Dramatic Reader for Lower Grades. Florence Holbrook

never say another word to him. But I must hurry on to dear grandmother's.

Scene III.—Grandmother's House

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      Little Red Riding-Hood. Here I am at the door; I will knock. May I come in, dear grandmother?

      Wolf (in the house). Open the latch and walk in.

      Little Red Riding-Hood. Here I am, dear grandmother! I am so glad the bad wolf did not get here first. Are you so sick you must stay in bed? See the nice butter and honey that mother sent you. And see the pretty flowers I've brought you.

      Wolf. Thank you, my child.

      Little Red Riding-Hood. How rough your voice is, grandmother!

      Wolf. That's because I've such a bad cold.

      Little Red Riding-Hood. But how bright your eyes are, grandmother!

      Wolf. The better to see you, my child.

      Little Red Riding-Hood. How long your arms are, grandmother!

      Wolf. The better to hold you, my child.

      Little Red Riding-Hood. And how big your teeth are, grandmother!

      Wolf. The better to eat you—ugh! ugh!

      [The miller and the wood choppers rush in.]

      Mr. Miller. Here's an end to you, Mr. Wolf! These men with their axes will stop your cruel deeds.

      [The wolf runs out, followed by the men.]

      Come, little Red Riding-Hood, don't be afraid. The wolf can't harm you now. Here is your grandmother, who has just come home from the village. She will take care of you.

      Little Red Riding-Hood. Dear grandmother! I thought that the wolf was you.

      Grandmother. Darling little Red Riding-Hood! How glad I am that you are safe. Now you must stay with me till your mother comes, and we will tell her how the brave men saved you and me from the hungry wolf. Won't she be glad to see her little Red Riding-Hood again?

GOLDILOCKS, OR THE THREE BEARS

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      PERSONS IN THE PLAY—Goldilocks, the Dollie, Father Bear, Mother Bear, Baby Bear

Scene I.—Goldilocks in the Garden with her Doll

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      Goldilocks. O dear! I do wish mother would come home. I am going to meet her. She told me not to go out of the garden lest I should get lost; but if I keep in the road, I can't get lost! Come, Dollie, you and I will go just a little way to meet mamma.

      How warm it is in the sunshine! I think we shall go into the shady wood a little while. Let us pick some of these pretty flowers to make a wreath—won't mother be surprised when I show her all these flowers. Here is a lovely red one; and here's another like a daisy.

      How dark it is here! I cannot see the road. I wonder if I'm lost! O mamma, mamma! I'm afraid. Dear Dollie, I'm glad you are with me.

      Dollie. But I'm afraid, too!

      Goldilocks. Please, dear Dollie, don't be afraid. Why, there's nothing to be afraid of—oh!

      Dollie. What is the matter, Goldilocks?

      Goldilocks. Look, what is that?

      Dollie. I don't see anything.

      Goldilocks. I thought I saw a bear.

      Dollie. Well, I hope not. I don't like bears.

      Goldilocks. But there is a little house. Isn't it a funny little house? I wonder who lives there!

      Dollie. Dear Goldilocks, please, don't you think we'd better go home? I don't like strange little houses in the wood.

      Goldilocks. Perhaps a kind fairy lives there who will show us the way home.

      Dollie. Yes, or perhaps she is the Gingerbread Witch who will turn us into gingerbread for her supper!

      Goldilocks. Don't say such uncomfortable things, Dollie. She couldn't turn you into gingerbread, anyway.

      Dollie. Well, I know I'm made of sawdust, but she might make mush of me for breakfast!

      Goldilocks. I know you're fooling now, dear Dollie. Let's look in the window. I don't see anyone. I'll knock at the door. No one answers. Come, Dollie, we'll open the door and walk in. How nice and warm it is. There is a good fire in the kitchen stove.

      Dollie. Yes, and I smell something good to eat.

      Goldilocks. Here it is on the table—what pretty bowls—one, two, three! I'll taste the porridge in the big bowl first. O Dollie, it is too hot! I burned my mouth.

      Dollie. Try the next bowl. Perhaps the porridge in the middle-sized bowl is not so hot.

      Goldilocks. No, indeed, it isn't; but it is too cold.

      Dollie. Aren't you hard to please? I'm so hungry I could eat anything.

      Goldilocks. Now this in the little bowl is just right. Sit down, Dollie, and we'll eat it all up.

      Dollie. Do you think it is very polite for us to eat it all?

      Goldilocks. You should have spoken of that before. It is too late now when it is all gone. Come, let us go into the parlor.

      Dollie. Don't you think we'd better go home?

      Goldilocks. How can we when I don't know the way? I'm tired, and I think I'll rest awhile in this nice big rocking-chair. But it's too high; I can't get into it.

      Dollie. Don't move it out of its place.

      Goldilocks. Never mind! I'll try the middle-sized chair. I don't like this, it is too low.

      Dollie. Well, Goldilocks, you must not put chairs out of their places!

      Goldilocks. Oh, it won't hurt them. Now let us try this pretty little chair. Come, Dollie, I'll sing you a song:

      Rock-a-bye, Dollie, in the treetop,

       When the wind blows, the cradle will rock;

       When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall

       And down will come Dollie, cradle and all!

      [Chair breaks.]

      Dollie. Well, something broke then!

      Goldilocks. Yes, the cradle and all came down that time. Dear, O dear! I wish I hadn't rocked you so hard. I wish I hadn't run away! [Crying.]

      Dollie. Don't cry, dear Goldilocks. Let us see what we can find in the next room. Perhaps some one is in there who will take us to your dear mother.

      Goldilocks. O Dollie! I'm a naughty girl not to mind my mother. If