Children's Classics in Dramatic Form Part 15

(_He looks about for stones._)

Dear me! Dear me! I cannot find a single stone! What shall I do? The hole will grow larger and larger. The sea will come in and cover all the land. What shall I do? I cannot go and tell the people. That would take too long. What shall I do? What shall I do?

(_He thinks for a moment._)

I know! I know how to stop it!

(_He thrusts his arm through the hole. He s.h.i.+vers._)

 

How cold it is!

SCENE II

TIME: _the next morning._ PLACE: _the street near Peter's home._

PETER.

PETER'S MOTHER.

PRINCE.

SOLDIERS.

PEOPLE.

[_The_ MOTHER _stands in the door of her home looking up and down the street._]

MOTHER. He does not come! Well, I will go to Jacob's after him. I must teach him that he cannot stay away all night. I will punish him for what he has done.

[_Enter the_ PRINCE, SOLDIERS, _and_ PEOPLE. _Four soldiers carry_ PETER _on their shoulders._]

A SOLDIER. Hurrah for Peter!

A MAN. Hurrah for Peter!

SOLDIERS. Hurrah! Hurrah!

PEOPLE. Hurrah! Hurrah!

MOTHER. What is this? Why do you carry Peter?

PRINCE. Peter has saved us!

MOTHER. What do you mean?

PRINCE. He put his arm in a hole in the dike. All night long he stood there! All night long he kept out the sea! We found him there this morning. Poor little boy, he was so cold!

MOTHER. Ah, my Peter! My dear Peter!

PRINCE. He is a brave boy. The king wants to see him and to thank him.

Come, soldiers, to the king with Peter! Come, to the king! To the king!

[_They go with Peter on their shoulders._]

SOLDIERS. Hurrah for Peter!

PEOPLE. Hurrah for Peter!

THE POT OF GOLD

SCENE I

TIME: _one spring day._ PLACE: _the farmer's vineyard._

THE FARMER.

HIS THREE SONS.

[_The_ THREE SONS _dig lazily among the vines._]

FIRST SON. Oh, I am tired of digging! Come, brothers, let us sit and talk!

[_He throws down his spade and sits._]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

SECOND SON. Father said we should dig at every vine. But I must say I am tired of it.

[_He throws down his spade and sits._]

THIRD SON. I was tired when we began.

[_He throws down his spade and sits. The_ FARMER _enters. His sons do not see him._]

FIRST SON. Now I should like to go to war and ride a great white horse.

SECOND SON. I should like to be a prince. I would do nothing all day long but wear my golden crown.

THIRD SON. I want to find a purse of gold. I would never work again, I tell you!

[_The farmer shakes his head sadly._]