen you fight. I v^ill tell every one that you are a good-tempered bird and that you are looking for a mate." " Thank you, grasshopper," said the lark. " At the same time," said the grasshopper, " I should be glad if you could tell me the use of those claws. The question might be asked me and I should not know what to answer." " Grasshopper," said the lark, " I do not know what they are for ; that is the truth." " Well," said the kind grasshopper, " perhaps time will show." So he went away. The lark was delighted with the grasshopper's promise to speak well of him. He flew up into the air, and the higher he went, the sweeter and louder he sang. A pretty brown lark heard him sing and cried, '' I never heard so beautiful a song in my life, — never ! " '* It was sung by my friend the skylark," said the grasshopper. ^^ He is a very good- tempered bird and he wants a mate." " Indeed ! " said the pretty brown lark. *' Well done, my friend ! " cried the grass- THE SKYLARK'S SPURS 117 hopper, when the lark came down. '* Your song greatly pleased the little brown lark. I will take you to see her." The skylark thought he had never seen such a pretty bird before. He asked her not to mind his ugly spurs and to be his mate. " I do not mind your spurs very much," said the brown lark. '' Indeed, they seem to be of no use to you." The skylark soon won her for his mate, and they built a cunning little nest in the grass. After several days the fairy came back and met the grasshopper. '* How is your friend, the lark, who found such a pretty brown mate the other day ? " asked the fairy. ^* Suppose you come and see the eggs in their nest," said the grasshopper, '' three pretty eggs spotted with brown. I am sure the lark will show them to you with pleasure." Off they went together. What was their sur- prise to find the poor little brown lark sitting on her nest with drooping head and trembling limbs. ii8 DRAMATIC STORIES " Ah, my pretty eggs," she said. *' I am so unhappy about them. I have just heard the farmer say that to-morrow he will begin to cut the grass." " That is very sad," said the grasshopper. *' What a pity that you laid your eggs on the ground." " Larks always do," said the poor little brown bird. "Ah; my pretty eggs. I shall never hear my nestlings chirp." " We are sorry that we can do nothing to help you," said the fairy and the grasshopper. Just then the skylark dropped down from the white cloud where he had been singing. " What is the matter ? " he asked his mate when he saw her drooping. The little brown THE SKYLARK'S SPURS 119 lark told him just what she had told the fairy and the grasshopper, and he was very much shocked. But presently he lifted one of his feet and then the other, and looked at his long spurs. " If I had only laid my eggs on the other side of the hedge,'^ said the poor little mother, '^ I could have reared my birds before harvest time/' " My dear," said the skylark, '' don't be un- happy/' So saying, he hopped up to the eggs, and laying one foot upon the prettiest, he clasped it with his long spur. Strange to say, it fitted exactly. *^ Oh, my clever mate," cried the poor mother bird. ** Do you think you can carry them away for me ? " ** To be sure I can," said the lark, hopping on, with the egg in his right foot, to the hedge. When he had got through the hedge, he laid the egg down in a nice little hollow place and went back for the others. '* Oh, hurrah ! " cried the fairy. " Never be ashamed of your long spurs again." '' Hurrah ! " cried the grasshopper, " lark- spurs forever ! " THE TRAVELER AND THE CAMEL Long, long ago a company of merchants with loaded camels were traveling across a desert. After they had gone a short distance they found, to their great surprise, that one of their richly laden beasts had strayed away. They looked about in all directions, but they did not find him. On they went and gave up the camel for lost. They had gone but a little way when they met a traveler who was crossing the desert alone. " Good man," said one of the merchants, ** did you chance to see a stray camel as you came on your way ? " " There is a stray camel in the desert. Is he not blind in one eye ? " asked the traveler, ** He is,'' cried the merchants in one voice. " And lame in his foreleg ? " " He is, he is," was the answer. '^ Has he not lost a front tooth ? " ^^ He has," came the answer again. " And is he not loaded with honey on one side and grain on the other ? " THE. TRAVELER AND THE CAMEL 121 *^ With honey and grain ! He has seen our camel. Come, tell us where we can find him." " I have not seen your camel," said the trav- eler; and he started again on his way. The merchants were convinced by this time that the traveler had seen their camel. They suspected, too, that he had taken the jewels and gold which were part of the beast's load. They were very angry. ' "' Wretch! he knows it's our camel," cried one of the merchants. 122 DRAMATIC STORIES "Very likely he has taken the riches with which it was loaded," cried another. " We'll seize him and have justice," called out a third. " Come!" and the merchants started in pursuit of the traveler, who was now well on his way. They soon overtook him. They seized him and brought him to the town before the nearest judge, to whom they told the story. The judge listened carefully until the story was finished. " I believe this traveler knows more about that camel than he cares to tell," said the judge. Then turning to the traveler he said : " You asked the merchants whether their camel is not blind in one eye. How did you learn that ? " " I saw that the grass on only one side of the path was eaten," answered the traveler. *' How did you learn he is lame in one of the forelegs ? " "The print of the left forefoot was lighter than that of the others." " How did you learn that he has lost one tooth ? " " A small tuft of grass was left uneaten in the center of each bite," THE TRAVELER AND THE CAMEL 123 " But how could you tell that he is loaded on one side with grain and on the other with honey ?" *' The ants were busy on one side of the path and flies on the other." *' Come, sir," said the judge, ** tell where this camel can be found." *' He has not strayed far away, as there are no fresher footprints either behind him or before him," answered the traveler. Then the judge turned to the merchants and said : — '^ Go and look for your camel." The merchants did so, and they found their camel very near the spot from which it had strayed. \ THE FOREST FULL OF FRIENDS There was once a king who chose every New Year's Day a Httle boy and a Httle girl from among the children of his kingdom. These children he kept at the palace to be brought up among the pages and maids of honor. But he always chose the best-looking and the best- behaved that could be found. Early one New Year's morning a little or- phan girl named Elsa and the old woman of the forest, with whom she lived, went to the king's palace. The old woman thought Elsa 124 THE FOREST FULL OF FRIENDS 125 the most beautiful child in the world. When they came to the palace door, they asked if they might go in. The servant said, ^^ Where are your friends ? " "I have no friends,'' said Elsa, "except this woman." " You must have other friends," said the serv- ant. " Do you not know that every child coming to-day must bring five friends to intro- duce him to the king?" So Elsa and the old woman turned and went away very unhappy. The next day the old woman said to Elsa, '^ I think you had better go into the forest to play." "Why, what do you mean?" asked Elsa. " The forest is big and dark. It is called the Forest Full of Fears. Are you not afraid to have me go there ? " " No," answered the old woman ; " I think you may find some friends there." " How strange ! " said Elsa. " Come here, Elsa," said the old woman. " I have something to give you. Here are some drops that I have been keeping for you for many years." "And what are they for?" asked Elsa. 126 DRAMATIC STORIES " To put on your ears so that you may under- stand any one who speaks to you in a different language from your own. I think you may find some friends in the forest that you could not understand without them. So take them with you.'^ When Elsa reached the Forest Full of Fears, she rubbed one of the drops on each of her ears. Then a strange thing happened. The leaves on the trees seemed to rustle just as they had before, but she knew now that they said, " Welcome to the Forest Full of Friends, Elsa.'' "Dear me,'' said Elsa, "is that what you have been saying all along ? I thought this was the Forest Full of Fears." All the \| eaves said, " No, no, no, no, no ; " and they waVed again and said, " Welcome to the Forest Full of Friends." Elsa heard a little brown bird that sat singing on the branch of a tree. " Is it possible that I can understand the bird, too?" She put another tiny drop on each of her ears and listened. The little bird was singing : " Good morning ! good morning ! It's a beau- tiful morning." THE FOREST FULL OF FRIENDS 127 "Good morning,'* said Elsa. " It is a lovely morning. Do you live here in the forest?'' " Yes, indeed ! Yes, indeed ! Pm very glad to see you," said the bird. Elsa walked on into the forest and sat down on a mossy bank to rest. While she was sitting there a squirrel came down from a branch over her head and began chirruping merrily at her. '' Jolly old forest, isn't it ? You've no idea where my nuts are, have you ? But you're per- fectly welcome to any you find." " Thank you," said Elsa, " I should like a nut or two. My walk has made me hungry." The squirrel made no answer, but ran up the side of the tree again. He dropped her a nut from high up in an oak tree and it fell right into her lap. " JoHy old forest, isn't it .?^ " " Surely there never was a forest more polite and with more friendly people in it," answered Elsa. After Elsa left the squirrel's tree, she met a little chipmunk, a frog, and a wood mouse. She could understand them, every one ; and they told her they didn't need any drops to under- stand her. '* We have a way of understanding boys and girls that we have known for years," 128 DRAMATIC STORIES Elsa ill the Forest. THE FOREST FULL OF FRIENDS 129 they all said. " It is growing dark/' said Elsa. '* I must run home and tell the good woman all that has happened. Now I have plenty of friends.'' ** Sure enough," said the old woman when Elsa told her. " We will go to the palace again, and we can tell the porter that you have a Forest Full of Friends, if he will come here to see them." When the old woman woke in the morning, she found Elsa already dressed for the journey. " Why, what in the world is all this ? " asked the woman. For there was Elsa with a squirrel, a bird, a frog, a butterfly, and a cricket ready to go with her. '' These are my five friends," said Elsa. " I went to the forest very early and asked them if they would be willing to go with us. When they knew why I wanted them, they were all glad to come." Ofl^ they went. When the porter at the door of the palace saw Elsa and the old woman, he knew them at once. ''But why have you all these creatures with you ? Are they presents to the king r " DRAMATIC STORIES 9 130 DRAMATIC STORIES '' No/' said Elsa. ^* They are the five friends you said I must have to introduce me. Last time I came, I had only one friend; now I have plenty." ** Very good," said the porter, " but I do not see how these friends can introduce you to the king. He will not understand them." " Only let me take them in. I promise that he shall understand what they say." So the porter threw open the door and led them to the king. ** Your Majesty," said Elsa, ^' I have brought five friends to introduce me. If you will only touch each of your ears with a drop from my little bottle, you will know what they are saying." The king was much surprised. He took the THE FOREST FULL OF FRIENDS 131 little bottle from Elsa, and touched each of his ears. Just then the bird began to chirp, the squirrel began to chatter, the ' frog began to croak, the cricket began to sing, and the butter- fly flew close to the king's ear and whispered into it. The king was much pleased to hear them all and to understand what they said. ** So you wish to come to live in the palace ? '^ he asked. " Yes," said Elsa, " if your Majesty wants me, and if my oldest friend, who has taken care of me all my life, can stay here, too." '' It shall be done," said the king. " And would you not like to keep some of your forest friends here with you ? I should really like to have them for my friends, too." *^ They will be your friends, but they would not be happy away from their own forest." Then Elsa took her five friends to the palace gate. She knew they could easily find their way back to the forest. " And I do not think I can be happy, either, unless I can often go back there to visit them," said Elsa to the king. *' You shall do so," said the king, "and from this day the Forest Full of Fears shall be called the Forest Full of Friends." WORK lll-H |:!!J I " Sweet wind, fair wind, where have you been?" *' I've been sweeping the cobwebs out of the sky; I've been grinding a grist in the mill hard by ; I've been laughing at work, while others sigh ; Let those laugh who win." 132 WORK 133 '* Sweet rain, soft rain, what are you doing ? *' *^ Pm urging the corn to fill out its cells. Pm helping the lily to fashion its bells; Pm swelling the torrent and brimming the wells; Is that worth pursuing?" '' Redbreast, redbreast, what have you done ? " '* Pve been watching the nest where my fledg- lings lie ; Pve sung them to sleep with a lullaby; By and by I shall teach them to fly. Up and away, every one." *' Honeybee, honeybee, where are you going ? " '* To fill my basket with precious pelf; To toil for my neighbor as well as myself; To find out the sweetest flower that grows. Be it a thistle or be it a rose — A secret worth knowing ! " " Wind and rain fulfilling His word ! Tell me was ever a legend heard Where the wind, commanded to blow, deferred ; Or the rain that was bidden to fall demurred ? " SWAN, HOLD FAST Peter leaves Home Once upon a time there were three brothers. The eldest was called Jacob, the second Hans, and the youngest Peter. This youngest brother was very unhappy in his home, for he was treated shamefully by the other two. If anything went wrong, Peter had to bear the blame. So the poor fellow led a sad life, and, day and night, he wondered what he could do to make it better. One day when he was in the wood gathering sticks and crying bitterly, he saw a little old woman, and the little old woman saw him. As soon as she caught sight of Peter, she came up 134 SWAN, HOLD FAST 135 to him and asked him what was the matter. Peter told her all his troubles as best he could. '' Come, come, my good lad," said the little old woman, ^' stop crying. Isn't the world wide enough ? " " Yes, it is," said Peter, " but what can I do?" " Do ? Why don't you set out and try your ' luck somewhere else? Set out, I say, this very day." " I will," said Peter. " I'll stand this ill treatment no longer. Early to-morrow morn- ing I'll go out into the world and seek my fortune." So saying, he bid the old woman " good day " and went back to his home. True to his word, Peter left his home early the next morning and set out to seek his fortune as the old woman had advised him to do. He had gone but a short distance when he sat down on a hill to rest. After all, he was not at all sure he was glad to leave home. ** The world is wide, indeed," said Peter to himself. There's no telling what the lad would have done if the little old woman had not appeared just then before him. '' So far, so good, my lad," she said, tapping 136 DRAMATIC STORIES him gently on the shoulder. " But why do you sit here ? What do you mean to do now ? '' " I do not know," said Peter. The old woman laughed kindly. " Til tell you what you must do to make your fortune. But you must promise me one thing before I tell you.'' " What is that? " said Peter. *' You must promise not to forget me when you have made your fortune.'' "That I will," said Peter, earnestly. " Very well, then. Keep right on this path, and at sunset you will come to a large oak tree which you will find growing at the crossroads." " That is not hard," said Peter. " Fastened to this oak tree you will find a beautiful swan. That is no common swan, my lad, and you must get it from the tree, for it will bring you your fortune." " It must be a magic swan. But how will it help me?^' asked Peter, who was most anxious now to hear the rest of the plan. " It is a magic swan," continued the old woman. " Every one who sees that swan will wish to have it, or, at least, every one will wish to have a feather from its beautiful plumage. SWAN, HOLD FAST 137 Let any one who likes try to pull out a feather. As soon as that swan feels so much as a finger on it, it will scream out." " Then what must I do ? " '' You must say, ' Swan, hold fast,' and the one who has tried to get a feather will be held so fast that nothing will set him free until you touch him with this little stick which I shall give you.'' '^ Surely it is a magic swan," said Peter. ''But I have not told you all. When you have caught a lot of people in that way, go straight on with them until you come to a beautiful palace in which the king lives with his daughter, whom he loves very much. This princess, his daughter, is so sad that she never laughs. It grieves the king greatly to see her unhappy all the time, so he has made it known that he will give either the princess in marriage or half his kingdom to the man who can make her laugh. Now, my lad, get the magic swan, go to the palace, make the princess laugh — that is your fortune. But one thing more, be careful not to waken the man you will find sleep- ing under the oak tree. Remember your promise." 138 DRAMATIC STORIES Peter promised again not to forget her, and he started on his journey. The Magic Swan At sunset he came to the oak tree. There lay the man fast asleep, and a beautiful swan was tied to the tree close by, — all was just as the old woman had said. Peter lost no time in loosening the swan, and he was careful to lead it away without waking the bird's master. They walked on and on for some time, when he came to a place where some young men were at work. As soon as the men saw Peter, one of them said : — " What a beautiful swan ! I should like to have one of those fine feathers." SWAN, HOLD FAST 139 '' Pull one of them, then," called out Peter. Just as the young man laid his hand on the bird, it screamed out, and Peter called, ^' Swan, hold fast." Try as hard as he might, the young fellow could not get his hand away from the swan. He pulled and pulled. The more he pulled, the more his companions laughed at him. Soon a young girl came up to see what all the laughing was about. When she saw the poor man fastened to the swan, she said: *' That is too bad. I will free you in a minute." With that she stretched out her hand to free him and the bird screamed. "Swan, hold fast," called out Peter. The young girl was caught and had to go on with Peter. On went Peter with his captives. They had not gone far when they met a chimney-sweep, who laughed and laughed to see a man and a girl fastened to the swan's tail. " Oh, my friend," called out the young girl, " give me your hand and set me free." "That I will," said the chimney-sweep. As he did so, the bird screamed. " Swan, hold fast," cried Peter, and the chimney-sweep had to go along with them, whether he wished to or not. 140 DRAMATIC STORIES They soon came to a village where a traveling circus was giving a performance. When the clown saw the strange three, he could not help laughing as he called out, " Well, that's the queerest flock of birds I ever saw." " It's nothing to laugh at," called out the chimney-sweep. " Stop your nonsense and come SWAN, HOLD FAST • 141 and set me free. I'll do a good turn for you some day," The clown took the chimney-sweep's out- stretched hand, and the bird screamed. " Swan, hold fast," called out Peter. So the clown had to go along with the rest. Now when the mayor of the village saw what had happened, he was very angry. " It's all some foolish trick. Come, sirs, stop this nonsense," he said, as he seized the clown by the hand just as the bird screamed again. '* Swan, hold fast," called out Peter, and the mayor had to go along with the rest. Peter finds his Fortune In a short time, Peter, with his captives, reached the palace gates, and he made straight for the palace to see the princess. He soon spied a beautiful young woman with a sad look on her face standing at one of the palace windows. Peter knew in a moment it was the princess. But no sooner did the prin- cess catch sight of Peter and his train than she burst into a fit of laughter. She laughed and laughed and laughed, and all her ladies-in-wait- ing joined her. 142 DRAMATIC STORIES " The princess has laughed, the princess has laughed," cried the king as he rushed out of the palace. " Who has done this ? " " It was the boy with the swan,'^ called the ladies-in-waiting. " My good lad," said the king, '' do you know what I promised to any one who could make my daughter laugh ? " " I do," said Peter. " Then which do you choose, one half my kingdom or the princess in marriage ? " " I choose one half your kingdom," said Peter. " As you say," answered the king. Peter touched the young man, then the girl, the sweep, the clown, and, last of all, the angry mayor, with the little stick which the old woman had given him, and all his captives were free, and you may be sure they ran home as fast SWAN, HOLD FAST 143 P as they could go. But Peter stood by with his swan. " That's a splendid bird," the princess said to him. " Do let me stroke it." She just laid her hand upon one of its feathers when the bird screamed. The mischievous Peter called out, " Swan, hold fast," and the princess could no more get away than if she had been bound by the strongest rope. So Peter had half the kingdom and the princess, too, for his fortune. But he did not forget his promise to the woman who had been so kind to him. WHY ANIMALS FEAR FIRE " Come, come, my butterfly. Take a message to my friends quickly. Tell them to come to me here on the green hill with all haste," said the whispering grass. Away flew the butterfly and soon came back with the deer, the wolf, and the fox. ** Listen to me, my friends. South Wind has just told me there is great danger for you this 144 WHY ANIMALS FEAR FIRE 145 day. Three hunters have come across the prairie to take your lives." '* Hunters ? What are they?" asked the fox. '' We have never heard of such a thing," said the wolf. '' They are Indians," said the w^hispering grass, "with bows and arrows that will pierce your hearts." " What must we do ? " they all asked. " You are wise, whispering grass, tell us how to save ourselves." " Go to your homes and stay there. When all is safe, I'll send my butterfly to tell you to come to me." The animals hurried away. When the Indians reached the green hill, they could see nothing but butterflies hovering above the grass. " There is no game in this land and I am hungry. Let us go back," said the first Indian. " Not so," said the second Indian. " Let us wait. We can eat grass ; see, here is a hill all covered with it. The animals eat it, why not we ?" said the second. . DRAMATIC STORIES I O 146 DRAMATIC STORIES *^ But it is whispering grass. And he whu eats of this whispering grass can no longer kill anything with his arrows." "No, no, it is not whispering grass," said the third. " Listen, there is a west wind blowing through it and I can hear no sound of whisper- ing." They all listened — not a sound came. " You are right. Let us eat." They ate the whispering grass then rolled themselves in their deerskins and fell asleep. As soon as they were asleep, whispering grass called a butterfly. " Go to my friends and tell them they are all safe. They can come from their homes and wander among the hills. The Indians will try to shoot them with their arrows, but the arrows of these hunters can do no harm. Go quickly." The animals came from their home gladly. But they had not gone far when the Indians woke up and saw them. In a minute they drew their bows, and away shot the arrows. Every arrov/ flew swiftly through the air, but soon fell to the ground at the animals' feet. " That must have been whispering grass that WHY ANIMALS FEAR FIRE 147 we ate last night. For, see, not one of the arrows has hit the mark," said the first hunter. '^ Why did the grass not whisper then ? " asked the second hunter. " Yes, it kept silent while we listened. That is the way it deceived us. Now we have lost our power for hunting. We must fight the whisper- ing grass. Let us go and pull it up by the roots so that it can never deceive any hunter again.'' '' Not now. It is best to wait till the moon rises high in the sky,'' said the second. ^' Very well, — but when we leave, this green hill will be bare and naked." The butterfly who had been hovering near the Indians heard what they said. It flew with all speed to the animals. '^The hunters have planned to kill whisper- ing grass to-night. Can you not save it ? " " We must save it," said the deer. '' It has saved us. Oh, fox, you are wise and great. Can you not think of a plan to save whispering grass ? " " I am not wise enough for that, but I know one who is. On the Dark Hills lives the Fire Spirit. He is wise and great. He tells the deer where to hide in the hills so that hunters 148 DRAMATIC STORIES cannot kill them. He tells the hungry gray wolf where to find food, and in summer he shows the red fox how to get away from his enemies. He will surely help us. Let us all go to him.^' The animals ran as fast as they could to the Dark Hills, and soon reached the home of the Fire Spirit. They found him in the center of a large, low cave seated before a bright fire. ** You have come to me for help," he said ; " what is wrong?'' " Our friend, the whispering grass, is going to be uprooted to-night by hunters. Can you tell us how to save it? It has saved us.'' *^ My friends," he said, *' I will help you. Do you see these things which look like dark stones ? The Mighty Spirit put them there. I will place some of these in my fire, and they will soon be ready for you." As he said this, the Fire Spirit placed a number of dark stones in his fire. In a moment they were in a bright red glow. " Take these burn- ing coals and make a glowing circle on the hill- side around the whispering grass. They will not harm the grass, and they will not harm you. WHY ANIMALS FEAR FIRE 149 They found him in the center of a large, low cave. 150 DRAMATIC STORIES But after to-night, my animals, always beware . of a glowing fire. I can give you my protection from it but once ; I can never, never give it again." The animals took the coals and ran back to the hill. The hunters were still asleep. ** We will save you, whispering grass," they cried. " See ! " They placed the coals in a circle on the side of the hill and hid themselves behind the trees. Scarcely had they done this when the hunters awoke. They saw a glowing circle of fire on the hillside. They rubbed their eyes and looked again. At last one said, " My brothers, this whispering grass must be a friend of the Mighty Spirit, and he will let no harm come to it. We must go back to our homes at once and tell the others." " You are right," said another. *' This is a warning which the Mighty Spirit has sent to us." So saying, they fled into the forest. But ever since that night animals have been afraid of a glowing fire, for they know the Fire Spirit can- not give his protection another time. A MAD TEA PARTY Alice joins the Party There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it ; a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and talking over its head. '^ Very un- comfortable for the Dormouse," thought Alice; ^' only as it's asleep I suppose it doesn't mind." 151 152 DRAMATIC STORIES The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it. '^ No room, no room ! " they cried out when they saw Alice coming. "There's plenty of room,*' said Alice, indignantly, and she sat down in a large armchair at one end of the table. " Have some wine," the March Hare said in an encouraging tone. Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. " I don't see any wine," she remarked. "There isn't any," said the March Hare. " Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it," said Alice, angrily. " It wasn't very civil of you to sit down with- out being invited," said the March Hare. " I didn't know it was your table," said Alice ; " it's laid for a great many more than three." "Your hair wants cutting," said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech. " You should learn not to make personal re- marks," Alice said with some severity ; " it's very rude." The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hear- A MAD TEA PARTY 153 ing this ; but all he said was, " Why is a raven like a writing desk ? " '^ Come, we shall have some fun now ! " thought Alice. " Fm glad they've begun asking riddles — I believe I can guess that/' she added aloud. ^* Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it?" said the March Hare. '' Exactly so," said Alice. '* Then you should say what you mean," the March Hare went on. "I do," Alice hastily replied; " at least — at least, I mean what I say — that's the same thing, you know." ** Not the same thing a bit ! " said the Hatter. " Why, you might just as well say that ^ I see what I eat ' is the same thing as ' I eat what I see ' ! " *' You might just as well say," added the March Hare, " that ' I like what I get ' is the same thing as * I get what I like ' ! " '* You might just as well say," added the Dor- mouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, ''that 'I breathe when I sleep' is the same thing as ' I sleep when I breathe ' ! " "It is the same thing with you," said the 154 DRAMATIC STORIES Hatter, taking his watch out of his pocket, shak- ing it every now and then, and holding it to his ear. The Hatter was the first to break the silence. " What day of the month is it ? " he said, turning to Alice. " The fourth," said Alice. " Two days wrong, ''-said_the Hatter. " I told you butter wouldn't suit the works! " he added, looking angrily at the March Hare. '' It was the best butter,'' the March Hare said. *^ Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as A MAD TEA PARTY 155 well/' the Hatter grumbled ; " you shouldn't have put it in with the bread knife." The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily ; then he dipped it into his cup of tea, and looked at it again ; but he could think of nothing better to say than his first re- mark, ^^ It was the best butter, you know." Alice had been looking over his shoulder with some curiosity. ** What a funny watch ! It tells the day of the month, and it doesn^t tell what o'clock it is ! " '' Why should it ? " muttered the Hatter. " Does your watch tell you what year it is ? " *' Of course not," Alice replied very readily; " but that's because it stays the same year for such a long time together." " Which is just the case with mine," said the Hatter. ** I don't quite understand you," she said. " The Dormouse is asleep again," said the Hat- ter, and he poured a little hot tea upon its nose. The Dormouse shook its head impatiently, and said without opening its eyes, " Of course, of course ; just what I was going to remark myself." 156 DRAMATIC STORIES ** Have you guessed the riddle yet ? " the Hatter said, turning to Alice again. " No, I give it up," Alice replied ; '' what's the answer ?" " I haven't the slightest idea,'' said the Hatter. " Nor I," said the March Hare. Alice sighed wearily. " I think you might do something better with the time,'' she said, *' than wasting it in asking riddles that have no answers." ^* If you knew Time as well as I do," said the Hatter, *^ you wouldn't talk about wasting it. It's him." " I don't know what you mean," said Alice. ^* Of course you don't ! " the Hatter said, toss- ing his head contemptuously. " I dare say you never even spoke to Time ! " " Perhaps not," Alice cautiously replied; " but A MAD TEA PARTY 157 I know I have to beat time when I learn music/' " Ah ! that accounts for it," said the Hatter. " He won't stand beating. Now if you only keep on good terms with him, he'd do almost anything you liked with the clock. For in- stance, suppose it were nine o'clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons ; you'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the clock in a twinkling ! Half past one, time for dinner." (" I only wish it was," the March Hare said to itself in a whisper.) " That would be grand, certainly," said Alice, thoughtfully ; " but then — I shouldn't be hungry for it, you know." '^Not at first, perhaps," said the Hatter; '* but you could keep it to half past one as long as you liked." *^ Is that the way you manage ? " Alice asked. The Hatter shook his head mournfully. '' Not I," he replied. " We quarreled last March — just before he went mad, you know — " (pointing with his teaspoon at the March Hare) *^ — it was at the great concert 158 DRAMATIC STORIES given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing: — " ' Twinkle, twinkle, little hat ! How I wonder what youVe at ! ' You know the song, perhaps ? '' " Pve heard something like it," said Alice. '' It goes on, you know," the Hatter con- tinued, ^' in this way : — " * Up above the world you fly Like a tea-tray in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle — ' " Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its sleep, '' Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle," and went on so long that they had to pinch it to make it stop. " Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse," said the Hatter, "when the Queen bawled out, * He's murdering the time ! Off with his head ! ' " " How dreadfully savage ! " exclaimed Alice. '' And ever since that," the Hatter went on in a mournful tone, " he won't do a thing I ask. It's always six o'clock now." " Is that the reason so many tea things are put out here ? " she asked. A MAD TEA PARTY 159 *' Yes, that's it," said the Hatter with a sigh ; " it's always tea time and we've no time to wash the things between whiles." *^ Then you keep moving round, I suppose ? " said Alice. *' Exactly so," said the Hatter ; ** as the things get used up." ^* But when you come to the beginning again?" Alice ventured to ask. '* Suppose we change the subject," the March Hare interrupted, yawning. " I'm getting tired of this. I vote the young lady tells us a story." '' I'm afraid I don't know one," said Alice, rather alarmed at the proposal. ^' Then the Dormouse shall ! " they both cried. ** Wake up, Dormouse ! " And they pinched it on both sides at once. The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes. " I wasn't asleep," he said in a hoarse, feeble voice. " I heard every word you fellows were saying.'^ '' Tell us a story ! " said the March Hare. " Yes, please do ! " pleaded Alice. " And be quick about it," said the Hatter, " or you'll be asleep again before it's done." i6o DRAMATIC STORIES The Story *' Once upon a time there were three little sisters/' the Dormouse began in a great hurry ; " and their names were Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie ; and they lived at the bottom of a well — " " What did they live on ? " said Alice, who always took a great interest in questions of eat- ing and drinking. '' They lived on treacle,'' said the Dormouse. '^ They couldn't have done that," Alice gently remarked ; " they'd have been ill." ** So they were," said the Dormouse; "very ill." Alice helped herself to some tea and bread and butter, and then turned to the Dormouse, and repeated her question. '* Why did they live at the bottom of a well ? " The Dormouse again took a minute or two to think about it, and then said, " It was a treacle well." '' There's no such thing ! " Alice was begin- ning very angrily, but the Hatter and the March Hare went *' Sh ! sh ! " and the Dormouse sulkily remarked, *^ If you can't be civil, you'd better finish the story for yourself." A MAD TEA PARTY i6i " No, please go on ! '' Alice said very humbly ; " I won't interrupt you again. I dare say there may be one." " One, indeed ! " said the Dormouse, indig- nantly. ''And so these three little sisters — they were learning to draw, you know — '' '' What did they draw ? " said AHce. " Treacle," said the Dormouse. " But I don't understand. Where did they draw the treacle from ? " asked Alice. '* You can draw water out of a water well," said the Hatter ; " so I should think you could draw treacle out of a treacle well, — eh, stupid ?" " But they were in the well," Alice said to the Dormouse. " Of course they were," said the Dormouse, '' well in." This answer confused poor Alice. " They were learning to draw," the Dor- mouse went on, yawning and rubbing its eyes, for it was getting very sleepy ; '^ and they drew all manner of things — everything that begins with an M." " Why with an M ? " said Alice. ''Why not?" said the March Hare. Alice was silent. DRAMATIC STORIES I I l62 DRAMATIC STORIES The Dormouse had closed its eyes, and was going off into a dose, but, on being pinched by the Hatter, it woke up again with a Httle shriek, and went on: " — that begins with an M, such as muchness — you know you say things are ' much of a muchness ' — did you ever see such a thing as a drawing of a muchness ? " '* Really, now you ask me," said Alice, very much confused, ^' I don't think — '' *^ Then you shouldn't talk," said the Hatter. This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear ; she got up in great disgust, and walked off. The Dormouse fell asleep instantly ** At any rate, I'll never go there again ! " said Alice. " It's the stupidest tea party I ever was at in all my life." THE BABY SEED'S SONG Under the Soil " Little brown seed, O little brown brother. Are you awake in the dark ? Here we lie cozily, close to each other. Wake ! There's the song of the lark." The Lark " Waken, brown seeds, awaken and dress you. Put on your green coats and gay. Blue sky will shine on you, sunshine caress you. Waken ! 'Tis morning, 'tis May ! " The Choice " Little brown seed, O little brown brother. What kind of a flower will you be ? I'll be a poppy all white like my mother. Do be a poppy like me ! What ? You, a sunflower ? O how I shall miss you When you're grown golden and high. But I shall send all the bees up to kiss you, Little brown brother, good-by." 163 THE LARK AND THE ROOK The Lark " Good night, Sir Rook," said a little lark, ** The daylight fades, it will soon be dark, I've bathed my wings in the sun's last ray, Pve sung my hymn to the parting day ; So now I haste to my quiet nook In yon dewy meadow, — good night. Sir Rook!" Sir Rook " Good night, poor Lark," said his titled friend With a haughty toss and a distant bend, *' I also go to my rest profound. But not to sleep on the cold, damp ground; The fittest place for a bird like me Is the topmost branch of yon tall pine tree. 1 64 THE LARK AND THE ROOK 165 " I opened my eyes at peep of day And saw you taking your upward way, Dreaming your fond romantic dreams, An ugly speck in the sun's bright beams, Soaring too high to be seen or heard. And I said to myself, ' What a foolish bird/ " I trod the park with a princely air, I filled my crop with the richest fare, I cawed all day 'mid a lordly crew And I made more noise in the world than you ! The sun shone forth on my ebon wing, I looked and wondered — good night, poor thing!" The Lark " Good night, once more," said the lark's sweet voice, " I see no cause to repent my choice. You build your nest in the lofty pine. But is your slumber more sweet than mine ? You make more noise in the world than I But whose is the sweeter melody ? " PANDORA The Little Playmate Long ago there lived a little boy who had neither brothers nor sisters. He often longed for some one to play with. " I am so lonely," he said one day, as he sat by the cottage door. " How I wish I had a playmate ! " Just then he looked up and saw a tall stranger and a lovely little girl standing before him. Epimetheus knew by the wings on the stranger's shoes and cap that it was Mercury. " I have brought you a playmate, Epimetheus. Come, Pandora.'' The little girl, who had been hanging back, came forward and took Epimetheus's hand. " Here is your companion. But don't forget about the box, Epimetheus," and with that Mercury was gone. " Come, dear Pandora," said Epimetheus. " Let us go into the garden and have a merry time with the children." Off they ran together to join in the play. i66 PANDORA 167 P The Strange Box The first thing that Pandora saw when they came back to the cottage was a great box. " What have you in that box, Epimetheus ? '' she asked. '' My dear Httle Pandora, that is a secret. The box was left here to be kept safely. I do not know myself what is in it.'' " But where did it come from ? "' asked Pandora. " That is a secret, too," said Epimetheus. " How provoking,'' said Pandora, " at least you can tell me how it came here." " It was left at the door," said Epimetheus, *^ by a stranger who was dressed in an odd kind of cloak. He had wings on his shoes and wings on his cap." i68 DRAMATIC STORIES " I know him," said Pandora. " He was Mercury, and he brought me here as well as the box. No doubt he meant it for me.'' '' Perhaps so," said Epimetheus. " If I could but just peep into the box ! " " Oh, come. Pandora ! Don't think any more about that box. Let us run out and have a merry time with our playmates." '' I am tired of merry times, I'll stay here." '* Just as you like. I shall go into the garden and gather figs and grapes." Epimetheus was gone. Pandora stood looking at the box. The more she thought about it the more she wished to open it. " I wonder what is in it," she said, looking at the golden cord which held the lid fast. " Just a peep won't matter." She took the golden cord up in her fingers. '' I think I can untie it, just a little. I'll try." As she leaned over she was sure she heard a buzzing sound inside. '' What can it be r " said Pandora. " Is there something alive in the box ? Well, yes, I will take just one peep — only one peep, and the lid shall be closed down as safely as ever. There can be no harm in one little peep." Just then Pandora gave the knot a PANDORA 169 kind of twist : the golden cord untwined of itself and left the box unfastened. Pandora put her hand to the lid, and was just on _ . the point of open- ' - ' ->V^<5:^-' /* • ing the box when Epimetheus came into the room. '' What are you doing, Pandora ? " " Oh, Epime- theus, I wanted so much to see what was in this box and now that I have lyo DRAMATIC STORIES untied the cord I can't lift the lid. Do help me. ** Naughty Pandora," said Epimetheus, coming to the box. ** But if you must see inside, we'll lift the lid since the cord is already untied." They lifted the lid. In a moment it seemed as if a swarm of winged creatures brushed past Pandora, taking flight out of the box. ** Ah, I am stung," cried Epimetheus. " Why have you opened this wicked box ? " " And I, too," cried Pandora, as she dropped the lid, ^^ how it hurts. Can't we get them back? Why was I so foolish as to let them out ! Can't we get them back ? " The chil- dren began to cry. Hope Suddenly there was a gentle little tap on the inside of the lid. " What can that be ? " cried Pandora, lifting her head. The tap came again. *^ Who are you ? " asked Pandora. " Who are you inside of this naughty box ? " " Only lift the lid and you shall see." " No, no," said Pandora. '' I have had PANDORA 171 enough of lifting the lid. You are inside of the box and there you shall stay." " Ah," said the little voice. " You had much better let me out. I am not like those naughty creatures that have stings in their tails. Come, Pandora, let me out." ** Epimetheus, I think I will open the box again." ** The lid is heavy, Pandora, I will help you." 172 DRAMATIC STORIES The children opened the box and out flew a beautiful winged creature. ^^ Who are you, beautiful creature ? " asked Pandora and Epime- theus in one voice. " I am called Hope," said the little figure. " I will take away your pain." She touched the children and made them well. *^ And now I must fly away and help other people who have been hurt and are in trouble. I shall come back, though, whenever you need me — I promise never to desert you." THE BROWNIES The Boys learn about the Brownies '' Children are a burden/' said the tailor as he sat on his bench. '' Children are a blessing," said his mother who sat in an armchair knitting rugs. " What have my two boys ever done for me ? Look at Tommy. He does nothing but play. I have almost to pull him out of bed every morning. And there's Johnny ; he might be different, but his brother leads him by the nose.'' At this moment the two boys came in. "Is there any supper, father?" asked Tommy. " No, there is not, unless you know how to get it," said the tailor. He picked up his pipe 173 174 DRAMATIC STORIES lying on the bench beside him and left the room. " Is there really nothing to eat, Granny ? " asked Tommy. " No, my child, only some bread for break- fast to-morrow." "Oh, Granny, we are so hungry," said Johnny. "What can I do for my poor children?" said the good woman. " Tell us a story, please, so we can forget we are hungry. We shall not think of the bread a bit if you tell us about the fairies," said Johnny. " Tell us about the brownie that lived in your grandfather's house. What was he like ? " asked Tommy. "Like a little man," said grandmother. "He came early in the morning and lighted the fire and swept the room, and did all sorts of house- work. He never would be seen and was off before they could catch him. But they could hear him playing about the house sometimes." " Did they give him any wages. Granny ? " " No, my dear, they always set a little pan of clear water for him over night, and now and THE BROWNIES 175 then a bowl of bread and milk or cream. He liked that." '' Oh, Granny, where did he go ? " '' The old owl in the woods knows. I do not. People go to see the owl at moonrise and ask him what they want to know." " How fine if a brownie would come and live with us ! " cried both Tommy and Johnny. ^' He'd tidy the room," said Johnny. " He'd pick up the chips," said Tommy. **He'd sort your scraps, Granny," said Johnny. " He'd do everything," said Tommy. ^^ Will you let us set out a pan of water for the brownies ? " asked Johnny. ^' You may set out what you like, but you must go to bed now," said Granny. The boys brought out a pan of water. Then they climbed the ladder to their little bedroom over the kitchen. Johnny was soon asleep, but Tommy lay awake, thinking about the brownies. "There's an owl that lives in the grove," he said to himself. " It might be the old owl herself, and she knows where the brownie lives. Granny says. When the moon rises I'll go and find her myself." 176 DRAMATIC STORIES Tommy visits the Owl '' The moon has risen/' said Tommy, " and it's time for me to go." He crept softly out into the still night. "Hoot! hoot! '' cried a voice from the grove. "It's the old owl, I do believe," said Tommy. He ran to a big tree and looked up. There sat the owl. " Come up, come up," she said. Tommy waited. " Come up here, come up here ! " Tommy climbed up the tree and sat face to face with the owl. "Now what do you want.r* ' she said. " Please," said Tommy, " can you tell me THE BROWNIES 177 where to tind the brownies and how to get one to come and Hve with us ? " " Hoo-o-hoo ! hoo-o-hoo ! '* said the owl. " That's it, is it ? I know of two brownies." " Oh ! " said Tommy, '' where do they Hve?'* " In your own house," said the owl. " In our house ?" asked Tommy. "Where? Why do they do nothing ? " " They are idle, they are idle," said the owl, and she gave herself a shake. "Then we don't want them," said Tommy. " What is the use of having brownies in the house if they do nothing to help us ? " " Perhaps they don't know how, as no one has told them," said the owl. " I wish you would tell me where to find them," said Tommy. " I could tell them what to do." " Could you ? " said the owl. " Hoo-o-hoo ! hoo-o-hoo ! " And Tommy could not tell whether the owl was hooting or laughing. " Of course I could," said Tommy. " They might get up early in the morning and sweep the floor. They might light the fire, and they might spread the table, before my father comes downstairs. Oh, there's lots to do." DRAMATIC STORIES I 2 178 DRAMATIC STORIES " So there is/' said the owl. " Well, I can tell you where to find one of the brownies. He can tell you where to find his brother. Now listen. Go to the north side of the pond where the moon is shining on the water. Turn your- self around three times and say : — " ' Twist me and turn me and show me the elf, I looked in the water and saw ' Then look in the water and think of a word which rimes with elf J' " Well, rU do as you say," said Tommy. " Good-by, and thank you. Old Owl." Tommy knew the place well, for there was a fine echo there. He ran to the pond and turned himself around three times, as the old owl had told him to do, and said : — " Twist me and turn me and show me the elf, I looked in the water and saw " Tommy looked in and saw himself. *' Why, there is no one but myself, I can't think of the right word, I must have done it wrong." " Wrong," said the echo. '* Hold your tongue," cried Tommy. " Mat- ters are bad enough of themselves. Belf, Celf, Delf, Felf, Gelf, Jelf — there can't be a word THE BROWNIES 179 to fit it. And then to look for a brownie and see nothing but myself.'' " Myself," said the echo. ^^ Will you be quiet?" said Tommy. "If you would tell me the word, it would help. But you roar myself 2X me, and it neither rimes nor runs — it does rime, though — and it runs, too. What can it mean ? The old owl knows. rU go back and ask her." " Ask her," said the echo. " Didn't I say I should," said Tommy. " I wonder I didn't think of it long ago." " Go," said the echo. '* Yes, go to sleep," said Tommy to the echo. " I am going back to the owl." i8o DRAiMATIC STORIES The Grove '' O-hoo ! " said the owl, '' did you find out the word ? " " No/' said Tommy. " I could find no word that would rime with elf but my self ^ "Well, that's the word," said the owl. " Now, do you know where your brother is ? " • " At home in bed," said Tommy. *^ Then all your questions are answered. Good night," and the owl began to shake her feathers. " Don't go yet. I do not understand you. I am not a brownie, am I ? " " Oh, yes, you are, and a very idle one, too. All children are brownies." " But are there really no brownies, but chil- dren } " asked Tommy. " No, there are not. Now, listen to me, Tommy. The brownies are little things. When they are idle they are called boggarts, and they are a burden to the house they live in. When they are useful they are brownies, and are a blessing to every one." *' ril be a brownie," said Tommy. " I won't be a boggart. Now I'll go home and tell Johnny." And away he went. ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP The Magician meets Aladdin There was once an African magician who came to Persia to find a wonderful lamp. This lamp was hidden in a cave beneath the earth. The magician knew that a dangerous passage led to the cave, and he did not wish to risk his life in order to get the lamp. So he made friends with a Persian boy, whom he met one day on the street. The boy's name was Aladdin. " Are you not the son of Mustapha, the tailor?" he asked Aladdin. 1 82 DRAMATIC STORIES '' I am, sir/' said Aladdin, '' but my father died long ago." ** Alas, alas ! I am sorry to hear that. I am your uncle, your father's brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming to see her.'' Aladdin ran home in great haste. ALADDIN'S Home " Mother, mother," called Aladdin, 1 met a stranger in the street, who says he is my uncle. He is coming to see you." " Indeed, child, your father had a brother, but I always thought he was dead." ** Here he comes, now, mother," said Alad- din, looking out the window ; " and he is laden with wine and fruit." Aladdin ran to open the door for the stranger. /]/V^