KID.  Do you speak of my dinner, sirs?

WOLVES.  O yes, yes, yes!

KID.  You speak of my dinner, but you think of your own.  I will stay where I am, sirs.

THE WOLF AND THE HORSE

TIME:  last summer.
PLACE:  a field of oats.

* * * * *

WOLF. 
HORSE. 
MASTER. 
MAID. 
BOY. 
NEIGHBORS.

* * * * *

[The WOLF enters from the forest.]

WOLF.  Ah, if I could only eat oats!  What a dinner I should have!  I would tell no one!  No one would know, and the whole field would be mine.

        (Enter the HORSE from the forest.)

Ah, good friend, such news as I can tell you!

HORSE.  I will not promise to believe you.

WOLF.  Well, then, believe your own eyes.  There lies a field of ripe oats!

HORSE.  As I live, you speak the truth!

WOLF.  I have not tasted one!  I have kept them all for you.

[Illustration:  “AS I LIVE, YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH!”]

HORSE (calling) Master!  Master!

[Note:  The words in parentheses are not intended to be read aloud; they will give the child the cue as to how the part should be rendered and thus stimulate better expression.]

WOLF.  Your master knows the oats are there.  You do not need to tell him.

HORSE.  Maid!  Maid!

WOLF.  The maid knows the oats are there.  You do not need to call her.

HORSE.  Boy!  Boy!

WOLF.  Stop your calling!  You will have them all at me with clubs.

HORSE.  Neighbors!  Neighbors!

[Enter the MASTER, MAID, BOY, and NEIGHBORS with clubs.  They surround the Wolf.]

MASTER.  Aha!  I have caught you at last!

WOLF (to horse).  This is the thanks I get for showing you—­

HORSE.  Something you did not want yourself.  I owe you nothing, sir.

THE WISE CROW

TIME:  last summer.
PLACE:  a meadow.

* * * * *

THE CROW. 
THE SPARROW.

* * * * *

[The CROW and the SPARROW meet at a spring.]

SPARROW.  Ah me, the spring is dry!

CROW.  All the springs are dry!

SPARROW.  There may be water in the brook.

CROW.  No, the brook is dry.

SPARROW.  What shall we do?

CROW.  There may be water in this pitcher.  I will see.  Aha!  Here is water!  Come and drink.

SPARROW.  I cannot reach it.  It is too low.

CROW.  Stretch your neck!

SPARROW.  I stretch and stretch—­I cannot reach it.

CROW.  Why, neither can I!  Stretch as I will, I cannot reach it.