Dramatic Reader for Lower Grades

Produced by Charlene Taylor, Carla Foust, Joseph Cooper
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net









Transcriber's note


Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. A printer
error has been changed and is listed at the end.




   DRAMATIC READER

   FOR LOWER GRADES

   BY

   FLORENCE HOLBROOK

   NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO
   AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY




   COPYRIGHT, 1911,

   BY FLORENCE HOLBROOK.

   ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL, LONDON.

   HOLBROOK'S DRAMATIC READER.




TO THE CHILDREN


These little plays--well-known stories done into dialogue--were written
for children who like to imagine themselves living with their favorite
characters in forest, in palace, or in fairyland.

It is hoped that you will enjoy these old friends in their new dress
almost as well as you loved them in the old. When you read the words of
bird or tree or prince or child, try to speak with the voice and manner
which you think that character would use. Thus you will make the reading
a joy to yourselves and a great satisfaction to your hearers.

To try to put oneself in the place of another is very good training for
the imagination. It also teaches us to be more kind to others and to
all living creatures. We learn that most persons are striving to do
better and to be better, and we grow in understanding and sympathy.

May these little plays help you to the enjoyment of the great dramas
which you will read when you are older.

                                           FLORENCE HOLBROOK




CONTENTS


                                                           PAGE

   LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD                                     7

   GOLDILOCKS, OR THE THREE BEARS                            16

   THE BIRD WITH THE BROKEN WING                             26

   CORNELIA AND HER JEWELS                                   34

   CINDERELLA                                                39

   THE PIED PIPER                                            56

   MOTHER GOOSE'S PARTY                                      65

   LITTLE TWO-EYES                                           83

   THE DAYS OF THE WEEK                                     100

   HAeNSEL AND GRETEL                                        107

   KING ALFRED                                              125

   ROBIN HOOD AND THE SAD KNIGHT                            139

   WILLIAM TELL                                             152

   TIME AND THE SEASONS                                     162

   THE GINGERBREAD MAN                                      170

   THE GOOD FAIRY                                           178




A DRAMATIC READER




LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--LITTLE RED RIDING-HOOD, MOTHER, BIRD, WOLF, MILLER,
GRANDMOTHER


SCENE I.--_At Red Riding-Hood's Home_

_Mother._ Would you like to go to grandmother's to-day, my child? The
sun is bright and the air is warm and pleasant.

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Yes, mother, you know I always like to visit
dear grandmamma.

_Mother._ Then you may go. You may carry your little basket, and I'll
put some honey and a jar of butter in it for grandma.

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Oh, that will be a nice present for her! And
may I take her some flowers?

_Mother._ Yes, dear child. Gather some of those you like best.

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Here they are, mother--roses and pansies!
Aren't they pretty?

_Mother._ Very pretty and sweet. Now put on your little red cloak and
take the basket. Be very careful as you pass through the wood, and go
directly to grandma's house.

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Yes, dear mother. Nothing will harm me. All
the birds and animals love me and I love them.

_Mother._ Good-by, little daughter. Give me a kiss and take my love to
dear grandmother.

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Good-by, mamma: good-by!


SCENE II.--_In the Wood_

_Little Red Riding-Hood (singing)._

   Good morning, merry sunshine,
   How did you come so soon?
   You chase the little stars away
   And shine away the moon.
   I saw you go to sleep last night
   Before I ceased my playing.
   How did you get 'way over there,
   And where have you been staying?

How pretty it is here in the wood! Oh, what a lovely bed of moss! You
must come with me, pretty green moss, to grandma's house. Good morning,
pretty bird: will you sing to me this morning?

_Bird._ Yes, little Red Riding-Hood. I will sing to you because you love
all the birds and can understand my song. Soon I'll show you my little
birds who are just big enough to fly.

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Thank you, dear bird, I shall be glad to see
the cunning little things. But now I must hurry to grandmother's with
the butter and the honey. Good-by!

_Bird._ Good-by, little friend! Chirp, chirp; chirp, chirp!

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Now the little bird has flown away.