Childrens Classics in Dramatic Form | Page 9

Peter!
SOLDIERS. Hurrah! Hurrah!
PEOPLE. Hurrah! Hurrah!
MOTHER. What is this? Why do you carry Peter?
PRINCE. Peter has saved us!
MOTHER. What do you mean?
PRINCE. He put his arm in a hole in the dike. All night long he stood there! All night long he kept out the sea! We found him there this morning. Poor little boy, he was so cold!
MOTHER. Ah, my Peter! My dear Peter!
PRINCE. He is a brave boy. The king wants to see him and to thank him. Come, soldiers, to the king with Peter! Come, to the king! To the king!
[_They go with Peter on their shoulders._]
SOLDIERS. Hurrah for Peter!
PEOPLE. Hurrah for Peter!

THE POT OF GOLD
SCENE I
TIME: _one spring day._ PLACE: _the farmer's vineyard._
* * * * *
THE FARMER. HIS THREE SONS.
* * * * *
[The THREE SONS _dig lazily among the vines._]
FIRST SON. Oh, I am tired of digging! Come, brothers, let us sit and talk!
[_He throws down his spade and sits._]
[Illustration]
SECOND SON. Father said we should dig at every vine. But I must say I am tired of it.
[_He throws down his spade and sits._]
THIRD SON. I was tired when we began.
[_He throws down his spade and sits. The_ FARMER _enters. His sons do not see him._]
FIRST SON. Now I should like to go to war and ride a great white horse.
SECOND SON. I should like to be a prince. I would do nothing all day long but wear my golden crown.
THIRD SON. I want to find a purse of gold. I would never work again, I tell you!
[_The farmer shakes his head sadly._]
FARMER. My sons, these vines have not been dug about. Come, do this work as I have told you.
(_The sons take up their spades, but unwillingly._)
Now listen: a pot of gold is hidden in this vineyard. It is buried deep beneath these vines.
SONS. A pot of gold!
FARMER. It is all I have to leave you. I think it best to-tell you now, for I cannot live much longer.
FIRST SON. Why do you hide the gold, my father?
FARMER. That you may dig for it.
SECOND SON. Why do you hide it in the ground?
FARMER. That you may dig for it.
THIRD SON. Why don't you tell us where it is?
FARMER. That you may dig for it.
[_He goes._]
SONS. A pot of gold!
FIRST SON. Now I shall go to war and ride a great white horse!
SECOND SON. Now I shall marry a princess and wear her golden crown!
THIRD SON. Now I shall find my purse of gold, and never work again!
SCENE II
TIME: _one month later._ PLACE: _the vineyard._
* * * * *
THE THREE SONS.
* * * * *
[_The ground is completely dug up. The_ FIRST SON _is seen digging. He throws down his spade showing disappointment._]
FIRST SON. I cannot find it!
(Enter SECOND SON _with his spade._)
Did you find it?
SECOND SON. No, and I have dug up every inch of our western vineyard.
[Enter THIRD SON _with his spade._]
FIRST AND SECOND SONS. Did you find it?
THIRD SON. No, and I have dug up every inch of the eastern vineyard.
FIRST SON. Well, you see what I have done here.
SECOND SON. Not a vine that has not been dug about!
THIRD SON. I cannot understand it!
FIRST SON. The day our father died he spoke again of the pot of gold.
SECOND SON. And told us again to dig for it.
THIRD SON. I cannot understand it.
[_They go, shaking their heads sadly._]
SCENE III
TIME: _six months later._ PLACE: _the vineyard._
* * * * *
THE THREE SONS. THE FRUIT MERCHANT.
* * * * *
[The MERCHANT enters the vineyard with the THREE SONS.]
MERCHANT. You say your grapes are ripe?
FIRST SON. They are ripe and ready to sell, sir.
SECOND SON. Come, now, and look at them.
[_They cross to the vines._]
MERCHANT. Why, I have never seen such grapes as these!
THIRD SON. We have never had such grapes before, sir.
MERCHANT. How fine and large they are!
FIRST SON. And sweet, too! Just taste one, sir!
MERCHANT (_eating a grape_). Are they all like these?
SECOND SON. Every vine bears just such grapes.
MERCHANT. I must have your grapes. I will give a pot of gold for them.
SONS. A pot of gold!
MERCHANT. Come, will you sell?
SONS. Aye, sir!
MERCHANT. Then to-morrow I will bring the pot of gold and take away the grapes.
[_He goes._]
SONS. A pot of gold!
FIRST SON. I wonder if that was father's pot of gold.
SECOND SON. I almost think it was.
THIRD SON. I wonder now, I wonder--
FIRST SON. No war horse for me! I will stay and dig again for gold!
SECOND SON. No prince's crown for me! I will stay and dig here too!
THIRD SON. I have found my purse of gold! I will stay and find another!

THE HARE AND THE HEDGEHOG
TIME: _one fine morning._ PLACE: _the farmer's cabbage field._
* * * * *
THE HARE. THE HEDGEHOG. THE HEDGEHOG'S WIFE.
* * * * *
[The HEDGEHOG and his WIFE _are walking in the field._]
HEDGEHOG. These cabbages