Little Dramas for Primary Grades

_Little Bird._ [_Goes to Little Tree._] Oh, please, dear tree, may I not find shelter from the cold in your branches? My wing is broken, and I cannot fly. I have come a long way...

_Sanja._ I won’t stay here another day. The ogre is off hunting. Tee-hee-hee. He’ll never know how I got out of the castle and over the river. Tee-hee-hee. Tee-hee-hee. [_Hears...

_Little Tree._ All night the waves of the sea tossed the white foam and dashed the ships about. All around me lie pieces of wood washed up by the sea. What is this at my feet? A...

_Turtle._ The monkey told me he had left his heart at home and he asked me to take him back so he could get it. I believed him. You know I wanted the heart for you.

_Bunny Rabbit._ No, no! He’s going to stay in front of my burrow until I come out. Ha! ha! He’ll starve to death _himself_ if he waits for that! Ha! ha! [_Mother Deer runs to th...

_Grandma._ Never mind. We can go to-morrow and get them. I was so frightened! Your uncle told me only yesterday he saw a wolf in the woods. Just think if you had met him to-day!...

_Sanja._ Dear, dear, there goes one of my finest dumplings rolling down the hill. That will never do. I cannot lose that one. I must run and catch it. [_Runs after it. As she go...

_Monkey._ Why do they keep me here? No one to talk to, no one to play with, no trees to climb. Only one friend, the jellyfish with his hard shell. I’d like him better if he hadn...

_Little Fish._ I know. Let’s ask the turtle. He’s wise. He goes out of the sea upon the land. Surely he must learn many things there. Perhaps he is just the one to tell us what...

_Mabel._ Dear me! How dark it is getting. I must hurry home. [_Hears a little squeaking sound._] What’s that? [_Sees a little green lizard with a stone on its tail._] Oh, you po...

_Mother Deer._ Bunny Rabbit, that wicked lion stole my little deer and will not give it to me. I asked the forest animals to help me, but none was brave enough to do so.

_Lion._ [_Looking into the burrow._] Gone down there, has he? Well, I’ll fix him. I’ll stay right here until he comes out. I’ll stay, and stay, and stay, until I starve him out.

_Jackal._ Sh! Sh! I’m afraid of the lion, myself. We’ve never been very good friends. I wish I could help you. Let me see. I have it! Go to Bunny Rabbit. He’s a little creature,...

_Boastful Bamboo._ Little bamboo tree, you bow and bend to every wind that blows. A bamboo tree should never show fear. Look at me! I stand straight and strong and bow to no one.

_Turtle._ Dear me—not a monkey to be seen anywhere! Well, I’ve waited and waited. It’s very hot here on the sand. I’m sleepy. I’ll just take a nap. [_Sleeps. Monkeys (three) com...

_Hans._ It was the fox, Gretchen. He was caught in a trap. I let him out. He said I might have whatever I wished for, and I wished for berries. Aren’t you glad?

_Ogre._ I will show you. Put one grain of rice into the pot. Then take this paddle in your hand. If you want rice for ten persons, stir ten times, in this way. [_Stirs paddle ab...

_Gretchen._ Why should I be happy? I am tired of this palace. There is only one thing that would make me happy. Go to the Red Fox. Tell him I must have the great silver ball tha...

_Rabbit._ I shall not forget. I’m off. [_To himself._] I’ll just make a nest of grass for each child, and leave it on the doorstep. An egg and a spring flower in each—and the ch...

_Gretchen._ Why should I be happy? We have no toys, only sticks and stones for playthings. Go to the fox and tell him I wish for some beautiful toys to play with.