Children's Classics in Dramatic Form Part 16

FARMER. My sons, these vines have not been dug about. Come, do this work as I have told you.

(_The sons take up their spades, but unwillingly._)

Now listen: a pot of gold is hidden in this vineyard. It is buried deep beneath these vines.

SONS. A pot of gold!

FARMER. It is all I have to leave you. I think it best to-tell you now, for I cannot live much longer.

FIRST SON. Why do you hide the gold, my father?

FARMER. That you may dig for it.

SECOND SON. Why do you hide it in the ground?

FARMER. That you may dig for it.

THIRD SON. Why don't you tell us where it is?

FARMER. That you may dig for it.

[_He goes._]

SONS. A pot of gold!

FIRST SON. Now I shall go to war and ride a great white horse!

SECOND SON. Now I shall marry a princess and wear her golden crown!

THIRD SON. Now I shall find my purse of gold, and never work again!

SCENE II

TIME: _one month later._ PLACE: _the vineyard._

THE THREE SONS.

[_The ground is completely dug up. The_ FIRST SON _is seen digging. He throws down his spade showing disappointment._]

FIRST SON. I cannot find it!

(_Enter_ SECOND SON _with his spade._)

Did you find it?

SECOND SON. No, and I have dug up every inch of our western vineyard.

[_Enter_ THIRD SON _with his spade._]

FIRST AND SECOND SONS. Did you find it?

THIRD SON. No, and I have dug up every inch of the eastern vineyard.

FIRST SON. Well, you see what I have done here.

SECOND SON. Not a vine that has not been dug about!

THIRD SON. I cannot understand it!

FIRST SON. The day our father died he spoke again of the pot of gold.

SECOND SON. And told us again to dig for it.

THIRD SON. I cannot understand it.

[_They go, shaking their heads sadly._]

SCENE III

TIME: _six months later._ PLACE: _the vineyard._

THE THREE SONS.

THE FRUIT MERCHANT.

[_The_ MERCHANT _enters the vineyard with the_ THREE SONS.]

MERCHANT. You say your grapes are ripe?

FIRST SON. They are ripe and ready to sell, sir.

SECOND SON. Come, now, and look at them.

[_They cross to the vines._]

MERCHANT. Why, I have never seen such grapes as these!

THIRD SON. We have never had such grapes before, sir.