SCENE IV—_Mabel’s Home

_Grandma._ Mabel! Mabel! Mabel!

_Mabel._ Yes, Grandma.

_Grandma._ Where have you been so long?

_Mabel._ I’ve been in the woods. Oh, Grandma. I left my basket of strawberries there.

_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! He would have eaten you up, every bit of you.

_Mabel._ Oh, Grandma! I’m sure all wolves don’t eat little girls.

THE MAIDEN AND THE BIRD

_Maiden._ Little bird, little bird, come to me, I have a green cage ready for thee, Beauty-bright flowers I’ll bring anew And fresh ripe cherries all wet with dew.

_Bird._ Thanks, little maiden, for all thy care, But I love dearly the clear cool air And my snug little nest in the old oak tree.

_Maiden._ Little bird, little bird, stay with me!

_Bird._ Nay, little damsel,—away I’ll fly To greener fields and warmer sky; When spring returns with pattering rain, You’ll hear my merry song again.

_Maiden._ Little bird, little bird, who’ll guide thee, Over the hills and over the sea? Foolish one, come in the house to stay, For I’m very sure you’ll lose your way.

_Bird._ Ah, no, little maiden, God guides me, Over the hills and over the sea. I will be free as the rushing air, And sing of sunshine everywhere.

—LYDIA MARIA CHILD.

THE LITTLE FISH

_Fisherman._ Aha! I have you at last, little fish.

_Little Fish._ O Mr. Fisherman, please put me back into the water.

_Fisherman._ Put you back? No, I will not!

_Little Fish._ I beg you, put me back. I am so little.

_Fisherman._ It has taken me a long time to catch you. Put you back, indeed! I think not.

_Little Fish._ But I am so little. Put me back and wait until I have grown to be a large fish. Then I will make you a very good meal.

_Fisherman._ [_Thoughtfully._] True, my little fish, true. But where shall I find you when you have grown larger?

—African Fable.

BELLING THE CAT

CHARACTERS—_Old Mouse_, _Three Young Mice_

_Old Mouse._ Oh dear, dear, dear! That old cat ate Squeak Nibble to-day. What can we do?

_Second Mouse._ Well, we must do something! She’ll eat us all, one by one!

_Third Mouse._ How can we keep her from catching all the rest of us?

_Fourth Mouse._ Yes, how can we? If we could only know when she is coming. Her paws are so soft that we cannot hear her.

_Second Mouse._ I have it! One of us will watch her all the time. When the cat is coming he must squeak as loud as he can.

_Old Mouse._ Watch her, indeed! She’d soon catch that little mouse.

_Fourth Mouse._ No, that will never do.

_Third Mouse._ Let’s stay in our holes. Then she’ll starve to death.

_All the Mice._ Ha-ha-ha! A fine plan.

_Old Mouse._ A fine plan, indeed! Do you think the cat eats nothing but mice? And how should we get anything to eat if we stayed in our holes?

_Fourth Mouse._ My friends, listen to me. Let us hang a bell round her neck. That will tell us when she is coming. Then we can run and hide.

_Second Mouse._ Good, good!

_Third Mouse._ The very thing!

_Fourth Mouse._ Nothing could be better.

_Old Mouse._ [_Thoughtfully._] But who will hang the bell on the cat’s neck?

[_Silence._]

_Second Mouse._ I will not.

_Third Mouse._ Not _this_ little mouse.

_Old Mouse._ But some one must do it. Who will?

_All._ Sure enough, who?

THE FOX AND THE CROW

CHARACTERS—_Fox_ _and_ _Crow_

_Crow._ Ah! Some one has left a bit of cheese for me. I’ll fly up into that tree and eat it.

_Fox._ [_To himself._] That cheese is for me, as sure as I am a fox.

[_Goes to the tree._]

Good day, Mistress Crow. How well you are looking. What bright eyes you have. I am sure your voice must be sweet. Just let me hear you sing one song.

[_Crow lifts her head._]

_Crow._ Caw—caw—caw.

_Fox._ [_Snaps up cheese._] That bit of cheese was all I wanted.

HANS AND GRETCHEN

CHARACTERS—_Hans_, _Gretchen_, _Red Fox_