Children's Classics in Dramatic Form Part 7

BIRD. Rabbits, rabbits, fly away!

NURSE. Prince, Prince, your pretty rabbits are flying away!

PRINCE. I want my pretty flowers, I do! I want my pretty rabbits, too!

BIRD. You asked too much, Prince! You asked too much!

PRINCE. What will the king say?

NURSE. Dear me! Dear me! The king loved the flowers and white, white rabbits.

PRINCE. What shall I do, Wish-Bird?

BIRD. Go plant flower seeds and care for them until they grow to flowers. Go feed your doves and care for them. Go work and work and work and never ask too much. Then some day I will come to you and you may wish again.

[_The Wish-Bird flies away._]

LAZY KATE

SCENE I

TIME: _early in the morning._ PLACE: _Kate's bedroom._

KATE.

MOTHER.

BED.

[KATE _is in bed. Her_ MOTHER _comes._]

MOTHER. Kate, Kate, get up!

KATE. By and by, mother.

MOTHER. It is time to go to school. Get up!

KATE. By and by, mother, by and by.

MOTHER. You will be late to school, I fear.

[_The Mother goes._]

BED. Dear me! Dear me! Kate will not get up. Well, she shall not be late to school. I will see to that.

[_The Bed walks from the room into the street. Kate is frightened._]

KATE. Bed, Bed, where are you going?

BED. To school, you lazy child.

SCENE II

TIME: _five minutes later._ PLACE: _the schoolroom._

KATE.

TEACHER.

BED.

BOYS AND GIRLS.

[_The_ BED _enters the schoolroom. Kate tries to hide under the covers._]

BED. Good-morning, teacher. Here is lazy Kate.

TEACHER. Ha, ha, ha!

BED. Good-morning, boys. Here is lazy Kate.

BOYS. Ha, ha, ha!

BED. Good-morning, girls. Here is lazy Kate.

GIRLS. Ha, ha, ha!

KATE. Take me home, Bed! Please take me home!

BED. Will you get up early?

KATE. O yes, yes, yes!

BED. Every morning?

KATE. Every morning, Bed! Every morning!

[Ill.u.s.tration: "GOOD-MORNING, TEACHER. HERE IS LAZY KATE"]

BED. Then I will take you home. Good-by, teacher!