Dramatic Reader for Lower Grades Part 9

_Mayor._ Let us write this sad story on a column so that all may read; and let us paint the picture of the Piper with our little ones following him, on a church window, so that all men may know how our children have been stolen away.

_First Councilman._ And may this sad story teach us all to keep our word with every one.

MOTHER GOOSE'S PARTY

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--MOTHER GOOSE, JACK GOOSE, MOTHER HUBBARD, DOG, A-DILLAR-A-DOLLAR, MARY (AND HER LAMB), OLD MRS. SHOEMAN, HER SONS (TOMMY TUCKER, JACKY HORNER), MISS m.u.f.fET, BOY BLUE, BO-PEEP, NANCY ETTICOAT, LITTLE BOY WHO LIVES IN THE LANE, OLD KING COLE, MAN IN THE MOON, TOM THE PIPER'S SON, MISTRESS MARY

SCENE I.--_Home of Mother Goose_

_Mother Goose._ I really think I must give a party. All my friends have been so good to me and I have been entertained in so many homes!

Wherever I go I am sure to see one of my Mother Goose books, and the children all seem to love it so much. Let me see! whom shall I invite? I think I'll ask Old Mother Hubbard to take tea with me and we'll talk about the party together. Jack, Jack!

_Jack_ (_enters_). Yes, mother dear, what is it?

_Mother Goose._ Jack Goose, I wish you to run over to Mother Hubbard's house and ask her to take tea with me this afternoon. Now be nimble, Jack,--be quick!

_Jack._ Yes, mother dear. See me jump over the candlestick! Isn't that fine jumping?

_Mother Goose._ Very fine indeed, Jack. Now do your errand, and hurry home.

_Jack._ Yes, mother, I will. Good-by.

_Mother Goose._ Good-by.

SCENE II.--_House of Mother Hubbard_

_Jack_ (_knocking_). I wonder if Old Mother Hubbard is at home. Hark! I hear her dog barking. Yes, and I hear her step. Here she is!

_Mother Hubbard_ (_opening the door_). Who is this knocking so loud? Oh, it's you, little nimble Jack! Will you come in?

_Jack._ No, thank you, Mrs. Hubbard. My mother wishes you to come over to our house for tea this afternoon. Will you come?

_Mother Hubbard._ Yes, thank you, Jack, I will. Tell your mother that I'm just going to market to buy my poor doggie a bone.

_Jack._ O Mother Hubbard! _please_ let me play with your dog. He's such a dear old doggie! Do you remember how he danced a jig the other day?

_Mother Hubbard._ Yes, Jack, I do; and I think you danced with him. You are both nimble young things and both like to dance. Well, good-by, now.

Have a good time together and I'll bring you something little boys like.

_Jack._ Thank you! Good-by, good-by! Now, doggie, let's dance.

Old Mother Hubbard, she went to the cupboard, To get the poor doggie a bone; But when she got there, the cupboard was bare, And so the poor doggie had none.

_Dog_ (_sadly_). Bow-wow, bow-wow, bow-wow!

_Jack._ Oh! you don't like that song! Never mind, old fellow! Mother Hubbard has gone to the butcher's and she'll get you a bone, I'm sure.

Wait till she comes back.

_Dog_ (_gayly_). Bow-wow, bow-wow, bow-wow!

_Jack._ I thought you would like that. Here she comes now. We've had a lovely dance, Mother Hubbard, and now I must hurry home.

_Mother Hubbard._ Thank you for staying and taking good care of my dog.

Here are some fresh Banbury buns for you.

_Jack._ Oh, thank you, Mother Hubbard. I'm very fond of Banbury buns.

Good-by!

_Mother Hubbard._ Good-by, Jack. Tell your mother I'll be over soon.

_Jack._ Bring your dog with you, and we'll have another dance. Good-by.

_Dog._ Bow-wow! bow-wow! bow-wow!

SCENE III.--_Mother Goose and Mother Hubbard at the Tea Table_

_Mother Goose._ I am pleased to see you, Mother Hubbard. I hear that your cupboard is no longer bare and empty, and I am very glad you are able to give your poor dog all the bones a good dog should have. Now for our tea. Shall I put two or three lumps in your cup?

_Mother Hubbard._ Three, please. I like my tea very sweet. And now tell me, Mother Goose, what is the reason you sent for me to-day?

_Mother Goose._ Well, I am going to give a party and I wish to ask your advice.

_Mother Hubbard._ Indeed! Whom do you think of inviting?

_Mother Goose._ First, the dear Old Woman who lives in the shoe--

_Mother Hubbard._ What! and all her children?

_Mother Goose._ No, only the two eldest. You know the party is for my son Jack, too, and we must have the young people as well as their parents. Old King Cole will come and bring his fiddlers three to play for the young folks who dance.

_Mother Hubbard._ I hope you won't invite Tom the Piper's Son, or My Son John as his mother calls him,--or Humpty-Dumpty. They are not good boys for your son Jack to play with!

_Mother Goose._ I suppose not; but I like them all, and I dislike to leave out anyone. I don't wish to hurt their feelings.

_Mother Hubbard._ There are little Bo-Peep and Boy Blue, who are good children, although rather silly; and there are little Miss m.u.f.fet and Nancy Etticoat, both very pretty little girls; and there are Jacky Horner and Tommy Tucker and the Man-in-the-Moon and Taffey and Daffey-Down-Dilly and--

_Mother Goose._ I'll have to give a garden party if I invite all those!

I can't leave any out, and I think I'll have the party out-of-doors.

_Mother Hubbard._ That will be fine! I only hope it will be a pleasant day. When will you give it?

_Mother Goose._ Two weeks from to-day, the first of May.