Dramatic Reader for Lower Grades Part 14

_Little Two-Eyes_ (_goes to door_). Now I'll plant it as the little woman told me. I wonder what kind of a tree will appear to-morrow? Poor little goat, I'm so sorry you have gone! Now I must go into the house and try to sleep.

SCENE X.--_In the Garden_

_Little One-Eye._ Mamma, mamma, look here! Come quickly! Isn't this a wonderful tree!

_Mother._ Why, how strange! This tree was not here yesterday. I wonder how it came! I never saw such a beautiful tree before!

_Little One-Eye._ Do you see the golden apples on it? O mamma! may we have some? Please, mother!

_Mother._ Yes, dear little One-Eye. You are the oldest, climb up into the tree and pick some golden apples for us.

_One-Eye._ That will be fun. Here I go!

_Mother._ Why don't you get the apples, little One-Eye?

_Little One-Eye._ They all get away from me. When I try to pick one it springs back!

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_Mother._ Come down, little One-Eye. Now little Three-Eyes, you can see better with your three eyes, than your sister with her one eye. You may climb up and get some apples for us.

_Little Three-Eyes._ I'll pick a lot of them and throw them down for you to catch. Why, how funny they act! I almost get one and it always springs away!

_Mother._ Come down and let me try. I never heard of fruit that would not be picked. Now children, I'll get some of the lovely apples for you.

There! Why, what is the matter? I can't reach a single apple.

_Little Two-Eyes._ Let me try; perhaps I can pick some.

_Mother._ You, with your two eyes! How can you expect to get them if we can't?

_Little Two-Eyes._ Please let me try, mother.

_Mother._ Well, I suppose you can try, but I know you can't get them.

_Two-Eyes._ Here they are. Catch them, mother; catch them, little One-Eye! Oh, mother! I see a young man on horseback coming along the road. He looks like a prince.

_Mother._ Hurry down, little Two-Eyes! He must not see you,--a girl with two eyes! I'm ashamed of you. Hide under this barrel!

[_The prince rides up._]

_Prince._ Good morning, ladies, what a lovely tree you have here! She who gives me a branch shall have whatever she wishes.

_Little One-Eye._ The tree is ours, Great Prince; but when we try to get its fruit, it slips away from us.

_Prince._ It is strange, if the tree belongs to you, that you cannot get the fruit! But where do these apples come from?

_Little Three-Eyes._ We have another sister, but she has only two eyes and we are ashamed of her; so we hid her under this barrel, and she has rolled the apples out to you.

_Prince._ Little Two-Eyes, come out. Can you get me a branch from this wonderful tree?

_Little Two-Eyes._ Yes, Prince; here is a branch with many golden apples on it.

_Prince._ And what is your wish, little Two-Eyes?

_Little Two-Eyes._ O Prince! My mother and my sisters are ashamed of me and do not treat me well. They do not give me enough to eat and they do not like to have me near them. Please take me away where I can be happy and free!

_Prince._ Come with me, little Two-Eyes; you shall go to my father's palace and be a little princess. There you will be happy and free and never be hungry or lonely again.

THE DAYS OF THE WEEK

THE WEEK--MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SAt.u.r.dAY, SUNDAY

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_Monday._ Well, I am glad to be here at last. Certainly my work is very important. As the first working day of the week, I begin all business; and I have always heard that if a thing is well begun, it is half done.

People call me Moon-day--isn't that a pretty name, the day of the moon?

How beautiful the moon is, riding in her silver chariot across the dark blue sky! I am proud of my name. The moon is constantly changing and I like change. I like brightness and cleanliness too, and good housewives wash their clothes on Monday. How white and clean they look hanging on the line! The sun and wind play hide and seek and help to cleanse the clothes. School begins on Monday and the little children run and laugh on their way to school. Every one seems happy that another week has begun.

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_Tuesday._ I am named for Tui, the G.o.d of war. In the countries of the north I am greatly honored by all the people. Soldiers when going to war call on Tui for help, and they like to begin a battle on Tuesday. Monday likes to begin work, but I like to make some progress. The children always know their lessons better on Tuesday, and are happier than on Monday. The white clothes are sprinkled and rolled, and now the maids iron the pretty baby dresses and the house linen. They sing and laugh over their work. The world is all running smoothly on Tuesday, and I think I like my work the best.

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_Wednesday._ I should be the best of days, for I am named for Woden, or Odin, the king of the G.o.ds. The hardest work of the week is finished when I come, and there is time for a rest. Perhaps mother will bake a special cake for dinner. To-day the children take their music lessons, and the boys go for a lesson in swimming or gymnastic exercise. This is the day young people choose for their wedding day, and you don't know how glad I am to be a part of their happiness. I believe I have more suns.h.i.+ne than the other days, for Woden likes to have clear skies and health-giving breezes. I would not change with any of my sister days.

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_Thursday._ I bring the thunder and the lightning, and I cleave the dark clouds with my rapid flashes. I glory in a storm, for Thor, the G.o.d of thunder, has chosen me for his day, and I bear his name. A life of ease and quiet has no charms for me. I like the din and crash of war, the noise and hurry of business. The fury of the heavens, the crash of falling trees, the roaring of waters,--what can give greater pleasure?

Business thrives on Thursday. Men rush to and fro, buying and selling, building great houses, digging in the mines, and sailing the seas. Life and action are my delight. Hurrah for Thor's day!

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_Friday._ After the bustle and work of the week I come to clean and settle all disturbances. Now dirt and dust must disappear under the broom and brush. How the windows s.h.i.+ne and how spotless is the hearth!

Children rake up the leaves and burn them; all rubbish must be cleared away. Order and neatness I love; and so does Freya, for whom I am named.

She is the G.o.ddess of beauty, and there is no beauty where neatness and order are absent. Some say that I am an unlucky day, but that is a mistake. See what wonderful things have happened on my day, what great men have been born on Friday! I am the last school day of the week, and to-day the children may forget lessons and play outdoors a little longer. To-day the family gather for a story at the twilight hour, and all is rest and happiness.

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_Sat.u.r.day._ I am the jolly day of the week. "School is out!" the children cry, and all day long they sing and call to each other in their games. To-day I smell the cakes and pies cooking in the range, for Sat.u.r.day is baking day. How the little children love to watch mother stirring the cake and frosting, and how they beg to clean the sweet stuff out of the bowl. Father comes home earlier to-day, and all go for a walk in the woods or park. All men need a holiday, for "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." The boys play ball and run and shout in their joy. The girls have little parties, and cook gives them some fresh cakes. I am named for Saetere, G.o.d of the harvest, and he is always merry. So I wish all people to be happy on Sat.u.r.day, the play day of the week.

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