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.]

[Illustration]

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.]

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.