LITTLE DRAMAS FOR PRIMARY GRADES
BY
ADA MARIA SKINNER
ST. AGATHA SCHOOL, NEW YORK CITY
AND
LILLIAN NIXON LAWRENCE
[Illustration]
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY
NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright, 1913, BY
ADA M. SKINNER AND LILLIAN N. LAWRENCE.
COPYRIGHT, 1913, IN GREAT BRITAIN.
LITTLE DRAMAS FOR PRIMARY GRADES.
W. P. I
PREFATORY NOTE
The use of dramatic readers has passed beyond the experimental stage.
Their value in arousing interest, in stirring the imagination, in
quickening literary appreciation and power of interpretation, has been
so clearly demonstrated as to make them permanent textbooks in the
elementary schools, and more particularly in the primary grades. The
present difficulty consists, therefore, not in uncertainty of the value
of dramatic literature, but in the inadequacy of the supply. The need of
suitable literary material in good dramatic form for the primary grades
is still very great. This little book has been compiled as one step
toward meeting this need at least in one particular school, but it is
hoped that it may prove of service in many other schools. It is intended
for use at the end of the first, and at the beginning of the second,
year.
EMMA G. SEBRING.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For permission to use copyright material in this volume, acknowledgments
and thanks are proffered to authors and publishers, as follows:
To Laura E. Richards, for the adaptation from her story, “The New Year”;
to Dodd, Mead & Co. for “Mabel and the Green Lizard,” adapted from “The
Adventures of Mabel,” by H. T. Peck; to G. P. Putnam’s Sons, of New York
and London, for the selection by Judge Parry from “The Golden
Staircase”; to Longmans, Green, & Co. for “The Odd Man and the Dog
True”; and to John Lane Company for “Return of Spring,” by Dion Clayton
Calthrop.
CONTENTS
PAGE
BUNNY RABBIT 7
THE ODD MAN AND THE DOG TRUE 14
THE OWL AND GRASSHOPPER GREEN 19
SOMEWHERE TOWN _Kate Greenaway_ 21
THE TIMID HARE 22
MABEL AND THE GREEN LIZARD _Adapted_ 26
THE MAIDEN AND THE BIRD _Lydia Maria Child_ 32
THE LITTLE FISH _African Fable_ 35
BELLING THE CAT 37
THE FOX AND THE CROW 40
HANS AND GRETCHEN 41
LADY MOON _Lord Houghton_ 50
PRECOCIOUS PIGGY _Thomas Hood_ 52
STRANGE LANDS _Laurence Alma-Tadema_ 56
HOW TO GET A BREAKFAST 58
THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE _Adapted from an Old Story_ 60
CHRISTMAS EVE IN AN ATTIC 65
THE NEW YEAR _Adapted from Laura E. 73
Richards_
A FRIENDSHIP DECLINED 77
THE SELFISH MAN 79
THE MAGPIE’S NEST 83
ADVENTURES OF THE FIRST SPRING 86
THE BIRD’S NEST _Lydia Maria Child_ 93
THE BOASTFUL BAMBOO TREE _Japanese Fable_ 100
RETURN OF SPRING 105
WHO HOLDS UP THE SKY? _Adapted_ 110
THE FOX’S PLAN 114
TOM AND THE LOBSTER _Adapted_ 117
WHY THE JELLYFISH HAS NO SHELL _Oriental Fable_ 119
I WOULD LIKE YOU FOR A COMRADE _Judge Parry_ 132
SOUTHWEST WIND’S VISIT TO GLUCK _Adapted from John Ruskin_ 134
THE CHILD AND THE SPARROW _Thomas Westwood_ 143
THE RABBIT’S MESSAGE _German Tale_ 145
LAUGHING SANJA _Japanese Folk Story_ 150
THE TIGER AND THE BRAHMAN 159
THE LION AND THE STORY-TELLER 169
OVER THE HILL _George MacDonald_ 174
[Illustration]
BUNNY RABBIT AND THE LION
CHARACTERS—_Lion_, _Rabbit_, _Mother Deer_, _Elephant_, _Camel_,
_Jackal_, _other animals_
SCENE I—_The Forest_
_Mother Deer._ Brave Lion, give me back my little deer.
_Lion._ I will not. The deer is mine.
_Mother Deer._ O Lion, it is the only one I have. I beg of you,
give it back to me.
_Lion._ A lion does not give back what he has taken. Be
off, or I will eat _you_.
SCENE II—_Another Part of the Forest_
_Mother Deer._ Can you not help me, animals? The lion has taken my
little deer, the only one I had.
_Elephant._ I am sorry for you. But the lion is the king of the
forest. He takes what he will and keeps what he likes. I cannot help
you.
_Mother Deer._ [_Goes on._] Can you not help me, Camel? You are
always kind and gentle.
_Camel._ The lion did wrong to take your deer. He did a
great wrong, but I cannot help you.
_Mother Deer._ [_Goes on._] Surely, little jackal, _you_ will help
me.
_Jackal._ Sh! Sh! I’m afraid of the lion, myself. We’ve never
been very good friends. I wish I could help you. Let me see. I have it!
Go to Bunny Rabbit. He’s a little creature, but he’s wise and brave.
_Mother Deer._ You say he’s wise?
_Jackal._ He is.
_Mother Deer._ And brave?
_Jackal._ He is.
_Mother Deer._ Then I will go at once.
SCENE III—_In Front of Bunny Rabbit’s Burrow_
_Bunny Rabbit._ Good morning, Mother Deer. What is the matter?
_Mother Deer._ Bunny Rabbit, that wicked lion stole my little deer
and will not give it to me. I asked the forest animals to help me, but
none was brave enough to do so.
_Bunny Rabbit._ Not even the elephant, or the camel, or the jackal?
_Mother Deer._ Not one. I asked them all. They all said they were
sorry. But I believe they are all afraid of the lion.
_Bunny Rabbit._ Why did you come to me? I’m such a little creature.
_Mother Deer._ The jackal told me you are wise and brave, and he
said that you would help me.
_Bunny Rabbit._ Tell them all to meet in front of my burrow. We
will talk it over and see what can be done. [_Mother Deer goes away, and
Bunny Rabbit digs a long passage under the ground and then comes out
behind a bush._]
SCENE IV—_In Front of the Burrow_
[_Bunny Rabbit and all the animals. Lion watching in the distance. Only
Elephant and Camel see him._]
_Bunny Rabbit._ Elephant, do you think the lion should keep the
little deer?
_Elephant._ The lion is king of the forest, and he _should_
keep the little deer.
_Bunny Rabbit._ Camel, what do you say?
_Camel._ Dear me. What can I say? It is all wrong. But I’m
sure he
_should_ keep what he stole.
_Bunny Rabbit._ How you tremble, little jackal! What do you say?
[Illustration]
_Jackal._ [_Seeing the lion._] Oh! Do I tremble? No, yes, no,
yes, yes. I think he _should_ keep the deer.
_Bunny Rabbit._ [_In a loud voice._] The lion should _not_ keep the
deer! The lion is a wicked _thief_! [_Lion springs at him. Bunny Rabbit
darts down into the burrow._]
_Lion._ [_Looking into the burrow._] Gone down there, has
he? Well, I’ll fix him. I’ll stay right here until he comes out. I’ll
stay, and stay, and stay, until I starve him out.
SCENE V—_Another Part of the Forest_
_Bunny Rabbit._ Run, Mother Deer, and get your little one.
_Mother Deer._ Won’t that wicked lion come again?
_Bunny Rabbit._ No, no! He’s going to stay in front of my burrow
until I come out. Ha! ha! He’ll starve to death _himself_ if he waits
for that! Ha! ha! [_Mother Deer runs to the little deer, and both escape
into the forest._]
[Illustration]
THE ODD MAN AND THE DOG TRUE
CHARACTERS—_Odd Man_, _True_, _Big Black Dog_
_Odd Man._ [_To the dog._] Who are you, and why do you come
into my cave?
_True._ I am a poor dog, sir, who has lost his way. Will
you be so kind as to tell me how I may get out?
_Odd Man._ No, I will not. But I will tell you what you may do
if you like. You may stay here in my cave and work for me.
_True._ I will do that if you will not let me out. But what
work do you wish me to do?
_Odd Man._ Well, well, you see I have here a great bag full of
gold. I have to sit on it all the time.
_True._ Why must you sit on it?
_Odd Man._ I will tell you. Near my cave lives an ogre. This
ogre wants to kill me so that he can get my gold.
_True._ Dear me!
_Odd Man._ If I go to sleep or move away he will try to get at
me. I am just worn out for want of rest.
_True._ Dear me! How can I help you?
_Odd Man._ Well, if you would stay by me and watch for the
ogre, I might take a short nap.
_True._ I will do that! And you, sir, go to sleep. [_Odd
Man goes to sleep. Big Black Dog enters._]
_Big Black Dog._ Good day, little dog. How do you do?
_True._ I am very well, I thank you; but who are you?
_Big Black Dog._ My name is Nip, and I have come to show you the way
out of this cave. Let us run now!
_True._ No; I said I would take care of this cave for the
Odd Man, and I will do it.
_Big Black Dog._ But the Odd Man is asleep. He will not see you.
Come, now, come along with me!
_True._ No, I will not go.
_Big Black Dog._ Then give me a bone, will you?
_True._ I cannot, for they are not mine; the Odd Man may
give you one, by and by. [_Big Black Dog goes to get a bone._]
_True._ Bow-wow-wow!
_Odd Man._ [_Opening his eyes._] What was that? You woke me
out of my nap.
_True._ Oh, sir, it was a big black dog. It came into the
cave and was stealing a bone.
_Odd Man._ Oh! That was the ogre in the dress of a black dog.
Here, you may have a bone. You were a good dog to bark and wake me up.
What more can I do to show you how glad I am?
_True._ Oh, sir, may I go out of the cave now? I want to
see a nice, nice cat that is waiting outside.
_Odd Man._ Very well, good dog. The ogre will not come back
again, and I can take a good nap. Here is a door in the side of the
cave. I will open it, and you can go.—Good-by.
THE OWL AND GRASSHOPPER GREEN
SCENE—_In the Meadow_
_Grasshopper Green._ Creak, creak, creak, c-r-e-a-k!
_Owl._ Won’t you keep quiet? I can’t sleep with your
“creak, creak.”
_Grasshopper Green._ No, I will not keep quiet. Creak, creak, creak!
_Owl._ Then go away from here. Go into the grass field
over there, if you must sing.
_Grasshopper Green._ I shall do nothing of the sort. I have as much
right to sing as you have to sleep. Creak, creak! Besides, you have
never done anything for me. Creak, creak, creak, c-r-e-a-k!
_Owl._ [_To himself._] Such a saucy grasshopper green!
_Grasshopper Green._ Creak, c-r-e-a-k!
_Owl._ [_Later._] Well, Grasshopper Green, you have a
wonderful voice!
_Grasshopper Green._ I have indeed. Creak, creak, creak, c-r-e-a-k!
_Owl._ Now that I am awake, I love to hear you sing.
_Grasshopper Green._ C-R-E-A-K!
_Owl._ Let me give you some of the sweet honey I have here
in my tree. Honey is good for the voice.
[_The grasshopper goes to the owl._]
_Owl._ SNAP!
SOMEWHERE TOWN
_First Child._ Which is the way to Somewhere Town?
_Second Child._ Oh, up in the morning early.
Over the tiles and the chimney pots,
That is the way quite clearly.
_First Child._ And which is the door to Somewhere Town?
_Second Child._ Oh, up in the morning early.
The round red sun is the door to go through;
That is the way quite clearly.
—KATE GREENAWAY.
THE TIMID HARE
[Illustration]
CHARACTERS
_Timid Hare_
_Camel_
_Sheep_
_Deer_
_Brother Hare_
_Elephant_
_Lion_
_Timid Hare._ Oh dear! Oh dear! If the sky were to fall, what
would happen to me? Oh, what would happen to me! What is that noise? Oh
dear! Oh dear! Oh, I am sure the sky is falling! It is! It is! It is!
[_Timid Hare runs._]
_Brother Hare._ Why are you running away, little hare?
_Timid Hare._ Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling!
_Brother Hare._ [_Frightened._] Oh dear! Oh dear! The sky is
falling!
_Deer._ Why, what is the matter, little hare?
_Timid Hare._ Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.
_Deer._ [_Frightened._] What shall I do?
_Sheep._ Where are you going, little hare? Why do you run so
fast?
_Timid Hare._ Oh, the sky is falling!
_Sheep._ [_Frightened._] Dear me, dear me!
_Camel._ Stop a minute, little hare! What’s the matter?
_Timid Hare._ Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.
_Camel._ [_Frightened._] No, no, it can’t be.
_Elephant._ Why do you run so fast, little hare? What has
happened?
_Timid Hare._ I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.
_Elephant._ Can that be true?
_Lion._ What is this you say?
_Timid Hare._ I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.
_Lion._ How do you know this?
_Timid Hare._ I saw it.
_Lion._ Where did you see it?
_Timid Hare._ There, by that tree.
_Lion._ Oh, what nonsense! There are no signs that the sky
is falling. Come with me and I’ll show you.
_Timid Hare._ No, no, I must hurry along. I am afraid to go back.
_Lion._ Yes, you shall come with me to that tree. I will
take you there myself. [_Lion and hare go to the tree._]
_Lion._ There, do you see? The sky is not falling. A little
acorn fell upon a leaf. It made the noise that frightened you. Let us go
back now, and tell the other animals.
MABEL AND THE GREEN LIZARD
CHARACTERS—_Grandma_, _Mabel_, _Lizard_, _Wolf_
SCENE I—_Mabel’s Home_
_Mabel._ Grandma, may I go to the woods to pick some berries
for supper?
_Grandma._ Yes, but be sure to come home before dark. There
are animals in the woods, Mabel. They prowl around after dark.
_Mabel._ Oh, I’m not afraid. I’ll come home before night.
SCENE II—_In the Woods_
_Mabel._ Dear me! How dark it is getting. I must hurry home.
[_Hears a little squeaking sound._] What’s that? [_Sees a little green
lizard with a stone on its tail._] Oh, you poor little lizard! Let me
lift that stone from your tail. [_Takes stone off._]
_Lizard._ Thank you. You are a very kind child.
_Mabel._ Oh! I didn’t know that lizards could talk!
_Lizard._ Some lizards can’t. But I am the king of all the
lizards. I am going to do something for you because you lifted the stone
from my tail.
_Mabel._ I was very glad to do it.
_Lizard._ I am going to do something for you that I wouldn’t
do for any other little girl. It’s this: I’m going to teach you the
animal call. Then you will understand everything the animals say to you,
and they will know what you say to them.
_Mabel._ What fun!
_Lizard._ Just listen. [_Gives a low whistle._] Now you do it
after me. [_Mabel tries._] Try again, Mabel. [_She tries again and
again._] Good, that’s it! Now if you wish any animal to be your friend,
just whistle that way to him. That’s the call of all the animals.
Good-by. [_Lizard goes away._]
_Mabel._ Well, that’s the funniest thing I ever heard of.
But, dear me, how dark it is getting. I must run home. [_Starts
homeward. Hears howl._]
_Wolf._ [_Howls._] O-ooo-w.
_Mabel._ What’s that? Oh! it’s a wolf. I’m so frightened!
What shall I do? I’ll give the call.
[_Whistles._]
_Wolf._ [_Answers._] O-ooo-w! O-ooo-w!
[_Wolf comes to Mabel._]
_Mabel._ Wolf, I want you to be my friend.
_Wolf._ To be sure, I will be.
_Mabel._ I’ve lost my way. Please show me the way home. I
live at grandma’s.
_Wolf._ I know where you live. I’ve seen you playing there
many times. Put your hand on my neck, and I’ll show you the way. [_Mabel
does so._]
[Illustration]
SCENE III—_Edge of the Wood_
_Wolf._ There is your home; and your grandma is waiting for
you.
_Mabel._ Thank you very much. I knew you were a good wolf.
You wouldn’t hurt a little girl, would you?
_Wolf._ I wouldn’t hurt you.
_Mabel._ Good night, Wolf.
_Wolf._ Good night.
SCENE IV—_Mabel’s Home_
_Grandma._ Mabel! Mabel! Mabel!
_Mabel._ Yes, Grandma.
_Grandma._ Where have you been so long?
_Mabel._ I’ve been in the woods. Oh, Grandma. I left my
basket of strawberries there.
_Grandma._ Never mind. We can go to-morrow and get them. I was
so frightened! Your uncle told me only yesterday he saw a wolf in the
woods. Just think if you had met him to-day! He would have eaten you up,
every bit of you.
_Mabel._ Oh, Grandma! I’m sure all wolves don’t eat little
girls.
THE MAIDEN AND THE BIRD
[Illustration]
_Maiden._ Little bird, little bird, come to me,
I have a green cage ready for thee,
Beauty-bright flowers I’ll bring anew
And fresh ripe cherries all wet with dew.
_Bird._ Thanks, little maiden, for all thy care,
But I love dearly the clear cool air
And my snug little nest in the old oak tree.
_Maiden._ Little bird, little bird, stay with me!
_Bird._ Nay, little damsel,—away I’ll fly
To greener fields and warmer sky;
When spring returns with pattering rain,
You’ll hear my merry song again.
_Maiden._ Little bird, little bird, who’ll guide thee,
Over the hills and over the sea?
Foolish one, come in the house to stay,
For I’m very sure you’ll lose your way.
_Bird._ Ah, no, little maiden, God guides me,
Over the hills and over the sea.
I will be free as the rushing air,
And sing of sunshine everywhere.
—LYDIA MARIA CHILD.
[Illustration]
THE LITTLE FISH
_Fisherman._ Aha! I have you at last, little fish.
_Little Fish._ O Mr. Fisherman, please put me back into the water.
_Fisherman._ Put you back? No, I will not!
_Little Fish._ I beg you, put me back. I am so little.
_Fisherman._ It has taken me a long time to catch you. Put you
back, indeed! I think not.
_Little Fish._ But I am so little. Put me back and wait until I
have grown to be a large fish. Then I will make you a very good meal.
_Fisherman._ [_Thoughtfully._] True, my little fish, true. But
where shall I find you when you have grown larger?
—African Fable.
BELLING THE CAT
CHARACTERS—_Old Mouse_, _Three Young Mice_
_Old Mouse._ Oh dear, dear, dear! That old cat ate Squeak Nibble
to-day. What can we do?
_Second Mouse._ Well, we must do something! She’ll eat us all, one
by one!
_Third Mouse._ How can we keep her from catching all the rest of
us?
_Fourth Mouse._ Yes, how can we? If we could only know when she is
coming. Her paws are so soft that we cannot hear her.
_Second Mouse._ I have it! One of us will watch her all the time.
When the cat is coming he must squeak as loud as he can.
_Old Mouse._ Watch her, indeed! She’d soon catch that little
mouse.
_Fourth Mouse._ No, that will never do.
_Third Mouse._ Let’s stay in our holes. Then she’ll starve to
death.
_All the Mice._ Ha-ha-ha! A fine plan.
_Old Mouse._ A fine plan, indeed! Do you think the cat eats
nothing but mice? And how should we get anything to eat if we stayed in
our holes?
_Fourth Mouse._ My friends, listen to me. Let us hang a bell round
her neck. That will tell us when she is coming. Then we can run and
hide.
_Second Mouse._ Good, good!
_Third Mouse._ The very thing!
_Fourth Mouse._ Nothing could be better.
_Old Mouse._ [_Thoughtfully._] But who will hang the bell on the
cat’s neck?
[_Silence._]
_Second Mouse._ I will not.
_Third Mouse._ Not _this_ little mouse.
_Old Mouse._ But some one must do it. Who will?
_All._ Sure enough, who?
[Illustration]
THE FOX AND THE CROW
CHARACTERS—_Fox_ _and_ _Crow_
_Crow._ Ah! Some one has left a bit of cheese for me. I’ll
fly up into that tree and eat it.
_Fox._ [_To himself._] That cheese is for me, as sure as I
am a fox.
[_Goes to the tree._]
Good day, Mistress Crow.
How well you are looking.
What bright eyes you have.
I am sure your voice must be sweet.
Just let me hear you sing one song.
[_Crow lifts her head._]
_Crow._ Caw—caw—caw.
_Fox._ [_Snaps up cheese._] That bit of cheese was all I
wanted.
[Illustration]
HANS AND GRETCHEN
CHARACTERS—_Hans_, _Gretchen_, _Red Fox_
SCENE I—_In the Woods_
_Red Fox._ Help me out! Help me out, little Hans. I am caught
in this trap. Help me out, and it shall be well with you.
_Hans._ To be sure. I’ll let you out. There!
_Red Fox._ You are very kind. If you have a wish, tell me what
it is and it shall be granted.
_Hans._ Oh, as to that, I wish my pail here were full of
berries. My sister and I are very hungry.
_Red Fox._ Your wish is granted. Look into your pail! [_Hans
runs home._]