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DRAMATIC READINGS FOR SCHOOLS 
 
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 
 NEW YORK • BOSTON • CHICAGO • DALLAS 
 ATLANTA • SAN FRANCISCO 
 
 MACMILLAN & CO., Limited 
 
 LONDON • BOMBAY • CALCUTTA 
 MELBOURNE 
 
 THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, Ltd. 
 
 TORONTO 
 
DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 FOR SCHOOLS 
 
 A PRACTICE BOOK IN DRAMATICS 
 
 BY 
 
 MARION FLORENCE LANSING 
 
 WeiD gorft 
 
 THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 
 
 1914 
 
 All rights reserved 
 

 Copyright, 1914, 
 By the MACMILLAN COMPANY. 
 
 Set up and electro typed. Published August, 1914. 
 
 J. 8. Cashing Co. — Berwick & Smith Co. 
 Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. 
 
 AUG iai9l4 
 
 ©CI.A376962 
 
PREFACE 
 
 ^^ Oh ! give us once again the wishing-cap 
 Of Fortunatus, and the invisible coat 
 Of Jack the Giant-killer, Kobin Hood, 
 And Sabra in the forest with St. George ! 
 Tlie child, ivhose love is here, at least, doth reap 
 One precious gain, that he forgets himself.^' 
 
 — Wordsworth. 
 
 Dramatic work in the schoolroom has no better 
 justification than these wise words of the English 
 poet. The child who forgets himself sets free his 
 own personality, and opens his mind to influence 
 and inspiration. Moreover, in throwing himself 
 into a part, he drops his self-consciousness and 
 enters into the experiences of others, always a 
 valuable social and ethical lesson. This is the 
 fundamental purpose of, and the chief reason for, 
 the modern dramatic movement, which aims to 
 carry the boy or girl beyond reading a story into 
 living it, and beyond recitation into spontaneous 
 action. To accomplish this purpose there is, in- 
 deed, nothing like the donning of " wishing-cap " 
 or " invisible coat." They have a magic influence 
 which carries us beyond ourselves. 
 
Vi PREFACE 
 
 To manage dramatic work so that it will pro- 
 duce this effect is the teacher's problem, a problem 
 which it is hoped this book w^ill help to solve. 
 Children are naturally dramatic. They imitate, 
 consciously or unconsciously, and welcome any 
 chance to act out their own thoughts and feelings, 
 or those of the characters about which they have 
 been reading. With little children it is, indeed, 
 "as if their whole vocation were endless imita- 
 tion." For them, however, the work of dramatiza- 
 tion must be suggested and carried out by book or 
 teacher. As boys and girls grow older, the danger 
 is that with prepared scenes and dialogues the parts 
 will become as conventional as ordinary recitation. 
 Dramatic work now should be done by them, not 
 for them. When a child in the upper grades is 
 given a dramatized story, with all the details of 
 speech and action wrought out, he has been de- 
 prived of one of the chief pleasures as well as 
 benefits of dramatic work. The creative instinct 
 has developed, along with the imitative, and it is 
 the claim for distinction of the method set forth 
 in this book that, without going beyond the reach 
 of the child's ready accomplishment, it allows full 
 play for both. Here we have stories from the best 
 literature so arranged that they are ready for dram- 
 atization, helps for boys and girls showing just how 
 to go about it, notes for teachers giving hints as to 
 
¥ 
 
 PREFACE Vii 
 
 their greatest possible helpfulness in each particu- 
 lar case, and a gradual progression of difficulty from 
 the simplest dialogues and group conversations to 
 a final dramatized story as a model. We have, 
 also, a collection of classics for reading, selected 
 for their vivid action and their perfection of plot 
 and conversation. 
 
 To the teacher and children who are ready to 
 lend themselves to the joy of living out the stories 
 they read, this collection should prove a valuable 
 source and practice book. The illustrations, which 
 catch the characters of the stories at the point of 
 greatest dramatic interest, add suggestion from the 
 artistic standpoint as well as lend beauty to the 
 book. 
 
 M. F. L. 
 
 Cambridge, 1914. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PART ONE 
 
 PAGE 
 
 How All the Animals tried to make jNIan ... 3 
 
 Hans, the Shepherd Boy 7 
 
 The Story that had no End 10 
 
 The Brahman, the Tiger, and the Six Judges . . 14 
 
 The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey .... 21 
 
 A Visit to the Water Babies .24 
 
 The King of the Cats 28 
 
 Fables in Verse 31 
 
 The Boy who Wondered 36 
 
 How THE Indian got Fire 45 
 
 Prudent Hans 51 
 
 Alice's Adventures with the Queens .... 55 
 
 A Stone in the Road 66 
 
 Mr. Wind and Madam Kain 71 
 
 How A Girl Hid a Governor 79 
 
 Helps for Dramatization 85 
 
 PART TWO 
 
 How England Found her King 99 
 
 The Necklace of Truth . . . . . . . 109 
 
 The Miller of the Dee 114 
 
 The Just Judge . , 115 
 
 Keeping Shop 124 
 
 ix 
 
X CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A Boy's Friendship . . . » o . . . 132 
 
 The Emperor's Bird's-nest . . . . . . 146 
 
 When Rip Van Winkle Came Home .... 148 
 
 Scenes from Pinocchio 154 
 
 A Strange Visitor 173 
 
 The Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal Green . . 183 
 
 Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh . . 192 
 
 Harmosan 198 
 
 Washington and the Spy 200 
 
 Helps for Dramatization 210 
 
 PART THREE 
 
 King John and the Abbot . . c . . . 219 
 A play arranged for acting. 
 
 XoTEs to Teachers 229 
 
DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Pi\.RT ONE 
 
HOW ALL THE ANIMALS TRIED TO 
 MAKE MANi 
 
 An Indian Story 
 
 All the animals sat around in a circle. There 
 were Lion^ Bear^ Deer^ Sheep^ Owl^ Mole^ and 
 all the rest; down to little Mouse^ who sat at the 
 left of Lion. Coyote was there. He had called 
 the council of the animals to tell them that it was 
 time to make Man. 
 
 ^^We must make Man/^ said Coyote. ^^How 
 shall we do it ?'' 
 
 ^^That is very simple/^ roared Lion. ^^Give him 
 a mighty voice to frighten all the animals^ and 
 strong pawS; and big sharp teeth. Then he will be 
 master of the world. Never fear !^' And Lion gave 
 
 1 See page 85 for Helps for Dramatization of the stories in 
 Part One. 
 
4 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 a deep rumbling laugh ^ which made the frightened 
 little Mouse shrink away from him. 
 
 ^^Not at all/^ growled Bear. ^^It is perfectly 
 ridiculous to have such a great voice. Half the 
 time it frightens the prey so that it has time to get 
 away and hide. Let this Man whom we are to make 
 move quietly and swiftly. And let him have great 
 strength to hold what he captures.'' 
 
 '^But think/' interrupted Deer^ ^^how foolish he 
 would look without antlers to fight with. I agree 
 with Bear that there is no sense in giving him a 
 roaring voice. I should pay less attention to his 
 throat and more to his ears and eyes. Have his ears 
 as sensitive as a spider's web, and his eyes like coals 
 of fire." 
 
 ''Ba-a ! ba !" bleated Sheep. ''What is the use 
 of antlers ? They always catch in thickets. You 
 would do better to roll up the antlers into little 
 horns on either side of the forehead. That will give 
 his head weight and make him able to butt harder." 
 
 ''You animals have no brains/' interrupted 
 Coyote. "You each want Man to be just like 
 yourself. You might as well take one of your own 
 children and call it Man. For my part, I know 
 that I am not the best animal that can be made. 
 Of course I wish him to have four legs like myself, 
 and five toes. But Bear's toes spread out straight 
 go that he can stand on two feet. That is a good 
 
HOW ALL THE ANIMALS TRIED TO MAKE MAN 5 
 
 way. I want Man's toes to be spread out like 
 Bear's/' 
 
 ^^Yes, yes/' said Bear, ^^give him toes like mine." 
 
 ^^Then, too, Man had better have no tail/' con- 
 tinued Coyote, ^^for tails are only good for fleas to 
 ride on. He may have a voice like Lion's, but he 
 need not roar all the time. As to giving him thick 
 hair, that would be a burden. Look at Fish. He 
 is naked, and is comfortable under the hottest sun. 
 So I want Man's skin to be like the skin of Fish. 
 As to claws, they should be like Eagle's, so that he 
 can carry things. Deer's eyes and ears are good, 
 and his throat, too. So I would make Man with 
 ears and eyes and throat like Deer's. Then there 
 is one more thing. No animal besides myself has 
 wit enough to rule the world. So I must give Man 
 some of my own wit, making him crafty and cunning 
 and wise like me." 
 
 ^^Well, well," said Beaver, ^Hhere has been a great 
 deal of foolish talk here, but no one has spoken of 
 one very important thing. How could Man live 
 without a good broad tail ? How could he haul 
 mud and sand to build his house without a tail to 
 carry it on ? " 
 
 ^^And I," said the Owl, ^Hhink you are perfectly 
 senseless not to think of giving him wings. I can- 
 not see what use anything on earth would be without 
 wings." 
 
6 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ''Pu-u-u!'' sniffed Mole. ''It is senseless to 
 have wings. They bump you against the sky. And 
 eyes are useless^ too. The sun only burns them. 
 It would be better to give Man a soft fur, and let 
 him cuddle down in the moist, cool earth.'' 
 
 ''Living in the earth is the worst nonsense of 
 all/' called out Mouse in a funny, squeaky little 
 voice. "He will have to creep into the sunshine 
 to get warm. And he needs eyes to see what he is 
 eating." 
 
 " Oo-reech-oo ! " shrieked Screech Owl. 
 
 Coyote spoke sharply, saying : " Stop your screech- 
 ing. You may all go home. I will make Man 
 myself." 
 
 Then the animals began to quarrel, and the council 
 broke up. 
 
 Each animal cried, "I'll make Man myself," and 
 they all rushed quarrelling and snapping to the clay 
 bank. Each began to model a figure. 
 
 At sundown they stopped to sleep, all but Coyote. 
 He went on working. When he saw that they were 
 all asleep, he went among the models of the other 
 animals and destroyed every single one. Then he 
 returned to his own figure and worked steadily. 
 Gradually the clay took shape. When the figure 
 was finished. Coyote looked at it and saw that it 
 was such a Man as he had pictured. Then Coyote 
 said, "Let this figure live and be a Man." 
 
HANS, THE SHEPHERD BOY 7 
 
 HANS, THE SHEPHERD BOY 
 I. Hans and the Hunter 
 
 Hans was a little shepherd boy^ who went every 
 day with his flock to a great wood. One day a 
 hunter came by and spoke to him. The man was 
 in the fields^ far from any road^ and had plainly lost 
 his way. 
 
 ^^Here^ boy/' he called. ^^How far is it to the 
 nearest town?'' 
 
 ^^It is six miles, sir/' answered Hans. ^^But the 
 road is only a wood path. You might not be able 
 to find it." 
 
 ^^Show me the way/' said the hunter, ^^and I will 
 pay you well." 
 
 ^^I cannot/' said Hans, shaking his head. ^^I 
 cannot leave my sheep. They would stray away 
 into the wood, and the wolves might get them." 
 
 ^^But I will pay you well. If one or two sheep 
 are eaten, I w^ill pay for them. I must find my way 
 out of this wood, and at once." 
 
 ^^No; sir, I cannot go. I will tell you the way as 
 well as I can. But the sheep are my master's. If 
 they are lost, I should be to blame." 
 
 ^^I have it," said the hunter. ^^Can you not get 
 me a guide ? Let me take care of your sheep, while 
 you are gone for one." 
 
 ''No, sir," said Hans. ''I cannot do that. The 
 sheep do not know your voice." 
 
DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Hans and the Hunter 
 
HAXS, THE SHEPHERD BOY 9 
 
 He stopped as though he had started to say some- 
 thing more and changed his mind. 
 
 ^^See here; lad^ do you not trust me?'' said the 
 hunter. 
 
 ^^ You tried to make me break my word to my mas- 
 ter/' said HanS; reluctantly. ^^How can I be sure 
 that you would stay and care for my sheep ?" 
 
 ^^You are right/' said the hunter^ laughing. ^^I 
 wish I could trust my servants as you can be trusted. 
 But come, show me the path; and I will try to find 
 my way alone." 
 
 II. The Hunter turns out to be the Prince 
 
 Just then several men came hastening out of the 
 wood. 
 
 ^^My lord; my lord/' cried one. ^^We thought 
 you lost." 
 
 ^' Ah, we have found you. Sir Prince/' said another. 
 ^^We had feared for you." 
 
 So Hans knew that the man with whom he had 
 been talking was his Prince. He was frightened 
 and fell on his knees before him. 
 
 ^^ Indeed; sir, I meant no harm/' he said. ^^I 
 knew not that you were our Prince." 
 
 ^^Hans/' said the Prince, smiling and putting his 
 hand on the boy's shoulder, ^^any prince w^ould 
 be glad of so trustworthy a subject. Before many 
 days I shall ask your master to let you come and 
 serve me as loyally as you have served him." 
 
10 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 THE STORY THAT HAD NO END 
 
 I. The King's Wish 
 
 Once upon a time there was a King who was very- 
 fond of stories. He would sit by the hour Hstening 
 to storieS; and yet he was never satisfied. The 
 more he heard; the more he wanted to hear. So he 
 grieved that every story had an end. 
 
 ^^If some one would only tell me a story that had 
 no end; how happy I should be/' he said one night. 
 '^Here! I am a King, and should have what I 
 want. Let a story-teller be found who knows a 
 story that has no end.'' 
 
 ^^But; your Majesty/' said his Prime Minister^ 
 ^^there never could be a story without an end." 
 
 ^^ There must be a story without an end; for I 
 wish it;" said the King. ^^Let word be given out 
 that if a man will tell me such a story; I will make 
 him my heir; and give him my daughter the Princess, 
 and half the kingdom besides. I am tired of these 
 tales that are always coming to an end. If any one 
 tries and failS; he shall be thrown into prison." 
 
 II. What the Story Was 
 
 So word was sent out that all story-tellers should 
 try to find a story without an end to tell to the King. 
 Many came to take their turn ; and some of the stories 
 they told were very; very long. They lasted hours, 
 
THE STORY THAT HAD NO END 11 
 
 and weekS; and even a month. But they all came to 
 an end. So all the story-tellers were led away to 
 prison, and the King was quite discouraged. 
 
 At last a man came who said, ^^I can tell a story 
 that will last forever, if the King will be pleased to 
 give me a trial.'' 
 
 ^^No, no, do not try/' the Prime Minister warned 
 him. 
 
 ^^I shall have to take you to my prison very soon/' 
 said the jailer, ^^and there are so many there now. 
 What a pity it is !" 
 
 ^^No," said the man. ^^I am not afraid." 
 
 So they told the King that a man was without, 
 who wished to tell him his story. 
 
 ^^What does he look like ?" asked the King, 
 
 ^^He is only a farmer, but he looks like a bright 
 fellow," said the Prime Minister. 
 
 ^^Well, his story can but end, like all the rest/' 
 said the King. ^^ Bring him in." 
 
 So the man was brought in, and as soon as he came 
 in the door, he began with his story. 
 
 ^^Your Majesty," he said, ^Hhere was once a 
 farmer who had some land. At first he had only a 
 small piece, near his house. Then he worked on that 
 until he had money to buy more, and at last he 
 bought a second field and a third, until finally he 
 owned the whole countryside. And when it came 
 spring each year, he went out and plowed his land." 
 
12 
 
 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^Yes/' said the King. ^^And what happened 
 then? This story sounds as if it would end soon/' 
 
 ^^No, your Majesty/^ said the man. ^^I told. you 
 that he plowed his land. But next he went out 
 
 to sow his seed. And he walked along the furrows, 
 and he sowed one seed, and another seed, and an- 
 other. Then he dropped another seed, and another, 
 and another, and still another seed, and another, 
 and another, and yet another seed, and a seed, and 
 
THE STORY THAT HAD NO END 13 
 
 another seed^ and another seed, and still another, and 
 another, and — ^^ 
 
 ^'Here, here/' cried the King, ^^what did he do 
 next?'' 
 
 ^^He dropped another seed, and another, and 
 another, and — " 
 
 ^^Come, now, we have had enough seeds sown. 
 What next?" 
 
 ^^If it please your Majesty," said the story-teller, 
 ^4t is a true story that I am telling, and I cannot 
 change it. What he did next was to drop another 
 seed, and another, and another, and — " 
 
 ^^But did he never get through sowing seed?" 
 inquired the King, impatiently. 
 
 ^^I do not know, your Majesty," replied the man. 
 ^^You see I told you he owned the whole country- 
 side, and we have only one tiny corner covered with 
 seed now, and by the time we get through he may 
 have bought more land. So I doubt, your Majesty, 
 if the farmer's story ever comes to an end, but if we 
 keep on, we may find it, for he dropped another seed, 
 and another and — " 
 
 ^^Man, that is enough !" cried the King. ^^Take 
 my daughter, take the half of my kingdom, take 
 anything — only let me hear no more of these seeds 
 which dropped, another, and another — " 
 
 '^Very well. Sir King," replied the story-teller, 
 ^^only you wanted a story that had no end, and 
 
14 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 mine may have one. I do not know, but I will 
 find out if you listen to me and^ we do it long enough/^ 
 ^^Man/^ cried the King, ^^I have learned to be 
 thankful for one thing, as I never was before — 
 that all stories have an end.'' 
 
 THE BRAHMAN, THE TIGER, AND THE SIX 
 JUDGES 
 
 I. At the Cage 
 
 Once upon a time a Brahman, who was walking 
 along the road, came upon an iron cage in which a 
 great Tiger had been shut up by the people of the 
 village who had caught him. 
 
 As the Brahman passed by, the Tiger called out 
 and said to him, ^^ Brother Brahman, Brother Brah- 
 man, have pity on me, and let me out of this cage 
 for one minute only to drink a little water, for I am 
 dying of thirst.'^ 
 
 The Brahman answered, ^^No, I will not ; for if 
 I let you out of the cage, you will eat me.'' 
 
 ^'Oh, father of mercy,'' answered the Tiger, '^in 
 truth that I will not. I will never be so ungrateful. 
 Only let me out that I may drink some water and 
 return." 
 
 Then the Brahman took pity on him and opened 
 the cage door. But no sooner had he done so than 
 
THE BRAHMAN, TIGER, AND SIX JUDGES 15 
 
 the Tiger^ jumping out; said, ^^Now I will eat you 
 first and drink the water afterwards/^ 
 
 But the Brahman said; ^^ No, do not kill me hastily. 
 Let us first ask the opinion of six^ and if all of them 
 say it is fair and just that you should put me to 
 death; then I am willing to die/' 
 
 ^^Very well/' answered the Tiger, '4t shall be as 
 you say. We will first ask the opinion of six/' 
 
 II. The Banyan Tree 
 
 So the Brahman and the Tiger walked on till they 
 came to the Banyan Tree ; and the Brahman said 
 to it; ^^ Banyan Tree; Banyan Tree; hear and give 
 judgment." 
 
 ^^On what must I give judgment?" asked the 
 Banyan Tree. 
 
 ^^This Tiger;" said the BrahmaU; ^^ begged me to 
 let him out of his cage to drink a little water; and he 
 promised not to hurt me if I did so ; but now that 
 I have let him out; he wishes to eat me. Is it just 
 that he should do sO; or not ?" 
 
 The Banyan Tree answered: ^^Men often come 
 to take shelter in the cool shade under my boughs 
 from the scorching rays of the sun ; but when they 
 have rested; they cut and break my pretty branches 
 and scatter my leaves. Let the Tiger eat the maU; 
 for men are an ungrateful race." 
 
 At these words the Tiger would have instantly 
 
16 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 killed the Brahman ; but the Brahman said, ^^ Tiger, 
 Tiger, you must not kill me yet, for you promised 
 that we should first hear the judgment of six/' 
 
 III. The Camel 
 
 ^^Very well,'' said the Tiger, and they went on 
 their way. After a little while they met a Camel. 
 
 ^^ Friend Camel, Friend Camel,'^ cried the 
 Brahman, ^^hear and give judgment." 
 
 ^^On what shall I give judgment?" asked the 
 Camel. 
 
 The Brahman told again how the Tiger had begged 
 him to open the cage door, and promised not to eat 
 him if he did so ; and how he had afterwards deter- 
 mined to break his word, and asked if that were 
 just or not. 
 
 The Camel replied: ^^When I was young and 
 strong, and could do much work, my master took 
 care of me and gave me good food. But now that 
 I am old and have lost all my strength in his service, 
 he overloads me and starves me and beats me with- 
 out mercy. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are 
 an unjust and cruel race." 
 
 The Tiger would then have killed the Brahman, 
 but the latter said, ^^Stop, Tiger, for we must first 
 hear the judgment of six." 
 
THE BRAHMAN, TIGER, AND SIX JUDGES 17 
 
 IV. The Bullock 
 
 So they both went again on their way. At a 
 Uttle distance they found a Bullock lying by the 
 roadside. The Brahman said to him: ^^ Brother 
 Bullock^ Brother Bullock^ hear and give judg- 
 ment.^' 
 
 ^^On what must I give judgment ?'' asked the 
 Bullock. 
 
 The Brahman answered: ^^I found this Tiger in 
 a cage; and he prayed me to open the door and let 
 him out to drink a little water^ and promised not to 
 kill me if I did so. But when I had let him out^ he 
 resolved to put me to death. Is it fair he should 
 do so, or not ?'' 
 
 The Bullock said : ^^ When I was able to work, my 
 master fed me well and tended me carefully, but 
 now that I am old, he has forgotten all I did for him, 
 and left me by the roadside to die. Let the Tiger 
 eat the man, for men have no pity.'' 
 
 Three out of six had given judgment against the 
 Brahman, but still he did not lose hope, though it 
 was hard to persuade the Tiger to wait for the other 
 three. 
 
 V. The Eagle 
 
 They next met an Eagle, to whom the Brahman 
 cried, ^^0 Eagle, great Eagle, hear and give judg- 
 ment. " 
 
18 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^On what must I give judgment?'' asked the 
 Eagle. 
 
 The Brahman stated the case^ but the Eagle 
 answered : ^^ Whenever men see me^ they try to shoot 
 me; they climb the rocks and steal away my little 
 ones. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are the 
 persecutors of the earth.'' 
 
 Then the Tiger began to roar, and said, ^'The 
 judgment of all is against you, Brahman." 
 
 But the Brahman answered, ^^Stay yet a little 
 longer, for two others must first be asked." 
 
 VI. The Alligator 
 
 After this they saw an Alligator, and the Brahman 
 related the matter to him, hoping for a more favorable 
 answer. 
 
 But the Alligator said : ^^ Whenever I put my nose 
 out of the water, men torment me and try to kill me. 
 Let the Tiger eat the man, for as long as men live 
 we shall have no rest." 
 
 VII. The Jackal, and Back to the Cage 
 
 The Brahman gave himself up as lost ; but again 
 he prayed the Tiger to have patience and let him ask 
 the opinion of a sixth judge. Now the sixth was a 
 Jackal. The Brahman told his story, and said to 
 him, ^^ Uncle Jackal, Uncle Jackal, say what is your 
 judgment." 
 
THE BRAHMAN, TIGER, AND SIX JUDGES 19 
 
 The Jackal answered : ^^It is impossible for me to 
 decide who is in the right and who is in the wrong 
 unless I see the exact position in which you were 
 when the dispute began. Show me the place/' 
 
 So the Brahman and the Tiger returned to the 
 place where they first met; and the Jackal went 
 with them. When they got there, the Jackal said, 
 ^^Now, Brahman, show me exactly where you 
 stood.'' 
 
 ^^Here/' said the Brahman, standing by the iron 
 cage. 
 
 ^^ Exactly there, was it ?" asked the Jackal. 
 
 ^^ Exactly here," replied the Brahman. 
 
 ^^ Where was the Tiger, then?" asked the Jackal. 
 
 ^^In the cage," answered the Tiger. 
 
 ^^How do you mean?" asked the Jackal; ^^how 
 were you within the cage ? Which way were you 
 looking?" 
 
 ^^Why, I stood so," said the Tiger, jumping into 
 the cage, ^^and my head was on this side." 
 
 ^^Very good," said the Jackal. ^^But I cannot 
 judge without understanding the whole matter 
 exactly. Was the cage door open or shut?" 
 
 ^^Shut and bolted," said the Brahman. 
 
 ^^Shut and bolt it," said the Jackal. 
 
 When the Brahman had done this, the Jackal 
 said: ^^ Oh, you wicked and ungrateful Tiger. When 
 the good Brahman opened your cage door, was the 
 
20 
 
 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 only return you would make, to eat him ? Stay 
 there, then, for the rest of your days, for no one will 
 ever let you out again. Proceed on your journey, 
 friend Brahman. I believe your road lies that way 
 and mine this.'' 
 
 So saying, the Jackal ran off in one direction, 
 before the Brahman had time to speak his words of 
 gratitude, and the Brahman went rejoicing on his 
 way in the other. 
 
 But the Tiger, when he was left alone, said, 
 ^^And I forgot to get my drink of water when 
 I was out.'' 
 
THE MAN, THE BOY, AND THE DONKEY 21 
 
 THE* MAN, THE BOY, AND THE DONKEY 
 
 I. The Boy Rides 
 
 A MAN and his son were once going with their 
 donkey to market. As they were walking along by 
 its side, a countryman passed them, and said : 
 
 ^^You fools, what is a donkey for but to ride 
 upon?'^ 
 
 ^^That is true,'' said the man. 
 
 ^^I had not thought of that,'' said the boy. 
 
 ^^ You shall be the one to ride," said the man, and 
 put the boy on the donkey. 
 
 They went on their way. But soon they passed 
 a group of men, one of whom said : 
 
 ^^See that lazy youngster. He lets his father walk 
 while he rides." 
 
 ^^What is the world coming to?" said another. 
 ^^ There is no reverence for age any longer." 
 
 ^^That is so," said the man, who overheard the 
 words, to the boy. ^^ I had not thought of that. It is 
 certainly very disrespectful of you to ride, while your 
 father goes along on foot." 
 
 ^^Very well," said the boy. ^^I will get off, and 
 you shall ride." 
 
 II. The Man Rides 
 
 So the boy got off and the man mounted the 
 donkey and they went on their way. But they had 
 
22 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 not gone far when they passed two women, one of 
 whom said to the other : 
 
 ^^ Shame on that lazy man to let his poor little 
 son trudge along while he rides.'' 
 
 ^'Yes/' said the other. ^^Men are so lazy, but 
 you would think he would take some thought for 
 his own boy.'' 
 
 ^^That is so/' said the man, who overheard their 
 words. ^^I had not thought of that. It is a shame 
 for an able-bodied man like me to ride, while a little 
 fellow like you walks." 
 
 ^^But what shall we do?" asked the boy. 
 
 ^'I don't know," said the man. '^Yes, I do. I 
 tell you. We will both ride. Get up here behind 
 me." 
 
 III. Both Ride 
 
 So the boy got up behind his father, and they went 
 on their way. By this time they had come to the 
 town, however, and the passers-by began to stare 
 and point at them. The man stood it as long as he 
 could. Then he stopped and asked what they were 
 laughing at. 
 
 The men said: ^^What a question! Aren't you 
 thoroughly ashamed of yourself for overloading that 
 poor old donkey of yours ? You, a big, heavy fel- 
 low, and that great boy of yours !" 
 
THE MAN, THE BOY, AND THE DONKEY 23 
 
 IV. The Donkey Rides 
 
 The man and the boy got off and tried to think 
 what to do. They thought and thought ^ till at last 
 they cut down a long pole^ tied the donkey's feet to 
 it, raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders, 
 and in this strange fashion proceeded. 
 
 They went along amid the laughter of all who met 
 them till they came to the market bridge, when the 
 donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and 
 caused the boy to drop his end of the pole. In the 
 
24 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 struggle the donkey fell over the bridge, and, his 
 forefeet being tied together, he was drowned. 
 
 ^.^That will teach you/^ said an old man who had 
 followed them: ^^ Please all, and you will please 
 none.'' 
 
 A VISIT TO THE WATER BABIES 
 I. Tom, a Water Baby 
 
 Tom had been changed from a chimney sweep 
 into a water baby. He had a beautiful time, but 
 carried over some of his naughty ways with him. 
 He frightened the crabs and put stones in the anem- 
 ones' mouths, and meddled with all the creatures. 
 
 ^^You mustn't do that," the other water babies 
 warned him, w^hen they saw him doing these things. 
 
 ^^ Take care," they said again. '' Mrs. Be-done-by- 
 as-you-did is coming." 
 
 II. When Mrs. Be-done-by-as-you-did Came 
 
 But Tom never heeded them, till one Friday morn- 
 ing early Mrs. Be-done-by-as-you-did came. A 
 very tremendous lady she was ; and when the chil- 
 dren saw her, they all stood in a row, very upright 
 indeed, and smoothed down their bathing dresses 
 and put their hands behind them. And she had 
 on a black bonnet, and a black shawl, and a pair of 
 
A VISIT TO THE WATER BABIES 
 
 25 
 
 large green spectacles ; and under her arm she 
 carried a birch rod. Indeed she was so ugly that 
 Tom was tempted to make faces at her^ but did not, 
 for he did not admire the look of the birch rod. 
 
 And she looked at the children one by one, and 
 seemed very much pleased with them, though she 
 never asked one question about how they were be- 
 having. She began giving them all sorts of nice 
 sea things to eat, — sea cakes, sea apples, sea 
 oranges, and to the very best of all she gave sea ices. 
 
 Now little Tom watched all these sweet things 
 given away till his mouth watered, and his eyes grew 
 
26 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 as round as an owl's. For he hoped that his turn 
 would come at last ; and so it did. For the lady 
 called him up^ and held out her fingers with some- 
 thing in them; and popped it into his mouth ; and 
 lo ! and behold^ it was a nasty^ cold; hard pebble. 
 
 ^^You are a very cruel woman/' said he; and be- 
 gan to whimper. 
 
 ^^And you are a very cruel boy; who put pebbles 
 into the sea anemones' mouthS; to take them in and 
 make them fancy that they had caught a good 
 dinner ! As you did to them; so I must do to you/' 
 
 '^Who told you that ?'' said Tom. 
 
 ^^You did yourself; this very minute.'' 
 
 Tom had never opened his lips ; so he was very 
 much taken aback indeed. 
 
 ^^ Yes ; every one tells me exactly what they have 
 done wrong; and that without knowing it them- 
 selves. So there is no use trying to hide anything 
 from me. Now go and be a good boy; and I will put 
 no more pebbles into your mouth; if you put none 
 into other creatures'.'' 
 
 ^^I did not know there was any harm in it;" said 
 Tom. 
 
 ^^Then you know now. People continually say 
 that to me ; but I tell them; if you don't know that 
 fire burnS; that is no reason why it should not burn 
 you. And sO; if you do not know that things are 
 wrong; that is no reason why you should not be 
 
A VISIT TO THE WATER BABIES 27 
 
 punished for them ; though not as much^ not as 
 much^ my Httle man '^ [and the lady looked very 
 kindly^ after all] ^^ as if you did know/' 
 
 ^^Well; you are a little hard on a poor lad/' said 
 Tom. 
 
 ^^Not at all ; I am the best friend you ever had in 
 your life. But I will tell you ; I cannot help punish- 
 ing people when they do wrong. I am often very, 
 very sorry for them, poor things. I like it no more 
 than they do ; but I cannot help it. If I tried not 
 to do it, I should do it all the same. For I work by 
 machinery, just like an engine ; and am full of wheels 
 and springs inside ; and am wound up very carefully, 
 so that I cannot help going.'' 
 
 ^^Was it long ago that they wound you up?" 
 asked Tom. 
 
 ^^I was wound up once and for all, so long ago that 
 I forget all about it." 
 
 ^^Dear me," said Tom, '^you must have been made 
 a long time !" 
 
 ^^I never w^as made, my child; and I shall go on 
 forever and forever ; for I am as old as Eternity, 
 and yet as young as Time." 
 
 And there came over the lady's face a very curious 
 expression, very solemn, and yet very sweet ; and 
 she looked up and away, as if she were gazing at 
 something far off. And as she did so, there came such 
 a quiet, tender, patient, hopeful smile over her face 
 
28 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 that Tom thought for the moment that she did not 
 look ugly at all. And Tom smiled into her face. 
 
 ^^Yes/' she said. ^^You thought me very ugly 
 just noW; did you not ?'^ 
 
 Tom hung down his head. 
 
 ^^And I am very ugly. I am the ugliest fairy in 
 the world ; and I shall be till people behave them- 
 selves as they ought to do. And then I shall grow 
 as handsome as my sister^ who is the loveliest fairy 
 in the world. Her name is Mrs. Do-as-you-would- 
 be-done-by. So she begins where I end, and I 
 begin where she ends ; and those who will not listen 
 to her must listen to me. Now all of you run away.'' 
 * Charles Kingsley, Water Babies. 
 
 THE KING OF THE CATS 
 I. In the Afternoon 
 
 Many years ago there lived in the north of Scot- 
 land, in a very lonely place far from all other houses, 
 two young men who were brothers. An old woman 
 used to do their cooking, and there was no one else, 
 unless we count her cat and their dogs, within miles 
 of them. 
 
 One afternoon the younger of the two said to his 
 brother, ^^Are you going out with me this afternoon ? '' 
 
 ^^ Shooting again ?^' inquired the elder. 
 
THE KING OF THE CATS 29 
 
 "Yes, we must lay in our winter's store of meat/' 
 
 "My ankle is lame, front my twisting it yesterday. 
 I think perhaps I will stay by the fire to-day and 
 let you go alone.'' 
 
 "Do/' said the younger. "I'll follow the path 
 where we went yesterday and surely be home by 
 sunset." 
 
 "Good luck to you/' said his brother as the young 
 man started with his gun over his shoulder. 
 
 "And a good rest to you/' he responded, and was 
 gone. 
 
 II. In the Evening 
 
 The afternoon passed. Darkness fell, and still 
 the young man did not return. His brother became 
 more and more uneasy. He laid out their simple 
 supper, and the hunter did not come. Long after 
 their usual supper time he returned, wet and ex- 
 hausted. At first he did not explain why he was so 
 late. But after supper, when the two brothers were 
 seated by the fire, the dogs lying at their feet, and 
 the old woman's black cat sitting gravely by on 
 the hearth, the young man began to tell his story. 
 
 "You must be wondering," said he, "what made 
 me so late." 
 
 "Yes, I feared you were hurt," said his brother. 
 
 "No, but I had a very strange adventure; I 
 hardly know what to say about it. I went, as I 
 
30 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 told you I should; along our yesterday's route^ A 
 mountain fog came on just as I was about to turn 
 homeward; and I completely lost my way. I wan- 
 dered about for a long time, not knowing where I 
 was, till at last I saw a light; and made for it; hoping 
 to get help/' 
 
 ^^A light! up in the mountain!'' exclaimed his 
 brother. 
 
 ^^YeS; I could not understand it; especially because 
 when I came near; it disappeareci; and I found myself 
 halted by a great oak tree. I climbed into its 
 branches to look for the light; and behold ! there it 
 was right under me; inside the hollow trunk of the 
 tree." 
 
 ^^A light in the trunk of a tree !'/ 
 
 ^^I seemed to be looking down into a church where 
 a funeral was going on. I heard singing; and saw a 
 coffin surrounded with torcheS; all carried by — 
 But there ! I know you won't believe me if I tell 
 
 you." 
 
 ^^Go OU; man; go on!" exclaimed his brother. 
 ^^Are you going to stop there?" 
 
 The dogs were sleeping quietly; but the cat was 
 sitting up and seemed to be listening as carefully and 
 attentively as the men. Both brothers found them- 
 selves watching the cat as the young man took up 
 the story. 
 
 ^^YeS;" he continued; ^^it is as true as I sit here. 
 
FABLES IN VERSE 31 
 
 The coffin and the torches were both carried by cats, 
 and upon the coffin was marked a crown and a 
 sceptre/' 
 
 He got no further, for the black cat started up, 
 shrieking, ^^Good gracious! old Peter's dead, and 
 I'm King of the Cats !" With that he leaped out 
 the window and was seen no more. 
 
 FABLES IN VERSE 
 A Wasp and a Bee 
 
 A WASP met a bee that w^as just buzzing by, 
 And he said, ^^ Little cousin, can you tell me why 
 You are lov'd so much better by people than I ? 
 
 '^My back shines as bright and as yellow as gold; 
 And my shape is most elegant, too, to behold ; 
 Yet nobody likes me for that, I am told." 
 
 "Ah, cousin," the bee said, "'tis all very true, 
 But if I were half as much mischief to do. 
 Indeed they would love me no better than you. 
 
 "You have a fine shape and a delicate wing. 
 
 They own you are handsome, but then there's one 
 
 thing 
 They cannot put up w4th, and that is your sting. 
 
32 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^My coat is quite homely and plain^ as you see, 
 Yet nobody ever is angry with me. 
 Because I'm a himible and innocent bee.'' 
 
 From this Httle story, let people beware, 
 Because, like the wasp, if ill-natured they are, 
 They will never be loved, if they're ever so fair. 
 
 How TO GET Breakfast 
 
 Said the first little chick 
 With a queer little squirm, 
 
 "I wish I could find 
 A fat little worm.'' 
 
 Said the next little chick. 
 
 With an odd little shrug, 
 "I wish I could find 
 
 A fat little bug." 
 
 Said the third little chick, 
 
 With a shrill little squeal, 
 ^^I wish I could find 
 
 Some nice yellow meal." 
 
 Said the fourth little chick, 
 With a small sigh of grief, 
 
 ^^I wish I could find 
 A little green leaf." . 
 
FABLES IN VERSE 33 
 
 ^^See here/' called the hen, 
 
 From the near garden patch, 
 ^^If you want any breakfast, 
 
 Just come here and scratch.'' 
 
 The Wren and the Hen 
 
 Said a very small wren 
 
 To a very large hen, 
 '^Pray why do you make such a clatter ? 
 
 I never could guess 
 
 Why an egg more or less 
 Should be thought so important a matter." 
 
 Then answered the hen 
 
 To the very small wren, 
 ^^If I laid such small eggs as you, madam, 
 
 I should not cluck so loud. 
 
 Nor should I feel proud. 
 Look at these ! How you'd crow if you had 'em." 
 
 The Ant and the Cricket 
 
 A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing 
 
 Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer 
 
 and spring. 
 Began to complain, when he found that at home 
 His cupboard was empty and winter was come. 
 
34 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Not a crumb to be found 
 On the snow-covered ground ; 
 Not a flower could he see. 
 Not a leaf on a tree. 
 
 ^^Oh, what will become/' says the cricket^ ^^of me ?'^ 
 
 At last by starvation and famine made bold; 
 
 All dripping with wet and all trembling with cold; 
 
 Away he set off to a miserly ant 
 
 To see if; to keep him alive; he would grant 
 
 Him shelter from rain. 
 
 A mouthful of grain 
 
 He wished only to borrow. 
 
 He'd repay it to-morrow ; 
 If not helped; he must die of starvation and sorrow. 
 
 Says the ant to the cricket: ^^I'm your servant 
 
 and friend; 
 But we ants never borroW; we ants never lend. 
 Pray; tell me; dear sir; did you lay nothing by 
 When the weather was warm?'' Said the cricket, 
 ^^Notl. 
 
 My heart was so light 
 
 That I sang day and night; 
 
 For all nature looked gay." 
 
 ^^You sang; sir; you say? 
 Go theU;" said the ant; ^^and sing winter away." 
 
FABLES IN VERSE 35 
 
 Thus ending^ he hastily Hfted the wicket 
 
 And out of the door turned the poor httle cricket. 
 
 Though this is a fable, the moral is good — 
 
 If you live without work, you must live without food. 
 
 The Mountain and the Squirrel 
 
 The mountain and the squirrel 
 Had a quarrel, 
 And the former called the latter, ^^ Little prig !'' 
 
 Bunn replied, 
 ^^ You are doubtless very big, 
 But all sorts of things and weather 
 Must be taken in together 
 To make up a year, 
 And a sphere ; 
 And I think it no disgrace 
 To occupy my place. 
 
 If I'm not as large as you, 
 You are not so small as I 
 And not half so spry ; 
 I'll not deny you make 
 A very pretty squirrel track. 
 
 Talents differ ; all is well and wisely put : 
 If I cannot carry forests on my back. 
 Neither can you crack a nut.'' 
 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson. 
 
36 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 THE BOY WHO WONDERED 
 
 I. The Neighbor's News 
 
 Once upon a time there was a man who had three 
 sons, Peter, Paul, and Jack. But he had nothing 
 else in the world except the poor old hut where they 
 lived, not one single penny. Every day he went out 
 and worked for the bread which he and his boys 
 should eat, and he told his sons over and over again 
 that when they were old enough, they must go out 
 to seek their fortunes, for at home they would starve 
 to death. 
 
 One evening a neighbor came in, who had heard 
 this talk about sending the boys out into the world. 
 
 ^'Why don't you send your boys out on this busi- 
 ness of the King's ?'' asked he, of the father. 
 
 ^^What business?'' said the father. 
 
 ^^ Where?" said Jack. He was the brightest and 
 most attractive of the three, and was always eager 
 to do any new thing. 
 
 ^^Did you not hear the proclamation that was 
 given out in all the churches and read at the market 
 to-day?" asked the neighbor. 
 
 ^^No," replied Peter, sullenly, ^^we were working 
 with father in the fields and could not go to 
 market." 
 
 ^^But what about the King ?" asked Jack, eagerly. 
 
 ^^A huge oak has grown up beside his windows. 
 
THE BOY WHO WONDERED 37 
 
 It is SO tall now that it shuts out all the sunlight 
 from the rooms.'' 
 
 ^^Then why does he not have it cut down?'' in- 
 quired the father. 
 
 '^^That is just what he wants to have done/' re-* 
 plied the neighbor. ^^But it is not so easy as it 
 sounds. Many have tried, but no man can cut the 
 tree down. As fast as one branch is cut off, two grow 
 in its place. When one chip is hacked away, im- 
 mediately there are two to replace it. So the King 
 has offered a chest of gold pieces to the man who 
 will cut it down." 
 
 ^^I'd like to see the tree that I couldn't cut down," 
 said Peter, boastfully. 
 
 ^^Orl," said Paul. 
 
 But little Jack was silent, though his eyes sparkled. 
 
 ^^Then go and get the chest of gold," replied the 
 neighbor. ^^It is a wonderful chance to win your 
 fortunes." 
 
 ^a will," said Peter. 
 
 ^^And I," said Paul. 
 
 ^^Oh, Father, may I go ?" begged Jack. 
 
 "You! you are too little," said Paul. ''What 
 would be the use of your going ?" 
 
 ''But may I, Father?" Jack repeated eagerly. 
 
 "Yes, you may all go. 'Tis little chance any of 
 you lads have. But you must go out to seek your 
 fortune soon, and it matters not when you start." 
 
38 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 II. The Three Boys Start 
 
 Next morning the three lads started off with their 
 father's blessings walking along the road to the 
 King's palace. They had not gone far before they 
 came to a steep hillside and a great forest of pine 
 trees. Far up on the mountain side they could 
 hear the sound of an ax and the crash of falling 
 branches. 
 
 ^^I wonder who it is that is chopping wood up 
 there?'' said Jack. 
 
 ^^You are always wondering/' said Paul. ^^What 
 is more natural than that a woodcutter should be 
 chopping wood up in that forest ?" 
 
 ^^Oh^ he is always wondering/' added Peter. 
 '^Jack will never get all his questions answered in 
 the world." 
 
 ^^AU the same/' said Jack^ good-naturedly, ^^I 
 should like to know, and I think I'll go to see." 
 
 And he was off up the mountain side, while his 
 brothers were still making fun of him. 
 
 III. Jack's First Stop — and Return 
 
 Soon he reached the place where the sound came 
 from, and when he reached there, what do you think 
 he saw ? 
 
 An axe stood there, all by itself, hacking away at a 
 trunk of a big pine tree. 
 
THE BOY WHO WONDERED 
 
 39 
 
 '^Good day, Mr. Axe/^ said Jack. ^^So you stand 
 here alone and cut, do you ?^' 
 
 ^^YeS; master/^ said the axe, ^^I have been waiting 
 for a long time, for you have been long in coming.'' 
 
 ^^ Well, here I am,'' said Jack, and he took the axe 
 from its wooden handle and put it in his pocket. 
 
 -- ^^^'"^"^4 
 
 Then he ran down the mountain and soon caught 
 up with his brothers. 
 
 ^^Well, Mr. Wonderer, what was it you found 
 up there?" 
 
 ^^It was an axe that we heard," said Jack. 
 
 ^^Of course," said Peter. ^^Paul and I knew that 
 without climbing a steep hill to find it out." 
 
40 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 IV. His Second Stop — and Return 
 
 So they went along a little farther, and they came 
 to a great cliff of rock with its steep side towards 
 the road. Up there, high above them, they heard a 
 dull sound of something digging. One blow sounded, 
 and then another, and another. 
 
 ^^ I wonder now," said Jack, ^^what can be hammer- 
 ing away up there at the top of the cliff." 
 
 ^^Of course you wonder," said Peter. ^^ You're 
 always wondering." 
 
 ^^Did you never hear a woodpecker tapping on a 
 tree?" said Paul. ^^Come along, and don't run up 
 hills any more. You will tire yourself out, and we 
 shall leave you behind." 
 
 ^^ Wonder or no wonder," said Jack, ^^I'm going 
 up there to find out what it can be." 
 
 So he began to climb the side of the cliff. And 
 what do you think he found when he reached the top ? 
 
 A bright sharp pickaxe, that stood there digging 
 all by itself. 
 
 '^Good day, Mr. Pickaxe," said Jack. ^^So you 
 stand up here alone and dig, do you?" 
 
 ^^ Yes, here I've stood and dug and cut for a long, 
 long time, waiting for you, master," said the pickaxe. 
 
 ^'Well, here I am," said Jack, as he took the 
 pickaxe, knocked off the handle, and put it in his 
 pocket. 
 
THE BOY WHO WONDERED 41 
 
 When he reached the road again, Peter and Paul 
 were sitting resting. 
 
 ^^What wonderful sight did you see for that 
 climb ?^' asked Peter. 
 
 ^^It was a pickaxe that we heard/' said Jack. 
 
 'indeed/' said Paul. 
 
 V. His Last Stop — and Return 
 
 The three started on again, and soon they came to 
 a brook. They were thirsty and tired, and sat down 
 beside it to rest for a while. 
 
 ^^I wonder where this brook comes from/' said 
 Jack, after a while. ^^I believe I will go and see.'' 
 
 ''Nonsense," said Peter. ''Sit still." 
 
 "What foolishness !" added Paul. 
 
 But Jack was already off to see where the brook 
 came from. He followed it a little way, and it be- 
 came narrower, then narrower still, till it was only 
 a thread of water, and then what do you think he 
 found ? A walnut shell, resting in a crack in a rock, 
 from which the water sprang. 
 
 "Good day, Mr. Spring," said Jack. "So you lie 
 here and flow, do you ?" 
 
 "Yes, I do," said the walnut, "and I have been 
 sending out water this long time, master, waiting 
 for you." 
 
 "Well; here I am," said Jack, and he took the 
 
42 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 walnut and put it in his pocket and returned to his 
 brothers, who were so tired of his fooHshness that 
 they did not even ask him what he had found. 
 
 VI. At the King's Palace 
 
 At last they came to the King's palace, and there 
 a great crowd was gathered. The King's proclama- 
 tion had been read in every market place and every 
 church of the realm, and men had come from far 
 and near. As the three boys entered the herald was 
 reading it again. 
 
 ^^Know all men/' he read from the roll of parch- 
 ment in his hand, ^Hhat this is the King's word. If 
 any one will cut down the oak tree which grows in 
 the palace yard, the King will give him a chest full 
 of gold pieces." 
 
 This much the boys had heard from their neighbor, 
 but the herald went on. 
 
 ^' Also if any one will dig a v/ell in the solid rock of 
 the courtyard of the King's palace, so that it will 
 hold water and supply the palace for the year round, 
 to him shall be given the King's daughter in marriage, 
 and half the realm beside. Thus saith the King, 
 over his own hand and seal." 
 
 ^^Hear ! hear !" cried the people. 
 
 But the herald held up his hand as a token for 
 silence. 
 
 ^^Know, likewise," he read further, ^Hhat if any 
 
THE BOY WHO WONDERED 43 
 
 man try to cut down the oak and fail, he shall have 
 both ears cut off. If he try to dig the well and fail, 
 he shall have his nose cut off. Thus saith the King 
 over his own hand and seal.'' 
 
 And all the people said, ^^Hear ! hear !'J but this 
 tirhe they said it seriously and soberly, where before 
 they had shouted it. 
 
 Still they were not frightened away by the second 
 part of the proclamation. One by one the men went 
 forward and hacked at the oak; one by one the 
 guard led them- away to the prison, and still the oak 
 grew larger and larger, for with every branch that 
 was cut off, you will remember, two grew, and for 
 every chip came two in its place. 
 
 At last it was Peter's turn. 
 
 "Give me the axe," he said boastfully. "I will 
 show you how wood should be cut." 
 
 A sharp axe was given him, and he struck at the 
 oak with it. One branch fell off, but there were two 
 in its place. He tried again. 
 
 "It cannot be done," he said, and the guards led 
 him away. Before night his ears must come off. 
 
 "He never could cut as well as I," said Paul, and 
 stepped forward. He began to chop lower down, 
 and a shower of chips flew back, but the trunk also 
 grew bigger. 
 
 "Enough," called the King from an upper window, 
 where he was watching. 
 
44 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 So Paul was led away. 
 
 Then Jack stepped out. 
 
 '^Wtiy do you want your ears clipped off ?'^ called 
 the King. '^Are there not enough men in the king- 
 dom that a little fellow like you must try to do my 
 work?'' 
 
 ^^I'd like to try/' said Jack^ and the King nodded 
 to the guard to let him go to the oak. 
 
 They offered him an axe^ and he took it; but drew 
 the axe head out of the handle and fitted his own into 
 it; which he pulled out of his pocket. Then he struck 
 the oak with it, and the axe cut and cut right through 
 the oak so fast that there was no time for new 
 branches to groW; and before any one had time to 
 think the oak began to totter and they all ran to get 
 out of the way before it fell. 
 
 ^^ Thank you^ Axe/' said Jack. 
 
 ^^ Thank yoU; my boy/' called the King from his 
 window. 
 
 ^^Here is the chest of gold pieces/' said the 
 guard. 
 
 ^^Wait/' said Jack, ^4et me try to dig the 
 well." 
 
 ^^Is it not enough to escape having your ears cut 
 off?" said the King. ^^Do you want to lose your 
 nose ?" 
 
 But Jack had already pulled out the pickaxe, and 
 fitted it to a handle. 
 
HOW THE INDIAN GOT FIRE 45 
 
 ''Dig, Pickaxe, dig/' he said, and the pickaxe began 
 to dig right through the sohd rock at Jack's feet, 
 until a deep well had been made. 
 
 ^'Flow, Spring, flow,'' said Jack, pulling the wal- 
 nut from his pocket and dropping it to the foot of 
 the well, and the water gushed out till, in less time 
 than it takes to tell, the well was full. 
 
 ^'Wonderful," murmured the crowd. 
 
 "Bring him in to receive his reward," called the 
 King. So Jack went into the palace, and when he 
 came out in a few moments, the King was with him 
 and beside him stood the Princess. As they stood 
 there, the guard came forward with Jack's two 
 brothers, Peter and Paul. 
 
 ''I gladly give to you the Princess and half the 
 realm besides, and I also pardon at your request 
 your two brothers," said the King. 
 
 HOW THE INDIAN GOT FIRE 
 I. Coyote's Council 
 
 In the olden days there was no fire on earth. 
 Fire had been made, but it was hidden in a casket 
 far, far to the north, and was kept by two ugly old 
 women who never slept, day or night. Kareya, the 
 world ruler, who had made fire, had put them there 
 to guard it. 
 
46 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 It was very cold on earth. Even the animals 
 shivered in their warm coats of fur, and the poor 
 Indian who had no covering except what he could 
 make for himself was very unhappy. Coyote saw 
 that the Indian must have fire to make him com- 
 fortable. 
 
 So Coyote called a council of all the animals, 
 from great roaring Lion down to Frog and little 
 Mouse. 
 
 ^^ Indian must have fire/' he said, ^^and he cannot 
 get it alone. We must help him. I think I can steal 
 it from the old women, but they are swift of foot. 
 The struggle will be to bring it back to our own 
 country. Will you all help bring fire back?'' 
 
 ^'We will," said Lion, in his deep, roaring 
 voice. 
 
 ^^We will," sang Frog; and all the other animals 
 joined in, saying, ^^We will." 
 
 So Coyote planned it all out that each animal 
 should have his station along the road to the house 
 of the old women, and each should be half a sun's 
 distance from the other. 
 
 ^^The strongest and swiftest must be nearest 
 their cabin," he said, ^^and each one must be ready 
 to run swiftly when the firebrand comes to him. 
 Indian will hide himself outside the cabin. I will 
 go in. When I call him, he will make a rush and 
 frighten the old women." 
 
HOW THE INDIAN GOT FIRE 47 
 
 II. Coyote at the Cabin of the Old Women 
 
 ^ Coyote went to the little cabin and rapped on the 
 door. One of the women came to the door ; the 
 other sat over the fire. 
 
 ^^Good evening/' said Coyote. 
 
 ^^Good evening/' said the old woman. 
 
 ^^It's a pretty cold night/' said Coyote. 
 
 ^^ Yes^ it is/' said the old woman. 
 
 ^^I hear you have a fire/' said Coyote. 
 
 ^^ Who told you that ?" said she. 
 
 ^^Oh, every one knows that/' said Coyote; ^^and 
 now will you let me come in and sit by your fire and 
 warm myself? It is very cold out here." 
 
 ^^I suppose I must/' said the woman, crossly, and 
 she opened the door the least bit wider for Coyote 
 to slip in. 
 
 So Coyote went into the house^ and lay down by 
 the fire. Darkness fell, and Coyote pretended to go 
 to sleep, but he kept one eye open watching for a 
 chance to steal fire. Hour after hour he watched, 
 but to no purpose. One old woman sat on one side 
 of the fire, and the other sat opposite her, and 
 neither closed her eyes all night. 
 
 Next morning Coyote went out to find Indian. 
 Poor Indian was almost frozen. He had been hiding 
 all night behind a hill. Coyote told him that he 
 must rush up to the cabin with a loud shout and 
 
48 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 attack it. While the old women were driving him 
 away, Coyote would steal fire. 
 
 Coyote went back and sat down by the old women. 
 Indian rushed up to the door and began to attack 
 the cabin, shouting and yelling at the top of his 
 voice. The old women were so alarmed that they 
 rushed out to drive him off, forgetting all about 
 Coyote, who snatched up a firebrand and ran off 
 with it in his mouth. 
 
 III. Passing Fike Along 
 
 He had not gone far before they saw him and 
 began to run after him. They were swift of foot, 
 those ugly old women, and they gained on him fast. 
 Just as he was getting beyond his strength, and was 
 beginning to pant for breath and slacken his pace, 
 he reached Lion. 
 
 Lion seized the brand from Coyote's mouth, and 
 bounded off with it. The old women followed close. 
 As Lion began to get weary he came to Deer's sta- 
 tion. Deer ran like the wind, but the old women 
 followed close behind. Then Fox seized the brand 
 and carried it for a time ; and so in turn all the ani- 
 mals kept up their flight with the old women fol- 
 lowing on close behind. 
 
 At last the firebrand was brought to the edge 
 of the cold country to Squirrel. He was next to 
 the last in the line. As he seized the brand the 
 
HOW THE INDIAN GOT FIRE 
 
 49 
 
 old women almost caught up with him. He was 
 so frightened that he dropped it^ and in picking it 
 up again his tail caught fire. Squirrel did not dare 
 to stop. He ran right on, carrying the brand in his 
 mouth ; but he curled his tail up over his back, and 
 
 it burned a spot right between his shoulders. To 
 this very day you can see this spot on Squirrel^ s 
 back. 
 
 Before long Squirrel came to Frog, and threw 
 the firebrand into Frog's mouth. Poor Frog ! he 
 was not much of a runner, and he would have fared 
 ill if he had not been near the river between the land 
 of the Indian and the animals, and the cold coun- 
 
50 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 try of the old women. He hopped into the water 
 with the firebrand in his mouth. But just as he 
 reached the water one of the old women caught him 
 and pulled his tail off. That is why frogs have 
 no tails even to this day. The old woman thought 
 she had got fire at last^ but Frog swallowed the tiny 
 spark and with a desperate wrench pulled himself 
 away and escaped into the water. When he came 
 to the other side^ he spat out the fire on a piece of 
 driftwood, where it sputtered and burned. 
 
 Poor Frog ! He had saved fire for the Indian, 
 but he had had the worst of it. Never since that 
 day has his tail grown again. And the brand burned 
 away one of his vocal chords, so that he no longer 
 rivals the birds as he once did. This is why he dis- 
 likes fire, and even to this day keeps away from it. 
 
 But fire had been brought from the north. From 
 that time fire has dwelt in the wood, and by rubbing 
 two twigs together the Indian can always get 
 enough to keep him warm. When he has got fire, 
 some of the animals will come and sit around it 
 with him ; but others are afraid, for they remember 
 what a terrible burning thing it was that they carried 
 in their mouths. 
 
PRUDENT HANS 51 
 
 PRUDENT HANS 
 I 
 
 One day Hans' mother said: ^^AYhere are you 
 going, Hans V^ 
 
 Hans answered : ^^To GretheVs, mother/^ 
 ^^ Manage well, Hans.'' 
 ''AH right. Good-by, mother." 
 ''Good-by, Hans." 
 
 Then Hans came to Grethel's. 
 '^Good morning, Grethel." 
 
 ^^Good morning, Hans. What have you brought 
 me to-day?" 
 
 ''I have brought nothing, but I want something." 
 
 ''I will give you a knife." 
 
 So she gave him a knife. 
 
 ''Thank you. Good-by, Grethel." 
 
 "Good-by, Hans," she said. 
 
 Hans came home to his mother. 
 "Good evening, mother." 
 
 "Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?" 
 "To Grethel's." 
 "What did you take her ?" 
 
 "I took her nothing, but I brought away some- 
 thing." 
 
 "What did Grethel give you, Hans ?" 
 
52 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ''A knife, mother/' 
 ''What did you do with it, Hans ?'' 
 ''Stuck it in my sleeve, mother." 
 "That was very stupid of you, Hans. You should 
 have put it in your pocket.'' 
 
 "All right; mother ! I'll do better next time/^ 
 
 II 
 
 When next time came, Hans' mother said : 
 
 "Whereto, Hans?" 
 
 "To Grethel's, mother." 
 
 "Manage well, Hans." 
 
 "All right ! Good-by, mother." 
 
 "Good-by, Hans." 
 
 So Hans came to Grethel's. 
 
 "Good morning, Grethel." 
 
 "Good morning, Hans. What have you brought 
 me to-day?" 
 
 "I've brought nothing, but I want to take away 
 something." 
 
 "Very well, Hans. I will give you a goat/^ 
 
 So she gave him a goat. 
 
 Hans came home to his mother. 
 
 "Good evening, mother." 
 
 "Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?" 
 
 "To Grethel's, mother." 
 
PRUDENT HANS 
 
 53 
 
 ''What did you take her, Hans ?'' 
 ''I took her nothing, but I brought away some- 
 thing.'' 
 
 ''What did Grethel give you, Hans?" 
 
 "A young goat, mother." 
 
 "What did you do with it, Hans ?" 
 
 "I tried to put it in my pocket, and it scratched 
 me and ran away." 
 
 "That was very stupid of you, Hans. You should 
 have put a rope around its neck, and led it home, and 
 tied it to the manger." 
 
 "All right, mother, I'll do better next time." 
 
54 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 III 
 
 When next time came^ Hans' mother said : 
 
 ^^ Where are you going, Hans V 
 
 ^^To GretheVs, mother/' 
 
 ^^ Manage well, Hans.'' 
 
 ^^All right, mother. Good-by, mother." 
 
 ^^Good-by, Hans." 
 
 Then Hans came to Grethel. 
 ^^Good morning, Grethel." 
 
 ^^Good morning, Hans. What have you brought 
 me to-day?" 
 
 ^^I've brought nothing, but I want something." 
 ^^ I will give you myself." 
 
 ^^ Thank you, Grethel. Come along, Grethel." 
 ^^Very well, Hans," she said. 
 
 Hans came home to his mother. 
 
 ^^Good evening, mother." 
 
 ^^Good evening, Hans. Where have you been?" 
 
 ^^To Grethel's, mother." 
 
 ^^What did you take her?" 
 
 ^^I took nothing, but I brought away some- 
 thing." 
 
 '^What did Grethel give jou?" 
 
 ^^ Herself, mother." 
 
 ^^ Herself ! But where is she? Where have you 
 left her?" 
 
ALICE'S ADVENTURES WITH THE QUEENS 55 
 
 ^^I put a rope round her neck and led her home, 
 and tied her to the manger/^ 
 
 ^^That was very stupid of you, Hans. Go at 
 once and bring her into the house/' 
 
 ''All right, mother! I will/' 
 
 But when Hans wxnt to the stable, Grethel had 
 become angry, and getting loose, had run away to 
 her own home. 
 
 ALICE^S ADVENTURES WITH THE QUEENS 
 
 Alice had followed the White Rabbit into Wonder- 
 land and met many queer animals, when all at once 
 she found herself in a beautiful garden, among bright 
 flower beds and cool fountains. 
 
 I. The Queen's Garden 
 
 A large rose tree stood near the entrance of the 
 garden ; the roses growing on it were white, but there 
 were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red. 
 Alice thought this a very curious thing, and she went 
 nearer to watch them, and, just as she came up to 
 them, she heard one of them say: ^^Look out 
 now, Five ! Don't go splashing paint over me like 
 that!'' 
 
 ^^I couldn't help it," said Five, in a sulky tone. 
 ^^ Seven jogged my elbow." 
 
56 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 On which Seven looked up and said: ^^ That's 
 right, Five! Always lay the blame on others !'' 
 
 '^Foii'd better not talk!'' said Five. '^ heard 
 the Queen say only yesterday you deserved to be 
 beheaded." 
 
 ^^What for?" said the one who had spoken first. 
 
 ^^ That's none of your business. Two !" said Seven. 
 
 '^Yes, it is his business !" said Five. ''And I'll 
 tell him — it was for bringing the cook tulip roots 
 instead of onions." 
 
 Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun, 
 ^'Well, of all the unjust things— " when his eye 
 chanced to fall upon Alice, as she stood watching 
 them, and he checked himself suddenly ; the others 
 looked round also, and all of them bowed low. 
 
 ''Would you tell me, please," said Alice, a little 
 timidly, "why you are painting those roses?" 
 
 Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. 
 Two began, in a low voice : "Why, the fact is, you 
 see, Miss, this here ought to have been a red rose 
 tree, and we put a white one in by mistake ; and if 
 the Queen was to find it out, we should all have our 
 heads cut off, you know. So you see, Miss, we're 
 doing our best, afore she comes, to — " At this 
 moment. Five, who had been anxiously looking across 
 the garden, called out, "The Queen ! The Queen !" 
 and the three gardeners instantly threw themselves 
 flat upon their faces. There was a sound of many 
 
ALICE'S ADVENTURES WITH THE QUEENS 57 
 
 footsteps^ and Alice looked rounds eager to see the 
 Queen. 
 
 First came ten soldiers carrying clubs ; these 
 were all shaped like the three gardeners, oblong 
 and flat; with their hands and feet at the corners. 
 Next the ten courtiers ; these were ornamented all 
 over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as 
 the soldiers did. After these came the royal chil- 
 dren : there were ten of them, and the little dears 
 came jumping merrily along, hand in hand, in 
 couples ; they were all ornamented with hearts. 
 Next came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens, 
 and among them Alice recognized the White Rabbit ; 
 it was talking in a hurried, nervous manner, smiling 
 at everything that was said, and went by without 
 noticing her. Then followed the Knave of Hearts, 
 carrying the King's, crown on a crimson velvet 
 cushion ; and last of all this grand procession came 
 the King and Queen of Hearts. 
 
 Alice was rather doubtful whether she ought not 
 to lie down on her face like the three gardeners, but 
 she could not remember ever having heard of such 
 a rule at processions; ^^and besides, what would be 
 the use of a procession,'^ thought she, ^4f people had 
 all to lie down on their faces, so that they couldn't 
 see it?'' So she stood where she was, and waited. 
 
 When the procession came opposite to Alice, 
 they all stopped and looked at her, and the Queen 
 
58 
 
 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 said severely^ '^Who is this?'' She said it to the 
 Knave of Hearts^ who only bowed and smiled in 
 reply. 
 
 ^^ Idiot!'' said the Queen, tossing her head im- 
 patiently ; and; turning to Alice, she went on, 
 '^What's your name, child ?" 
 
 ^^My name is Alice, so please your Majesty," 
 said Alice, very politely ; but she added, to herself : 
 ^^Why, they're only a pack of cards, after all. I 
 needn't be afraid of them !" 
 
 ^^And who are these? ^^ said the Queen, pointing 
 to the three gardeners who were lying round the 
 rose tree ; for, you see, as they were lying on their 
 faces, and the pattern on their backs was the same 
 as the rest of the pack, she could not tell whether 
 they were gardeners, or soldiers, or courtiers, or 
 three of her own children. 
 
ALICE'S ADVENTURES WITH THE QUEENS 59 
 
 ^^How should / know?'' said Alice; surprised at 
 her own courage. ^^It's no business of mine.''^ 
 
 The Qiieen turned crimson with fury, and, after 
 glaring at her for a moment like a wild beast, began 
 screaming: ^^Off with her head ! Off with — '' 
 
 ^'Nonsense !'' said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, 
 and the Queen* was silent. 
 
 The King laid his hand upon her arm, and timidly 
 said, ^^ Consider, my dear; she is only a child!'' 
 
 The Queen turned angrily away from him, and 
 said to the Knave, ^^Turn them over !" 
 
 The Knave did so, very carefully, with one foot. 
 
 ^^Get up !" said the Queen, in a shrill, loud voice, 
 and the three gardeners instantly jumped up, and 
 began bowing to the King, the Queen, the royal 
 children, and everybody else. 
 
 ^^Leave off that!" screamed the Queen. ^^You 
 make me giddy." And then, turning to the rose 
 tree, she went on, ^^ What have you been doing here ? " 
 
 ^^ May it please your Majesty," said Two, in a very 
 humble tone, going down on one knee as he spoke, 
 ^^ we were trying — " 
 
 ^^/ see !" said the Queen, who had meanwhile been 
 examining the roses. ^^Off with their heads !" and 
 the procession moved on. 
 
 As they walked off together, Alice heard the King 
 say in a low voice to the company generally, ^^You 
 are all pardoned." ^^Come, thafs a good thing!" 
 
60 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 she said to herself^ for she had felt quite unhappy 
 at the number of executions the Queen had ordered. 
 
 II. Alice a Queen Herself 
 
 ^^YouVe only a few yards to go^ down the hill/' 
 said the Knight, ^^and then you'll be a Queen — 
 But you'll stay and see me off first?" he added as 
 Alice turned with an eager look in the direction to 
 which he pointed. ^^I shan't be long." 
 
 So Alice waited and waved her handkerchief to 
 him until he was out of sight. Then she ran down 
 the hill herself. 
 
 ^^And now for the last brook, and to be a Queen ! 
 How grand it sounds !" 
 
 She crossed the brook, and sat down to rest. 
 
 ^^Oh, how glad I am to get here ! But what is 
 this on my head ? " she exclaimed in a tone of dismay, 
 as she put her hands up to something very heavy that 
 fitted all round her head. 
 
 It was a golden crown. 
 
 ^^Well, this is grand !" said Ahce. ^^I never ex- 
 pected I should be a Queen so soon — and I'll tell 
 you what it is, your Majesty," she went on, in a 
 severe tone (she was always rather fond of scolding 
 herself), ^4t'll never do for you to be lolling about 
 on the grass like that ! Queens have to be dignified, 
 you know !" 
 
 So she got up and walked about — rather stiffly 
 
ALICE'S ADVENTURES WITH THE QUEENS 61 
 
 just at firsts as she was afraid that the crown might 
 come off ; but she comforted herself with the thought 
 that there was nobody to see her^ ^^ and if I really am 
 a Queen/' she said as she sat down again^ ^^I shall be 
 able to manage it quite well in time/' 
 
 Everything was happening so oddly that she didn't 
 feel a bit surprised at finding the Red Queen and the 
 White Queen sitting close to her, one on each side. 
 
 ^^ Please, would you tell me — " she began, looking 
 timidly at the Red Queen. 
 
 ^^ Speak when you're spoken to!" the Queen 
 sharply interrupted her. 
 
 ^^But if everybody obeyed that rule/' said Alice, 
 who was always ready for a little argument, ^^and 
 if you only spoke when you were spoken to, and the 
 other person always waited for you to begin, you see 
 nobody would ever say anything, so that — " 
 
 ^^ Ridiculous !" cried the Queen. ^^Why, don't 
 you see, child — " here she broke off with a frown, 
 and, after thinking for a minute, suddenly changed 
 the subject of the conversation. ^^What do you 
 mean by ^If you really are a Queen' ? What right 
 have you to call yourself so ? You can't be a Queen, 
 you know, till you've passed the proper examina- 
 tion. And the sooner we begin it, the better." 
 
 "I only said 4f ' !" poor Alice pleaded in a piteous 
 tone. 
 
 The two Queens looked at each other, and the 
 
62 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Red Queen remarked, with a little shudder, ^^She 
 says she only said ^if ^ — '' 
 
 ^^But she said a great deal more than that!'' 
 the White Queen moaned, wringing her hands. 
 ^^Oh, ever so much more than that !'' 
 
 ^^So you did, you know,'' the Red Queen said to 
 Alice. ^^ Always speak the truth — think before 
 you speak — and write it down afterwards." 
 
 ^^I'm sure I didn't mean — " Alice was begin- 
 ning, but the Red Queen interrupted her im- 
 patiently. 
 
 ^^ That's just what I complain of! You should 
 have meant ! What do you suppose is the use of a 
 child without any meaning ! Even a joke should 
 have some meaning — and a child's more important 
 than a joke, I hope. You couldn't deny that, even 
 if you tried with both hands." 
 
 ^^I don't deny things with my hands/^ Alice 
 objected. 
 
 ^^ Nobody said you did," said the Red Queen. 
 "I said you couldn't if you tried." 
 
 ^^ She's in that state of mind," said the White 
 Queen, ^Hhat she wants to deny something — only 
 she doesn't know what to deny !" 
 
 ^^A nasty, vicious temper," the Red Queen re- 
 marked ; and then there was an uncomfortable 
 silence for a minute or two. 
 
 The Red Queen broke the silence by saying to 
 
ALICE'S ADVENTURES WITH THE QUEENS 63 
 
 the White Queen, ^^I invite you to Alice^s dinner 
 party this afternoon/' 
 
 The White Queen smiled feebly, and said, ^^And 
 I invite you.''^ 
 
 ^^I didn't know I was to have a party at all/' 
 said Alice; '^but if there is to be one, I think / 
 ought to invite the guests." 
 
 ^^We gave you the opportunity of doing it," the 
 Red Queen remarked; ^^but I daresay youVe not 
 had many lessons in manners yet." 
 
 ^^ Manners are not taught in lessons," said Alice. 
 '^Lessons teach you to do sums, and things of that 
 sort." 
 
 ^^Can you do Addition?" the White Queen asked. 
 '^What's one and one and one and one and one and 
 one and one and one and one and one?" 
 
 ''I don't know," said Alice. ''I lost count." 
 
 ^^She can't do Addition," the Red Queen inter- 
 rupted. ^^Can you do Subtraction? Take nine 
 from eight." 
 
 ^^Nine from eight I can't, you know," Alice re- 
 plied very readily ; ^^but — " 
 
 ^^She can't do Subtraction," said the White 
 Queen. ^^Can you do Division? Divide a loaf 
 by a knife — what's the answ^er to that?^^ 
 
 ^'\ suppose — " Alice was beginning, but the 
 Red Queen answered for her. ^^Bread-and-butter, 
 of course. Try another Subtraction sum. Take a 
 bone from a dog : what remains ?" 
 
64 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Alice considered. ^^The bone wouldn't remain^ of 
 course^ if I took it — and the dog wouldn't remain ; 
 it would come to bite me — and Tm sure / shouldn't 
 remain !" 
 
 ^^Then you think nothing would remain?" said 
 the Red Queen. 
 
 ^^I think that's the answer.'" 
 
 ^^ Wrong, as usual/' said the Red Queen; ^Hhe 
 dog's temper would remain." 
 
 ''But I don't see how— " 
 
 ''AVhy, look here !" the Red Queen cried. ''The 
 dog would lose its temper, wouldn't it ?" 
 
 "Perhaps it would/' Alice replied cautiously. 
 
 "Then if the dog went av/ay, its temper would 
 remain !" the Queen exclaimed triumphantly. 
 
 Alice said, as gravely as she could, "They might go 
 different ways." But she couldn't help thinking 
 to herself, "What dreadful nonsense we are 
 talking ! " 
 
 Here the Red Queen began again. "Can j^ou 
 answer useful questions?" she said. "How is 
 bread made?" 
 
 "I know that!^^ Alice cried eagerly. "You take 
 some flour — " 
 
 "Where do you pick the flower?" the White 
 Queen asked. "In a garden or in the hedges ?" 
 
 "Well, it isn't picked at all," Alice explained; 
 "it's ground — " 
 
ALICE'S ADVENTURES WITH THE QUEENS 65 
 
 ^^How many acres of ground?'^ said the White 
 Queen. ^^You mustn^t leave out so many things/' 
 
 ^^Fan her head !^' the Red Queen anxiously 
 interrupted. ^^ She'll be feverish after so much 
 thinking.'' So they set to work and fanned her 
 with bunches of leaves^ till she had to bid them to 
 leave off, it blew her hair about so. 
 
 ^^ She's all right again now/' said the Red 
 Queen. 
 
 ^^What is the cause of lightning?" said the White 
 Queen, in an anxious tone. 
 
 ^^The cause of lightning/' Alice said very decidedly, 
 for she felt quite certain about this, ^^is the thunder 
 — no, no !" she hastily corrected herself. ^^I meant 
 the other way." 
 
 ^^It's too late to correct it," said the Red Queen; 
 ^^when you've once said a thing, that fixes it, and 
 you must take the consequences." 
 
 ^^ Which reminds me — " the White Queen said, 
 looking down and nervously clasping and unclasping 
 her hands, ^^we had such a thunderstorm last Tues- 
 day — I mean one of the last set of Tuesdays, you 
 know." 
 
 Alice was puzzled. ^^In our country," she re- 
 marked, ^Hhere's only one day at a time." 
 
 The Red Queen said : ^^ That's a poor thin way of 
 doing things. Now here, we mostly have days and 
 nights two or three at a time, and sometimes in the 
 
66 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 winter we take as many as five nights together — 
 for warmth; you know/^ 
 
 ^^Are five nights warmer than one night; then?" 
 Ahce ventured to ask. 
 
 ^^Five times as warm^ of course/' 
 
 ^^But they should be five times as cold, by the same 
 rule—'' 
 
 ^^Just so !" cried the Red Queen. ^^Five times as 
 warm; and five times as cold — just as I'm five times 
 as rich as you are; and five times as clever !" 
 
 Lewis CarrolL; Alice^s Adventures in Wonderland 
 and Through the Looking Glass. 
 
 A STONE IN THE ROAD 
 I. The Placing of the Stone 
 
 Long agO; in a far-off country where ruled wise 
 Duke OttO; there might have been seen one night on 
 one of the highways leading toward the capital of 
 the realm a tall man in a long cloak. It was late at 
 night; and he was alone. But instead of walking 
 along towards his destination; he had stopped right 
 in the middle of the road and was scooping out a 
 little round hollow. When it was as deep as he 
 wished; he lined the sides and bottom with pebbles. 
 Then he took from the folds of his cloak a small 
 bundle; placed it in the hole; and spread the pebbles 
 over it. Next he went to the side of the road and 
 
A STONE IN THE ROAD 67 
 
 loosened a large and very heavy stone. He pulled 
 and tugged on it till he managed to get it free and to 
 carry it to the middle of the road where he dropped 
 it over the hole he had made. Then he went his way. 
 
 II. Next Morning 
 
 Next morning a farmer came driving his ox-cart 
 along that road. 
 
 ^^Ah/' he cried; ^Hhe laziness of these people. 
 Here is this big stone right in the middle of the road, 
 and not one of them has taken the trouble to push 
 it away, lest it break the bones of an honest farmer 
 driving in from the country.'' 
 
 So he pulled his oxen to one side and passed on, 
 grumbling at the laziness of the people who lived 
 near towns. When he got home that night, he told 
 his wife and children that the good Duke Otto should 
 know how careless his people were. 
 
 Next a gallant knight, with bright and waving 
 plume and dangling sword, came strolling along. 
 His head was held too high for him to notice the 
 stone, and down he fell with the sword between his 
 legs. He arose and limped away with a growl at 
 ^Hhose peasants, that leave a rock in the road to 
 break a gentleman's legs." 
 
 Next came a company of merchants, with mules 
 and pack horses laden with goods. They were on 
 their way to the fair that was to be held at the Duke's 
 
68 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 great town. When they came to the stone, so 
 narrow was the road that they had to file past it on 
 either side, and one of them said : 
 
 ^^To think of the Uke of that big stone lying there, 
 and every soul going past it this morning, and none 
 stopping to take it away. The people of this coun- 
 try are certainly lazy.'' 
 
 ^^It only shows how little people care for the com- 
 fort of others," returned another. 
 
 And thus it went on for the three weeks that were 
 left of October. Every one complained of the stone, 
 but no one moved it. 
 
 III. Three Weeks Later 
 
 When three weeks had passed since the man in the 
 long cloak placed the stone where we have seen it, 
 the Duke sent to his people to meet him on this road, 
 for he had something to say to them. The day 
 came, and a crowd thronged the road at the ap- 
 pointed spot. The farmer was there, and the mer- 
 chants, and even the knight, who happened to be 
 going that way and thought he would see what the 
 Duke had to say. 
 
 ^^I hope my Lord Duke will know now what kind 
 of folks city people are,'' said the farmer, when he 
 saw that the stone was still there. 
 
 ^^It is a shame," answered the merchant. 
 
 And now a winding horn was heard, and the Duke 
 
A STONE IN THE ROAD 
 
 69 
 
 " For Him who Lifts the Stone " 
 
70 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 rode up with his retinue. He dismounted and 
 stepped to the center of the road^ right beside the 
 stone. All the people crowded closer to hear what 
 he wanted to tell them. He began to speak. 
 
 ^^My good people^ you know I am fond of teaching 
 you now and then a lesson. For such a lesson I 
 have called you together to-day ! It was I who put 
 this stone here ; and for three weeks every one who 
 passed by has left it here^ and blamed his neighbor 
 for not taking it out of the way.'' 
 
 Then, stooping down, he lifted the stone, and 
 showed them the hollow place beneath, in which lay 
 a small leather bag. 
 
 This he lifted high, that all the people might see 
 what was written upon it, — 
 
 ^^For him who lifts the stone !'' 
 
 He untied it, turned it upside down, and a stream 
 of bright gold coins fell to the ground. 
 
 The farmer looked at the merchant and said : 
 ^^ Humph!'' 
 
 And the merchant looked at the farmer and said : 
 ^^ Humph!" 
 
 And the Duke looked with a kindly smile at the 
 crestfallen faces of his subjects, and said: 
 
 ^^My dear people, remember the stone in the 
 road." 
 
MR. WIND AND MADAM RAIN 71 
 
 MR. WIND AND MADAM RAIN 
 
 I. John Peter Alone 
 
 John Peter was sitting in his poor little cottage 
 one night; feeling very mournful. All at once he 
 began to talk out loud to himself. 
 
 ^^Alas ! Mr. Wind/' he exclaimed^ ^^why won't 
 you blow on my mill ? and alas ! Madam Rain^ why 
 won't you fall in my garden, so that I may gain a 
 livelihood?" 
 
 He had said this many times before^ and the wind 
 had never hearkened, nor the rain troubled itself 
 about him. Now he went on sadly. 
 
 ^^If all my troubles overwhelmed myself alone, I 
 should not complain, for I am strong enough to en- 
 dure cold and hunger. But my wife will need fire 
 to warm her, good nourishment to strengthen her, 
 and medicine in her sickness ; and I have neither 
 wood to put upon* the fire, nor meat to make broth 
 with, no, nor money to pay the doctor. The want 
 of wind and rain is the sole cause of my distress. 
 If only the wind would blow on my mill, I should 
 soon be able to get myself out of this scrape." 
 
 11. The Approach of Mr. Wind 
 
 I As John Peter uttered these last words, he saw 
 the flame of the candle flicker, and heard the rust}^ 
 weathercock turning on the top of the cottage. 
 
72 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 The wind was just beginning to blow. The as- 
 tonished miller ran quickly to his mill^ and put grain 
 enough into the hopper for the night's grinding. He 
 untied the cord which held fast the mill sails, and 
 then they began to turn round, and the mill set to 
 work to grind the corn into flour and bran. John 
 Peter now went back to his wife, who was still 
 sleeping, and he rubbed his hands together as he 
 thought of the good things he had to tell her when 
 she awoke. 
 
 The rusty weathercock, however, creaked louder 
 and louder, and the candle had to be placed behind 
 a curtain to prevent its being blown out ; there were 
 so many holes and chinks in the walls of the cottage 
 that the drafts came in everywhere. The window 
 shook, and the door moved on its hinges, and the 
 ashes from the hearth flew all about the room. 
 
 In the midst of this commotion John Peter thought 
 he heard the voices of the wind spirits whispering 
 these words in his ears : 
 
 ^^ Let us whistle, '^ said these spirits ; ^' let us whistle 
 through this broken pane, and let us try to tear off 
 the paper that stops it up.'' 
 
 ^^Let us moan, let us moan through this hole/' 
 said others. 
 
 ^^Let us cling, let us cling to the thatch of this 
 miserable cabin." 
 
 '^Let us push against this ill-fastened door." 
 
MR. WIND AND MADAM RAIN 
 
 73 
 
 ^^Let us murmur, let us hum in this chimney/' 
 Still the miller was not frightened ; and he an- 
 swered, ^^ Whistle, moan, hum as much as you like, 
 so that my mill turns /^ 
 
 III. Mr. Wind Arrives 
 
 At that very instant the latch went up, the door 
 burst wide open, and John Peter saw a most extraor- 
 dinary figure enter. It was more like one of the 
 genii than a man. His body could bend itself in 
 every direction, it was so supple and elastic. His 
 eyes shone like phosphorus, and his ample chest sent 
 forth a noise equal to that from a smith's bellows. 
 The two large wings which were fastened to his 
 shoulders could not have spread themselves in the 
 
74 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 cottage. A red mantle of thin stuff floated around 
 him, falling into so many folds that the shape of 
 his body could not be distinguished. His feet 
 glided lightly over the floor without walking. 
 
 ^^Give me a chair/' said he to John Peter, ^^that 
 I may rest a moment with you before proceeding on 
 my way.'' 
 
 The miller eagerly offered his best straw-bottomed 
 chair. 
 
 ^^Sit down, my lord/' said he, ^^and rest yourself 
 as long as you like in my cottage ; only have the 
 goodness not to speak so loud, or you will awaken 
 my wife, who is ill." 
 
 ^^Fear nothing," replied the stranger; ^Hhe mur- 
 mur of my words will make her sleep more soundly. 
 
 ''I am Mr. Wind," said the stranger. ''Thou 
 hast several times made requests of me. Thou 
 wilt not wonder at my being a little out of breath 
 when I tell thee that in less than an hour I have 
 travelled a long distance over the ocean and visited 
 many towns. 
 
 ''Thy lord, who lives at the neighboring castle, 
 would not receive me ; his servants have shut all 
 the doors and windows, and secured them with 
 large bolts and solid, well-wadded shutters ; and I 
 have scarcely been able to penetrate into the stair- 
 cases through a skylight in one of the towers, or 
 into the kitchen through a little air hole. At thy 
 
MR. WIND AND MADAM RAIN 75 
 
 cottage, however, I found the walls in ruins, and the 
 latch without a fastening, and I could enter easily. 
 This is just the sort of cottage I like. Thou hast 
 but one poor straw-bottomed chair ; this thou didst 
 most willingly offer at my entrance. I thank thee 
 for this hospitable reception. Ask, therefore, some 
 service of me, John Peter, and I will do it for thee 
 most freely.'^ 
 
 ^^Mr. Wind,^' said the miller, ^^all I ask of you is 
 to blow for three or four hours a day on my mill.'' 
 
 ''My poor John Peter,'' replied Mr. Wind, ''I am 
 not permitted to go out every day. Madam Rain 
 occupies the sky for a third part of the year, and, 
 like an ungrateful creature, she drives me away after 
 I have brought on her clouds ; and the Sun agrees 
 still worse with me. I sometimes live shut up in 
 my cavern for months ; but I will take care to send 
 thee zephyrs and little spirits, who go out at my order 
 to scour the country morning and evening, and I 
 will order them not to forget thy mill. But now I 
 must be off. I have stayed too long already. Al- 
 ready Madam Rain is close at my heels. Good-by, 
 John Peter!" 
 
 So saying, Mr. Wind sprang at one bound out of 
 the cottage, spread his large wings, and disappeared. 
 The whistling, and moaning, and shrieking died 
 away. But the little spirits he had left behind were 
 strong enough to keep the mill going. 
 
76 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 IV. The Approach of Madam Rain 
 
 Immediately after Mr. Wind had departed^ rain 
 began to fall ; gently at first, and afterward in tor- 
 rents. John Peter fancied he could hear voices of 
 the rain spirits, saying : 
 
 ^^Let us fall, let us fall on this thatched roof.'^ 
 
 ^^Let us wet, let us wet the whole of this cottage.'' 
 
 ^^Let us water the leaves of the cabbages.'' 
 
 ^^Let us cover these pebbles with water." 
 
 ^^Let us ring in this spout." 
 
 ^^Let us run along this beam." 
 
 ^^Let us jump through this hole." 
 
 ^^Letusfall." 
 
 "Let us wet all that we can." 
 
 "Little drops, drip, drip, drop !" 
 
 Instead of being afraid, John Peter repeated : 
 "Fall, wet, water as much as you please ! To- 
 morrow my garden will be greener, and my cabbages 
 the better for it." 
 
 V. Madam Rain Arrives 
 
 As Mr. Wind had broken the latch, and gone out 
 without shutting the door, it remained three or four 
 inches ajar, and through this narrow space John 
 Peter saw enter a tall lady of singular appearance, 
 more like a fairy than a woman. She was somewhat 
 transparent, and her face pale and thin. Her hair 
 
MR, WIND AND MADAM RAIN 77 
 
 was straight^ and fell down to her feet. Her eyes 
 were dimmed by two streams of tears. Her dress 
 and mantle were gray. Upon her silken scarf shone 
 the seven colors of the rainbow. She came in slowly, 
 without seeming to move her feet. 
 
 ^^Give me a chair/^ said she to John Peter, ^Hhat 
 I may rest for a moment before I go down into the 
 valley." 
 
 ^^Sit down, ma'am,'' said the miller; ^^only have 
 the goodness to speak a little lower, for my wife is 
 ill and my child is asleep." 
 
 ^^Fear not !" replied the lady; ^Hhe noise of my 
 words will make them sleep more soundly. I am 
 Madam Rain, whom thou hast so often called. Only 
 five minutes ago I was eighteen hundred fathoms 
 above the earth, and my descent has made me a 
 little giddy. The lord of the neighboring castle 
 has shut his doors and windows in my face, but I 
 have revenged myself by drenching his sentinels to 
 the skin. I found chinks in the walls of thy cottage, 
 and window panes broken, and the door open ; so I 
 like this cottage of thine ; and I will remember thy 
 kind welcome. If I can serve thee in anything, 
 take advantage of this opportunity, and ask me for 
 whatever thou wilt, and I will give it thee." 
 
 ^^ Madam Rain," said John Peter, ^^what could I 
 ask of you but to be kind enough to fall two or three 
 times a week on the vegetables in my garden?" 
 
78 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 '^\las ! friend/^ said the lady^ ^^I do not gad about 
 as often as I should Hke. The glorious time of the 
 Deluge is past, and Mr. Sun is stronger than I ; and 
 when I am abroad, he is constantly driving me back 
 to my grotto. But I will send thee the morning 
 dews, and the little clouds to which I give the key 
 of the fields between gleams of sunshine. Farewell, 
 honest John Peter. The Sun is coming soon to dry 
 all my work. Should any misfortune befall thee, 
 do not fail to let me.know.'^ 
 
 Madam Rain slipped through the partly opened 
 door. At the end of an hour dawn began to come. 
 A flood of sunshine soon dispersed the clouds. 
 
 VI. Next Morning 
 
 John Peter left his cottage and went to his mill; 
 there he found flour sufficient to fill two sacks. He 
 then went to his garden, and gathered cabbages and 
 lettuce, which the rain had quickly brought to per- 
 fection. The flour he carried to a farmer, who gave 
 him two crown pieces for it ; and the vegetables he 
 sold in the market. His wife was still sleeping when 
 he returned home with a fagot of wood on his shoul- 
 der, good provisions in his basket, and money in his 
 pocket. 
 
 John Peter^s wife, having slept till morning, had 
 heard neither Wind nor Rain, so she was surprised 
 when told that the mill had been turning all night. 
 
HOW A GIRL HID A GOVERNOR 79 
 
 and to see the money and provisions which her hus- 
 band had brought home. Sleeping had already 
 hastened her recovery, and the joy she now felt 
 completely restored her to health. 
 
 Emily Makepeace, translation of Mr, Wind 
 and Madam Rain by Paul De Musset. 
 
 HOW A GIRL HID A GOVERNOR 
 I. Where It Happened 
 
 In the year 1777, in the war of the Revolution, a 
 governor, whose name was Griswold, found himself 
 in danger of being seized by the King's soldiers, and 
 took shelter in a farmhouse which was the home of a 
 relative. 
 
 One day it had been arranged that he should try 
 to make his escape, as it was feared that the farm- 
 house was being watched. His plan was to reach 
 a small stream with deep banks on each side, where 
 boatmen would be waiting to take him away. A 
 white signal was hung from the window of the attic 
 to show that they were to be in waiting, and in great 
 haste he left the house to go through the orchard. 
 There he found a young girl, about twelve years old. 
 She was watching some long pieces of linen cloth 
 which were stretched out in the sun to bleach. She 
 sat knitting, and near her was a pail of water, from 
 
80 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 which she sprinkled the cloth now and then, to keep 
 it damp. 
 
 She started up when a man leaped over the fence, 
 and he was as startled as she until he saw it was only 
 Hetty, and she recognized her cousin, Governor 
 Griswold, escaping in disguise. 
 
 II. Hetty and the Governor 
 
 ^^ Hetty,'' he said, ^^I shall lose my life unless I can 
 get to the boat before the soldiers come. You see 
 where the roads part, close by the orchard ? I want 
 you to run down towards the shore and meet the 
 soldiers, who are sure to ask for me, and tell them 
 that I have gone up the road to catch the mail cart.'' 
 
 ^^But, cousin," said Hetty, ^^how can I say so ? — 
 it would not be true. Oh, why did you tell me which 
 way you were going ?" 
 
 ^^ Would you betray me, Hetty, and see me put to 
 death ? Hark ! they are coming. I hear the clink 
 of the horses' feet. Tell them I have gone up the 
 road, and Heaven will bless you." 
 
 ^^Nay, cousin," said Hetty, ^Hhose who speak 
 false words will never be happy. But they shall not 
 make me tell which way you go, even if they kill 
 me — so run as fast as you can." 
 
 ^^ It is too late to run. Where can I hide myself ? " 
 
 "Be quick, cousin, lie down under this cloth; I 
 will throw it over you and go on sprinkling the linen." 
 
HOW A GIRL HID A GOVERNOR 81 
 
 ^^I will do it^ for it is my last chance/' 
 He was soon hidden under the heavy folds of the 
 long cloth. 
 
 III. The Soldiers Come 
 
 In a moment a party of soldiers dashed down the 
 road. An officer saw the girl, and called out to her 
 in a loud voice, — 
 
 ^^Have you seen a man run by this way ?'' 
 
 ^^Yes, sir/' said Hetty. 
 
 ^^Which way didhego?'' 
 
 ^^I promised not to tell, sir.'' 
 
 ^^But you must tell this instant, or it will be worse 
 for you." 
 
 ^^I will not tell, for I must keep my word." 
 
 ^^Let me speak, for I think I know the child," said 
 a man who was guide to the party, ^^Is your name 
 Hetty Marvin?" 
 
 ^^Yes, sir." 
 
 ^^ Perhaps the man who ran past you was your 
 cousin?" 
 
 ^^Yes, sir, he was." 
 
 ^^Well," continued the guide, ^^we wish to speak 
 with him ; what did he say to you when he came 
 by?" 
 
 ^^He told me that he had to run to save his life," 
 answered the girl quietly. 
 
 ^^Just so," said the guide; ^Hhat was quite true. 
 
82 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 I hope he will not have far to run. Where was he 
 going to hide himself ?'' 
 
 ^^My cousin said that he would go to the river to 
 find a boat, and he wanted me to tell the men in 
 search of him that he had gone the other way to 
 meet the mail cart/^ 
 
 ^^You are a good girl, Hetty/' said the guide, 
 '^and we know you speak the truth.'' 
 
 ^^And what did he say/' interposed the officer, 
 ^^when you said you would not tell a lie ?" 
 
 ^^He said, ^ Would you betray me and see me put 
 to death'?" 
 
 ^^And you," said the guide, ^^ answered that you 
 would not tell if you were killed for it ?" 
 
 Poor Hetty's tears fell fast, as she whispered, ^^ Yes, 
 sir." 
 
 ^^ Those were brave words, Hetty," he said. ^^ And 
 I suppose he thanked you and ran down the road as 
 fast as he could." 
 
 ^^I promised not to tell which way he went, sir." 
 
 ^^Oh, yes — I forgot; but tell me his last words, 
 and I will not trouble you any more." 
 
 ^^He said, ^I will do it, for it is my last chance.'" 
 
 IV. The Soldiers Go 
 
 Hetty was now in great fear ; she sobbed aloud 
 and hid her face in her apron. The soldiers thought 
 they had got all they wanted to know, and rode off 
 
Hetty and the Officer 
 83 
 
84 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 to the riverside. Meantime Griswold lay safe and 
 quiet until the time came for Hetty to go home to 
 supper. Then he bade her ask her mother to put the 
 signal lamp in the window as soon as it grew dark, 
 and send him some food. The signal was seen, the 
 boat which had slipped away at the approach of the 
 soldiers came back, and Griswold made his way to it 
 in safety. 
 
 In better days, when the war was over, he named 
 his first child Hetty Marvin, that he might daily 
 think of the brave young cousin whose sense and 
 truthfulness had saved his life. 
 
HELPS FOR DRAMATIZATION 
 
 85 
 
 LPS POR^. 
 
 MATKATION 
 
 FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS WHO READ THESE 
 STORIES AND WANT TO ACT THEM 
 
 When you read a story^ you are only beginning 
 to know it. You are sitting outside and looking 
 on at it. But when you act a story^ you must live 
 in it. You must forget where you are and who you 
 are, and imagine that you are one of the persons in 
 the story. You want to be as like him as possible. 
 So you will find out all you can about him. You 
 will read what he says, and say it as if you were he. 
 You will find out what he does. Is he standing 
 when he talks ? Is he talking to some one ? To 
 whom ? Is his voice gentle or loud ? Is he glad or 
 sorry ? How does he show it ? How often does he 
 speak, and who speaks before him, and who after 
 
86 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 him ? You will need to know all these things if 
 you are to pretend to be that person, even for only 
 a few minutes. If several boys and girls are to act 
 a story together, they will want to know where they 
 meet, what they say to each other, and what they 
 do. All this they can find out if they read the story 
 carefully. Let us begin with the first story. 
 
 HOW ALL THE ANIMALS TRIED TO MAKE 
 
 MAN (Page 3) 
 
 How does it begin? '^AU the animals — .'' To 
 live this story you must be talking animals. How 
 many animals are there? ^^ There were Lion, Bear, 
 Deer, Sheep, Owl, Mole, and all the rest, down to 
 little Mouse.'' That tells you who some of them 
 were and shows that there were many more whose 
 names are not given. 
 
 The first thing to find out about a story you want 
 to act is how many people there are and when they 
 speak. Let us look through the story and see who 
 speaks. Coyote spoke first, then Lion, then Bear, 
 Deer, and Sheep. Coyote interrupted. Bear spoke, 
 Coyote spoke again, and Beaver spoke for the 
 first time. Owl followed. Mole sniffed ^^Pu-u-u !/' 
 Mouse spoke. Screech Owl shrieked. Coyote spoke 
 sharply, and each animal cried, ^^ I'll make Man 
 myself. '^ Count them and see how many there are 
 who speak. 
 
HELPS FOR DRAMATIZATION 87 
 
 Coyote Beaver 
 
 Lion Owl 
 
 Bear Mole 
 
 Deer Mouse 
 
 Sheep Screech Owl 
 
 There you have ten in all. There were probably 
 many more who sat and listened but did not speak, 
 or if they spoke, we do not know what they said. 
 Count the animals in the picture. How many has 
 the artist shown that are not mentioned in the 
 story ? 
 
 To act this story, then, you must have ten people 
 who are animals that speak, and as many more as 
 you please that listen. 
 
 Where are these people to be, and what will they 
 do? Go back to the story. It tells you. '^AU 
 the animals sat around in a circle.^' Little Mouse 
 ^^sat at the left of Lion.'' See him in the picture. 
 Where is Coyote ? He is the head of the council. 
 All the animals will look at him. Now your council 
 can begin. How does it say the animals spoke ? 
 Lion roared. Bear growled. Sheep bleated (probably 
 in a high voice). Mouse spoke ^^in a funny, squeaky 
 little voice,'' and Screech Owl shrieked. You must 
 decide for yourself how the others spoke. The 
 story does not tell. 
 
 Did everything happen in the same place ? Not 
 quite. They sat in a circle until they quarrelled. 
 
88 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Then they all rushed to the clay bank, and each 
 began to model a figure. How can you act that ? 
 Move from your, seats in the circle to other seats, 
 and each go to work on something. If you have 
 nothing to work with, pretend to work with your 
 hands. Or fold a piece of paper. ^^ At sundown they 
 stopped to sleep. '^ One by one you must put your 
 heads down and pretend to go to sleep — all but 
 Coyote. ^^He went on working.'' Then he went 
 around and destroyed every model. Coyote must 
 go about and pick up, or pretend to pick up, the work 
 of each animal. ^^ Then he returned to his own figure 
 and worked steadily." When it was finished, he 
 said, ^^Let this figure live and be a Man." 
 
 The story is finished. Your acting is over. Coy- 
 ote must have been very much pleased with his 
 ^^Man." Perhaps it can stay on a desk or window 
 sill, while you go on with other work. But you have 
 lived a story. You have been for a few minutes not 
 yourselves, but Coyote, Lion, Bear, Sheep, Beaver, 
 Owl, and all the other animals. Did you have a 
 good time ? Then live this story again to-morrow, 
 with different children taking the parts of each ani- 
 mal, and some day go on to the next. All the 
 stories in this book are good to live in and to act. 
 
HELPS FOR DRAMATIZATION 89 
 
 HANS, THE SHEPHERD BOY (Page 7) 
 
 I. Hans and the Hunter 
 
 Where are we ? In a great wood, near fields. 
 How many people are there ? Hans and the hunter. 
 But Hans must have his flock of sheep^ which lets 
 every child in the room be in the play. Hans is 
 watching his sheep. The hunter comes (from the 
 hall or closet). ^^Here, boy/' he calls from a dis- 
 tance. Hans calls back. All the while, the hunter 
 is walking towards him and they speak less loudly. 
 Hans shakes his head. As you read the story, try 
 to see the two. The hunter is trying by word, look, 
 and gesture to persuade the boy ; but Hans says, 
 ^'No, sir.'' He does not want to tell the hunter 
 that he does not trust him. But the hunter pulls 
 the truth out of him — and then is not cross but 
 laughs. 
 
 II. The Hunter turns out to be a Prince 
 
 Several men come, two in advance. ^^My lord,'^ 
 cries the first ; ^^ Ah, we have found you," the second. 
 Hans looks on, astonished, then frightened, and falls 
 on his knees. (Learn to kneel on one knee, resting 
 it on the floor and bending the other.) The Prince 
 smiles, speaks, and puts his hand on the boy's shoul- 
 der. With his words the play ends. 
 
90 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 THE STORY THAT HAD NO END (Page 10) 
 
 To act a story^ as you see, you must become very 
 well acquainted with it. You must treat it as if it 
 were a person and ask questions of it. Sometimes 
 it will answer all your questions ; but often you will 
 have to answer some of them yourself as you think 
 the story would if it were longer. This is a story of 
 that sort. 
 
 What kind of questions shall we ask? First, 
 who are the people in it ? Then, where did it happen ? 
 That is, the place? Lastly, what happened? Or 
 the incidents or action? (^^ Incident " is another 
 word for ^' happening.") 
 
 People : A King, his Prime Minister, story-tellers, 
 a jailer, and the man who told the story that had 
 no end. But the book does not tell it all. A King 
 may have servants who are not mentioned. Whom 
 do you see in the picture ? His Queen may come to 
 listen to the stories, and her ladies with her. There 
 may be courtiers, nobles, and gentlemen in waiting. 
 Before you act this story, plan how many persons 
 you will have in the first scene, how many in the 
 second. 
 
 Place : This story does not describe the place, but 
 where do you suppose it happened ? The King was 
 at home. The story-tellers would be brought to 
 his audience room in the palace. Notice that both 
 scenes happened in the same place. 
 
HELPS FOR DRAMATIZATION 91 
 
 Incidents: The title of the first part is ^' The 
 King^s Wish/' The words of the story describe 
 only the beginning and end of the scene. '^ Once 
 upon a time there was a King. . . . He would sit 
 by the hour listening to stories. '' Here is your 
 chance to use a group of courtiers and have a story- 
 telling scene, ending with the conversation between 
 the King and the Prime Minister. 
 
 The second part gives the real story. The farmer 
 comes to the Prime Minister (who is near the door 
 at the opposite end of the room from the King). He 
 makes his offer ; it is repeated to the King ; he is 
 brought in. The boy who is farmer has a splendid 
 chance not to drone out his words, but to act as if it 
 really were the most interesting story in the world 
 to tell how he ^^ sowed one seed, and another, and 
 another and — '' The part of the King, too, can 
 be very well done, showing first his weariness, then 
 his impatience and anger, and at the end his 
 amusement. 
 
 THE BRAHMAN, THE TIGER, AND THE SIX 
 JUDGES (Page 14) 
 
 People: How many in all? How many together 
 at any one time? The picture shows the last 
 scene, where the Tiger is back in the cage, and 
 the Jackal is looking on with delight at his own 
 cleverness. 
 
92 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Places: Seven. Plan to have the Brahman and 
 the Tiger walk a long distance between each of the 
 two judges. 
 
 Incidents : Seven. See the parts of the story. 
 
 THE MAN, THE BOY, AND THE DONKEY 
 
 (Page 21) 
 
 People : At least ten who speak ; others looking on. 
 Place : Again you travel round the room. 
 Incidents: Four. 
 
 A VISIT TO THE WATER BABIES (Page 24) 
 
 People : Tom ; Mrs. Be-done-by-as-you-did ; 
 Water babies. 
 
 Place : At the bottom of the ocean. 
 Incidents: Two. 
 
 How many of you have read the book from which 
 this chapter is taken ? If )^ou have, and know Tom 
 well, it will help you to be a good water baby. You 
 will play about more easily and happily, and be more 
 grieved when Tom ^^ puts stones in the anemones' 
 mouths '' ; and you will say more sternly, ^^ Take 
 care, Mrs. Be-done-by-as-you-did is coming. '^ 
 
 But if you have not read the book, the picture will 
 give you all the help 3^ou need. That is what the 
 pictures are for, to show how the artist thinks the 
 
HELPS FOR DRAMATIZATION 93 
 
 people looked, and when you know how they looked^ 
 and read what they did and said, the story will act 
 itself. 
 
 THE KING OF THE CATS (Page 28) 
 
 People : Two brothers ; the cat ; dogs. 
 
 Place : The main room of their cottage, with a 
 fireplace, two chairs beside it, and a table (set in the 
 second scene for supper). The cat must sit near a 
 door through which he can disappear. 
 
 Incidents : Two. Remember that '' actions speak 
 louder than words.'' Show the restless, anxious 
 brother at home, looking often out of the window ; 
 then the weary brother returning home, eating his 
 supper almost in silence. The cat is the hero, but 
 he has the gift of speech for only one sentence at the 
 end. 
 
 FABLES IN VERSE (Page 31) 
 
 In ^^ The Mountain and the Squirrel '' you have 
 only the second part of the story. How did the 
 quarrel begin? Read the Squirrel's words to see 
 what the Mountain must have said. 
 
 THE BOY WHO WONDERED (Page 36) 
 
 People : How many who speak ? How many who 
 listen ? 
 
 Place : Think how you will place each scene. 
 
94 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Jack leaves the road to go out of sight for each of his 
 stops (to the back of the room, or the door, or a 
 closet). You hear the conversation between him 
 and the axe, the pickaxe, and the walnut, but the 
 brothers do not. Each time he returns and reports 
 it. 
 
 Incidents : How many ? Who takes part in each ? 
 
 HOW THE INDIAN GOT FIRE (Page 45) 
 
 People : Look back at the picture of the animal 
 council in the first story. How many of the same 
 animals will you have at this council ? Who was not 
 there before ? 
 
 Place : Where can Indian hide near the cabin of 
 the women ? How can you manage the race, making 
 it quick without confusion? How can you mark 
 off the river ? 
 
 Incidents : The action stops when Frog drops fire, 
 but the story tells more. You must show Indian 
 with a fire, around which some of the animals sit 
 while others are afraid. Frog will croak, and the 
 birds laugh at him. Some one — perhaps Indian — 
 must tell why he croaks. He might tell the story to 
 his son. 
 
 PRUDENT HANS (Page 51) 
 
 Grethel will need a knife and a goat, and Hans, a 
 rope to lead her home with. Every play will seem 
 
HELPS FOR DRAMATIZATION 95 
 
 more real if you have a few of the ^^ things '' that are 
 used in the story. These we shall call by the name 
 which they are given in real plays, ^^ properties/' 
 It is a good word, for property means something 
 belonging to you, and properties here mean things 
 that belong to the play. 
 
 ALICE'S ADVENTURES WITH THE QUEENS 
 
 (Page 55) 
 
 This is a story that will dramatize itself. When 
 you have turned several stories into plays, you will 
 find that you do not have to search for the dramatic 
 parts. As you read the story, they come out to 
 meet you, and you see how the play will go. 
 
 A STONE IN THE ROAD (Page 66) 
 
 People : A tall dignified Duke ; a farmer ; a 
 knight who holds his head very high ; prosperous 
 merchants. How can you show your audience which 
 is which ? 
 
 Incidents : The picture will give ideas for the last 
 scene. 
 
 MR. WIND AND MADAM RAIN (Page 71) 
 
 Notice how much of the beauty of this French 
 story comes from the sounds. Think how wind 
 sounds, and make the voices of the wind spirits as 
 like it as 5^ou can. Remember how rain falls, ^^ drip, 
 
96 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 drip, drop/' and try to be the rain. You cannot 
 bring all the mystery of wind and rain into your 
 room, but you can try, and learn how beautiful the 
 description is by trying. 
 
 HOW A GIRL HID A GOVERNOR (Page 79) 
 
 This story closes the first part of the book. Read 
 over all the ^^ helps '' and see how many of the ideas 
 you can use in playing it. Read the story till you 
 know how the little girl felt when the officer came, 
 and how the governor felt hidden under the hnen. 
 Then you will make this the best play of all. 
 
PART TWO 
 
HOW ENGLAND FOUND HER KING^ 
 I. The Proclamation 
 
 King Uther was dead, and none knew who should 
 reign over England in his stead. Moreover, the land 
 stood in great peril, for every lord that was mighty 
 made himself strong, and many desired to be king. 
 Wherefore Merlin and the Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury took counsel together and sent by proclamation 
 for all the great nobles to come to London to a 
 council. 
 
 ^^To all lords of the realm and gentlemen of arms/' 
 the parchment read, ^^be it known by these presents, 
 that ye are hereby summoned, under pain of cursing, 
 to come even unto London at Christmas; and for 
 this cause, that on that night it may be shown by 
 some miracle who should be king of all England. 
 Make ye therefore your lives clean that your prayers 
 may be more acceptable unto God, for this land has 
 stood long in peril without a ruler, and it may please 
 God, whose Son was born on that night to be king 
 
 1 See page 210 for Helps for Dramatization of the stories in 
 Part Two. 
 
 99 
 
100 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 of all mankind; to show who should be king of this 
 realm.'' 
 
 II. The Sword in the Churchyard 
 
 So all the lords and gentlemen of arms, and the 
 common people as well, went up to London, to the 
 church of St. Paul's to see who should be king. And 
 when they came out of the church after the morning 
 prayers were over, there in the churchyard stood a 
 great stone, like unto marble, that had not been 
 there before, and in the middle was an anvil of steel 
 a foot high. In this anvil stood a fair sword, naked 
 to the point, and about the sword were written in 
 letters of gold these words : 
 
 ^' Whoso puUeth this sword out of the stone, he is 
 rightwise born king of all England." 
 
 Then all the people marvelled, and went and told it 
 to the archbishop. And when the prayers were done, 
 he and all the lords went into the churchyard and 
 read the strange lettering. Then did such as would 
 be king try the sword, one after another. But 
 though they were mighty men, and though they 
 put forth all their strength, yet could they not 
 stir it. 
 
 ^^He is not here," said the archbishop, ^Hhat shall 
 move the sword, but doubt not God shall make him 
 known. This is my counsel, that we choose ten 
 knights, men of good fame, who shall guard the 
 
HOW ENGLAND FOUND HER KING 101 
 
 sword. Then will we have on New Yearns day a 
 great joust and tournament, to which every lord, 
 knight, and baron in the land shall be welcome. 
 Perchance on that day God will make known to us 
 who should win the sword and be our king.^' 
 
 And all the lords and gentlemen of arms said, 
 ^^It is well.'' 
 
 III. Arthur goes Home and Returns 
 
 On New Year's Day, the barons rode to the field, 
 some to joust and some to tourney. And it so 
 happened that Sir Hector rode unto the field, and 
 with him Sir Kay and young Arthur. And as they 
 rode. Sir Kay found that he had left his sword at his 
 father's lodging. So he prayed young Arthur to 
 ride back for it. 
 
 ^^I will well," said Arthur, and went back quickly. 
 
 But when he came to the house, the lady and all 
 of the household were out to see the jousting. So 
 he could not get in to fetch the sword. Then was 
 Arthur troubled and angry, for he said, ^^What will 
 my brother Kay do without a sword ?" 
 
 But he bethought him of a sword he had noticed 
 as he rode along the way. 
 
 ^^I will ride," he said, ^Ho the churchyard and 
 take the sword that I saw sticking there in the stone, 
 for my brother must not be left without a sword 
 this day." 
 
102 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 When he came to the churchyard Arthur ahghted, 
 and tied his horse to the stile and came to the sword. 
 (There were no knights there because they were all 
 at the jousting.) So he took the sword by the 
 handle and pulled it lightly out of the stone. It 
 came forth straightway. Then rode he on and de- 
 livered the sword to Sir Kay. 
 
 As soon as Sir Kay saw the sword; he knew well 
 that it was the sword of the stone. So he rode to 
 his father^ Sir Hector, and said : 
 
 ^^Sir, here is the sword of the stone. Therefore 
 I must be rightful king of all this land.'' 
 
 IV. The Three at the Church 
 
 Sir Hector knew the sword as well as did Sir Kay, 
 and he said right sternly to his sons, ^^Come ye with 
 me.'' So they all three went to the church whither 
 he led them. Then he strode up the aisle to the altar, 
 and turning to his son, said sternly, ^^Now, Kay, 
 swear on God's holy book how you came by that 
 sword." 
 
 ^^Sir," said Kay, and fear made him tell the truth, 
 ^^by my brother Arthur, for he brought it to me." 
 
 ^^How did you get the sword?" said Sir Hector 
 to the boy. 
 
 ^'Sir, I will tell you," rephed Arthur. ''When I 
 came home for my brother's sword, I found nobody 
 at the house to deliver it to me. But I thought my 
 
HOW ENGLAND FOUND HER KING 103 
 
 brother Kay should not be swordless. So I came 
 hither eagerly and pulled out of the stone this sword 
 which I had seen sticking there/' 
 
 ^^ Found ye any knights about this sword V asked 
 Sir Hector. 
 
 ''None/' said Arthur. 
 
 ''Now/' said Sir Hector^ "I understand that you 
 must be king of this land." 
 
 "Wherefore I?" said Arthur^ "and for what 
 cause?" 
 
 "Sir/' said Hector^ "because God will have it so. 
 For there should never man have drawn out this 
 sword but he that shall be rightwise king of this land. 
 Now let me see whether you can put the sword there 
 as it was and pull it out again." 
 
 "That is not hard/' said Arthur; and so he put 
 it into the stone. 
 
 Then Sir Hector tried to pull out the sword; but 
 strain as hard as he would he could not stir it. 
 
 "Now try/' said Sir Hector to Sir Kay. And he 
 pulled at the sword with all his might; but it would 
 not move. 
 
 "Now shall ye try/' said Sir Hector to Arthur, 
 
 "I will well/' said Arthur^ and pulled it out easily. 
 
 Therewith Sir Hector sank to his knees, as Sir 
 Kay alsO; and they bared their heads. 
 
 "Alas!" said Arthur, "my own dear father and 
 brother, why kneel ye to me ?" 
 
104 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^Nay, my lord Arthur/' said Sir Hector, '4t is 
 not so ; I was never your father, nor of your blood. 
 For Merlin delivered you to me while yet you were 
 a^ babe. But now know I that ye were of a higher 
 blood than I thought you were.'' 
 
 Arthur was grieved when he heard that Sir Hector 
 was not his father, for he loved him as his own 
 blood. 
 
 ^^Sir/' said Hector unto Arthur, ^^will you be my 
 good and gracious lord when you are king?" 
 
 ^^Else were I to blame," said Arthur, ^^for you are 
 the man in all the world to whom I owe most, and 
 am most in debt, and my good lady and mother 
 your wife, who have kept me and loved me as your 
 own. And if ever it be God's will that I be king, 
 as you say, you shall desire of me what I may do and 
 I will not fail you. God forbid that I should fail 
 you." 
 
 Then they went to the archbishop and told him 
 how the sword was drawn out and by whom. 
 
 V. Arthur draws out the Sword 
 
 On Twelfth Day all the barons came and all who 
 desired did try to draw the sword from the stone. 
 But none of them could move it. While they stood 
 there, angry and disappointed, the archbishop 
 turned to Sir Hector and bade him bring forth 
 Arthur. As the tall, fresh-faced lad strode through 
 
HOW ENGLAND FOUND HER KING 105 
 
 their midst, the barons looked at him with surprise, 
 for they knew him not, and it had not been told them 
 that he had drawn the sword out. 
 
 ^^My son/^ said the archbishop gravely, ^^it has 
 been told me that it has been given to you to do this 
 deed. Now therefore, in the sight of all men, take 
 hold of this sword and see if ye can draw it from the 
 stone. ^' 
 
 The lords and barons looked on with amazement, 
 and man}^ spoke scornful words aloud, as the young 
 man walked to the sword. He took the handle in 
 his hand, and drew it out lightly. Then arose cries 
 of wrath. Swords flashed from their sheaths, and 
 bitter words were spoken. 
 
 '^How now?^' said the lord of Orkney. ^^What 
 trick is this to set a boy to rule over us ?^' 
 
 ^^What child is this?^' cried another. ^^This is 
 no way to choose a king.'' 
 
 ^^It is naught but a churchly trick,'' shouted 
 another. 
 
 ^^ Peace, peace," cried the archbishop sternly. 
 ^^With our own eyes have we seen this wonder 
 done." 
 
 ^^Ay," spoke a brave knight, ^^but it would be a 
 shame to us all to have the realm governed by a youth 
 of no high blood." 
 
 ^^Do ye accept the sign of the stone?" said the 
 archbishop. 
 
106 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^We do not/' cried the lords and barons. 
 
 ^^Hear ye then my word/' said the archbishop 
 sternly. ^^Ye have seen what this lad has done, 
 and none of you but he could do it. Go ye now to 
 your homes, and abide there until Candlemas. Then 
 shall none say that we acted in haste. But between 
 now and Candlemas let ten knights watch this 
 sword, five by day and five by night, always on watch, 
 that none meddle with it. At Candlemas come ye 
 again, and as many more as desire, and we will try 
 once again this test.'' 
 
 ^^It is well," said the lords and barons, and they 
 shortly scattered to their own homes. 
 
 VI. Arthur draws the Sword Again 
 
 Yet again came they at Candlemas, and tried 
 once again ; but though the lords and barons put 
 forth all their strength, none could draw out the 
 sword save the boy Arthur, and for him it came out 
 lightly and easily. But still the lords and barons 
 were angry, and declared in their indignation that 
 Arthur should not be their king. And once again 
 they separated at the archbishop's word, but this 
 time ten knights, the noblest and most trusted in 
 the realm, went at the archbishop's command with 
 young Arthur, and were always with him day and 
 night, lest he be harmed. 
 
HOW ENGLAND FOUND HER KING 107 
 
 Arthur Making his Vows 
 
108 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 VII. Arthur chosen King 
 
 At the feast of Pentecost all manner of men tried 
 to draw out the sword^ but none might prevail save 
 Arthur. He pulled it out before all the lords and 
 common people that were there. Then all the people 
 cried aloud : 
 
 ^^ We will have Arthur for our king ; we will have 
 no more delay^ for we see that it is God's will that 
 he shall be our king. Whoever holdeth out against 
 it, we will slay him.'' 
 
 Then they all bowed their heads, lords and barons 
 alike, and begged mercy of Arthur because they had 
 delayed so long. And Arthur forgave them, and took 
 the sword between both his hands, and offered it on 
 the altar where the archbishop stood. So Arthur 
 was made king before lords and people. Before 
 them all he did solemnly swear to be a true king, and 
 to stand with true justice from that time all the days 
 of his life. And all the lords and commons did him 
 honor, and promised to give him true service. 
 
 Before they separated, when all had taken the oath, 
 the archbishop told them that their king was indeed 
 of high blood, being none other than the son of Uther 
 Pendragon, their former king, who had intrusted 
 him at his birth to Merlin, the wise man of the realm, 
 to care for and protect him. Then were all the lords 
 and barons and common people glad beyond measure 
 that this their new king was Uther's son. 
 
THE NECKLACE OF TRUTH 109 
 
 THE NECKLACE OF TRUTH 
 I. CoRALiE AT Merlin's Palace 
 
 Once upon a time there was a little girl named 
 Coralie, who enjoyed telling falsehoods. She seemed 
 to have no idea of the truth, but said whatever she 
 pleased or found convenient. Her parents tried to 
 cure her, and at last resolved to take her to the 
 enchanter Merlin. 
 
 Merlin lived in a glass palace. Every one could 
 see everything he did, and he never tried to conceal 
 one of his deeds, nor to make others believe what was 
 not true, either by speaking a falsehood or by being 
 silent when he might have spoken. 
 
 When Coralie was brought before him by her 
 parents, her mother began nervously, ^^We have 
 brought our daughter to you. Merlin, because — 
 because,'' and she hesitated. 
 
 '^I know why you have come, good lady,'' he said. 
 ^^I felt and saw your daughter's approach a long 
 time ago. She tells untruths." 
 
 Coralie was ashamed and hid her head under her 
 mother's apron. Merlin spoke so severely that both 
 her father and her mother were alarmed. Her 
 father stepped before her to protect her. 
 
 ^^Do not be afraid," said Merlin. ^^I am not going 
 to hurt your little girl. I am only going to make her 
 a beautiful present." 
 
110 
 
 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 He opened a drawer and took from it a beautiful 
 amethyst necklace^ with a diamond clasp. This he 
 put on Coralie's neck^ arid said : '^ Go in peace^ good 
 people^ and have no more anxiety. Your daughter 
 takes with her a sure guardian of truth.'' 
 
 To Coralie he said sternly: ^^In a year I shall 
 come for my necklace. Till then you must wear it 
 constantly. Woe be to you if you dare to take it 
 off for a single instant !'' 
 
 ^^Oh, I shall always wear it V^ exclaimed Coralie. 
 ^^I shall want to^ it is so beautiful.'' 
 
 ^^We thank you for your kindness^ Merlin/^ said 
 the father as they departed. 
 
THE NECKLACE OF TRUTH HI 
 
 II. CoRALiE AT School 
 
 The day after Coralie returned from her journey 
 to Merhn^s palace, she went to school. ' The little 
 girls crowded around her, crying out in admiration 
 at the sight of her necklace. 
 
 ^^ Where did it come from? Where did you get 
 it?'' they asked. 
 
 ^^I was sick for a long time/' replied Coralie. 
 ^^When I got well, my father and mother gave me 
 this necklace." 
 
 ^^Why, what is the matter with it ?" 
 
 ^^It was so pretty, but now the stones look dull ! '^ 
 
 '^What has happened ?" 
 
 These were the cries that arose from all sides. 
 
 ^^What are you making such a fuss about?" 
 asked Coralie. 
 
 ^^Now they are an ugly yellow, and look like 
 glass." 
 
 Coralie looked down at her necklace and was 
 frightened. 
 
 ^^I have been to the enchanter Merlin's," she 
 said humbly, and the necklace took on its former 
 beauty. But the children laughed at her, and 
 pointed to it still. 
 
 '^ You need not laugh," cried Coralie, ^^for he wel- 
 comed us with all respect. He sent his carriage to 
 the next town to meet us, such a splendid carriage, 
 
112 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 with six white horses^ satin cushions^ a coachman, 
 and three tall footmen. When we reached his 
 palace, which is all of gold and marble, he met us 
 at the door and took us into the dining room. There 
 stood a long table covered with delicious things to 
 eat. There was — '^ 
 
 Coralie stopped, for the children were shouting 
 with laughter. 
 
 ^^Look down.'' 
 
 ^^ Just look at your necklace." 
 
 Coralie looked and shuddered. With each new 
 bit she had invented, the necklace had become 
 longer and longer, until now it dragged on the ground. 
 
 ^^ You are stretching the truth, Coralie,'' cried the 
 girls. 
 
 ^^Well, I confess it; we walked and stayed only 
 five minutes." 
 
 The necklace shrank instantly to its proper size. 
 
 ^^Ah ! that was the truth," said one of the girls. 
 ^^See ! it is just as it was when you first came." 
 
 ^^And the necklace — the necklace — where did 
 it come from?" 
 
 ^^ He gave it to me without saying a word. He — " 
 
 She could not finish. The fatal necklace grew 
 shorter and shorter till it choked her. 
 
 ^^You are holding back part of the truth," cried 
 her playmates. 
 
 ^^He said — that I told untruths." 
 
THE NECKLACE OF TRUTH 113 
 
 The necklace loosened, but she still cried from pain. 
 
 ^^That was why Merlin gave me the necklace. He 
 said that it was a guardian of truth. What a fool 
 I have been to be proud of it !^' 
 
 Her companions were sorry for her. 
 
 ^^If I were in your place/' said one of them, ^^I 
 should send the necklace back. Handsome as it is, 
 it is too troublesome.'' 
 
 Poor Coralie did not want to speak, but the girls 
 were waiting for an answer. 
 
 'alike to wear it." 
 
 The little girls watched the stones turn dull, and 
 began to laugh again. 
 
 '^ There is a reason which you are keeping from us." 
 
 ''Well, since I must tell you everything — he for- 
 bade me to take it off, telling me some dreadful 
 misfortune would come to me if I did." 
 
 The little girls went back to school, and thanks to 
 the necklace Coralie became a truthful girl. Before 
 long she became so accustomed to telling the truth 
 that she thought no more about it. Long before 
 the year was up. Merlin came for the necklace. He 
 needed it for another child who told falsehoods. 
 
 No one seems to know what has become of the 
 
 wonderful necklace of Truth. But if I were a child 
 
 in the habit of telling falsehoods, I should not feel 
 
 quite sure that it might not some day be found again. 
 
 Retold from the French of Jean Mace. 
 
114 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 THE MILLER OF THE DEE 
 
 There dwelt a miller hale and bold 
 
 Beside the river Dee ; 
 He worked and sang from morn till night. 
 
 No lark more blithe than he ; 
 And this the burden of his song 
 
 Forever used to be^ — 
 ^^I envy nobody; no^ not I, 
 
 And nobody envies me !'' 
 
 ^^Thou'rt wrongs my friend !'' said old King Hal, 
 
 ^^Thou'rt wrong as wrong can be; 
 For could my heart be light as thine, 
 
 I^d gladly change with thee. 
 And tell me now what makes thee sing, 
 
 With voice so loud and free. 
 While I am sad, though I^m the king. 
 
 Beside the river Dee ?'^ 
 
 The miller smiled and doffed his cap. 
 
 ^^I earn my bread, '^ quoth he; 
 ^^I love my wife, I love my friend, 
 
 I love my children three ; 
 I owe no penny I cannot pay, 
 
 I thank the river Dee, 
 That turns the mill, that grinds the corn, 
 
 To feed my babes and me/' 
 
THE JUST JUDGE 115 
 
 ^^Good friend/^ said Hal, and sighed the while, 
 
 ^^. Farewell ! and happy be ; 
 But say no more, if thou'st be true. 
 
 That no one envies thee. 
 Thy mealy cap is worth my crown, 
 
 Thy mill my kingdom's fee ; 
 Such men as thou are England's boast, 
 
 miller of the Dee.'' 
 
 C. Mack AY. 
 
 THE JUST JUDGE 
 
 An Arabian Tale 
 I. Bou-Akas Shows Kindness 
 
 Bou-Akas, at one time chief ruler of Algeria, 
 hearing that the judge of one of his twelve tribes 
 settled the cases that came before him with remark- 
 able wisdom, decided to find out for himself the truth 
 of the report. Accordingly, dressed like an ordinary 
 traveller, without arms or attendants, he set out for 
 the judge's town, mounted on an Arabian horse. 
 
 He was just entering the gate of the town when a 
 cripple, seizing the border of his garment, asked him 
 for money. Bou-Akas gave him a coin, but the 
 cripple still held his garment fast. 
 
 ^^What do you want ?" asked the ruler. ^^I have 
 given you money." 
 
116 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^' Yes/' replied the beggar, ^^ but knowest thou not 
 that the law says not only, ^Thou shalt give alms 
 to thy brother/ but also, 'Thou shalt do for thy 
 brother whatsoever thou canst ^ V^ 
 
 ''Well ! and what can I do for thee ?'' 
 
 "Thou canst save me — poor cripple that I am 
 — • from being trodden under the feet of men, horses, 
 mules, and camels, which would certainly happen to 
 me in passing through the crowded square in which 
 a fair is now being held.'' 
 
 "And how can I save you ?" 
 
 "By letting me ride behind you, and putting me 
 down safely in the market place, where I have busi- 
 ness." 
 
 "Be it so," replied Bou-Akas. And stooping 
 down, he helped the cripple to get up behind him. 
 
 II. The Cripple's Claim 
 
 Many stared at the curious couple on the horse's 
 back as they passed through the crowded streets. 
 At length they reached the market place. 
 
 "Is this where you wish to stop?" asked Bou- 
 Akas. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Then get down." 
 
 "Get down yourself." 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "To leave me the horse." 
 
THE JUST JUDGE 117 
 
 ^'To leave you my horse ! What do you mean by 
 that?^' 
 
 ^^I mean that he belongs to me. Do you not 
 know that we are now in the town of the just judge ? 
 If we bring the case before him^ he will certainly 
 decide in my favor/^ 
 
 ^'Why should he do so^ when the animal belongs 
 tome?^' 
 
 ^^ Don't you think that when he sees us two, you 
 with your strong, straight limbs, which Allah has 
 given you for the purpose of walking, and me with 
 my weak legs and lame feet, he will decide that the 
 horse belongs to him who has the most need of him ? '' 
 
 ^^ Should he do so, he would not be the just judge,'^ 
 said Bou-Akas. 
 
 ^^Oh, as to that,'' replied the cripple, laughing, 
 ^^ although he is just, he is not all-wise." 
 
 ^^This," said the ruler to himself, ^^will be a good 
 opportunity for judging the judge." To the cripple 
 he said, ^^I am content. We will go before him." 
 
 III. Before the Judge 
 
 When they arrived at the court where the judge 
 sat, they found two cases waiting, which would be 
 heard before theirs. The first was between a learned 
 man and a peasant. A woman stood with them. 
 
 ^^This woman," said the peasant, ^^is my wife, 
 but this learned man claims her as his." 
 
118 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^No/' said the learned man. ^^The peasant's 
 claim is absurd. She is my wife, with whom I have 
 lived these many years.'' 
 
 ^^ And what have you to say ?" asked the judge of 
 the woman. ^^ Which of these two is your hus- 
 band?" 
 
 But the woman remained silent, and would not 
 say she was the wife of either. 
 
 The judge thought for a moment, and then said, 
 ^^ Leave the woman here, and return to-morrow." 
 
 Each bowed and retired. The next case was 
 called. This was between a butcher and an oil 
 merchant. 
 
 The butcher spoke first, and said : 
 
 ^^I went to buy some oil from this man, and, in 
 order to pay him for it, I drew a handful of money 
 from my purse. The sight of the money tempted 
 him. He seized me by the wrist. I cried out, but he 
 would not let me go. And here we are, having come 
 before you, honored judge, I holding my money in 
 my hand, and he still grasping my wrist." 
 
 Then the oil merchant spoke : 
 
 ^^This man came to buy oil from me. When his 
 bottle was filled, he said, ^Have you any change for 
 a piece of gold?' I searched my pocket and drew 
 out my hand full of money. He seized it, and was 
 walking off with my money and my oil, when I 
 caught him by the wrist, and cried out ^Robber.' 
 
THE JUST JUDGE 
 
 119 
 
 He would not give up the money. So I brought him 
 here that you, honored judge, might settle the case/' 
 
 The judge thought for a moment, and then said, 
 ^^ Leave the money with me, and return to-morrow.'' 
 
 The butcher placed the coins, of which he had 
 never let go, on the judge's seat. Then the two 
 bowed and departed. 
 
 It was now the turn of Bou-Akas and the cripple. 
 
 ^^My lord judge," said Bou-Akas, ^^I came hither 
 from a distant country, intending to purchase cloths 
 
120 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 and spices. At the city gate I met this cripple, who 
 first asked for alms, and then prayed me to allow him 
 to ride behind me through the streets, lest he be 
 trodden by the crowd. I consented, but when we 
 reached the market place, he refused to get down, 
 declaring that my horse belonged to him, and that 
 you would surely decide it to be the property of hinu 
 who wanted it most. That, my lord judge, is what 
 happened.'^ 
 
 ^^My lord,'' said the cripple, ^^as I was coming on 
 business to the market, I saw this man seated by the 
 road, looking half dead from weariness. I kindly 
 offered to take him up behind me, and let him ride 
 as far as the market place, and he eagerly thanked 
 me. But what was my astonishment when, on our 
 arrival, he refused to get down, and said that my 
 horse was his. I immediately insisted that he ap- 
 pear before you, that you might decide between us. 
 That is the truth of the case.'' 
 
 The judge listened to both. 
 
 ^^ Leave the horse here and return to-morrow," he 
 said. 
 
 It was done, and the two departed. 
 
 IV. The Next Morning 
 
 The next morning a number of people besides those 
 concerned came together to hear the judge's words. 
 The learned man and the peasant were called first. 
 
THE JUST JUDGE 121 
 
 ^^Take away thy wife/' said the judge to the 
 learned man, ^^and keep her/' Then, turning to an 
 officer, he added, pointing to the peasant, ^^Give 
 this man fifty blows/' 
 
 The learned man took away his wafe, and the officer 
 led the peasant off. 
 
 Then the butcher and the oil merchant were brought. 
 
 ^^Here," said the judge to the butcher, ^^is thy 
 money ; it is truly thine and not his." Then, point- 
 ing to the oil merchant, he said to a second officer, 
 ^^Give this man fifty blows." 
 
 It was done, and the butcher went away in triumph 
 with his money. The third case was then called, 
 and Bou-Akas and the cripple came forward. 
 
 ^^ Would you know your horse among twenty 
 others?" said the judge to Bou-Akas. 
 
 ^^Yes, my lord." 
 
 ^^ And you?" 
 
 ^^ Certainly, my lord," replied the cripple. 
 
 '^Follow me," said the judge to Bou-Akas. 
 
 They entered a large stable, and Bou-Akas pointed 
 out his horse among twenty which were standing 
 side by side. 
 
 '^It rs well," said the judge. ^^ Return now to the 
 court and send the cripple here." 
 
 The ruler obeyed, gave the message, and the 
 cripple hastened to the stable. He, too, placed his 
 hand at once on the right animal. 
 
122 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^It is well/^ said the judge. ^'Return to the 
 court/' 
 
 The judge took his place again. 
 
 ^^The horse is thine/' he said to Bou-Akas. ''Go 
 to the stable and take him.'' Then turning to the 
 officer^ ''Give this man fifty blows." It was done. 
 The cripple was led away by the officer^ and Bou-Akas 
 went to take his horse. 
 
 V. Bou-Akas and the Judge 
 
 When the judge, after trying other cases, was 
 leaving the court, he found Bou-Akas waiting for 
 him. 
 
 "Are you not satisfied with my judgment ?" asked 
 the judge. 
 
 "No, quite the opposite," replied the ruler. "But 
 I want to ask by what means you rendered justice ; 
 for I doubt not that the other two cases were decided 
 as correctly as mine. I am not a merchant. I am 
 Bou-Akas, Sheik of Algeria, and I wanted to judge 
 for myself of your oft-reported wisdom." 
 
 The judge bowed to the ground before his 
 master. 
 
 "I am anxious," said Bou-Akas, "to know the 
 reasons which determined your three decisions." 
 
 "Nothing, my lord, can be more simple. Your 
 Highness saw that I held over for a night the three 
 things in dispute." 
 
THE JUST JUDGE 123 
 
 ^^ Early in the morning I had the woman called, 
 and I said to her suddenly, ^ Put fresh ink in my ink- 
 stand/ Like a person who had done the same thing 
 a hundred times before, she took the bottle, removed 
 the cotton, washed them both, put the cotton in 
 again, and poured in fresh ink, doing it all with the 
 utmost neatness and skill. So I said to myself, 
 'A peasant's wife would know nothing about ink- 
 stands. She must belong to the learned man.''' 
 
 ^^Good," said Bou-Akas, nodding his head. ^^And 
 the money ?" 
 
 ^^Did your Highness notice that the merchant had 
 his clothes and hands covered with oil ?" 
 
 ^^Certainly Idid." 
 
 ^^I took the money and placed it in a vessel filled 
 with water. This morning I looked at it and not a 
 drop of oil was to be seen floating on the water. — 
 So I said to myself, ^If this money belonged to the 
 oil merchant, it would be oily from the touch of his 
 hands ; as it is not so, the butcher's story must be 
 true.'" 
 
 Bou-Akas nodded his approval. 
 
 ^^Good," said he. ^^ And my horse ?" 
 
 '^Ah ! that was a different business. Until this 
 morning I was greatly puzzled."* 
 
 ^^The cripple, I suppose, did not pick out the right 
 animal." 
 
124 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^On the contrary^ he pointed him out immedi- 
 ately.'' 
 
 ^^How, theri; did you find out that he was not the 
 owner?'' 
 
 ^^ My object in bringing you separately to the stable 
 was not to see if you would know the horse, but if 
 the horse would know you. Now when you ap- 
 proached him, he turned toward you, laid back his 
 ears, and neighed with delight ; but when the cripple 
 touched him, he kicked. Then I knew that you were 
 truly his master." 
 
 Bou-Akas thought for a moment, and then 
 said : 
 
 ^^ Allah has given you great wisdom. You ought 
 to be in my place, and I in yours. But I fear I could 
 not fill your place as judge." 
 
 KEEPING SHOP 
 
 Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon, an old gentlewoman, is 
 forced to earn her living by keeping a '' cent shop '^ in her 
 ancestral home, the House of the Seven Gables. 
 
 I. The First Customer 
 
 Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon sat in an oaken elbow- 
 chair, with her hands over her face, giving way to 
 that heavy down-sinking of the heart which most 
 persons have experienced on the eve of an enterprise 
 
KEEPING SHOP 125 
 
 at once doubtful and momentous. She was suddenly 
 startled by the tinkling alarm — high, sharp, and 
 irregular — of a little bell. The shop bell, right 
 over her head, tinkled as if it* were bewitched. The 
 old gentlewoman^s heart seemed to be attached to 
 the same steel spring, for it went through a series 
 of sharp jerks, in unison with the sound. 
 
 ^^ Heaven help me!" she groaned mentally. 
 ^^Now is my hour of need !'' 
 
 The door, which moved with difficulty on its 
 creaking and rusty hinges, being forced quite open, 
 a square and sturdy little urchin became apparent, 
 with cheeks as red as an apple. He was clad in a 
 blue apron, very wide and short trousers, shoes 
 somewhat out at the toes, and a straw hat, with his 
 curly hair sticking through its crevices. A book 
 and a small slate under his arm indicated that he 
 was on his way to school. 
 
 He stared at Hepzibah a moment, not knowing 
 what to make of the queer scowl with which she 
 regarded him. 
 
 ^^Well, child,'' she said, taking heart at the sight 
 of a person so little formidable, — ^^well, my child, 
 what did you wish for ?'' 
 
 ^^That Jim Crow, there, in the window,'' answered 
 the urchin, holding out a cent and pointing to the 
 gingerbread figure that had attracted his notice; 
 ^Hhe one that has not a broken foot." 
 
126 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 So Hepzibah put forth her long arm, and taking 
 the figure from the shop window, dehvered it to her 
 first customer. 
 
 ^^No matter for the money/' said she, giving him a 
 Httle push toward the door. It seemed such pitiful 
 meanness to take the child's pocket money in ex- 
 change for a bit of stale gingerbread. '^No matter 
 for the cent. You are welcome to Jim Crow.'' 
 
 The child, staring with round eyes, took the man 
 of gingerbread and left the shop. No sooner had 
 he reached the sidewalk (little cannibal that he was !) 
 than Jim Crow's head was in his mouth. As he had 
 not been careful to shut the door, Hepzibah closed it 
 after him, with an ejaculation about the troublesome- 
 ness of young people, and particularly of small boys. 
 
 She had just placed another representative of the 
 renowned Jim Crow at the window when again the 
 shop bell tinkled. Again the door, thrust open, 
 disclosed the same sturdy little urchin who, pre- 
 cisely two minutes ago, had made his exit. The 
 crumbs and discoloration of the cannibal feast were 
 exceedingly visible about his mouth. 
 
 ^^What is it now, child ?" asked the maiden lady, 
 rather impatiently ; ^^did you come back to shut the 
 door?" 
 
 ^^No," answered the urchin, pointing to the figure 
 that had just been pni up ; ^^I want that other Jim 
 Crow." 
 
KEEPING SHOP 127 
 
 ^^ Well, here it is for you/' said Hepzibah, reaching 
 it down. But recognizing that this customer would 
 not quit her on any other terms, so long as she had a 
 gingerbread figure in her shop, she partly drew back 
 her extended hand, — ^^ Where is the cent ?'' 
 
 The little boy had the cent ready, but, like a true- 
 born Yankee, would have preferred the better bar- 
 gain. He put the coin into Hepzibah's hand and 
 departed, sending the second Jim Crow in quest of 
 the former one. 
 
 The new shopkeeper dropped the first solid result 
 of her enterprise into the till. It was done. What 
 was she now ? Simply Hepzibah Pyncheon, the 
 keeper of a cent shop ! 
 
 Customers came in, as the forenoon advanced, 
 but rather slowly ; and in some cases, too, it must be 
 owned, with little satisfaction either to themselves 
 or Miss Hepzibah; nor, on the whole, with very 
 rich reward to the till. 
 
 A little girl, sent by her mother to match a skein 
 of cotton thread of a peculiar hue, took the one that 
 the near-sighted old lady pronounced extremely 
 like, but soon came running back with a blunt and 
 cross message that it would not do. 
 
 No less than five persons, during the forenoon, 
 inquired for ginger beer, or root beer, or any similar 
 drink, and obtaining nothing of the kind, wxnt off 
 in an exceedingly bad humor. Three of them left 
 
128 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 the door open^ and the other two pulled it so spite- 
 fully in going out that the little bell jangled Miss 
 Hepzibah's nerves. 
 
 A round; bustling^ ruddy housewife of the neigh- 
 borhood burst breathless into the shop, fiercely 
 demanding yeast ; and when the poor gentlewoman, 
 with her cold shyness of manner, gave her hot cus- 
 tomer to understand that she did not keep the article, 
 this very capable housewife took upon herself to 
 administer a rebuke. 
 
 ^^A cent shop, and no yeast!'' said she; ^Hhat 
 will never do ! Who ever heard of such a thing ? 
 Your loaf will never rise, no more than mine will 
 to-day. You had better shut up shop at once." 
 
 ^^Well,'' said Hepzibah, heaving a deep sigh, 
 ^'perhaps I had !'^ 
 
 II. A New Shopkeeper 
 
 That night Phoebe, Miss Hepzibah's little cousin from 
 the country, came unexpectedly to visit. 
 
 ^^ Cousin Phoebe,'' said Hepzibah the next morn- 
 ing, as they sat at the breakfast table, ^^I really 
 can't see my way to keep you." 
 
 ^^Dear cousin," said Phoebe, frankly and cheer- 
 fully, ^^I cannot tell how it will be. But I really 
 think we may suit one another much better than you 
 suppose." 
 
 ^^Itis not any question as to that point which 
 
KEEPING SHOP 129 
 
 makes me hesitate/^ continued Hepzibah. ^^But, 
 Phoebe, this house of mine is but a melancholy 
 place for a young person to be in. You see what I 
 am, a dismal and lonesome old woman, whose temper, 
 I am afraid, is none of the best. I cannot make your 
 life pleasant. Cousin Phoebe, neither can I so much 
 as give you bread to eat.^' 
 
 ^^You will find me a cheerful little body," an- 
 swered Phoebe, smiling, and yet with a kind of gentle 
 dignity ; ^^and I mean to earn my bread." 
 
 The shop bell rang sharply, and Hepzibah set 
 down the remnant of her final cup of tea with a look 
 of despair that was piteous to see. 
 
 ^^Do not trouble yourself, dear cousin!" cried 
 Phoebe, starting lightly up. ^^I am shopkeeper 
 to-day." 
 
 ^^You, child!" exclaimed Hepzibah. ^^What can 
 a little country girl know of such matters?" 
 
 ^^Oh, I have done all the shopping for the family 
 at our village store," said Phoebe. ^^ And I have had 
 a table at a fancy fair, and made better sales than 
 anybody. You shall see what a nice little sales- 
 woman I am !" 
 
 The old gentlewoman stole behind Phoebe, and 
 peeped from the passageway into the shop, to 
 note how she would manage her undertaking. It 
 was a case of some intricacy. A very ancient woman, 
 in a white short gown and a green petticoat, with a 
 
130 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 string of gold beads about her neck, and what looked 
 like a nightcap on her head, had brought a quantity 
 of yarn to barter for the commodities of the shop. 
 She was probably the very last person in town who 
 still kept the time-honored spinning wheel in con- 
 stant revolution. It was worth while to hear the 
 croaking and hollow tones of the old lady, and 
 the pleasant voice of Phoebe, mingling in one 
 twisted thread of talk; and still better, to con- 
 trast their figures, — so light and bloomy, — so 
 decrepit and dusky, — with only the counter betwixt 
 them, in one sense, but more than threescore years, 
 in another. As for the bargain, it was wrinkled sly- 
 ness and craft pitted against native truth and 
 sagacity. 
 
 ^^Was not that well done?'^ asked Phoebe, laugh- 
 ing, when the customer was gone. 
 
 ^^ Nicely done, indeed, child !'' answered Hep- 
 zibah. ^^I could not have gone through with it 
 nearly so well. It must be a knack.'' 
 
 It really seemed as if the battered visage of the 
 House of the Seven Gables, black and heavy-browed 
 as it certainly looked, must have shown a kind of 
 cheerfulness glimmering through its dusky windows, 
 as Phoebe passed to and fro in the interior. Other- 
 wise, it is impossible to explain how the people of 
 the neighborhood so soon became aware of the girl's 
 presence. There was a great run of custom, setting 
 
KEEPING SHOP 131 
 
 steadily in, from about ten o'clock until towards 
 noon, — relaxing, somewhat, at dinner time, but 
 recommencing in the afternoon, and, finally, dying 
 away half an hour or so before the long day's sunset. 
 One of the stanchest patrons was little Ned Higgins, 
 the devourer of Jim Crow and the elephant, who 
 to-day had signalized his omnivorous prowess by 
 swallowing two dromedaries and a locomotive. 
 Phoebe laughed as she summed up her aggregate 
 of sales upon the slate, while Hepzibah, first draw- 
 ing on a pair of silk gloves, reckoned over the accumu- 
 lation of copper coin, not without silver intermixed, 
 that had jingled into the till. 
 
 ^'We must renew our stock, Cousin Hepzibah ! '' 
 cried the little saleswoman. ^^The gingerbread 
 figures are all gone, and so are those Dutch wooden 
 milkmaids, and most of our other playthings. There 
 has been constant inquiry for cheap raisins, and a 
 great cry for whistles, and trumpets, and jew's-harps ; 
 and at least a dozen little boys have asked for 
 molasses candy. And we must contrive to get a 
 peck of russet apples, late in the season as it is. But, 
 dear cousin, what an enormous heap of copper ! 
 Positively a copper mountain !'^ 
 
 Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of the Seven 
 Gables. 
 
132 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 A BOY^S FRIENDSHIP 
 I. The Meeting of the Two Boys 
 
 ^^Get out of Mr. Fletcher's road, you idle, lounging 
 little—'' 
 
 '^Vagabond/' I think the woman (Sally Watkins, 
 once my nurse) was going to say, but she changed 
 her mind. 
 
 My father and I both glanced round, surprised 
 at her unusual hesitation ; but when the lad ad- 
 dressed turned, and made way for us, we ceased to 
 wonder. Ragged, muddy, and miserable as he 
 appeared, he was anything but a ^Vagabond." 
 
 ^^Thee need not go out in the wet, my lad. Keep 
 close to the wall, and there will be shelter enough 
 for both us and thee," said my father, as he pulled 
 my little hand-carriage into the alley, under cover, 
 from the pelting rain. 
 
 The lad, with a grateful look, put out a hand like- 
 wise, and pushed me farther in. A strong hand it 
 was — roughened and browned with labor — though 
 he was scarcely as old as I. What would I not have 
 given to have been so stalwart and so tall ! 
 
 Sally called from her house door, ^^ Wouldn't 
 Master Phineas come in and sit by the fire a bit ?" 
 
 But it was always a trouble to me to move, and 
 I liked staying at the mouth of the alley watching 
 
A BOY'S FRIENDSHIP 133 
 
 the shower come sweeping down the street ; besides, 
 I wanted to look again at the stranger lad. 
 
 He had scarcely stirred, but remained leaning 
 against the wall, either through weariness or in order 
 to be out of our way. It was a serious face for a 
 boy of only fourteen. Once there came a sudden 
 stream of light. I saw the stranger lad lift up his 
 head and look at it. 
 
 ^^The rain will be over soon/' I said, but doubted 
 if he heard me. What could he be thinking of so 
 intently ? 
 
 I do not suppose my father gave a second thought 
 to the boy, whom, from a common sense of justice, 
 he had made take shelter beside us. I saw, by the 
 hardening of his features, and the restless way in 
 which he poked his stick into the little water pools, 
 that he was longing to be in his tanyard close by. 
 He pulled out his great silver watch. 
 
 ^^Twenty-three minutes lost by this shower, 
 Phineas, my son ; how am I to get thee safe home ? 
 Unless thee will go with me to the tanyard — '' 
 
 I shook my head. 
 
 ^^ Well, well, I must find some one to go home with 
 thee. Here, Sally! Sally Watkins!'' he called. 
 ^^ Do any of thy lads want to earn an honest penny ? ^' 
 
 Sally was out of earshot ; but I noticed that as 
 the lad near us heard my father's words, the color 
 rushed over his face, and he started forward. 
 
134 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^Sir, I want work. May I earn the penny ?'^ 
 Taking off his tattered old cap, he looked in manly, 
 fearless fashion, right up into my father's face. 
 
 ''What is thy name, lad ?'' 
 
 ''John Halifax.'^ 
 
 "How old might thee be, John Halifax?'^ 
 
 "Fourteen, sir.'' 
 
 "Thee art used to work?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "What sort of work?" 
 
 "Anything I can get to do." 
 
 "Well," said my father after a pause, "thee shall 
 take my son home, and I'll give thee a groat. Shall 
 I give thee the groat now?" And the old man re- 
 laxed into a half smile. 
 
 "Not till I've earned it, sir." 
 
 So, drawing his hand back, my father slipped the 
 money into mine, and left us. It still rained slightly, 
 so we remained under cover. As soon as the rain 
 ceased we took our way home, down High Street, 
 toward the abbey church, he guiding my carriage 
 along. 
 
 n. At the Door 
 
 "Ah," I cried eagerly, when we left the shade of the 
 abbey trees and crossed the street, "here we are, at 
 home." 
 
 "Are you?" The homeless lad just glanced at 
 
A BOrS FRIENDSHIP 135 
 
 the flight of spotless stone steps, guarded by ponder- 
 ous raihngs, which led to my father's respectable 
 handsome door. ^^ Good-day, then — which means 
 good-by/' 
 
 I started. On my sad, lonely life, this lad's face 
 had come like a flash of sunshine. To let it go from 
 me was like going back into the dark. 
 
 ^^Not good-by just yet,'' said I, 
 
 ^^Is there anything more I can do for you, sir?" 
 
 ^^ Don't call me ^sir' ; I am only a boy like your- 
 self. I want you ; don't go yet. Ah ! here comes 
 my father." 
 
 John Halifax stood aside, and touched his cap 
 with a respectful deference as the old man passed. 
 
 ^^So here thee be — hast thee taken care of my 
 son? Did he give thee thy groat, my lad?" 
 
 We had neither of us once thought of the money. 
 
 When I acknowledged this, my father laughed, 
 called John an honest lad, and began searching in 
 his pockets for some larger coin. I ventured to 
 draw his ear down and whisper something but I 
 got no answer ; meanwhile, John Halifax for the 
 third time was going away. 
 
 /^Stop, lad — I forget thy name — here is thy 
 groat, and a shilling added, for being kind to my 
 son." 
 
 ^^ Thank you; but I only want payment for 
 work." 
 
136 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 He took the groat, and put back the shilUng into 
 my father's hand. 
 
 ^^Eh !'' said the old man, much astonished ; ^Hhee 
 art an odd lad ; but I can't stay talking with thee. 
 Come in to dinner, Phineas. I say/' turning back to 
 John Halifax with a sudden thought, ^^art thee 
 hungry?" 
 
 ^^Very hungry." Nature gave way at last, and 
 great tears came into the poor lad's eyes. ^^ Nearly 
 starving." 
 
 ^^ Bless me ! then get in and have thy dinner. 
 But first" — and my stern father held him by the 
 shoulder; ^Hhee art a decent lad, come of decent 
 parents?" 
 
 ^^Yes," almost indignantly. 
 
 ^^Thee works for thy living ?" 
 
 '^1 do whenever I can get work." 
 
 ^^Thee has never been in jail ?" 
 
 ^^No !" thundered out the lad, with a furious look. 
 ^^I don't want your dinner, sir ; I would have stayed, 
 because your son- asked me, and he was kind to me, 
 and I liked him. Now I think I had better go. 
 Good-day, sir." 
 
 I caught him by the hand and would not let him go, 
 
 ^^ There, get in, lads — make no more ado," said 
 my father sharply, as he disappeared. 
 
 So, still holding him fast, I brought him into my 
 father's house. 
 
A BOY'S FRIENDSHIP 137 
 
 III. Getting Acquainted 
 
 Dinner was over ; and as soon as my father was 
 away to the tanyard I sent for John. 
 
 Jael brought him in ; Jael, the only woman we had 
 about us. There had evidently been wrath in the 
 kitchen. 
 
 ^^Phineas/' she said, ^Hhe lad has got his dinner, 
 and you mustn't keep him long. I am not going to 
 let you knock yourself up with looking after a beggar 
 boy." 
 
 A beggar boy ; the idea seemed so ludicrous that 
 I could not help smiling at it, as I regarded him ; 
 though his clothes were threadbare, all but ragged, 
 they were not unclean ; and there was a rosy, healthy 
 freshness in his tanned skin which showed he loved 
 and delighted in water. A beggar boy indeed ! I 
 hoped he had not heard JaeFs remark. But he had. 
 
 "Madam,'' said he, with a bow of perfect good 
 humor, and even some sly drollery, "you mistake; 
 I never begged in my life ; I'm a person of independ- 
 ent property, which consists of my head and my two 
 hands, out of which I hope to realize a large capital 
 some day." 
 
 I laughed to see him so merry. Jael retired, 
 rather cross. John Halifax came to my easy-chair, 
 and in an altered tone asked me how I felt, and if he 
 could do anything for me before he went away. 
 
138 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^ You'll not go away — not till my father comes 
 home; at least ?'' 
 
 My entreaty was so earnest that it apparently 
 touched the friendless boy to the core. 
 
 ^^ Thank you/' he said, in an unsteady voice; 
 '^you are very kind; I'll stay an hour or sO; if you 
 wish it." 
 
 ^^Then come and sit down here, and let us have a 
 talk." 
 
 What this talk was I cannot now recall, save that 
 it ranged over many and wide themes, such as boys 
 delight in, chiefly of life and adventure. He knew 
 nothing of my only world — books. 
 
 Jael kept coming in and out of the parlor, eyeing 
 us suspiciously, especially when she heard me laugh- 
 ing — a rare and notable act — for mirth was not 
 the fashion in our house, nor the tendency of my 
 own nature. Now this young lad, hardly as the 
 world had knocked him about even already, had an 
 overflowing spirit of quiet drollery and healthy 
 humor, which was to me an inexpressible relief. But 
 all this was highly objectionable to Jael. 
 
 ^^Phineas !" — and she planted herself before me 
 at the end of the table — ^4t's a fine, sunshiny day : 
 thee ought to get out." 
 
 ^^I have been out, thank you, Jael." And John 
 and I went on talking. 
 
 ^^Phineas !" ^ a second and more determined 
 
A BOY'S FRIENDSHIP 139 
 
 attack — ^^too much laughing is not good for thee ; 
 and it's time this lad was going about his own busi- 
 ness. '^ 
 
 ^^Hush ! Nonsense, Jael/' 
 
 ^^No — she's right/' said John Halifax, rising. 
 ^^IVe had a merry day — thank you kindly for it; 
 and now I'll be gone." 
 
 ^^Why do you want to go? You have not any 
 work?" 
 
 ''No ; I wish I had. But I'll get some." 
 
 ''How?" 
 
 "Just by trying everything that comes to hand. 
 That's the only way. I never wanted bread, nor 
 begged it yet, though I've often been rather 
 hungry." 
 
 "Come," I said, for now I had quite made up my 
 mind to take no denial and fear no rebuff from my 
 father, "cheer up. Who knows what may turn 
 up?" 
 
 " Oh, yes, something always does ; I'm not afraid." 
 He tossed back his curls, and looked smiling out 
 through the window at the blue sky. 
 
 "Come into the garden, then"; for I caught 
 another ominous vision of Jael in the doorway, and 
 I did not want to vex my good old nurse. 
 
 I lifted myself, and began looking for my crutches. 
 John found and put them into my hand, with a grave, 
 pitiful look. 
 
140 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^You don't need this sort of thing/' I said, 
 making pretense to laugh, for I had not grown used 
 to them, and felt often ashamed. 
 
 ^^I hope you will not need them always/' 
 
 ^^ Perhaps not — Dr. Jessop isn't sure." 
 
 John looked at me — troubled, compassionate — 
 but he did not say a w^ord. I hobbled past him, he 
 following through the long passage, to the garden 
 door. There I paused — tired out. John Halifax 
 took gentle hold of my shoulder. 
 
 ^^I think, if you did not mind, I'm sure I could 
 carry you. I carried a meal sack once, weighing 
 eight stone." 
 
 I burst out laughing, which maybe was what he 
 wanted, and forthwith consented to assume the place 
 of the meal sack. He took me on his back — what 
 a strong fellow he was ! — and fairly trotted with 
 me down the garden walk. 
 
 ^^ Please take me to that clematis arbor; it looks 
 over the Avon. Now, how do you like our garden ? " 
 
 ^^It's a nice place." 
 
 He did not go into ecstasies, as I had half expected, 
 but gazed about him observantly. 
 
 ^^It's a very nice place." 
 
 John Halifax's comprehensive gaze seemed to take 
 in all. 
 
 ^^Have you lived here long?" he asked me. 
 
 ^^Ever since I was born." 
 
A BOrS FRIENDSHIP 141 
 
 He went to examine the yew hedge that bounded 
 the level grass plot. 
 
 NoW; far and near, our yew hedge was noted. 
 There was not its like in the whole country. It was 
 about fifteen feet high, and as many thick. Century 
 after century of growth, with careful clipping and 
 training, had compacted it into a massive green 
 barrier, as close and impervious as a wall. 
 
 John poked in and about it, peering through every 
 interstice, leaning his breast against the solid depth 
 of branches, but their close shield resisted all his 
 strength. 
 
 At length he came back to me, his face glowing 
 with the vain efforts he had made. 
 
 ^^What were you about? Did you want to get 
 through ?'' 
 
 ^^I wanted just to see if it were possible.'' 
 
 I shook my head. ^^What would you do, John, 
 if you were shut up here, and had to get over the yew 
 hedge? You could not climb it." 
 
 ^^I know that, and therefore, I should not waste 
 time in trying." 
 
 ^^ Would you give up, then?" 
 
 He smiled : there was no ^^ giving up " in that smile 
 of his. ^^I'U tell you what I'd do: I'd begin and 
 break it, twig by twig, till I forced my way through, 
 and got out safe at the other side." 
 
 ^^ Well done, lad ! but if it's all the same to thee, I 
 
142 
 
 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 would rather thee did not try that experiment upon 
 my hedge at present/' 
 
 My father had come behind and overheard us^ 
 unobserved. 
 
 ^^Is that thy usual fashion of getting over a diffi- 
 culty, friend ? What's thy name ?'' 
 
 I supplied the answer; for^ the minute Abel 
 Fletcher appeared^ John seemed to lose all his boyish 
 fun. 
 
 My father sat down beside me on the bench ; 
 pushed aside an intrusive branch of clematis ; fi- 
 nally, because it would come back and tickle his 
 bald pate^ broke it off and threw it into the river ; 
 
A BOY'S FRIENDSHIP 143 
 
 then leaning on his stick with both hands, eyed John 
 Hahfax sharply all over, from top to toe. 
 
 ^^ Did thee say thee wanted work ? It looks rather 
 like it/' 
 
 His glance upon the shabby clothes made the boy 
 color violently. 
 
 ^^Oh, thee need not be ashamed ; better men than 
 thee have been in rags. Would thee like some 
 work?'' 
 
 ^^ Oh, sir!" 
 
 ^^Oh, father!" 
 
 I hardly know which was the more grateful cry. 
 
 My father looked surprised, but not on the whole 
 ill-pleased. 
 
 ^^Well, what work can thee do, lad ?" 
 
 ^^ Anything," was the eager answer. 
 
 ^^ Anything generally means nothing," sharply said 
 my father. 
 
 John's eyes flashed, but a look from mine seemed 
 to set him right again. 
 
 ^^I shall be willing and thankful for any work you 
 can give me, sir," he said quietly and respectfully. 
 
 ^^We'U see about it." 
 
 I looked gratefully and hopefully at my father, 
 but his next words rather modified my pleasure. 
 
 ^^Phineas, one of my men at the tanyard has gone 
 and enlisted this day. Dost think that this lad is 
 fit to take the place ?" 
 
144 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ''Whose place, father?'' 
 
 ''BiUWatkins's/' 
 
 I had occasionally seen the said Bill Watkins, whose 
 business it was to collect the skins which my father 
 had bought from the farmers round about. A 
 distinct vision presented itself to me of Bill and his 
 cart. The idea of John Halifax in such a position 
 was not agreeable. 
 
 ''But, father—'' 
 
 He read disapproval in my looks — alas ! he 
 knew too well how I disliked the tanyard and all 
 belonging to it. "Thou art a fool, and the lad's 
 another. He may go about his business for me." 
 
 "But, father, isn't there anything else?" 
 
 "I have nothing else, or if I had I wouldn't give 
 it. 'He that will not work, neither shall he eat.'" 
 
 "I will work," said John sturdily. He had lis- 
 tened scarcely comprehending, to my father and me. 
 "I don't care what it is, if only it's honest work." 
 
 My father was mollified. He turned his back 
 on me — but that I little minded — and addressed 
 himself solely to John Halifax. 
 
 "Can thee drive?" 
 
 "That I can!" and his eyes brightened with 
 boyish delight. 
 
 "Tut ! it's only a cart — the cart with the skins. 
 Dost thee know anything of tanning ?" 
 
 "No, but I can learn." 
 
A BOY'S FRIENDSHIP 145 
 
 ^'Hey, not so fast; still better be fast than slow. 
 In the mean time^ thee can drive the cart/' 
 
 ^^ Thank you — I'll do it well ; that is^ as well as 
 I can/' 
 
 ^^'Tis done, then/' said my father, and having 
 settled the question of wages, which John Halifax 
 did not debate at all, he left us, but turned 
 back. 
 
 ^^ Here's a week's wages in advance, my son being 
 witness I pay it thee ; and I can pay thee a shilling 
 less every Saturday till we get straight." 
 
 ^^Very well, sir; good afternoon^ and thank 
 
 you." 
 
 John took off his cap as he spoke ; my father, 
 involuntarily almost; touched his hat in return of 
 the salutation. Then he walked away. 
 
 I grasped John's hand for the first time, and, 
 looking up at him as he stood thoughtfully by me, 
 whispered ^Hhat I was very glad." 
 
 ^^ Thank you — so am I," said he, in a low tone. 
 Then all his old manner returned. He threw his 
 battered cap high up in the air, and shouted out, 
 ^^Hurrah !" — a thorough boy. 
 
 And I, in my poor quavering voice, shouted too. 
 
 Dinah Mulock Craik, John Halifax, Gentleman. 
 
146 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 THE EMPEROR^S BIRD'S-NEST 
 
 Once the Emperor Charles of Spain, 
 With his swarthy, grave commanders, 
 
 I forget in what campaign, 
 
 Long besieged, in mud and rain. 
 Some old frontier town of Flanders. 
 
 Up and down the dreary camp 
 In great boots of Spanish leather, 
 
 Striding with a measured tramp, 
 
 These Hidalgos, dull and damp. 
 
 Cursed the Frenchmen, cursed the weather. 
 
 Thus as to and fro they went. 
 
 Over upland and through hollow^, 
 Giving their impatience vent. 
 Perched upon the Emperor's tent, 
 In her nest, they spied a swallow. 
 
 Yes, it was a swallow's nest. 
 
 Built of clay and hair of horses. 
 Mane, or tail, or dragoon's crest. 
 Found on hedgerows east and west, 
 After skirmish of the forces. 
 
 Then an old Hidalgo said. 
 
 As he twirled his gray mustachio,; 
 "Sure this swallow overhead 
 
THE EMPEROR'S BIRD'S-NEST 147 
 
 Thinks the Emperor^s tent a shed, 
 And the Emperor but a Macho !'^ 
 
 Hearing his imperial name 
 
 Coupled with those words of malice, 
 
 Half in anger, half in shame, 
 
 Forth the great campaigner came 
 Slowly from his canvas palace. 
 
 ^^Let no hand the bird molest/' 
 
 Said he solemnly, '^nor hurt her V^ 
 Adding then, by way of jest, 
 ^^Golondrina is my guest, 
 
 'Tis the wife of some deserter !'' 
 
 Swift as bowstring speeds a shaft, 
 
 Through the cam.p was spread the rumor, 
 
 And the soldiers, as they quaffed 
 
 Flemish beer at dinner, laughed 
 At the Emperor's pleasant humor. 
 
 So unharmed and unafraid 
 
 Sat the swallow still and brooded, 
 Till the constant cannonade 
 Through the walls a breach had made 
 
 And the siege was thus concluded. ' 
 
 Then the army, elsewhere bent, 
 Struck its tents as if disbanding. 
 
148 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Only not the Emperor^s tent, 
 For he ordered, ere he went, 
 
 Very curtly : ^^ Leave it standing !'' 
 
 So it stood there all alone, 
 
 Loosely flapping, torn and tattered. 
 
 Till the brood was fledged and flown. 
 
 Singing o'er those walls of stone 
 
 Which the cannon-shot had shattered. 
 
 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 
 
 WHEN RIP VAN WINKLE CAME HOME 
 
 Rip Van Winkle, a simple, good-natured man, who 
 lived in a village among the Kaatskill mountains when 
 New York was a province of Great Britain, went off into 
 the mountains one day, with his dog Wolf. He met there 
 a company of odd-looking personages who offered him 
 wine, which he drank. Then he fell asleep, and when he 
 woke, though poor Rip did not know it, he had slept 
 twenty years. His dog was gone, he himself was strangely 
 stiff, and as he made his way into the village things looked 
 different to him. At last he came to his old resort, the 
 village inn, which was in the center of the village. And 
 here our scene begins. 
 
 The people whom Rip met all stared at him, and 
 then stroked their chins. When he did the same, he 
 found to his astonishment that his beard had grown 
 a foot long ! Soon a troop of children were running 
 at his heels, hooting after him and pointing at his 
 
WHEN RIP VAN WINKLE CAME HOME 149 
 
 -"^""^^S^^Tr^ -- 
 
 Rip Van Winkle coming Home 
 
150 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 beard. There were as usual a crowd of folk about 
 the door of the inn^ but none that Rip recollected. 
 A lean fellow with his pockets full of handbills 
 was talking to the crowd about rights of citizens — 
 election — members of Congress — liberty — Bun- 
 ker hill — heroes of seventy-six — and other words 
 that were a perfect jargon to the bewildered Van 
 Winkle. 
 
 The appearance of Rip, with his long beard, his 
 rusty gun, and his strange dress, and the army of 
 children at his heels attracted the attention of the 
 crowd. They gathered round him, eyeing him with 
 great curiosity. The orator bustled up to him, and 
 inquired with great earnestness, ^^My good man, 
 on which side do you vote?^' Rip stared in vacant 
 stupidity. 
 
 Another short but busy little fellow pulled him by 
 the arm, and rising on tiptoe, inquired in his ear, 
 ^^ Are you a Federal or a Democrat V^ 
 
 Then an old gentleman made his way through 
 the crowd, putting them to the right and left with 
 his elbows as he passed, and demanded, ^^What 
 brings you to the election with a gun on your 
 shoulder, and a mob at your heels ? Do you mean 
 to start a riot in the village?^' 
 
 ^^Alas ! gentlemen,'' cried Rip, ^^I am a poor, 
 quiet man, a native of the place, and a loyal subject 
 of the King, God bless him !'' 
 
WHEN RIP VAN WINKLE CAME HOME 151 
 
 Here a general shout arose — ^^A Tory! a 
 Tory ! a spy ! a refugee ! hustle him ! away with 
 him!^' 
 
 When order had been restored by the old gentle- 
 man^ he demanded again of Rip, what he came there 
 for, and whom he was seeking. 
 
 ^^I mean no harm/^ Rip assured him. ^^I merely 
 came in search of some of my neighbors.'' 
 
 ^^Well — who are they? — name them.'^ 
 
 Rip thought a moment, and inquired, ^^ Where's 
 Nicholas Vedder?" 
 
 There was a silence for a little while, when an old 
 man replied, in a thin, piping voice, ^^ Nicholas 
 Vedder? why, he is dead and gone these eighteen 
 years ! There was a wooden tombstone in the 
 churchyard that used to tell all about him, but 
 that's rotten and gone too." 
 
 '^Where's Brom Butcher ? " 
 
 ^^Oh, he went off to the army in the beginning 
 of the war ; some say he was killed at the storming 
 of Stony Point — others say he was drowned in the 
 squall, at the foot of Antony's Nose. I don't know 
 — he never came back again." 
 
 ^^ Where's Van Bummel, the schoolmaster?" 
 
 ^^He went off to the wars, too ; was a great militia 
 general, and is now in Congress." Rip's heart died 
 away, at hearing of these sad changes in his home 
 and friends. 
 
152 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^Does nobody here know Rip Van Winkle ?'' he 
 cried out in despair. 
 
 ^^Oh^ Rip Van Winkle !'^ exclaimed two or three. 
 ^^Oh^ to be sure ! that's Rip Van Winkle yonder, 
 leaning against a tree/' 
 
 Rip looked in bewilderment. 
 
 ^^Who are you?'' demanded the old gentleman. 
 ^^ What is your name ?" 
 
 ^^God knows/' exclaimed he. ^^I'm not myself — 
 I'm somebody else — that's me yonder — no — 
 that's somebody else^ got into my shoes — I was 
 myself last night, but I fell asleep on the mountain, 
 and they've changed my gun, and I'm changed, and 
 I can't tell what's my name, or who I am !" 
 
 The bystanders began now to look at each other, 
 nod, wink, and tap their fingers against their fore- 
 heads. 
 
 At this critical moment a fresh comely woman 
 passed through the throng to get a peep at the gray- 
 bearded man. She had a chubby child in her arms, 
 which, frightened at his looks, began to cry. ^^Hush, 
 Rip," cried she, ^^hush, you little fool; the old man 
 won't hurt you." The name of the child, the air 
 of the mother) the tone of her voice, all awakened a 
 train of recollections in his mind. 
 
 ^^ What is your name, my good woman ?" asked he. 
 
 ^^ Judith Gardenier." 
 
 ^^ And your father's name ?" 
 
WHEN RIP VAN WINKLE CAME HOME 153 
 
 ^^Ah, poor man^ his name was Rip Van Winkle; 
 it's twenty years since he went away from home with 
 his gun, and never has been heard of since — his 
 dog came home without him ; but whether he shot 
 himself, or was carried away by the Indians, nobody 
 can tell. I was then but a little girl/' 
 
 ^fWhere's your mother?'' 
 
 ^^Oh, she too died but a short time since." 
 
 The man could contain himself no longer. 
 
 ^^I am your father !" cried he. ^^ Young Rip Van 
 Winkle once — old Rip Van Winkle now! Does 
 nobody know poor Rip Van Winkle ?" 
 
 All stood amazed, until an old woman, tottering 
 out from among the crowd, put her hand to her brow, 
 and peering under it in his face for a moment, ex- 
 claimed, ^^Sure enough! It is Rip Van Winkle — 
 it is himself. Welcome home again, old neighbor 
 — Why, where have you been these twenty long 
 years?" 
 
 ^^ Twenty years ! " exclaimed Rip; ^^it is but a 
 single night. I fell asleep last night on the moun- 
 tain." 
 
 The neighbors stared ; some winked at each other ; 
 others shook their heads. 
 
 ^^Here comes old Peter Vanderdonk along the 
 road," said one. ^^He is the oldest man in the vil- 
 lage. He will know whether this tale is true or 
 not." 
 
154 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Peter knew Rip at once. He told the company that 
 the Kaatskill mountains had always been haunted 
 by strange beings, and that every twenty years 
 Hendrick Hudson, the discoverer of the country, 
 came there with his crew. His father had once 
 seen them. On the night of their vigil such a 
 thing as Rip's adventure might easily have hap- 
 pened. 
 
 The company soon broke up, and Rip's daughter 
 took him home to live with her. As he went they 
 told him that there had been a revolutionary war — 
 that the country had thrown off the yoke of old 
 England — and that, instead of being a subject of 
 his Majesty George the- Third, he was now a free 
 citizen of the United States. 
 
 Washington Irving, Sketch Book. 
 
 SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 
 
 Being Adventures of a Marionette 
 I. The Piece of Wood 
 
 Once upon a time there was a piece of wood. It 
 was not a fine wood, but a simple piece of wood from 
 the wood pile, — the kind we put in stoves and fire- 
 places to make a fire and heat our rooms. 
 
 I do not. know how it happened, but one beautiful 
 day a certain old woodcutter found a piece of this 
 
SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 155 
 
 kind of wood in his shop. The name of the old man 
 was Antonio, but everybody called him Master 
 Cherry on account of the point of his nose, which 
 was always shiny and purplish, just like a ripe 
 cherry. 
 
 II. Master Cherry and the Piece of Wood 
 
 As soon as Master Cherry saw that piece of wood 
 he was overjoyed; and rubbing his hands con- 
 tentedly, he mumbled to himself : 
 
 ^^This has come in very good time. I will make 
 it into a table leg.'' 
 
 He took an axe to shape the wood ; but when he 
 was on the point of striking it he stopped with his 
 arm in the air, because he heard a tiny, thin little 
 voice say : 
 
 ^^Do not strike so hard V^ 
 
 How surprised good old Master Cherry was ! 
 He turned his bewildered eyes around the room in 
 order to see whence that little voice came ; but he 
 saw no one. He looked under the bench, and no 
 one was there ; he looked in a sideboard which was 
 always closed ; he looked in the basket of chips and 
 shavings ; he opened the door in order to glance 
 around his house ; still he could see no one. 
 
 ^^I understand," he said, laughing and scratching 
 his wig; ^'I imagined I heard that little voice. I 
 will begin to work again.'' 
 
156 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 He took up the axe and gave the piece of wood 
 another hard blow. 
 
 ^^Oh ! you have hurt me !'' cried the Uttle voice, 
 as if in pain. 
 
 This time Master Cherry was dumb. His eyes 
 were nearly popping out of his head ; his mouth 
 was opened wide. 
 
 As soon as he could speak he said, trembling and 
 stammering from fright : 
 
 ^^But where does that little voice come from that 
 says, ^ Oh ' ? There is nothing alive in this room. 
 Can it be that this piece of wood has learned to cry 
 and scream like a baby ? I cannot believe it. This 
 is an ordinary piece of wood for the fireplace, like all 
 the other pieces with which we boil a pot of beans. 
 What next ? What if there is some one hidden 
 inside ? If there is, so much the worse for him. I 
 will settle him.'' 
 
 And saying this, he seized with both hands the 
 poor piece of wood and knocked it against the wall. 
 Then he stopped to listen, so as to hear if any voice 
 complained. He waited two minutes and heard 
 nothing. 
 
 ^^I understand,'' he said, forcing a laugh and rub- 
 bing his wig; ^^I imagined that I heard a voice cry 
 ^Oh !' I will begin to work again." 
 
 Because he was somewhat frightened, he tried to 
 hum an air so as to make himself courageous. At 
 
SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 157 
 
 the same time he stopped working with the axe and 
 took up a plane to make the wood even and clean ; 
 but while he planed he heard again the little voice, 
 speaking this time in laughing tone. 
 
 ^^Stop ! stop ! you are taking the skin off my 
 body/' 
 
 This time poor Master Cherry was so startled that 
 he fell down as if shot. 
 
 At this moment there was a knock at the 
 door. 
 
 ^^Come in/' said the woodcutter, without having 
 strength enough to arise. 
 
 A lively old man entered the room. 
 
 ^^Good morning, Master Antonio/' said he. 
 ^^What are you doing on the ground?" 
 
 ^^I am teaching the ants their ABC's. What 
 has brought you here, Brother Geppetto?" 
 
 ^^I have come to ask a favor of you, Master An- 
 tonio." 
 
 ^^Here I am, prompt to serve you !" replied the 
 woodcutter, raising himself on his knees. 
 
 ^^This morning I had an idea." 
 
 ^^Let me hear it." 
 
 ^^I thought that I would make a pretty wooden 
 marionette ; I mean a wonderful marionette, one 
 that can dance, walk, and jump, even turn somer- 
 saults. With this marionette I wish to travel 
 through the world and earn for myself my bread." 
 
158 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^What then^ Brother Geppetto, is the favor that 
 you wish from me ?'' 
 
 ^^I should like a piece of wood to make a marion- 
 ette. Will you give it to me ?'' 
 
 ^^ Gladly/' said Master Antonio^ taking up the 
 piece of wood that had frightened him so. But 
 when he was about to hand it to GeppettO; the piece 
 of wood gave a spring, and slipping violently from 
 his hands; fell and struck the shins of poor Geppetto. 
 
 ^^ Ah ! you are very polite when you give presents ! 
 Truly; Master Antonio, you have almost lamed me.'' 
 
 ^^I swear to you that I did not do it." 
 
 ^^ Surely it was you who threw the piece of wood at 
 my legs." 
 
 ^^I did not throw it. The fault is all in the wood." 
 
 ^^ Truly?" 
 
 ^^ Truly!" 
 
 Geppetto looked very much puzzled, but picked 
 up the piece of wood in his arms. 
 
 ^^Well, thank you, Master Antonio," he said, and 
 went limping away. 
 
 III. PiNOCCHIO AND THE TALKING CrICKET 
 
 Geppetto's home consisted of one room on the 
 ground floor. The furniture could not have been 
 more simple, — a broken chair, a hard bed, and a 
 dilapidated table. Here Pinocchio, the boy marion- 
 ette which Geppetto had made out of Antonio's 
 
SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 159 
 
 piece of wood, came on the afternoon of the day that 
 he was made. He pushed the door open, entered 
 the room, and bolted the door. Then he threw 
 himself down upon the floor and heaved a great big 
 sigh of happiness. 
 
 In a moment he heard some one crying in the 
 room : 
 
 ^Tri-cri-cri.'' 
 
 ^^Who is speaking to me?^' said Pinocchio, fright- 
 ened. 
 
 ^atisl.'' 
 
 Pinocchio turned around and saw a large cricket 
 that walked slowly up on the wall. 
 
 ^^Tell me. Cricket, who are you?^^ 
 
 ^^I am the Talking Cricket, and I have lived in 
 this room for more than a hundred years.'' 
 
 ^^ To-day, however, this room is mine,'' said Pin- 
 occhio, ^^and if you wish to do me a favor, go away 
 at once, without even looking back." 
 
 ^^I will not go away from here," said the Cricket, 
 ^^ without telling you a great truth." 
 
 ^^Tell it to me and be gone." 
 
 ^^I have seen all that has happened to-day. I 
 saw Geppetto make you out of wood. I saw your 
 great eyes stare at him when he had finished them, 
 and your mouth laugh at him. I saw you make 
 faces at him and snatch his wig, and at last run away 
 from him and get him into trouble. I saw all these 
 
160 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 things^ and this is the truth I tell you. Woe to boys 
 who rebel against their parents and who foolishly 
 run away from their homes. They will never get 
 along well in this worlds and sooner or later will 
 bitterly repent of their conduct.'^ 
 
 ^^Sing on^ little Cricket^ if it pleases you; but I 
 know that to-morrow at sunrise I shall run away, 
 because if I stay here my fate will be that of all other 
 boys. I shall be sent to school and made to study ; 
 and I tell you in confidence that I do not wish to 
 study. I mean to play and run after butterflies 
 and climb trees and take little birds out of their 
 nests. ^' 
 
 ^^Poor stupid little thing ! Do you not know that 
 by doing so you will make a donkey of yourself, 
 and everybody will make fun of you ?^^ 
 
 ^^Be still, you dismal little Cricket.'' 
 
 ^^And if it does not please you to go to school/' 
 continued the Cricket in the same quiet tone of 
 voice, ^^ why not at least learn a trade, so as to be able 
 to earn honestly a piece of bread ?" 
 
 ^^Do you wish me to tell you ?" replied Pinocchio 
 impatiently. ^^ Because among all the trades of the 
 world there is only one that really suits me." 
 
 ^^ And what trade may that be ?" 
 
 ^^That of eating, drinking, sleeping, and amusing 
 myself, and of living, from morning to night, an easy 
 life." 
 
SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 161 
 
 ^^ Those who hve that way always end in a hos- 
 pital or in prison/' 
 
 ^^Take care, Cricket, take care ! If you make me 
 angry, .you will be sorry/' 
 
 ^^Poor Pinocchio ! you make me pity you/' 
 
 ^^ Why do I make you pity me ?" 
 
 ^^ Because you are a marionette; and, what is 
 worse, you have a wooden head." 
 
 At these words Pinocchio jumped up enraged, and 
 taking a hammer from the bench flung it at the 
 Talking Cricket. Perhaps he did not intend to do 
 such a thing ; but unfortunately the hammer struck 
 the little Cricket on the head, and with one last 
 ^^Cri-cri-cri," faintly sung, he died. 
 
 IV. Geppetto Forgives Pinocchio 
 
 When Geppetto came home the next morning, he 
 had to punish Pinocchio for his naughty actions. 
 He let the marionette cry for a long time. 
 
 ^^I promise you,'' said Pinocchio finally, sobbing 
 bitterly, ^Hhat hereafter I will be a good boy." 
 
 ^^All boys," said Geppetto, ^^when they wish to 
 obtain something, say that." 
 
 ^^I promise you that I will go to school. I will 
 study and I will be an honor — " 
 
 '^AU boys, when they wish to obtain something, 
 tell the same story." 
 
 ^^But I am not like other boys. I am better than 
 
162 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 all the rest and I always speak the truth. I promise 
 yoU; papa^ that I will learn a trade^ and that I will 
 be your consolation and your support in your old 
 age/' 
 
 ^^Very well^ I will try you once more/' 
 
 ^^In order to pay you back for your kindness, I 
 wish to go to school immediately." 
 
 ^^ Good boy!'' 
 
 ^^But to go to school;" said the marionette, danc- 
 ing with joy, ^^ I need an A B C card." 
 
 ^^ You are right ; but how can I get one ?" 
 
 ^^That is easy. Go to the store and buy it." 
 
 ''And the money?" 
 
 ''I have none." 
 
 ''Neither have I/' added the good old man, looking 
 sad. 
 
 Pinocchio, although he was a happy boy, looked 
 sad too, because real trouble is understood by every- 
 body, even by boys. 
 
 "Have patience!" cried Geppetto, suddenly 
 getting up. Taking off his coat all covered with 
 patches, he ran out of the house. After a little 
 while he returned with an A B C card in his hand, 
 but his coat was gone. The poor man was in his 
 shirt sleeves. 
 
 "And the coat, papa?" said Pinocchio, when 
 Geppetto handed him the card. 
 
 "I have sold it." 
 
SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 163 
 
 ''Why didyousellit?^' 
 
 ''Because it made me too warm/' 
 
 Pinocchio understood the reply at once, and not 
 able to restrain his feelings, he jumped up and threw 
 his arms round Geppetto's neck, saying, ^^ Thank 
 you, thank you/' 
 
 • Then he started for school, and as he walked along 
 he talked to himself, saying : 
 
 ^'To-day at school I wish to learn immediately 
 to read ; to-morrow I will learn to write, and then 
 the day after to-morrow I will learn to make numbers. 
 Then with my learning I will earn many pennies^ 
 and with the pennies that will fill my pocket I will 
 order my papa a nice new suit of cloth. But why 
 did I say cloth ? I will have one of gold and line it 
 with silver and have buttons of brilliants. My poor- 
 papa deserves it truly, because in order to buy me 
 an A B C card so that I could learn, he is now in his 
 shirt sleeves, in the cold weather too ! There are 
 not many papas who would sacrifice so much.'' 
 
 V. Pinocchio and his Money 
 
 Pinocchio did not get to school. There was too 
 much that was interesting to see in the streets. He 
 happened in to a marionette theatre and was warmly 
 greeted by all the marionettes on the stage, who knew 
 him at once. There he fell in with the Fire Eater, 
 who was alsb the proprietor, and who, on hearing 
 
164 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Pinocchio's story of how Geppetto had sold his coat 
 to buy him an A B C card, gave him five pieces of 
 gold to carry to his poor papa. And now we see 
 what happened to our marionette when he had some 
 of the money he had dreamed of. 
 
 The Fire Eater kept him overnight, and early the 
 next day Pinocchio started for home in all haste. 
 But he had not gone far when he met a Fox and a 
 Cat. 
 
 ^^Good morning, Pinocchio/' said the Fox, salut- 
 ing him politely. 
 
 ^^How does it happen that you know my name?'' 
 asked the marionette. 
 
 ^^I know your papa very well." 
 
 ^^When did you see him ?" 
 
 ^^I saw him yesterday at the door of his house.'' 
 
 ^^What was he doing?" 
 
 ^^He was in his shirt sleeves and was shivering 
 with the cold." 
 
 ^^Poor papa! but he will shiver no more after 
 to-day." 
 
 ^^Why?" said the Fox. 
 
 ^^ Because I have become a great, rich man." 
 
 ^^You a great, rich man !" said the Fox, and he 
 laughed aloud. The Cat also laughed, but in order 
 not to be seen laughing he stroked his whiskers with 
 his two front paws. 
 
 ^^ There is nothing to laugh about," said Pinocchio, 
 
SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 
 
 165 
 
 angrily. ^^I am sorry to make you envious, but I 
 have here, as you shall see, five beautiful gold coins/' 
 At these words the Fox involuntarily gave a start 
 and the Cat opened his eyes wide so that they looked 
 like two green lamps ; but it was all done so quickly 
 that Pinocchio did not see anything. 
 
 ^^And now/' said the Fox, ^^what are you going 
 
 to do with all that money V^ 
 
 '^First of all,'' replied the marionette, ^^I shall buy 
 
 a coat for my papa, a coat of gold and silver with 
 
 brilliants for buttons." 
 
 ''I see," said the Fox. ''And what will you do ?" 
 
 ''I shall go to school and begin to study." 
 
 They walked along a short distance when the Fox, 
 
166 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 stopping suddenly^ said to the marionette^ '^Should 
 you like to double your money ?'' 
 
 ^^I don't understand you/' stammered Pinocchio. 
 
 ^^ Should you like to make out of those miserable 
 five pieces ten ? a hundred ? a thousand ?" 
 
 ^^Why^ of course!'' said Pinocchio. ^^But how 
 can I do it?" 
 
 '^Oh; that is very easy. Instead of going home, 
 come with us." 
 
 ^^ And where would you take me ?" 
 
 ''To the Country of the Owls." 
 
 Pinocchio thought a minute, and then said reso- 
 lutely : 
 
 ''No, I will not go. My papa expects me. Who 
 knows how worried the poor old man may have been 
 when I did not return yesterday. I know I have 
 been a bad boy, and the Talking Cricket was right 
 when he said, 'Disobedient boys never get along 
 well in this world.' I have already had one ex- 
 perience. Yesterday at the house of the Fire Eater 
 I was in great danger." 
 
 "Then," said the Fox, "you want to go home? 
 All right ! go home, only so much the worse for you.'^ 
 
 " Yes, so much the worse for you," said the 
 Cat. 
 
 "Think well, Pinocchio," added the Fox, "for you 
 are throwing away a fortune." 
 
 "A fortune," said the Cat. 
 
SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 167 
 
 ^^Your five pieces might be two thousand by to- 
 morrow/' continued the Fox. 
 
 ^^Two thousand/' repeated the Cat. 
 
 ^^But how is it possible that they can become so 
 many?'' asked Pinocchio^ in amazement. 
 
 ^^I will explain it to you/' said the Fox. '^You 
 just know that in the Country of the Owls there is 
 a magic field called ^The Field of Miracles.' In 
 the ground of this field you dig a little hole and put 
 in it; for example^ one gold coin. Then you cover 
 it up with a little earthy and sprinkle over it a few 
 drops of water which you get from a fountain near by. 
 After doing that you go to bed and sleep quietly. 
 During the night the gold piece will begin to grow and 
 blossom. In the morning^ when you return to the 
 field; what will you find ? A tree loaded with gold 
 coins." 
 
 ^^If I bury five coins/' said Pinocchio excitedly, 
 ^^how many shall I find next morning ?" 
 
 ^^Oh/' said the Fox, ^Hhat is easily reckoned. 
 You can count it on your fingers. Every gold piece 
 will turn into five hundred . Multiply five hundred by 
 five and you will have two thousand five hundred." 
 
 ^^Oh; how beautiful!" cried Pinocchio, jumping 
 up and down with delight. ^^When I have picked 
 all those gold pieces, I will give you five hundred of 
 them, and I will take the other two thousand to my 
 papa." 
 
168 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^A present to us !^' cried the Fox, disdainfully , as 
 if he were offended. ^^No, indeed V^ 
 
 ''No, indeed V said the Cat. 
 
 ''We work only to enrich others/' said the Fox. 
 
 "Only others/' agreed the Cat. 
 
 "What kind people they are !'' murmured Pin- 
 occhio to himself ; and then turning to the Fox and 
 Cat he said : 
 
 "I will go with you. How far is the Field of 
 Miracles from here ?'' 
 
 "Hardly two miles/' answered the Fox. "Will 
 you come with us ? In half an hour we shall be 
 there. You can sow the money quickly, and after 
 a short time you can return home with your 
 pockets full." 
 
 "Come along/' said Pinocchio. 
 
 So they walked on along the road. 
 
 VI. At the Field of Miracles 
 
 Before long the Fox stopped at a field which looked 
 much like other fields. No one was in sight. 
 
 "Here we are at last/' said the Fox. "Now you 
 must stoop down and make a hole in the ground and 
 put in it your gold coins." 
 
 Pinocchio obeyed, dug a hole, put in the money, 
 and then covered it over with earth. 
 
 "Now then," said the Fox, "goto that spring yon- 
 der and get a little water and sprinkle the ground." 
 
SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 169 
 
 Pinocchio went to the springy and brought back' a 
 Httle water in his hand. He sprinkled the spot where 
 he had sown the money^ then went back and got more 
 and sprinkled it again. 
 
 '^Is there anything else to do V^ he asked. 
 
 ^^ Nothing/' said the Fox. ^^Now we shall all go 
 away and spend the night at the inn. To-morrow 
 morning you may return and you will find a tree 
 with its branches loaded with gold coins.'' 
 
 Pinocchio thanked the Fox and the Cat most 
 heartily^ but they only bowed to him^ and wishing 
 him a good harvest^ went away together. Pinocchio 
 was left to spend the night as best he could. 
 
 VII. Pinocchio Cheated 
 
 The next morning at sunrise Pinocchio came to 
 the field. As he walked along he talked excitedly 
 to himself. 
 
 ^^What if instead of two thousand I should find 
 five thousand ? What a rich man I should be ! I 
 would have a palace and a thousand wooden horses 
 and carriages to amuse me." 
 
 He stopped to look for the tree with branches 
 loaded with gold coins^ but he saw nothing. He 
 took a few steps more. Nothing. He went right 
 to the place where he had planted his money. There 
 was nothing there. 
 
170 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Just then he heard a whistUng in his ears as if 
 some one were laughing. Looking up he saw on a 
 tree a big Parrot. 
 
 ^^Why do you laugh ?^' asked Pinocchio, angrily. 
 
 '^I laugh at those silly wooden heads that believe 
 everything that is told them.'' 
 
 ^^ Are you talking about me ?'' 
 
 ^^Yes, I mean you, poor Pinocchio. You are 
 foolish enough to think that money can be planted 
 and will grow like grain. I thought so once and 
 to-day I suffer for it. Now I know that in order to 
 make a little money honestly it is necessary to work 
 with your hands or invent something with your 
 head.'' 
 
 ^^I do not understand you/' said the marionette, 
 who was already beginning to tremble with fear. 
 
 "I will explain more clearly/' said the Parrot. 
 ^^Know then that while you slept the Fox and the 
 Cat came back. They stole your money and then 
 ran like the wind." 
 
 Pinocchio stood still a moment. Then he rushed 
 to the hole and began to dig up the earth with his 
 hands. There was nothing there. Then he ran 
 away fast towards the city. 
 
 VIII. Pinocchio, a Sadder, Wiser Marionette 
 
 Many months later, Pinocchio, who had learned 
 many lessons since we met him last and was a wiser 
 
SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO 171 
 
 if not a richer boy, was walking along with Geppetto, 
 whom he had just met. Both had suffered much in 
 the time since Pinocchio had run away from home, 
 and Geppetto was very weak and tired. 
 
 ^^Lean on my arm/' said Pinocchio, '^and we will 
 walk along as slowly as ants, and when we are tired 
 we will rest ourselves/' 
 
 '^And where shall we go ?'' said Geppetto. 
 
 ^^In search of a house where we can get a bit to 
 eat and some straw to lie upon/' 
 
 But they had not gone any distance when they 
 saw two beggars asking for money. They were the 
 Fox and the Cat ; but one would not have recognized 
 them, they looked so poor and miserable. 
 
 ^'0 Pinocchio," cried the Fox, ^^give a little money 
 in charity to two old people." 
 
 ^^Two old people," repeated the Cat. 
 
 ^^Good-by, masqueraders," replied Pinocchio; 
 "you deceived me once, and now you are paying for 
 it." 
 
 "Believe us, Pinocchio, we are to-day truly 
 poor." 
 
 "Truly," repeated the Cat. 
 
 "If you are poor, you deserve it. Remember 
 the proverb that says, Stolen money will never 
 bear fruit. Good-by, deceivers." 
 
 Geppetto and Pinocchio continued their walk 
 until they saw a small farmhouse. 
 
172 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^That house is inhabited by some one/' said 
 Pinocchio. ^^Let us go and knock at the door/' 
 
 ^^Who is there?'' said a voice inside^ when they 
 had knocked. 
 
 ^^We are a poor papa and his son^ without bread 
 or a home/' rephed the marionette. 
 
 ^^Turn the key and the door will open/' said the 
 same voice. 
 
 Pinocchio turned the key and the door opened. 
 He stood at the door and looked round, but saw 
 no one. 
 
 /^ Where is the master of this house?" asked 
 Pinocchio, greatly surprised. 
 
 ^^Here I am, up here." 
 
 Pinocchio looked up and saw on a rafter the 
 Talking Cricket. 
 
 ^^Oh, my dear Cricket !" said Pinocchio, saluting 
 him politely.* 
 
 ^^Now you call me your dear Cricket, do you not ? 
 Do you remember the time when you struck me with 
 a hammer ?" 
 
 ^^Yes, you were right, Cricket. Take a hammer 
 and hit me, but spare my poor papa." 
 
 ^^I will have pity on you both and let you live 
 with me in my beautiful new house which the Blue 
 Goat just gave me and which is too large for me 
 alone. But I wished to remind you of your bad 
 manners." 
 
A STRANGE VISITOR 173 
 
 '^Yes^ Cricket, you were right to tell me what you 
 did. I have borne your lessons in mind, and now the 
 Blue Goat tells me that if I can keep on being good, 
 some day I can stop being a marionette and become 
 a real live boy !'' 
 
 Carl Collodi, Pinocchio. 
 
 A STRANGE VISITOR 
 I. The Three Brothers 
 
 In a secluded and mountainous part of Stiria 
 there was, in old time, a valley, the whole of which 
 belonged to three brothers, called Schwartz, Hans, 
 and Gluck. Schwartz and Hans, the two elder 
 brothers, were very ugly men, with overhanging 
 eyebrows and small dull eyes, which were always 
 half shut, so that you couldn't see into them^ and 
 always fancied they saw very far into you. They 
 lived by farming the Treasure Valley, and very 
 good farmers they were. They killed everything 
 that did not pay for its eating. They shot the black- 
 birds, because they pecked the fruit ; they poisoned 
 the crickets for eating the crumbs in the kitchen ; 
 and smothered the grasshoppers, which used to sing 
 all summer in the lime trees. They worked their 
 servants without any wages, till they would not work 
 any more, and then quarrelled with them, and turned 
 
174 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 them out of doors without paying them ; they had 
 heaps of gold lying about on their floors^ yet it was 
 never known that they had given so much as a penny 
 or a crust in charity ; they never went to mass ; 
 grumbled perpetually at paying tithes ; and were, in 
 a word, of so cruel and grinding a temper as to receive 
 from all those with whom they had any dealings, the 
 nickname of the ^^ Black Brothers.'' 
 
 The youngest brother, Gluck, was as completely 
 opposed, in both appearance and character, to his 
 seniors as could possibly be imagined or desired. 
 He was not above twelve years old, fair, blue-eyed, 
 and kind in temper to every living thing. He did 
 not, of course, agree particularly well with his 
 brothers, or rather, they did not agree with him, 
 
 II. A Strange Visitor 
 
 It was drawing towards winter, and very cold 
 weather, and there was much suffering in the valley, 
 when one day the two elder brothers had gone out, 
 with their usual warning to little Gluck, who was 
 left to mind the roast, that he was to let nobody in, 
 and give nothing out. Gluck sat down quite close 
 to the fire, for it was raining very hard, and the 
 kitchen walls were by no means dry or comfortable- 
 looking. He turned and turned, and the roast got 
 nice and brown. 
 
 ^^What a pity,'' thought Gluck, ^^my brothers 
 
A STRANGE VISITOR 175 
 
 never ask anybody to dinner. I^m sure, when 
 they Ve got such a nice piece of mutton as this, and 
 nobody else has got so much as a piece of dry bread, 
 it would do their hearts good to have somebody to 
 eat it with them/' 
 
 Just as he spoke, there came a double knock at the 
 house door, yet heavy and dull, as though the knocker 
 had been tied up — more like a puff than a knock. 
 
 ^^It must be the wind,'' said Gluck ; ^^ nobody else 
 would venture to knock double knocks at our door." 
 
 No ; it w^asn't the wind : there it came again very 
 hard, and what was particularly astounding to Gluck, 
 who knew the timid knocks of his neighbors, the 
 knocker seemed to be in a hurry, and not to be in 
 the least afraid of the consequences. Gluck went 
 to the window, opened it, and put his head out to 
 see who it was. 
 
 It was the most extraordinary-looking little gentle- 
 man he had ever seen in his life. He had a very 
 large nose, slightly brass-colored ; his cheeks were 
 very round, and very red, his eyes twinkled merrily 
 through long silky eyelashes, his mustaches curled 
 twice round like a corkscrew on each side of his 
 mouth, and his hair, of a curious mixed pepper-and- 
 salt color, descended far over his shoulders. He was 
 about four feet six tall, and wore a conical pointed 
 cap of nearly the same height, decorated with a 
 black feather some three feet long. He wore an 
 
176 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 enormous black cloak, which must have been very 
 much too long in calm weather, as the wind, whis- 
 tling round the old house, carried it clear out from the 
 wearer's shoulders to about four times his own 
 length. 
 
 Gluck was so perfectly paralyzed by the singular 
 appearance of his visitor that he remained fixed 
 without uttering a word, until the old gentleman, 
 having made another, and a more energetic attack 
 on the knocker, turned round to look after his fly- 
 away cloak. In so doing he caught sight of Gluck's 
 little yellow head jammed in the window, with its 
 mouth and eyes very wide open indeed. 
 
 ^^ Hollo !'' said the little gentleman, ^Hhat's not 
 the way to answer the door : I'm wet, let me in.'' 
 
 To do the little gentleman justice, he was wet. His 
 feather hung down between his legs like a beaten 
 puppy's tail, dripping like an umbrella ; and from 
 the ends of his mustaches the water was running 
 into his waistcoat pockets, and out again like a mill 
 stream. 
 
 ^^I beg pardon, sir," said Gluck, ^^I'm very sorry, 
 but I really can't." 
 
 ^^ Can't what !" said the old gentleman. 
 
 ^'I can't let you in, sir, — I can't, indeed; my 
 brothers would beat me to death, sir, if I thought of 
 such a thing. What do you want, sir ?" 
 
 ^^ Want ?" said the old gentleman, petulantly. ^^I 
 
A STRANGE VISITOR 177 
 
 want fire, and shelter ; and there's your great fire 
 there, blazing, cracking, and dancing on the walls, 
 with nobody to feel it. Let me in^ I say ; I only want 
 to warm myself/' 
 
 Gluck had had his head, by this time, so long out 
 of the window, that he began to feel it was really 
 unpleasantly cold, and when he turned, and saw the 
 beautiful fire rustling and roaring, and throwing 
 long bright tongues up the chimney, as if it were 
 licking its chops at the savory smell of the leg of 
 mutton, his heart melted within him that it should 
 be burning away for nothing. ^'He does look very 
 wet,'' said little Gluck; ^^I'll just let him in for a 
 quarter of an hour." Round he went to the door, 
 and opened it ; and as the little gentleman walked 
 in, there came a gust of wind through the house 
 that made the old chimneys totter. 
 
 ^^ That's a good boy," said the little gentleman. 
 ^^ Never mind your brothers. I'll talk to them." 
 
 ^^Pray, sir, don't do any such thing," said Gluck. 
 ^^ I can't let you stay till they come; they'd be the 
 death of me." 
 
 ^^Dear me," said the old gentleman, ^^I'm very 
 sorry to hear that. How long may I stay?" 
 
 ^^ Only till the mutton's done, sir," replied Gluck, 
 ^^and it's very brown." 
 
 Then the old gentleman walked into the kitchen, 
 and sat himself down by the stove. 
 
178 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^ You'll soon dry there, sir/' said Gluck, and sat 
 down again to turn the mutton. 
 
 ^^That mutton looks very nice/' said the old gentle- 
 man at length. ^^ Can't you give me a little bit?" 
 
 ^^Impossible, sir/' said Gluck. 
 
 ^^I'm very hungry/' continued the old gentleman : 
 ^^I've had nothing to eat yesterday, nor to-day. 
 They surely couldn't miss a bit from the knuckle !" 
 
 He spoke in so very melancholy a tone that it 
 quite melted Gluck's heart. ^^They promised me 
 one slice to-day, sir/' said he ; ^^I can give you that, 
 but not a bit more." 
 
 ^^ That's a good boy/' said the old gentleman again. 
 
 Then Gluck warmed a plate, and sharpened a 
 knife. ^^I don't care if I do get beaten for it," 
 thought he. 
 
 III. The Return of the Brothers 
 
 Just as he had cut a large slice out of the mutton, 
 there came a tremendous rap at the door. The old 
 gentleman jumped. Gluck fitted the slice into the 
 mutton again, and ran to open the door. 
 
 ^^What did you keep us waiting in the rain for?" 
 said Schwartz, as he walked in, throwing his um- 
 brella in Gluck's face. ^^Ay ! what for, indeed, you 
 little vagabond?" said Hans, administering a box 
 on the ear, as he followed his brother into the 
 kitchen. 
 
A STRANGE VISITOR 
 
 179 
 
 ^^ Bless my soul !^' said Schwartz when he opened 
 the door. 
 
 ^'Amen/' said the little gentleman^ who had taken 
 his cap off^ and was standing in the middle of the 
 kitchen^ bowing with the utmost possible speed. 
 
 ^^Who's that?'' said Schwartz, catching up a 
 rolling-pin, and turning to Gluck with a fierce frown. 
 
 ^^I don't know, indeed, brother," said Gluck in 
 great terror. 
 
 ^^How did he get in ?" roared Schwartz. 
 
 ^^My dear brother," said Gluck, deprecatingly, 
 ^^he was so very wet !" 
 
 The rolling-pin was descending on Gluck's head ; 
 but, at the instant, the old gentleman interposed his 
 
180 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 conical cap, on which it crashed with a shock that 
 shook the water out of it all over the room. What 
 was very odd, the rolling-pin no sooner touched the 
 cap, than it flew out of Schwartz's hand, spinning 
 like a straw in a high wind, and fell into the corner 
 at the farther end of the room. 
 
 ^^Who are you, sir?'' demanded Schwartz, turning 
 upon him. 
 
 ^^ What's your business ?" snarled Hans. 
 
 ^^I'm a poor old man, sir," the little gentleman 
 began very modestly, ^^and I saw your fire through 
 the window, and begged shelter for a quarter of an 
 hour." 
 
 ■ ^^Have the goodness to walk out again, then," 
 said Schwartz. ^^We've quite enough water in our 
 kitchen, without making it a drying house." 
 
 ^^It is a cold day to turn an old man out in, sir; 
 look at my gray hairs." They hung down to his 
 shoulders, as I told you before. 
 
 ^^Ay !" said Hans, ^Hhere are enough of them to 
 keep you warm. Walk !" 
 
 ^^I'm very, very hungry, sir; couldn't you spare 
 me a bit of bread before I go ?" 
 
 ^^ Bread, indeed!" said Schwartz; ^Mo you sup- 
 pose we've nothing to do with our bread, but to give 
 it to such red-nosed fellows as you?" 
 
 ^^Why don't you sell your feather?" said Hans, 
 sneeringly. ^'Out with you." 
 
A STRANGE VISITOR 181 
 
 '^A little bit/' said the old gentleman. 
 
 ^^Beoff !'' said Schwartz. 
 
 ^^Pray, gentlemen.'' 
 
 ^^Off; and be hanged !" cried Hans, seizing him by 
 the collar. But he had no sooner touched the old 
 gentleman's collar^ than away he went after the 
 rolling-pin, spinning round and round, till he fell 
 into the corner on top of it. Then Schwartz was 
 very angrj^, and ran at the old gentleman to turn 
 him out ; but he also had hardly touched him, when 
 away he went after Hans and the rolling-pin, and 
 hit his head against the wall as he tumbled into the 
 corner. And so there they lay, all three. 
 
 Then the old gentleman spun himself round in 
 the opposite direction ; continued to spin until his 
 long cloak was all wound neatly about him ; clapped 
 his cap on his head, very much on one side (for it 
 could not stand upright without going through the 
 ceiling), gave an additional twist to his corkscrew 
 mustaches, and replied with perfect coolness : 
 ^^ Gentlemen, I wish you a very good morning. At 
 twelve o'clock to-night I'll call again; after such a 
 refusal of hospitality as I have just experienced, you 
 will not be surprised if that visit is the last I ever 
 pay you." 
 
 ^^If ever I catch you here again," muttered 
 Schwartz, coming, half frightened, out of the corner 
 — but, before he could finish his sentence, the old 
 
182 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 gentleman had shut the house door behind him with 
 a great bang. 
 
 ^^A very pretty business, indeed, Mr. Gluck!'' 
 said Schwartz. ^^Dish the mutton, sir. If ever I 
 catch you at such a trick again — bless me, why, 
 the mutton's been cut !'' 
 
 ^^You promised me one slice, brother, you know/' 
 said Gluck. 
 
 ^^Oh ! and you were cutting it hot, I suppose, and 
 going to catch all the gravy. It'll be long before I 
 promise you such a thing again. Leave the room, 
 sir ; and have the kindness to wait in the coal-cellar 
 till I call you.'' 
 
 IV. A Wild Night 
 
 Such a night as it was ! Howling wind, and rush- 
 ing rain, without intermission. As the clock struck 
 twelve, the two brothers were awakened by a tre- 
 mendous crash. Their door burst open with a 
 violence that shook the house from top to bottom. 
 
 ^^ What's that?" cried Schwartz, starting up in 
 his bed. 
 
 ^^Only I," said the voice of the little gentleman. 
 ^^You'U find my card on the kitchen table." 
 
 The two brothers sat up in bed and stared into 
 the darkness. The room was full of water, and the 
 roof was off. 
 
 Dawn came at last, and the two brothers looked 
 
THE BEGGARS DAUGHTER 183 
 
 out. The Treasure Valley was one mass of ruin. 
 The storm had swept away trees, crops, and cattle. 
 The two crept shivering into the kitchen. The 
 water had flooded the whole first floor ; corn, money, 
 almost every movable thing had been swept away, 
 and there was left only a small white card on the 
 kitchen table. On it, in large breezy, long-legged 
 letters, were engraved the words : 
 
 RusKiN, King of the Golden River. 
 
 THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BETHNAL 
 GREEN 
 
 I. Prologue 
 
 ^^ There was a blind beggar, who had lost his sight; 
 He had a fair daughter of beauty most bright ; 
 And many a gallant brave suitor had she. 
 For none was so comely as pretty Bessie. 
 
 ^^And though she was of favor most fair. 
 Yet seeing she was but a poor beggar^s heir. 
 Of ancient housekeepers despised was she, 
 Whose sons came as suitors to pretty Bessie. 
 
184 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^ Wherefore in great sorrow fair Bessie did say, 
 ^ Good father and mother^ let me go away, 
 To seek out my fortune, whatever it be/ 
 Her prayer then they granted to pretty Bessie. 
 
 ^^Then Bessie, that was of beauty so bright. 
 All clad in gray russet, and late in the night 
 From father and mother alone parted she, 
 Who sighed and sobbed with pretty Bessie. 
 
 ^^She kept on her journey until it was day. 
 And went unto Rumford along the highway ; 
 Where at the ^Queen's Arms^ entertained was she. 
 So fair and well favored was pretty Bessie. 
 
 ^^She had not been there a month to an end. 
 But master and mistress and all were her friend ; 
 And every brave gallant, that once did her see. 
 Was straightway in love with this pretty Bessie''' 
 
 II. The Four Suitors 
 
 Four suitors were begging her favors at once, 
 but to all Bessie said, ^^I would not wish any gentle- 
 man of high birth to marry me.'' 
 
 Yet still they honored her and sought her favor. 
 
 The first was a gallant young knight ; the second 
 a gentleman of high degree ; the third a wealthy 
 merchant of London ; the fourth, the son of her 
 master, the keeper of the inn of ^'Queen's Arms." 
 
THE BEGGARS DAUGHTER 185 
 
 ^^If you will marry me/^ quoth the knight, '^I will 
 make you a lady. My heart is so thrilled by your 
 beauty that I would die for you/' 
 
 ^^Come^ marry me/' said the gentleman. ^^ You 
 shall dress in silks and satins, and be as fine a lady 
 as there is in the land. Oh, hear me, pretty Bessie, 
 and grant me your love.'' 
 
 ^^Let me be your husband," said the merchant. 
 ^^You shall live in London so gallant and gay. My 
 ships shall bring home rich jewels for you, and I 
 will love you for ever, my pretty Bessie." 
 
 ^^Let me marry you," said the innkeeper's son, 
 ^^and we will live here, and you will be mistress 
 sometime." 
 
 Then Bessie sighed, and said: ^^I will obey my 
 father and mother. First get their good will, and 
 then return to me." 
 
 To every one of them she made this answer. 
 
 They all agreed to this joyfully. 
 
 ^^But where does your father dwell?" they 
 asked. 
 
 ^^My father can be easily seen," she said. ^^He 
 is the poor blind beggar of Bethnal, who sits daily 
 begging for charity. His signs and token are well 
 known ; he is always led by a dog with a bell. 
 Thither may you go to find my father." 
 
 ^^Nay, then," said the merchant, ^^you are not 
 for me." 
 
186 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^No/' said the innkeeper's son^ ^^you shall not 
 be my wife/' 
 
 ^^I loathe beggars/' declared the gentleman. 
 ^^ Therefore now, farewell, my pretty Bessie !" 
 
 ^^Why, now/' quoth the knight, ^Hhis is not my 
 way. Come what may, I weigh not true love by the 
 weight of the purse. Beauty is beauty wherever 
 it is found. So grant me your favor, my pretty 
 Bessie. Then to your father I will go at once, and 
 tell him that I love his daughter." 
 
 /^Nay, nay," quoth his kinsmen, ^^go softly. It 
 must not be so. You must not take a poor beggar's 
 daughter for your wife. So say farewell to your 
 pretty Bessie." 
 
 But the good knight would not heed their advice. 
 He let them talk, but he held to his purpose. 
 
 III. At Bethnal Green 
 
 The next morning, at break of day, he set out 
 with Bessie, who was to go with him to her father. 
 When the young men of the town heard this, they 
 were very angry, and rode after him, saying that he 
 had stolen pretty Bessie. They rode as swift as the 
 wind until they came to Bethnal Green. There they 
 found the knight waiting before the beggar, and 
 Bessie at his side. 
 
 The knight's kinsmen had come too, and as the 
 knight spoke courteously to the blind beggar, ask- 
 
THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER 187 
 
 ing his consent to his marriage with his daughter, 
 they made sUghting remarks, saying : " He marry the 
 daughter of a beggar/' and ^^ Indeed. She is no lady/' 
 
 Bessie's father heard this. 
 
 ^^Nay/' said he, ^^ although I am poor, no one 
 shall come and rail at my daughter. Though she 
 is not decked out in velvet and pearls, yet will I 
 give her a proper dowry. I will lay down my money 
 against yours, and all that we drop shall go to her. 
 Perchance my gold may better her birth in your 
 eyes. But first you must promise and have it 
 fairly understood that the gold which you drop 
 must be really your own." 
 
 ^^We are agreed," said the knight's kinsmen. 
 
 ^^Then here is one for pretty Bessie," quoth the 
 beggar, and he dropped a gold piece on the ground. 
 The kinsmen of the knight dropped another in their 
 turn. The beggar dropped a second, the kinsmen 
 a second, and so it went on till the blind beggar had 
 put down three thousand pounds ; and the whole 
 place where they stood was covered with gold. 
 
 ^^Hold," called the knight's kinsmen. ^^Hold, 
 beggar, for we have no more." 
 
 ^^Sir knight, you have fulfilled your promise," 
 said the beggar. ^^ Marry my daughter, and now I 
 will give another hundred pounds to buy her a gown." 
 
 All the kinsfolk of the knight, who had seen the 
 treasure on the ground, were full of pleasure that he 
 
188 
 
 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 was to marry a maiden so richly dowered, and they 
 began to praise the beggar, her father. And those 
 who had been her suitors, the merchant, the gentle- 
 man, and the innkeeper's son, were furiously angry 
 
 when they heard how the maiden who seemed to 
 have nothing but her beauty and virtue to speak for 
 her had proved to be the wealthiest lady in the 
 county. 
 
 IV. At the Banquet 
 
 The marriage of the knight and the blind beggar's 
 daughter was held in the church, and afterwards 
 
THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER 189 
 
 all the nobles and knights and gentle ladies, who were 
 the flower of all England, did go to the knight's 
 castle where a splendid banquet was served. After 
 the dinner was over, many of the guests began to 
 talk about the bride's father. 
 
 ^^We wonder, fair lady,'' said one of the nobles 
 to the bride, ^Hhat we do not see thy father here." 
 
 ^^My father declared that he w^ould not bring his 
 low estate into this company." 
 
 ^^Nay," said the noble courteously, ^^on such an 
 occasion his daughter's loveliness might well make 
 the father !s rank forgotten." 
 
 They had no sooner agreed to this pleasant speech 
 when in came the father, clad in a velvet cloak, and 
 with a velvet cap with a feather. He was led by one 
 of the knight's little serving pages, and was now a 
 musician, carrying in his hand a lute, whose strings 
 he touched lovingly. 
 
 ^^If it please you, I will sing you a song of my 
 pretty Bessie," he said. 
 
 With that he touched his lute and sang this song : 
 
 ^^A poor beggar's daughter did dwell on a green, 
 Who for her fairness might well be a queen ; 
 A blithe bonny lass, and dainty was she, 
 And many a one called her the pretty Bessie. 
 
 ^^Her father he had no goods and no lands, 
 But begged for a penny all day with his hands ; 
 
190 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 And yet for her marriage he gave thousands three, 
 And still he hath somewhat for pretty Bessie. 
 
 ^^And her if any one do her disdain, 
 Her father is ready with might and with main 
 To prove she is come of noble degree. 
 Therefore let none flout at my pretty Bessie. '' 
 
 The nobles and ladies praised the song, but it was 
 plain to see that they did not believe the words. 
 
 Now Bessie rose and said modestly, ^^ Nobles, 
 pardon, I pray you, my father^ who cares for me with 
 blind affection.'' 
 
 ^^Nay,'' said the one who had first inquired for her 
 father, a very gentle and full courteous noble, ^^nay, 
 if this be thy father, he may well be proud of thee on 
 this happy day. As for me I can well see that his 
 face fitteth no better his rank than does his fortune. 
 So, sir, if thou wilt, reveal to us thy birth and parent- 
 age. Tell it on this happy day for the sake of thy 
 fair daughter.'' 
 
 ^^I thank you, noble sir," responded the beggar, 
 and he held his head high and spake as one knight 
 to another. ^^The time has come when I know that 
 I must tell my tale for the sake of my daughter and 
 of this honorable knight, who has been faithful to her 
 though she seemed of low degree. Give ear for a 
 moment, kind ladies and gentles, and ye shall hear 
 all. Long ago, when the king went over the seas to 
 
THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER 191 
 
 wars in France^ there went with him many dukes and 
 lords and knights, and among them young Monford. 
 But; fighting in battle, he received a blow that de- 
 prived him of his sight. He would have lost his 
 life also, if it had not been for a baron^s fair daughter, 
 who went out in the night to seek her father on the 
 field, and seeing young Monford was moved with 
 pity and took him away. She nursed him and 
 brought him back to life, and made him her husband 
 and the glad father of pretty Bessie. At first we had 
 to beg our way back to England, and live by charity. 
 So have we lived at Bethnal Green these many years, 
 keeping only the dowry of Bessie's mother for such 
 time as Bessie should wed one worthy of her. And 
 thus you have learned my secret, which would never 
 have been known save for the sake of my pretty 
 Bessie. '^ 
 
 Then the nobles all crowded round him, and gave 
 him right cordial welcome to their midst, and the 
 ladies did salute the fair bride, saying, ^^ Indeed, we 
 are glad that thy father is of noble degree.'' 
 
 Thus the feast ended with joy and delight. 
 
 And thus endeth the tale 
 
 ^^Of a Wind beggar^s daughter most bright, 
 Who late was betrothed to a knight ; 
 In joy and happiness long lived he 
 All with his fair lady, the pretty Bessie.'' 
 
 From an old English ballad. 
 
192 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 QUEEN ELIZABETH AND SIR WALTER RA- 
 LEIGH 
 
 I. The Queen^s Coming 
 
 At this moment the gates opened^ and ushers 
 began to come forth^ preceded by the band of Gentle- 
 men Pensioners. After this^ amid a crowd of lords 
 and ladieS; yet so disposed about her that she could 
 see and be seen on all sides, came Elizabeth herself. 
 
 The young cavalier, Walter Raleigh, had never 
 yet approached so near his sovereign, and he pressed 
 forward as far as the line of warders permitted. His 
 companion, on the contrary, kept pulling him back- 
 ward, till Walter shook him off impatiently. Un- 
 bonneting at the same time, he fixed his eager gaze 
 on the Queen. 
 
 Thus the adventurous youth stood full in Eliza- 
 beth's eye, — an eye never indifferent to the ad- 
 miration which she excited among her subjects. 
 Accordingly, she fixed her keen glance on the youth, 
 as she approached the place where he stood, while a 
 trifling accident happened which attracted her at- 
 tention towards him yet more strongly. The night 
 had been rainy, and just where the young gentle- 
 man stood, a small quantity of mud interrupted the 
 Queen's passage. As she hesitated to pass on, the 
 gallant, throwing his cloak from his shoulders, laid 
 it on the miry spot, so as to insure her stepping over 
 
QUEEN ELIZABETH AND SIR WALTER RALEIGH 193 
 
 
 
 
 The Queen and Sir Walter Raleigh 
 
194 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 it dry-shod. Elizabeth looked at the young man, 
 who accompanied this act of devoted courtesy with 
 a profound reverence, and a blush that overspread 
 his whole countenance. The Queen was confused, 
 and blushed in her turn, nodded her head, hastily 
 passed on, and embarked in her barge without say- 
 ing a word. 
 
 ^^Come along, Sir Coxcomb,^' said Blount ; ^^your 
 gay cloak will need the brush to-day, I wot. Nay, 
 if you had meant to make a foot-cloth of your mantle, 
 better have kept Tracy's old cloak which despises 
 all colors. '^ 
 
 ^^This cloak,'' said the youth, taking it up and 
 folding it, ^^ shall never be brushed while in my 
 possession." 
 
 ^^ And that will not be long, if you learn not a little 
 more economy." 
 
 Their speech was here interrupted by one of the 
 Band of Pensioners. 
 
 ^^I was sent," said he, after looking at them at- 
 tentively, ^Ho a gentleman who hath no cloak, or a 
 muddy one. You, sir, I think," addressing the 
 younger cavalier, ^^are the man; you will please to 
 follow me." 
 
 ^^He is in attendance on me," said Blount; 
 '^on me, the noble Earl of Sussex's master of 
 horse." 
 
 ^^I have nothing to say to that," answered the 
 
QUEEN ELIZABETH AND SIR WALTER RALEIGH 195 
 
 messenger; ^^my orders are directly from her Maj- 
 esty ^ and concern this gentleman only/^ 
 
 So sayings he walked away^ followed by Walter, 
 leaving the others behind, Blount^s eyes almost 
 starting from his head with the excess of his astonish- 
 ment. 
 
 II. Raleigh's Interview 
 
 The young cavalier was in the meanwhile guided 
 to the waterside by the Pensioner, and ushered to 
 the Queen's barge, where he was brought into her 
 presence. The muddied cloak still hung upon his 
 arm. 
 
 ^^You have this day spoiled a gay mantle in our 
 behalf, young man. We thank you for your service, 
 though the manner of offering it was unusual, and 
 something bold.'' 
 
 ^^In a sovereign's need," answered the youth, ^^it 
 is each liege man's duty to be bold." 
 
 ^^ God's pity ! that was well said, my lord," said 
 the Queen, turning to a grave person who sat by 
 her. ^^Well, young man, your gallantry shall not 
 go unrewarded. Go to the wardrobe keeper, and he 
 shall have orders to supply the suit which you have 
 cast away in our service. Thou shalt have a suit, 
 and that of the newest cut, I promise thee, on the 
 word of a princess." 
 
 ^^May it please your Grace," said Walter, hesi- 
 
196 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 tating; ^4t is not for so humble a servant of your 
 Majesty to measure out your bounties; but if it 
 became me to choose — '^ 
 
 ^^Thou wouldst have gold, I warrant me/' said 
 the Queen, interrupting him; ^^fie, young man ! I 
 take shame to say, that, in our capital, such and so 
 various are the means of thriftless folly, that to give 
 gold to youth is giving fuel to fire, and furnishing 
 them with the means of self-destruction. Yet thou 
 mayst be poor,'' she added, ^^or thy parents may be. 
 — It shall be gold, if thou wilt, but thou shalt an- 
 swer to me for the use on't." 
 
 Walter waited patiently until the Queen had done, 
 and then modestly assured her that gold was still 
 less in his wish than the raiment her majesty had 
 before offered. 
 
 ^^How, boy !" said the Queen, ^^ neither gold nor 
 garment ? What is it thou wouldst have of me, 
 then?" 
 
 ^^Only permission, madam — if it is not asking too 
 high an honor — permission to wear the cloak which 
 did you this trifling service." 
 
 ^^ Permission to wear thine own cloak, thou silly 
 boy!" said the Queen. 
 
 ^^It is no longer mine," said Walter; ^^when your 
 Majesty's foot touched it, it became a fit mantle for 
 a prince, but far too rich a one for its former owner." 
 
 The Queen again blushed ; and endeavored to 
 
QUEEN ELIZABETH AND SIR WALTER RALEIGH 197 
 
 cover, by laughing, a slight degree of not unpleasing 
 surprise and confusion. 
 
 ^^ Heard you ever the like, my lords ? The youth's 
 head is turned with reading romances. — I must 
 know something of him, that I may send him safe 
 to his friends. — What is thy name and birth?'' 
 
 ^^ Raleigh is my name, most gracious Queen, the 
 youngest son of a large but honorable family of 
 Devonshire." 
 
 ^^ Raleigh?" said Elizabeth, after a moment's 
 recollection; ^^have we not heard of your service in 
 Ireland?" 
 
 ^^I have been so fortunate as to do some service 
 there, madam," replied Raleigh, ^^ scarce, however, 
 of consequence sufficient to reach your Grace's 
 ears." 
 
 ^^They hear farther than you think of," said the 
 Queen, graciously, ^^and have heard of a youth who 
 defended a ford in Shannon against a whole band of 
 wild Irish rebels, until the stream ran purple with 
 their blood and his own." 
 
 ^^Some blood I may have lost," said the youth, 
 looking down, ^^but it was where my best is due; 
 and that is in your Majesty's service." 
 
 The Queen said hastily, ^^You are very young, to 
 have fought so well, and to speak so well. So hark 
 ye. Master Raleigh, see thou fail not to wear thy 
 muddy cloak. And here," she added, giving him a 
 
198 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 jewel of gold; in the form of a chessman^ '^I give thee 
 this to wear at the collar/' 
 
 Raleigh knelt and took from her hand the jewel. 
 Walter Scott, Kenilworth. 
 
 HARMOSAN 
 
 Now the third and fatal conflict for the Persian 
 
 throne was done. 
 And the Moslem's fiery valor had the crowning 
 
 victory won. 
 
 Harmosan, the last and boldest the invader to defy, 
 Captive, overborne by numbers, they were bringing 
 forth to die. 
 
 Then exclaimed that noble captive : ^^Lo, I perish in 
 
 my thirst ! 
 Give me but one drink of water, and let then arrive 
 
 the worst !'' 
 
 In his hand he took the goblet ; but a while the 
 
 draught forbore. 
 Seeming doubtfully the purpose of the foemen to 
 
 explore. 
 
 Well might then have paused the bravest — for 
 around him angry foes 
 
HARMOSAN 199 
 
 With a hedge of naked weapons did that lonely 
 man inclose. 
 
 ^^But what fear^st thou?'' cried the Caliph^ ^^is it, 
 
 friend; a secret blow ? 
 Fear it not ! our gallant Moslem no such treacherous 
 
 dealing know. 
 
 /^Thou may'st quench thy thirst securely, for thou 
 
 shalt not die before 
 Thou hast drunk that cup of water ; this reprieve 
 
 is thine — no more !'' 
 
 Quick the Satraph dashed the goblet down to earth 
 
 with ready hand, 
 And the liquid sank forever^ lost amid the burning 
 
 sand. 
 
 ^^Thou hast said that mine my life is, till the water 
 
 of that cup 
 I have drained : then bid thy servants that spilt 
 
 water gather up !'^ 
 
 For a moment stood the Caliph as by doubtful 
 
 passions stirred — 
 Then exclaimed: ^^ Forever sacred must remain a 
 
 monarch's word ! 
 
200 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 ^^Bring another cup and straightway to the noble 
 
 Persian give : 
 Drink, I said before, and perish — now I bid thee, 
 
 drink and hve !'' 
 
 Richard Chenevix Trench. 
 
 WASHINGTON AND THE SPY 
 I. General Washington 
 
 It was at the close of a stormy day in the month of 
 September, that a large assemblage of officers was 
 collected near the door of a building that was situ- 
 ated in the heart of the American troops. The age 
 and dress, and the dignity of deportment of most of 
 these warriors, indicated them to be of high rank ; 
 but to one in particular was paid a deference that 
 announced him to be of the highest. Many a hat 
 was lifted as its owner addressed this officer. At 
 length the general raised his own hat, and bowed 
 gravely to all around him. The salute was returned 
 and the party dispersed, leaving the officer without 
 a single attendant except his one aide-de-camp. 
 
 The general spoke in those low placid tones that 
 seemed natural to him. 
 
 ^^Has the man whom I wished to see arrived, 
 sir?'' 
 
 ^^He waits the pleasure of your excellency.'' 
 
WASHINGTON AND THE SPY 201 
 
 ^^I will receive him now^ and alone, if you 
 please/' 
 
 The aid bowed and withdrew. 
 
 II. His Conversation with the Spy 
 
 The general then retired into the building, and 
 entering an apartment that was fitted for him, he 
 took a seat, and continued for a long time in a 
 thoughtful attitude, like one in the habit of commun- 
 ing much with himself. 
 
 In a few minutes the door opened, and a figure, 
 gliding into the apartment, stood modestly at a 
 distance from the general, without speaking. His 
 entrance was unheard by the officer, who sat gazing 
 at the fire, still absorbed in his own meditations. 
 Several minutes passed, when he spoke to himself 
 in an undertone : 
 
 ^'To-morrow we must raise the curtain and expose 
 our plans. May Heaven prosper them V^ 
 
 A slight movement made by the stranger caught 
 his ear, and he turned his head, and saw that he was 
 not alone. He pointed silently to the fire, towards 
 which the figure advanced, although the multitude 
 of his garments, which seemed more calculated for 
 disguise than comfort, rendered its warmth un- 
 necessary. A second mild and courteous gesture 
 motioned to a vacant chair, but the stranger refused 
 it with a modest acknowledgment. Another pause 
 
202 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 followed; and continued for some time. At length 
 the officer arose^ and opening a desk that was laid 
 upon the table near which he sat; took from it a 
 small; but apparently heavy bag. 
 
 ^^ Harvey Birch;'^ he said; turning to the stranger, 
 ^Hhe time has arrived when our connection must 
 cease ; henceforth and forever we must be strangers/' 
 
 The peddler dropped the folds of the greatcoat that 
 concealed his features; and gazed for a moment ear- 
 nestly at the face of the speaker ; then dropping his 
 head upon his bosom, he said; meekly : 
 
 ^^If it be your excellency's pleasure.'' 
 
 ^^It is necessary. Since I have filled the station 
 which I now hold; it has become my duty to know 
 many meU; whO; like yourself; have been my instru- 
 ments in procuring intelligence. You have I trusted 
 more than all ; I early saw in you a regard to truth 
 and principle; that; I am pleased to say; has never 
 deceived me — you alone know my secret agents in 
 the city; and on your fidelity depend; not only their 
 fortunes; but their lives.'' 
 
 He paused; as if to reflect in order that full 
 justice might be done to the peddler, and then 
 continued : 
 
 ^^I believe you are one of the very few I have em- 
 ployed who have acted faithfully to our cause ; and; 
 while you have passed as a spy of the enemy, have 
 never given intelligence that you were not permitted 
 
WASHINGTON AND THE SPY 203 
 
 to divulge. To me, and to me only of all the world, 
 you seem to have acted with a strong attachment to 
 the liberties of America/'' 
 
 During this address, Harvey raised his head until 
 he stood proudly facing the speaker, while a faint 
 flush gathered in his cheeks, and, as the officer con- 
 cluded, spread over his whole countenance. 
 
 ^^It is now my duty to pay you for these services ; 
 hitherto you have postponed receiving your reward, 
 and the debt has become a heavy one — I wish not 
 to undervalue your dangers ; here are a hundred 
 doubloons ; you will remember the poverty of our 
 country and attribute to it the smallness of your 
 pay." 
 
 The peddler raised his eyes to the countenance of 
 the speaker ; but as the other held forth the money, 
 he moved back as if refusing the bag. 
 
 ^^It is not much for your services and risks, I 
 acknowledge, '' continued the general, ^^but it is all 
 that I have to offer ; at the end of the campaign it 
 may be in my power to increase it.'' 
 
 ^^Does your excellency think that I have exposed 
 my life, and blasted my character for money?" 
 
 ^^For what, then?" 
 
 ^^What has brought your excellency into the 
 field ? For what do you daily and hourly expose 
 your precious life to battle ? AVhat is there about 
 me to mourn, when such men as you risk their all 
 
204 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 for their country ? No^ no^ no — not a dollar of your 
 gold will I touch ; poor America has need of it all !'' 
 
 The bag dropped from the hand of the officer, and 
 fell at the feet of the peddler, where it lay neglected 
 during the remainder of the interview. The officer 
 looked steadfastly at the face of his companion, and 
 continued : 
 
 ^^ There are many motives which might govern me, 
 that to you are unknown. Our situations are dif- 
 ferent ; I am known as the leader of armies — but 
 you must descend into the grave with the reputation 
 of a foe to your native land. Remember that the 
 veil which conceals your true character cannot be 
 raised in years — perhaps never.'' 
 
 Birch again dropped his eyes, but there was no 
 yielding of the soul in the movement. 
 
 ^^ You will soon be old ; the prime of your days is 
 already past ; what have you to subsist on ?'' 
 
 ^^ These!'' said the peddler, stretching forth his 
 hands, that were already embrowned with toil. 
 
 ^^But those may fail you; take enough to secure 
 a support to your age. Remember your risks and 
 cares. I have told you that the characters of men 
 who are much esteemed in life depend on your se- 
 crecy ; what pledge can I give them of your fidelity ? " 
 
 ^^Tell them," said Birch, advancing and uncon- 
 sciously resting one foot on the bag, ^Hell them that 
 I would not take the gold !" 
 
WASHINGTON AND THE SPY 205 
 
 The composed features of the officer relaxed into 
 a smile of benevolence, and he grasped the hand of 
 the peddler firmly. 
 
 ^^Now, indeed, I know you; and although the 
 same reasons which have hitherto compelled me to 
 expose your valuable life will still exist, and prevent 
 my openly asserting your character, in private I 
 can always be your friend ; fail not to apply to me 
 when in want or suffering, and so long as God giveth 
 to me, so long will I freely share with a man who feels 
 so nobly and acts so well. If sickness or want should 
 ever assail you, and peace once more smile upon our 
 efforts, seek the gate of him whom you have so often 
 met as Harper, and he will not blush to acknowl- 
 edge you in his true character.^' 
 
 ^'It is little that I need in this life," said Harvey ; 
 ^^so long as God gives me health and honest industry, 
 I can never want in this country ; but to know that 
 your excellency is my friend, is a blessing that I 
 prize more than all the gold of England's treasury." 
 
 The officer stood for a few moments in the attitude 
 of intense thought. He then drew to him the desk, 
 and wrote a few lines on a piece of paper, and gave 
 it to the peddler. 
 
 ^^That Providence destines this country to some 
 great and glorious fate I must believe, while I witness 
 the patriotism that pervades the bosoms of her low- 
 est citizens," he said. ^^It must be dreadful to a 
 
206 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 mind like yours to descend into the grave, branded as 
 a foe to liberty ; but you already know the lives that 
 would be sacrificed should your real character be 
 revealed. It is impossible to do you justice now, 
 but I fearlessly intrust you with this certificate ; 
 should we never meet again, it may be serviceable 
 to your children.'' 
 
 ^^ Children !'' exclaimed the peddler, ^^can I give 
 to a family the infamy of my name ?'' 
 
 The officer gazed at the strong emotion he exhibited 
 with pain, and made a slight movement towards the 
 gold ; but it was arrested by the expression of His 
 companion's face. Harvey saw the intention, and 
 shook his head, as he continued more mildly : 
 
 ^^It is, indeed, a treasure that your excellency gives 
 me : it is safe, too. There are men living who could 
 say that my life was nothing to me, compared to your 
 secrets. Perhaps," he continued, with a melan- 
 choly smile, ^4t may be known after my death who 
 was my friend ; but if it should not, there are none 
 to grieve for me." 
 
 ^^ Remember," said the officer, with strong emo- 
 tion, ^Hhat in me you will always have a secret 
 friend ; but openly I cannot know you." 
 
 ''I know it, I know it," said Birch; ^^I knew it 
 when I took the service. 'Tis probably the last time 
 that I shall ever see your excellency. May God 
 pour down His choicest blessings on your head !" 
 
Washington Honoring the Spy 
 207 
 
208 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 He paused; and moved towards the door. The 
 officer followed him with eyes that expressed deep 
 interest. Once more the peddler turned, and seemed 
 to gaze on the placid, but commanding features of 
 the general with regret and reverence, and then, 
 bowing low, he withdrew. 
 
 III. Thirty-three Years After 
 
 It was thirty-three years after the interview which 
 we have just related that an American army was once 
 more arrayed against the troops of England ; but 
 the scene was transferred from the banks of the 
 Hudson to those of the Niagara. 
 
 The body of Washington had long lain moldering 
 in the tomb ; but he was already the acknowledged 
 hero of his country and his time. An engagement 
 had taken place between the British and American 
 soldiery, and as darkness fell a young American lieu- 
 tenant, Wharton Dunwoodie, missing one of his com- 
 rades, seized a lighted fusee, and taking two of his men 
 went in search of him. He was found on the side 
 of the hill, unable to walk from a fractured leg. Dun- 
 woodie flew to the side of his comrade, exclaiming : 
 
 ^^Ah ! dear Tom, I knew I should find you the 
 nearest man to the enemy." 
 
 ^^ Softly, softly; handle me tenderly," replied 
 the wounded man; ^^no, there is a brave fellow still 
 nearer than myself, and who he can be I know not. 
 
WASHINGTON AND THE SPY 209 
 
 He is certainly not of our regiment. He rushed out of 
 our smoke, near my platoon, to make a prisoner or 
 some such thing, but, poor fellow, he never came 
 back ; he lies just over the hillock. I have spoken to 
 him several times, but I fancy he is past answering/' 
 
 Dunwoodie went to the spot, and found an old 
 m.an of perhaps seventy. He was lying on his 
 back ; his eyes were closed, as if in slumber ; his 
 lips were parted in a gentle smile. His dress showed 
 the poverty of its owner by the number of its re- 
 pairs. A soldier's musket lay near him ; his hands 
 were pressed upon his breast, and one of them con- 
 tained a substance that glittered like silver. Dun- 
 woodie stooped and perceived the place where the 
 bullet had found a passage to his heart. The sub- 
 ject of his last care was a tin box, through which the 
 fatal lead had gone ; and the dying moments of the 
 old man must have passed in drawing it from his 
 bosom. Dunwoodie opened it, and found a paper 
 from which he read aloud the following : 
 
 ^^Circumstances of political importance, which 
 involve the lives and fortunes of many, have hitherto 
 kept secret what this paper now reveals. Harvey 
 Birch has for years been a faithful and unrequited 
 servant of his country. Though man does not, 
 may God reward him for his conduct ! 
 
 ^' Geo. Washington.'' 
 James Fenimore Cooper, The Spy. 
 
210 
 
 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 In the first part of this book you have learned how 
 to read a play out of a story. Now you will do the 
 same with famous scenes in literature. Many of these 
 selections are taken from books which you will some 
 day wish to read. Now you will get acquainted 
 with the characters as they appear on some one 
 special occasion. The author has pictured a scene 
 and described it to you. It is for you to turn it 
 back into action^ speaking the words with the ges- 
 tures, looks, and movements which he describes. 
 Our first scene is that in which King Arthur is 
 called to the throne, as it is described in Malory's 
 Morte D^ Arthur, one of the oldest books of chiv- 
 alry. 
 
HELPS FOR DRAMATIZATION 211 
 
 HOW ENGLAND FOUND HER KING (Page 99) 
 
 ^'KlNG llTHERwas dead, and none knew who should 
 reign over England in his stead/' You are no longer 
 in your own worlds but back in old England in the 
 days that are on the borderland between legend and 
 history. Persons will speak differently, as you will 
 see before you have finished the proclamation. You 
 will meet lords and knights and archbishops. There 
 will be talk of swords and tournaments. Read every 
 w^ord of the story carefully to see what it tells you 
 about this time in which for a little while you are to 
 live. Think of what your people are like, and what 
 they do, as well as who they are. Picture to your- 
 self the places. Study what each incident does to 
 carry on the story, and decide what to use as prop- 
 erties for the sword, the stone, etc. 
 
 In these scenes, the pictures will be a great help, 
 for the artist has taken pains to show costumes and 
 setting as they were in each period. 
 
 THE NECKLACE OF TRUTH (Page 109) 
 
 A FANCIFUL French story that makes a pretty 
 story-play. The magic necklace can be im.agined, or 
 Coralie can hold one end of a long string of beads be- 
 hind her with her left hand and lengthen or shorten 
 it at will. 
 
212 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 THE MILLER OF THE DEE (Page 114) 
 
 Use this as a dramatic poem^ or write a scene 
 around it. 
 
 THE JUST JUDGE (Page 115) 
 
 In Arabia your people will move with Eastern 
 slowness and dignity. Think over the characters : 
 the ruler^ in the disguise of an ordinary traveller, 
 yet carrying over unconsciously into his new role 
 something of the dignity of his high office ; the 
 cripple^ always acting a part, as beggar, as bold 
 thief, as rich traveller before the judge, and lastly, 
 in disgrace. The judge is the hero of the story ; yet 
 he has the greatest surprise of all at the end. 
 
 KEEPING SHOP (Page 124) 
 
 A BEAUTIFUL colonial picture that will make a 
 charming scene. The tall, angular, stern gentle- 
 woman, frightened at the sound of her shop bell ; 
 the '^square and sturdy little urchin^' with one idea, 
 to have a Jim Crow ; the troublesome customers 
 with their many demands ; then Phoebe, the new 
 shopkeeper, changing everything by her sunny 
 presence. 
 
 Notice the suggestions of action that accompany 
 each speech. 
 
HELPS FOR DRAMATIZING 213 
 
 "That Jim Crow^ there^ in the window/^ answered 
 the urchin^ holding out a cent and ^pointing to the ginger- 
 bread figure, 
 
 ^^What is it now, child ?^' asked the maiden lady, 
 rather impatiently, 
 
 "Well/' said Hepzibah, heaving a deep sigh. 
 
 "Dear cousin/' said Phoebe, frankly and cheer- 
 fully, 
 
 A BOY^S FRIENDSHIP (Page 132) 
 
 Practise the scenes of this story separately, letting 
 different boys take the parts in each. Then choose 
 which does it best. Notice Abel Fletcher's Quaker 
 "thee^^ and "thou.'' Bring out strongly the con- 
 trast between the two boys. 
 
 THE EMPEROR'S BIRD'S-NEST (Page 146) 
 
 This poem gives suggestions for a play with two 
 or three scenes, two in which the Emperor appears 
 and possibly one in between when the story is told in 
 the camp. 
 
 WHEN RIP VAN WINKLE CAME HOME (Page 148) 
 
 One of the best-known scenes in literature, in which 
 famous actors have appeared. Joseph Jefferson, 
 whose acting of Rip Van Winkle made him and the 
 part famous, once told our artist that his drawings 
 
214 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 of the old man came nearer to his own idea of the 
 character than those of any other illustrator. Re- 
 read the story to realize what a beautiful picture 
 Washington Irving has given. 
 
 SCENES FROM PINOCCHIO (Page 154) 
 
 A MERRY story brought from Italy. Note that 
 there are many scenes with long intervals of time 
 between. Play each by itself, then put them all 
 together. Pinocchio is made of wood. Will he 
 move easily and freely ? 
 
 A STRANGE VISITOR (Page 173) 
 
 The first part is not a scene, but an introduction 
 to your characters. The last part needs to be made 
 into a scene. What would the brothers say when 
 they rose in the morning ? How did you act Wind 
 when he came, in ^^Mr. Wind and Madam Rain/^ 
 to visit John Peter ? 
 
 THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BETHNAL 
 GREEN (Page 183) 
 
 This story from an old English ballad has its 
 merry side in the way suitors who were afraid to 
 marry a beggar^s daughter were put to shame ; 
 its beauty, in the loyalty of Bessie to her father, 
 and the constancy of the knight who did not ^^ weigh 
 
HELPS FOR DRAMATIZING 215 
 
 true love by the weight of the purse;'' its pathos, 
 in the beggar's blindness, and his misfortunes ; and 
 its final satisfaction in the courtesy of the noble who 
 talks with Bessie, and the pride of her honored father. 
 This is a plot from which a real play could be written. 
 Turn to '^King John and the Abbot" (page 219), and 
 read it for suggestions as to how to turn this story 
 into a play. 
 
 QUEEN ELIZABETH AND SIR WALTER 
 RALEIGH (Page 192) 
 
 A FAMOUS scene from history, here given as it is 
 described by Sir Walter Scott in Kenilworth, You 
 will find many good scenes to dramatize in Scott's 
 novels. Read the tournament in Ivanhoe, and try 
 it. 
 
 HARMOSAN (Page 198) 
 
 Let two boys do the acting without speaking a 
 word, while a third reads the poem aloud. Then 
 let him read only the story parts while the two say the 
 words of the speeches. 
 
 WASHINGTON AND THE SPY (Page 200) 
 
 This is not history but a scene which James Feni- 
 more Cooper wrote for his story, The Spy. Yet if 
 it is not true history, we can believe that it is true 
 
216 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 to history. Such a scene might have occurred in 
 Washington's deaHngs with a patriot spy. Put the 
 best of yourselves into reading and acting this pa- 
 triotic scene. It is no Hght matter to take, even in 
 play, the part of George Washington. 
 
PART THREE 
 
KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT 
 
 King John Second Noble 
 
 The Abbot of Canterbury First Lady 
 A Shepherd Second Lady 
 
 A Sentinel Player 
 
 First Noble Two Pages 
 
 Other Nobles, Courtiers, and Ladies 
 
 Player (standing before audience) : 
 
 An ancient story we'll show you anon, 
 Of a notable prince that was called King John, 
 And we'll show you a story, a story so merry, 
 Concerning the Abbot of Canterbury. 
 
 (Bows and withdraws,) 
 
 Scene I 
 
 Time : A day in the year of the reign of King John. 
 Place: The King^s audience chamber. 
 
 {The King is seated on his throne , on a raised platform.) 
 
 Sentinel (entering j and saluting) : Sir King, the 
 Abbot of Canterbury is without and desireth speech 
 with thee. 
 
 King John : And well he may, since it is by our 
 
 219 
 
220 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 will that he is come to London. Does he come 
 alone ? 
 
 Sentinel : Nay, Sir King, twenty serving men, 
 clad in velvet coats with golden chains, escort 
 him. 
 
 King : It is none too soon for me to take down his 
 pride. Enough ! Bring him into our presence. 
 
 {The Sentinel salutes and departs,) 
 
 King : Velvet coats and golden chains, and thirty 
 more men at home. Indeed ! Does he think him- 
 self lord of the realm ? 
 
 (The Sentinel returns and ushers in the Abbot ^ who is 
 richly gowned in a robe trimmed with ermine.) 
 
 Abbot (bowing his head in salute, but not kneeling) : 
 Sir King, I thank thee for this summons. It is 
 indeed fitting that I should come at your bidding to 
 confer with you on those state matters — 
 
 King (interrupting) : How now. Father Abbot ! 
 thou art welcome to me. I hear thou art keeping a 
 better house than mine, and living in greater state 
 than I. What are these tales that come to me of 
 one hundred guests at table, and fifty men in velvet 
 coats and golden chains ? 
 
 Abbot : My Lord King, it is all for the honor of 
 the church and of the crown. 
 
 King : Nay, methinks it is for the honor of the 
 Abbot of Canterbury. 
 
KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT 221 
 
 Abbot : But, Sir King, I am spending but mine 
 own true-gotten goods. All that I spend is mine. 
 
 King : Nay, proud sir, all that is in the realm of 
 England is ours, and it ill befitteth our subjects to 
 surpass us in estate. It savors of treason, and thou 
 knowest what happens to traitors. 
 
 Abbot : But, Sir King — 
 
 King : Nay, I brought thee not here to talk with 
 thee. I might treat thee as thou deservest and 
 strike off thy head. Because I am a merciful king I 
 am minded to spare thee. But thou must answer me 
 questions three. Unless thou canst do this, thy prop- 
 erty, and mayhap thy life, will be taken from thee. 
 
 Abbot : And what may they be ? 
 
 King : First, where is the centre of the earth ? 
 Second, how long would it take me to ride around the 
 world ? And, lastly, declare to me what I am think- 
 ing about. 
 
 Abbot : I pray thee. Sir King, the questions are 
 so hard, and my wit is so shallow. Give me three 
 days' grace. 
 
 King : Three days, and not an hour more will I 
 give thee. But if thou answerest not then, I will 
 cut off thy head from thy body. Now be gone, and 
 use those wits of yours to see if you can save your 
 head, instead of working to outdo your king. 
 
 {The Abbot departs in haste. The King sits back 
 and laughs.) 
 
222 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Scene II 
 
 Time : Two days later. 
 
 Scene : The highroad near Canterbury. 
 
 {The Abbot is riding towards home. He meets a 
 shepherd with his flock.) 
 
 Shepherd : Welcome home, my Lord Abbot, and 
 what news do you bring from court ? 
 
 Abbot : Sad news, sad news, for I have only one 
 day more to live. 
 
 Shepherd : Nay, my Lord Abbot, what ails you ? 
 You are so sad, when usually you are glad and 
 merry. 
 
 Abbot : Well may a man be sad, when he has but 
 one more day to live. 
 
 Shepherd : But that cannot be true. Tell me, 
 is there nothing you can do to save your life ? 
 
 Abbot : Nothing. The King charged me at 
 court with treason against his crown because I have 
 lived as befits an Abbot, with serving men and proper 
 food, and have entertained the guests of church 
 and crown. 
 
 Shepherd : And for that he will strike off thy 
 head, as if thou were a common traitor ? 
 
 Abbot : So he hath declared, unless I answer three 
 questions, so hard that no man could answer them. 
 I have been to the learned doctors of Cambridge 
 and of Oxford these two long days, inquiring of 
 
KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT 
 
 223 
 
 
 The Abbot and the Shepherd 
 
224 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 them, and they say that no man Hving could answer 
 the questions because they are without answer and 
 beyond man's knowledge. 
 
 Shepherd : Tell me then. 
 
 Abbot : Nay, let me have peace these last few 
 hours. My mind is weary with them. 
 
 Shepherd : My Lord Abbot, a fool may perhaps 
 answer where a wise man hath too much knowl- 
 edge. 
 
 Abbot : They are these. First, where is the 
 centre of the earth ? Second, how long would it 
 take me to ride around the world ? Lastly, declare 
 to me what I am thinking. 
 
 Shepherd: Father, you are a man of learning. 
 But do you and all the doctors and teachers of Cam- 
 bridge and Oxford halt before so small a thing ? 
 
 Abbot : Peace, fellow, dost thou jest when the life 
 of a man is in forfeit ? 
 
 Shepherd : Nay, Father, far be it from me to 
 jest. I spoke in all earnestness. I think I can 
 answer those questions. Take care of my sheep and 
 let me go up to London in your stead. I will speak 
 with the King and hear what he has to say. 
 
 Abbot : But he will know it is not I. 
 
 Shepherd : Not at all, for every one says we look 
 alike. And I will put on a monk's robe and hood, 
 and he will never know that it is not you come in 
 sober dress to plead for your life. 
 
KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT 225 
 
 Abbot : It is a iooVs errand, but it will give me one 
 more day of life. Try it, if you will. Come back 
 with me to Canterbury, and I will give you a monk's 
 gown. 
 
 (They go off together along the road,) 
 
 Scene III 
 
 Time : The third day. 
 
 Place : The King's audience chamber. 
 
 (The King is seated on a raised platform. Two pages 
 stand beside him, one on either hand. Nobles, courtiers, and 
 ladies are standing and seated about the room, A Sentinel 
 stands at the door,) 
 
 Sentinel (coming forward and saluting the King) : 
 Sir King, the Abbot of Canterbury is without and 
 desireth speech with thee. 
 
 King John (to the nobles nearest him) : Now I 
 promise you rare sport. I am about to grant an 
 audience to the Abbot of Canterbury. 
 
 First Noble : What ! He of the fifty serving 
 men, who spends his time giving feasts ? 
 
 First Lady : The serving men in velvet coats and 
 golden chains ? 
 
 King : The very same ! But hold, comes he now 
 with men and in state ? 
 
 Sentinel : Nay, Sir King, but in a monk's gown, 
 and alone. 
 
226 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 King : Ah ! it speaketh well for my plan. Go, 
 bring him into our presence. 
 
 {Sentinel salutes and withdraws.) 
 
 Fair ladies, and gentlemen of the court, give ear 
 to what shall follow, for it promiseth to be worth 
 the hearing. Moreover, you shall learn much. You 
 shall learn, if all goes as it should, where the centre 
 of the earth is, how long it would take one to travel 
 around it, and what I am thinking about. 
 
 First Noble : Where the centre of the earth is ? 
 
 Second Noble : The time to travel around it ? 
 In faith, I doubt myself (though they say 'tis claimed 
 by some of the learned doctors) if it be round — and 
 as for travelling around it ! 
 
 Second Lady : And what you are thinking ! 
 That would be the hardest of all. When shall we 
 hear the answers ? 
 
 King : The Abbot of Canterbury must give them 
 for you now, or be dealt with as a traitor. 
 
 First Lady : Then am I glad that I am a lady of 
 the King's court and not the worthy Abbot of 
 Canterbury. 
 
 Sentinel (entering with the Shepherd^ and escorting 
 him to the throne) : Sir King, the Abbot of Canter- 
 bury. 
 
 (Salutes and withdraws. The Shepherd kneels, then 
 
 rises.) 
 
KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT 227 
 
 King : How now, Father Abbot, it is in different 
 garb and with a more proper humiUty that you come 
 before your king this day than three days back. 
 The monk^s cloak becomes thee well, and makes thee 
 look more straight and manly. But how about the 
 questions ? 
 
 Shepherd : Sir King, if — 
 
 King : Come, now, no delay ; I am in no mood to 
 be put off. 
 
 Shepherd : If it please your Grace, show me what 
 the first question was. 
 
 King : Where is the centre of the earth ? 
 
 Shepherd (striking his staff hard against the floor 
 in front of the King^s chair) : Right here where your 
 Majesty sits; and if any would be disloyal enough 
 to question it, let him disprove it. 
 
 King (graciously) : A shrewd and loyal answer. 
 Now tell me how long it would take me to travel 
 around the world. 
 
 Shepherd : If your Majesty will rise with the 
 sun and ride along with him, in twenty-four hours 
 youll surely have been around the world. 
 
 King (laughing) : By my faith, I did not think it 
 could be done so soon. But let that pass. Shall 
 we not, fair sirs and ladies of the court ? 
 
 First Noble : Both answers suit me well. 
 
 Others : And me ! And me ! 
 
 King : Now, since you are so wise, answer me 
 
228 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 this. It should be easy for you to read my mind 
 after reading these riddles. What am I thinking? 
 
 Shepherd : That is simplest of all^ your Grace. 
 Unless I mistake me, your Majesty thinks I am the 
 Abbot of Canterbury, but as you may see (throwing 
 back his hood) I am only his poor shepherd, come to 
 ask pardon for him and me. 
 
 King (laughing merrily) : Well, well, thou hast 
 more wit than thy lord, and verily, I believe I'll 
 make thee abbot in his place. 
 
 Shepherd : Nay, Sir King, I am not fit for such 
 a place. I cannot read nor write. 
 
 King : Then I'll give thee four pounds a week for 
 the rest of thy life, for this merry jest thou hast told 
 me : and tell the Abbot, when thou goest home, that 
 thou hast brought him a pardon from good King 
 John. 
 
 (The Shepherd bows.) 
 
 Curtain 
 
 An old English Ballad retold. 
 
» 
 
 NOTES TO TEACHERS 
 
 The watchword of this book is that in the upper 
 grades 'dramatic work should be done by the chil- 
 dren^ not for them/' But in setting up this ideal; we 
 recognize that its successful accomplishment de- 
 pends, as do all the successes of the schoolroom, on 
 the cooperation and inspiration of the teacher. 
 
 The book has been planned for the teacher who 
 wishes to provide her class with material for drama- 
 tization but does not find her needs met by the school 
 reader. While the simpler folk tales are easy to 
 dramatize, much of the best literature is not. There 
 are long, descriptive passages which cannot be easily 
 turned into action even by an adult ; the fairy tales 
 have magic transformations that are hard to manage : 
 situations between princes and princesses which seem 
 natural and spontaneous in literature may prove 
 difficult when translated into action in the school- 
 room. In short, the teacher and the child must do 
 work which is neither necessary nor helpful along 
 the lines for which dramatization is introduced. To 
 dramatize a story is to put much time into it ; the 
 subject should be worth this time and interest. It 
 
 229 
 
230 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 is to meet this need of a group of tales, episodes, and 
 scenes which are suitable for dramatization, and then 
 to put into the children's hands the simplest principles 
 on which they are to work, that this book has been 
 prepared. 
 
 To use any dramatic book intelligently, we must 
 consider the reasons for introducing dramatic work 
 into the schoolroom. We have called it a ^^ practice 
 book in dramatics. '^ But why ^^ practise dramat- 
 ics?'' If ^^ dramatics" were a new subject, it 
 would need a vigorous defense ; but it is not. It is a 
 method for accomplishing certain ends on the desir- 
 ability of which every one is agreed. What does the 
 dramatization of a story do for the child who takes 
 part in it, either as actor or audience ? 
 
 1. It arouses his interest, thus putting him into a 
 responsive mood, and gives purpose to his silent 
 reading. 
 
 2. It changes his reading aloud to ^^ speaking," 
 giving to his words a quality of expressiveness which 
 it is always hard to get in continuous reading. 
 
 3. It organizes his thinking. He comes to know 
 a story as a whole and in parts, to see its structure, 
 and appreciate its details as neither a language lesson, 
 a composition lesson, nor a reading lesson alone could 
 teach it. The best dramatic teaching is a combina- 
 tion of all three. 
 
 4. It adds to all the usual reactions of a story the 
 
NOTES TO TEACHERS 231 
 
 necessity to visualize — to see the situations and the 
 people, and then to turn them into motor r'ctivity, 
 thus carrying him around the whole circuit fro;n being 
 the passive receiver to giving outward expression to 
 his thought. 
 
 5. It gives an outlet for the instinct of impersona- 
 tion. ^^In certain hours of his [the child^s] study of 
 literature and literary appreciation/' says Porter 
 Lander MacClintock in his book, ^^ Literature in 
 the Elementary School/' ^^one is ready to believe 
 that this impulse towards impersonation is the very 
 fundamental fact in that appreciation. It is the 
 door through which one enters into the situation and 
 feelings which make up the life represented in the 
 story, poem, or drama. This it is that gives that 
 strange grip of reality to literature.'' 
 
 6. It takes him outside himself into the activities 
 of others — always a healthy experience — and 
 forces him into sharing his experiences with others. 
 Where recitation is an individual accomplishment, 
 dramatization is a social art, and a cooperatively 
 produced drama of the most unfinished character 
 is a social achievement. 
 
 With these aims in mind, let us turn to the par- 
 ticular stories, and see how we can make them con- 
 tribute towards these ends. 
 
232 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 PART I 
 
 How all the Animals tried to make Man is the 
 
 simplest kind of story to dramatize. The actors 
 are types, not individuals — a lion, a bear. To 
 impersonate them is a matter of pantomime (the 
 simplest form of dramatic expression) and of speech, 
 for which every word is given. The slight action 
 relieves the situation of tiresomeness. The story is 
 far enough outside the child^s experience to spare 
 him embarrassment. The boy or girl who would 
 halt at '' playing a part '^ will find it easy to ^^ be a 
 bear '^ ; and the whole class may be included in the 
 group of silent animals. 
 
 Hans, the Shepherd Boy. — For effective dialogue 
 the children must become accustomed to the sound 
 of their own voices, at a distance and near each other. 
 They must begin, too, to consider how emotions are 
 shown in speech, gesture, and expression : practising 
 here with Hans' reluctance and the hunter's amuse- 
 ment, then Hans' fright and the Prince's gracious 
 kindness. No dramatic device is more popular with 
 children than that of a king in disguise ; no climax 
 more appreciated than the surprise at his revelation. 
 
 The Story that had no End. — In the earlier stories 
 there has been no demand on the child for original 
 composition. Acting, speaking, and the mechanical 
 devices of the play have occupied his attention. 
 
NOTES TO TEACHERS 233 
 
 Here, with a situation most familiar to children, that 
 of a story-teller with his listeners, they begin to use 
 their creative instinct. They may introduce new 
 silent characters ; they must plan to have persons 
 come to tell stories. Now they will be ^^making a 
 play ^' ; but the hard parts, the beginning and end, 
 are done for them. 
 
 This call for originality is made early in the book 
 to remind both pupils and teacher not to follow the 
 story too literally. The teacher should emphasize 
 from the first that the exact words of the conversa- 
 tions need not be used if the spirit is kept. Other- 
 wise the dramatization may become memory work, 
 devoid of spontaneity. 
 
 The Brahman, the Tiger, and the Six Judges. — It 
 will be noticed that the stories alternate, so far as 
 possible, between using few and many members of 
 the class. The teacher will need to guard against 
 the temptation to have the best actors perform again 
 and again, and to rehearse for a perfect result. The 
 children should plan the play themselves, with the 
 teacher always watching and waiting to slip in un- 
 obtrusive words of counsel and to bridge over hard 
 places. To do this she must have "^ lived '^ the 
 story through in her own mind ; but she will find 
 herself keeping her plan in the background while 
 she develops the ideas of the children. Nor will she 
 find it necessary to be fully prepared beforehand. 
 
234 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 The response of the children to the story will be her 
 inspiration, often turning her thoughts into new 
 channels. 
 
 This story will tax the children's ingenuity as to 
 locating the characters, but it has no other prob- 
 lems. In a play which is as definite in structure as 
 this, it will be possible to have two or three ^^ casts '' 
 on successive days. 
 
 The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey. — Groups of 
 passers-by and onlookers give the class the feeling 
 that every one is included in each dramatization. 
 Later some will have their share as audience ; until 
 they are more experienced, they feel their part more 
 vividly as silent actors. 
 
 It will be noted that each of these tales is worth 
 while in itself, with its ^^ point /' of ethics or fun 
 which the children will be quick to see and ap- 
 preciate. 
 
 A Visit to the Water Babies. — What is this but 
 ^^ playing school '^ under a new guise? The teacher 
 will do well to show how truly she enters into the 
 spirit of the game by taking herself the part of 
 ^^ Mrs. Be-done-by-as-you-did.^' 
 
 The King of the Cats. — The '' Helps for Drama- 
 tization '^ will give the teacher the keynote for each 
 story. She will have slipped naturally into asking 
 questions, with the children and of them, concerning 
 the people^ place, and incidents. Now notice that 
 
NOTES TO TEACHERS 235 
 
 there are two times; but the time is changed in a 
 story where there is only one place. Notice, too, 
 that we speak for the first time of properties in the 
 place — two chairs, a table ; but we do not call 
 them properties yet. They are only ^^ things '^ that 
 belong to the story. 
 
 For the first time we introduce into the acting 
 moods J the moods of the two brothers, as they change 
 in the story. This is a distinct step forward in 
 dramatization, but it will be so natural that the 
 children will hardly realize it. 
 
 Fables in Verse. — These fables and nonsense 
 rhymes are put in for the teacher's help. By this 
 time she will have found out certain lines along 
 which the children are weak. Perhaps it is in dia- 
 logue ; perhaps in gesture, in quickness, in contrast 
 and in climax, or in developing a storj by questions. 
 These bright verses give an opportunity to review 
 each point. 
 
 The Boy who Wondered. — By this time the 
 children ought to be able to work out all but the 
 last scene without much help. The teacher will 
 probably have to offer suggestions to make it a uni- 
 fied and effective climax. She will find, as the work 
 progresses, that some things which seem obstacles 
 to her mind are trifies over which the ready imagina- 
 tion of the child leaps without a pause. That is 
 why she does well to hold herself in reserve. Some 
 
236 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 problems she must help in solving ; others she will 
 never have to meet. 
 
 How the Indian got Fire. — The first part of this 
 story is a deliberate review ; the second^ a test of the 
 ingenuity already developed in using the schoolroom 
 as a stage ; the third; an exercise of the creative 
 faculty. 
 
 It is never well to force any of these* issues. The 
 stories are here waiting for another trial if the first 
 proves unsuccessful. A scene which disappoints an 
 adult will often be a success from the child^s point of 
 view. If a play does not develop all its possibilities, 
 leave it and let the class come back to it when they 
 have had larger experience. 
 
 Prudent Hans. — A lesson in clever dialogue and 
 effective facial expression and gesture. Here in 
 this simple tale we find our chance to discuss 
 properties. 
 
 Alice's Adventures with the Queens. — A real 
 story-play, into which the children can put hard 
 work. It uses all the points made ; it includes boys 
 and girls, speakers and silent actors ; and is bright 
 and entertaining without making too heavy demands 
 on the young actors. Read it aloud ; reread it with 
 different children reading the parts ; then plan the 
 acting. Even after the children have tried it once/ 
 let them reread it with the new point of view which 
 their acting will give them. 
 
NOTES TO TEACHERS 237 
 
 A Stone in the Road. — Another story for the 
 children to plan. The first scene^ without a word 
 spoken^ can be made very effective ; the last is really 
 dramatic. 
 
 Mr. Wind and Madam Rain. — Occasionally boys 
 and girls like to try something that is a little beyond 
 them. To do the ordinary and conventional does not 
 always bring out their best powers. Let them try 
 this and see what they make of it. 
 
 How a Girl Hid a Governor. — This story is 
 wholly within the powers of the children. Let them 
 make a play out of it; which can be given on some 
 patriotic occasion. 
 
 PART II 
 
 Thus far we have limited our material and our ef- 
 forts to certain simple methods and effects. We have 
 tried to follow the natural development of the dra- 
 matic in the child's mind^ which parallels^ as it is in- 
 teresting to notice; the history of the drama from its 
 beginning in church ceremonials^ and puppet plays 
 through pageant scenes to more highly organized pro- 
 ductions. We begin with pantomime^ and speech 
 which explains itself and involves no special shades of 
 meanings and go on through simple dialogue^ which has 
 been described as '' interrupted speech," to conversa- 
 tions involving real powers of expression. From types 
 for our personages — a lion^ a hear, a man^ a boy — 
 
238 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 we come through the moods of the brothers and of the 
 queens of ^^ AHce in Wonderland ^^ to the girl and the 
 governor^ whose speech and acts must show the emo- 
 tions which they feel. The mechanical devices of 
 dramatization have also been covered, and the 
 children are familiar with the methods of analyzing 
 a story and building up from it a set of scenes. 
 
 Now both children and teacher are ready to go 
 further, though the children will do it without much 
 consciousness of change. Types will change to per- 
 sonalities ; individuals will stand out and demand 
 recognition ; the fine touches of the story and the 
 details of the action will come in for attention. For 
 this careful study, as also for the earlier stories, the 
 best literature has been selected. The teacher will 
 find her opportunity in helping (by her questions and 
 suggestions) the children to see the scenes vividly 
 and to translate them into action. Now the actors 
 must live the people as well as the story. In these 
 stories, too, there is more left for them to do in 
 creating the play. For all this the earher work 
 will have so prepared them that they will slip into 
 it easily. 
 
 How England found Her King. — The first scene 
 will probably be worked out by a reading of the proc- 
 lamation, with some announcement by a herald. 
 The old English idea of a prologue often makes a 
 convenient device for presenting facts or introducing 
 
NOTES TO TEACHERS 239 
 
 characters. In developing these scenes the teacher 
 will realize with relief the advantage which the chil- 
 dren have a right to take in their dramatizations, 
 from the fact that they all know the story. Let 
 them act as much of it as they can easily, but do not 
 be strict to have every point brought in, as it would 
 have to be before an outside audience or in a book 
 where each story was presented only in its drama- 
 tized form. 
 
 King Arthur scenes call out chivalry, courtesy, 
 and dignity. Boys will stand straight, doff their 
 caps, and ^' speak fair '^ as knights, when it would 
 be hard to suggest such things to them as school- 
 boys. 
 
 The Necklace of Truth gives the girls a chance, and 
 a very good chance, too. Here individuals develop, 
 not merely types. 
 
 The Miller of the Dee. — Always a charming 
 poem, however used. 
 
 The Just Judge gives an opportunity for discrim- 
 inating character portrayal. Bou-Akas, the cripple, 
 and the judge are all excellent parts. Our scenes 
 are always too short to allow for much development of 
 character during the period allowed. To take the 
 place of this feature of real drama, such a role as 
 that of the cripple is introduced. In playing a part 
 throughout, he allows quick changes of manner and 
 bearing. 
 
240 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 Keeping Shop is a selection well worth careful 
 study, for its language, its historical period, and its 
 character sketches. The first scene is practically 
 prepared for the young actors ; the second offers 
 great possibilities. 
 
 A Boy's Friendship has less action or plot than 
 almost any other story, but gives the best of practice 
 in good reading and acting. 
 
 The Emperor's Bird's-Nest. — Story-telling verses 
 containing dramatic scenes are given for variety and 
 also to suggest to the pupils that they watch in their 
 reading for other scenes which they might act. Talk 
 over with the class what it is that makes a scene 
 draniatic. The characters must present themselves 
 through their action and tell their story through dia- 
 logue. Show how action can illustrate speech. The 
 Emperor might remark in a level tone, ^' Leave it 
 standing.'' Instead he speaks the words ^^ very 
 curtly." It is impossible to read them without im- 
 agining a gesture of command as he gives the order to 
 his men. There you have illustrative action, which 
 is the distinguishing element of drama. 
 
 When Rip Van Winkle Came Home. — The 
 teacher will do well to read other parts of the story 
 to the class, filling in the background which will make 
 them appreciate this scene. 
 
 Scenes from Pinocchio. — In dramatizing a story 
 of this kind, we must be satisfied if there is only a 
 
• NOTES TO TEACHERS 241 
 
 thread of plot and action. The samp instinct that 
 made the audiences of the Middle Ages delight in 
 the long '^ gests ^^ of Robin Hood and Havelok the 
 Dane, is satisfied in the children by a succession of 
 episodes in the life of a hero. 
 
 A Strange Visitor. — Another scene from literature 
 which it is worth while for the children to study and 
 know well; especially as they always enjoy it. 
 
 The Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal Green. — To 
 make up a book of dramatic stories without any 
 romance would be to leave out an important and de- 
 lightful element. This pretty story has all the 
 charm of a romantic plot in a mediseval setting which 
 gives it beauty, dignity, and restraint. Notice that 
 neither of the young people acts for himself. The 
 daughter is represented by her father ; the knight; 
 by his kinsmen. 
 
 Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh. — A 
 scene which calls into play the favorite ^^ imaginings '' 
 of children, of queens, courts, and cavaliers. Help 
 them to get the true spirit of the incident. 
 
 Harmosan. — A most dramatic scene. The bind- 
 ing power of a king's word is always an inspiring 
 thought. 
 
 Washington and the Spy. — Cooper's long, slow 
 descriptions and his stilted language give just the 
 atmosphere which the children wish to create for 
 such a scene. 
 
242 DRAMATIC READINGS 
 
 PART III 
 
 King John and the Abbot. — This is not an elabo- 
 rate play, but a dramatization, purposely simple/ 
 of a familiar tale. Boys and girls who have studied 
 this book might make such a play from any of the 
 later stories or from other stories which this collec- 
 tion will help them to recognize in literature. 
 
THE GOLDEN RULE SERIES 
 
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 Reading with a Moral Purpose for Home and School 
 
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 To portray vividly for children situations in which the right moral 
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 To bring children to recognize the intense feeling of approval that 
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 To give to children an early opportunity of understanding in the sim- 
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