SCENE V—_Another Part of the Forest

_Bunny Rabbit._ Run, Mother Deer, and get your little one.

_Mother Deer._ Won’t that wicked lion come again?

_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 the little deer, and both escape into the forest._]

THE ODD MAN AND THE DOG TRUE

CHARACTERS—_Odd Man_, _True_, _Big Black Dog_

_Odd Man._ [_To the dog._] Who are you, and why do you come into my cave?

_True._ I am a poor dog, sir, who has lost his way. Will you be so kind as to tell me how I may get out?

_Odd Man._ No, I will not. But I will tell you what you may do if you like. You may stay here in my cave and work for me.

_True._ I will do that if you will not let me out. But what work do you wish me to do?

_Odd Man._ Well, well, you see I have here a great bag full of gold. I have to sit on it all the time.

_True._ Why must you sit on it?

_Odd Man._ I will tell you. Near my cave lives an ogre. This ogre wants to kill me so that he can get my gold.

_True._ Dear me!

_Odd Man._ If I go to sleep or move away he will try to get at me. I am just worn out for want of rest.

_True._ Dear me! How can I help you?

_Odd Man._ Well, if you would stay by me and watch for the ogre, I might take a short nap.

_True._ I will do that! And you, sir, go to sleep. [_Odd Man goes to sleep. Big Black Dog enters._]

_Big Black Dog._ Good day, little dog. How do you do?

_True._ I am very well, I thank you; but who are you?

_Big Black Dog._ My name is Nip, and I have come to show you the way out of this cave. Let us run now!

_True._ No; I said I would take care of this cave for the Odd Man, and I will do it.

_Big Black Dog._ But the Odd Man is asleep. He will not see you. Come, now, come along with me!

_True._ No, I will not go.

_Big Black Dog._ Then give me a bone, will you?

_True._ I cannot, for they are not mine; the Odd Man may give you one, by and by. [_Big Black Dog goes to get a bone._]

_True._ Bow-wow-wow!

_Odd Man._ [_Opening his eyes._] What was that? You woke me out of my nap.

_True._ Oh, sir, it was a big black dog. It came into the cave and was stealing a bone.

_Odd Man._ Oh! That was the ogre in the dress of a black dog. Here, you may have a bone. You were a good dog to bark and wake me up. What more can I do to show you how glad I am?

_True._ Oh, sir, may I go out of the cave now? I want to see a nice, nice cat that is waiting outside.

_Odd Man._ Very well, good dog. The ogre will not come back again, and I can take a good nap. Here is a door in the side of the cave. I will open it, and you can go.—Good-by.

THE OWL AND GRASSHOPPER GREEN

SCENE—_In the Meadow_

_Grasshopper Green._ Creak, creak, creak, c-r-e-a-k!

_Owl._ Won’t you keep quiet? I can’t sleep with your “creak, creak.”

_Grasshopper Green._ No, I will not keep quiet. Creak, creak, creak!

_Owl._ Then go away from here. Go into the grass field over there, if you must sing.

_Grasshopper Green._ I shall do nothing of the sort. I have as much right to sing as you have to sleep. Creak, creak! Besides, you have never done anything for me. Creak, creak, creak, c-r-e-a-k!

_Owl._ [_To himself._] Such a saucy grasshopper green!

_Grasshopper Green._ Creak, c-r-e-a-k!

_Owl._ [_Later._] Well, Grasshopper Green, you have a wonderful voice!

_Grasshopper Green._ I have indeed. Creak, creak, creak, c-r-e-a-k!

_Owl._ Now that I am awake, I love to hear you sing.

_Grasshopper Green._ C-R-E-A-K!

_Owl._ Let me give you some of the sweet honey I have here in my tree. Honey is good for the voice.

[_The grasshopper goes to the owl._]

_Owl._ SNAP!

SOMEWHERE TOWN

_First Child._ Which is the way to Somewhere Town?

_Second Child._ Oh, up in the morning early. Over the tiles and the chimney pots, That is the way quite clearly.

_First Child._ And which is the door to Somewhere Town?

_Second Child._ Oh, up in the morning early. The round red sun is the door to go through; That is the way quite clearly.

—KATE GREENAWAY.

THE TIMID HARE

CHARACTERS

_Timid Hare_ _Camel_ _Sheep_ _Deer_ _Brother Hare_ _Elephant_ _Lion_

_Timid Hare._ Oh dear! Oh dear! If the sky were to fall, what would happen to me? Oh, what would happen to me! What is that noise? Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh, I am sure the sky is falling! It is! It is! It is! [_Timid Hare runs._]

_Brother Hare._ Why are you running away, little hare?

_Timid Hare._ Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling!

_Brother Hare._ [_Frightened._] Oh dear! Oh dear! The sky is falling!

_Deer._ Why, what is the matter, little hare?

_Timid Hare._ Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.

_Deer._ [_Frightened._] What shall I do?

_Sheep._ Where are you going, little hare? Why do you run so fast?

_Timid Hare._ Oh, the sky is falling!

_Sheep._ [_Frightened._] Dear me, dear me!

_Camel._ Stop a minute, little hare! What’s the matter?

_Timid Hare._ Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.

_Camel._ [_Frightened._] No, no, it can’t be.

_Elephant._ Why do you run so fast, little hare? What has happened?

_Timid Hare._ I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.

_Elephant._ Can that be true?

_Lion._ What is this you say?

_Timid Hare._ I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.

_Lion._ How do you know this?

_Timid Hare._ I saw it.

_Lion._ Where did you see it?

_Timid Hare._ There, by that tree.

_Lion._ Oh, what nonsense! There are no signs that the sky is falling. Come with me and I’ll show you.

_Timid Hare._ No, no, I must hurry along. I am afraid to go back.

_Lion._ Yes, you shall come with me to that tree. I will take you there myself. [_Lion and hare go to the tree._]

_Lion._ There, do you see? The sky is not falling. A little acorn fell upon a leaf. It made the noise that frightened you. Let us go back now, and tell the other animals.

MABEL AND THE GREEN LIZARD

CHARACTERS—_Grandma_, _Mabel_, _Lizard_, _Wolf_