Children's Classics in Dramatic Form - novelonlinefull.com
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
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 nothing more to tell.
KING. I cannot bear so short a story!
PRINCESS. Why, father; for three months we have listened to it!
KING. 'Tis short, I say! I bid you make it longer, sir!
STORY-TELLER. I cannot, Sire. The prince married the princess. There is nothing--
KING. Throw him out of the palace, guards! Cut off his head!
[_Guards seize the Story-Teller._]
PRINCESS. Father!
LORDS. Your Majesty!
LADIES. Sire!
PRINCESS. Spare his life!
STORY-TELLER. Let me keep my head, Sire!
KING. Why should you keep it? You do not use it.
STORY-TELLER. For three months I have used it, Sire!
KING. Your story is too short, I say! Away with him, guards! Away!
(_Guards take out the First Story-Teller._)
Bid another Story-Teller come!
(_A guard admits the_ SECOND STORY-TELLER, _who bows before the King and Princess._)
Sir, hear me. You must tell a story that will last forever.
SECOND STORY-TELLER. I hear, O King!
