Children's Classics in Dramatic Form Part 13

[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 cus.h.i.+on in the great hall. The_ PRINCESS _sits on a cus.h.i.+on 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!