Childrens Classics in Dramatic Form | Page 4

laughing._]
FIRST BLIND MAN. Ha, ha, ha! Hear how he laughs at you!
SECOND BLIND MAN. He laughs at you and the others.
THIRD BLIND MAN. He does not laugh at me!
FOURTH BLIND MAN. I say he laughs at you and the others.
[Illustration: THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT]
FIFTH BLIND MAN. You cannot say he laughs at me!
SIXTH BLIND MAN. He laughs at all of you! He knows I spoke the truth.
[_He goes._]
OTHER BLIND MEN. Hear him! Hear him!
[_They go their different ways, shaking their fingers angrily at each other._]

THE STAG AND THE FAWN
SCENE I
TIME: _last autumn._ PLACE: _the forest._
* * * * *
THE STAG. THE FAWN.
* * * * *
[The STAG and FAWN _enter the forest._]
FAWN. Here is a pool!
STAG. We will stop and drink.
FAWN. I see your horns in the water, father.
STAG. Ah, yes!
FAWN. They look like a strong tree down there.
STAG. They are strong! And are they not beautiful, child?
FAWN. They make you very grand, dear father!
STAG. No king with his crown looks grander!
FAWN. I see your feet in the water, father.
STAG. Do not speak of my feet, child!
FAWN. Why not? They are small and slender.
[Illustration]
STAG. But they look so weak. I do not like my feet at all. I wish they were different.
(_A Hunter's horn is heard._)
Come, child, come!
SCENE II
TIME: _an hour later._ PLACE: _another part of the forest._
* * * * *
THE STAG. THE FAWN. THE HUNTER.
* * * * *
[The STAG _is caught in a thicket by his horns. The_ FAWN _looks at him pityingly._]
FAWN. A man is near! I hear him running!
STAG. I cannot free myself!
FAWN. Ah, if you only had no horns!
STAG. Or if they were only not so strong and not so grand!
FAWN. Your feet could save you then, dear father.
STAG. Go, child, and let your feet save you.
FAWN. I cannot bear to leave you, father!
STAG. Go save yourself! Go, go!
[_The faun goes. The_ HUNTER _enters._]
HUNTER. Aha! I have you now!

THE SHEPHERD BOY WHO CALLED WOLF
SCENE I
TIME: _middle of the afternoon._ PLACE: _a hillside near the village._
* * * * *
SHEPHERD BOY. MASTER. PASTOR. MERCHANT. BAKER. BUTCHER.
* * * * *
[The SHEPHERD BOY _watches a flock of sheep._]
BOY. I am tired of watching sheep! I will play a joke on some one! I will play a joke on every one!
(_He calls in a loud voice._)
Wolf! Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!
[Enter the VILLAGERS _with clubs._]
MASTER. Where is the Wolf?
BOY. Ha, ha, ha! There is no wolf!
PASTOR. I do not like to leave my church!
[Illustration]
MERCHANT. I do not like to leave my store!
BAKER. I do not like to leave my dough!
BUTCHER. I do not like to leave my ox!
BOY. Ha, ha, ha! There is no wolf! Ha, ha, ha!
MASTER. You must not play that joke again! Do you hear? You must never play that joke again!
SCENE II
TIME: _a week later._ PLACE: _same as in Scene I._
* * * * *
BOY. VILLAGERS.
* * * * *
[The BOY _watches his sheep._]
BOY. I will play that joke again. I like to see them come running.
(_He calls in a loud voice._)
Wolf! Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!
[The VILLAGERS _come with clubs._]
MASTER. Where is the wolf?
BOY. Ha, ha, ha! There is no wolf!
PASTOR. I do not like to leave my church!
MERCHANT. I do not like to leave my store!
BAKER. I do not like to leave my dough!
BUTCHER. I do not like to leave my ox!
BOY. Ha, ha, ha! There is no wolf! Ha, ha, ha!
MASTER. Boy, boy, you must not joke about a wolf! Do you hear? You must never joke about a wolf!
SCENE III
TIME: _a week later._ PLACE: _same as Scene II._
* * * * *
BOY.
* * * * *
[The BOY _watches the sheep. A wolf comes and begins to kill the sheep._]
BOY. Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!
(_No one comes or answers._)
Master! Pastor! Merchant! Baker! Butcher! Come! Come! Wolf! Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!
(_No one comes or answers._)
What shall I do? They think I am playing a joke again. What shall I do? I cannot save my sheep! I must run to save myself!

THE WISH-BIRD
TIME: _a few years ago._ PLACE: _the palace gardens._
* * * * *
BIRD. PRINCE. NURSE.
* * * * *
[The PRINCE and his NURSE _walk in the palace gardens. The_ WISH-BIRD _is flying among the trees._]
PRINCE. I am tired of the gardens, Nurse.
NURSE. Look at your pretty flowers, dear Prince.
PRINCE. I am tired of the flowers.
NURSE. Look at your pretty doves, dear Prince.
PRINCE. I am tired of my doves.
NURSE. Then look at your white, white rabbits, Prince.
PRINCE. I am tired of my rabbits.
NURSE. Dear me! Dear me!
PRINCE. What shall I look at, Nurse?
[Illustration: 'I AM TIRED OF MY RABBITS']
NURSE. I do not know, dear Prince.
PRINCE. You must tell me what to look at.
NURSE. Dear me! Dear me!
PRINCE. I will send you to the king.
NURSE. Do not send me to the king, dear Prince!
PRINCE. Then tell me what to look at.
BIRD. Look at me, Prince! Look at