Dramatic Reader for Lower Grades Part 10

_Mother Hubbard._ That's May Day and a very good day for a party out-of-doors. Well I must go home now. Good-by! If I can help you, please call upon me.

_Mother Goose._ Thank you, Mother Hubbard! Good-by, and thank you again for coming over.

SCENE IV.--_At the Party_

_Mother Hubbard._ What a lovely day you have for your party, Mother Goose! The sun shines so bright and warm, and the flowers are lovely. Is there anything I can do?

_Mother Goose._ No, thank you. I'm glad you came early. Have you seen the tables?

_Mother Hubbard._ They are lovely! Where did you get such pretty flowers?

_Mother Goose._ From Mistress Mary, quite contrary. You know she has a garden

With c.o.c.kle sh.e.l.ls, and silver bells, And pretty maids all in a row.

_Mother Hubbard._ I see some one coming.

_Mother Goose._ Why, how do you do, A-Dillar-a-Dollar! Are you always in such good time?

_A-Dillar-a-Dollar._ I'm afraid not, Mrs. Goose. They call me

A ten o'clock scholar, Why did you come so soon?

You used to come at ten o'clock, And now you come at noon!

_Mother Goose._ And here comes Mary with her little lamb. Do you like the lamb better than a Teddy Bear, Mary?

_Mary._ Yes, indeed, I do. Because the lamb loves me, you know.

It followed me to school one day, Which was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play, To see the lamb at school.

_Mother Goose._ Here comes the Old Woman who lives in a shoe, and her two oldest boys. Dear Mrs. Shoe-woman, I am very glad to see you! How did you leave all of your children?

_Mrs. Shoe-woman._ Oh, dear, Mother Goose! I have so many children I don't know what to do: when they are naughty I give them some broth without any bread, and whip them all soundly and put them to bed.

_Mother Goose._ Here are all the children coming to the party! Come, children, let us have a dance. All stand around the Maypole as I call your names:

Little Miss m.u.f.fet and Boy Blue;

Little Bo-Peep and Jacky Horner;

Nancy Etticoat and Jack-be-nimble;

Mary and the little Boy who lives in the Lane.

All take ribbons and stand around the Maypole. Are you all ready?

_Children._ Yes, Mother Goose, we are all ready when the music begins.

_Mother Goose._ Old King Cole, will you have your three fiddlers play for the dance?

_King Cole._ With pleasure, dear Mother Goose--and I'll sing:

Hey diddle, diddle! the cat and the fiddle; The cow jumped over the moon; The little dog laughed to see such craft, And the dish ran away with the spoon.

_Children_ (_sing_).

Old King Cole was a merry old soul; And a merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl, And he called for his fiddlers three.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MOTHER GOOSE'S PARTY]

_Mother Goose._ These are very good songs, but they will not do for a Maypole dance. Here, Little Tommy Tucker, sing for your supper.

_Tommy Tucker._ All right, Mother Goose.

Handy Spandy, Jack-a-dandy, Loved plum cake and sugar candy; He bought some at a grocer's shop, And out he came, hop, hop, hop.

_Children._

Little Tommy Tucker, sings for his supper; What shall he eat? White bread and b.u.t.ter; How shall he eat it without any knife?

How shall he marry without any wife?

[_Dance about the Maypole._]

_Mother Goose._ Why, who can that man be? He is tumbling down in a very queer way! Who are you?

_Man._

I'm the Man in the Moon, Come down too soon To ask the way to Norwich.

I went by the south, And burnt my mouth, Eating cold pease-porridge.

Are Jack and Jill here?

_Jack._ Here I am, Mr. Moon-Man.

_Jill._ Oh, dear Mr. Moon-Man, where is your dog and your bundle of sticks?

_Jack._ Tell us what the children play in your country, the Moon!

_Children._ Please do, Mr. Moon-Man!

_Moon-Man._ Well, children, I can tell you how they learn to count. They all say--

One, two; buckle my shoe; Three, four; shut the door; Five, six; pick up sticks;

and then they all pick up sticks and put them on the fire.

_Tom._ I don't think that is much fun!