Childrens Classics in Dramatic Form | Page 7

I not have feathers like your own?
SECOND PEACOCK. Ha, ha! I dropped them on the ground this morning.
THIBAUD PEACOCK. Let's take them from him!
[Illustration]
VAIN JACKDAW. No, no! I beg you--
FIRST PEACOCK. Come, let's pull them out!
[_They pull the peacock feathers from the jackdaw._]
THIRD PEACOCK. You cannot stay with us!
SECOND PEACOCK. Go back to the jackdaws!
FIRST PEACOCK. Away with you! Away!
[_The jackdaw runs. The peacocks go, laughing. The other_ JACKDAWS _enter, followed by the_ VAIN JACKDAW.]
VAIN JACKDAW. Ah, here you are! I have been looking for you.
OLD JACKDAW. Why do you look for us?
VAIN JACKDAW. I am a jackdaw. I want to be with jackdaws.
OLD JACKDAW. We will have nothing more to do with you! Away!
VAIN JACKDAW. But, brothers, my dear, dear brothers, please let me stay with you!
OLD JACKDAW. You would not walk with jackdaws! Away!
YOUNG JACKDAW. You would not talk with jackdaws! Away!
ANOTHER JACKDAW. You thought yourself too fine for jackdaws! Away!
ALL JACKDAWS. Away! Away!
[_They drive the Vain Jackdaw from the park._]

THE LITTLE JACKAL AND THE CAMEL
SCENE I
TIME: _one morning._ PLACE: _the east bank of the river._
* * * * *
THE JACKAL. THE CAMEL.
* * * * *
[The JACKAL _stands on the river bank. He looks longingly toward the west shore._]
JACKAL. Ah, if I could only get at those crabs over there! It makes me hungry just to see them! Now if I could only swim! Or if I could walk on water! Or if I had a little canoe!
[Enter the CAMEL. _The Jackal whispers to himself._]
Aha! Now I know the way to get across.
(_To the Camel._)
Such news as I have for you, dear friend!
CAMEL. Must I guess?
JACKAL. No, I'll tell you this time. Listen: I know a spot where the sugar-cane grows thick.
CAMEL. Tell me! I cannot wait! Tell me!
JACKAL. I cannot. I'll have to show you. It is on the other side of the river.
CAMEL. Why, then, I'll swim across and take you on my back.
JACKAL. Just the very thing!
CAMEL. Come, then! It makes me hungry just to hear of sugar-cane.
[_He kneels for the Jackal to get upon his back._]
SCENE II
TIME: _a little later._ PLACE: _the sugar-cane field._
* * * * *
THE JACKAL. THE CAMEL. FARMER. BOYS.
* * * * *
[The CAMEL _eats the sugar-cane. The_ JACKAL _comes running into the field._]
CAMEL. What! Have you finished your crabs?
JACKAL. I cannot eat another one! Are you not ready to go?
CAMEL. Ready! Why, I have just begun.
JACKAL. I'll wait for you outside the field, then.
[_The Camel nods and disappears among the cane._]
Now I do not wish to wait for him. I am in a hurry to get home, I am. So I'll sing a little song I know. The farmer then will come and drive the camel out.
[_He goes. Soon he is heard singing in the distance. Enter the_ FARMER and the BOYS _with clubs._]
FARMER. I see no jackal here!
A BOY. I am sure I heard him singing!
ANOTHER BOY. I heard him, too!
FARMER. We must look for him and drive him out.
[The CAMEL _enters, eating cane._]
FIRST BOY. Look, look! A camel!
SECOND BOY. Look, father! A camel!
FARMER (_to Camel_). So it was you who was singing, was it? Drive him out, boys! Quick! Beat him with your clubs!
[_They rush upon the Camel and beat him as he runs from the field._]
SCENE III
TIME: _a little later._ PLACE: _the west bank of the river._
* * * * *
THE JACKAL. THE CAMEL.
* * * * *
[The CAMEL _lies on the bank half dead from his beating. Enter the_ JACKAL.]
JACKAL. Are you ready to go now, friend?
CAMEL. Don't say "friend" to me!
JACKAL. Why do you speak so strangely?
CAMEL. Why did you sing so strangely?
[Illustration]
JACKAL. Oh, I don't know why! I always sing after dinner.
CAMEL. Ah! Well, let us go.
[_He kneels. The Jackal gets on his back. The Camel rises and enters the river. He swims to the middle of the river and stops._]
JACKAL. Why do you stop?
CAMEL. I have such a strange, strange feeling.
JACKAL. Well, swim on. You need not stop!
CAMEL. I feel as if I must roll over.
JACKAL. Roll over! If you do, I shall be drowned!
CAMEL. Exactly. But still I have that feeling.
JACKAL. Now that is nonsense! Why should you roll over?
CAMEL. Oh, I don't know why! I always roll over after dinner.
[_He rolls over._]

THE ENDLESS TALE
TIME: _a long time ago._ PLACE: _the King's palace._
* * * * *
KING. PRINCESS. FIRST STORY-TELLER. SECOND STORY-TELLER. LORDS AND LADIES. GUARDS.
* * * * *
[The KING _sits on a cushion in the great hall. The_ PRINCESS _sits on a cushion by him. In front of them sits the_ FIRST STORY-TELLER. The LORDS and LADIES _sit near by._]
STORY-TELLER. "Then the prince married the princess and they were happy forever and ever."
[_There is a pause._]
KING. Go on!
(_The Story-Teller hangs his head._)
Go on, I say!
STORY-TELLER. That is all, your Majesty.
KING. All!
STORY-TELLER. The prince married the princess. There is