Dramatic Reader for Lower Grades

I must put
this moss in my basket and then hurry along--

_Wolf._ Ugh, ugh!

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Oh! how you frightened me, Mister Wolf! Where
did you come from?

_Wolf._ From my pretty cave, far, far in the dark wood, little girl.
What is your name?

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Why, don't you know me? I'm little Red
Riding-Hood.

_Wolf._ I'm a stranger in this place, little girl; but I shall know you
the next time I see you--ugh, ugh! What have you in your pretty basket,
little Red Riding-Hood? It smells like honey.

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ It _is_ honey, Mr. Wolf. I am taking it to my
dear grandmother.

_Wolf._ Are you all alone in the wood, my child? Isn't your mother with
you? Aren't you afraid?

[Illustration]

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Afraid? no, indeed! Why should I be afraid?
All the animals are my friends.

_Wolf._ Oh, yes, of course they are all your friends! But is it far to
your grandmother's house?

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ No, Mr. Wolf, only about half a mile. You go
down this path to the mill and then turn to the right, and the first
house you come to is my grandmother's. It's a little red house.

_Wolf._ Oh, that is very easy to find! But I know a shorter way through
the wood. Let us run a race and see who will get there first.

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ All right, Mr. Wolf. Good-by!

_Wolf._ Ugh, ugh; good-by!

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ How fast he runs! I know he will win the race.
How surprised dear grandma will be when Mr. Wolf knocks at the door! Now
I see the mill. I will sing the pretty mill song we learned in school
the other day.

[_Begins to sing, then stops suddenly._]

Oh, there is the miller. Good morning, Mr. Miller! Have you seen Mr.
Wolf go by?

_Miller._ No, little Red Riding-Hood. Have you seen a wolf in the wood?

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Yes, Mr. Miller, and he said he would race
with me to my grandmother's house.

_Miller._ My dear child, I will call the men who are chopping trees in
the forest and they will catch Mr. Wolf. He is no friend of ours, and
you must not talk with him, for he is cruel and will do you harm.

_Little Red Riding-Hood._ Will he? Then I will never say another word to
him. But I must hurry on to dear grandmother's.


SCENE III.--_Grandmother's House_

_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.

[Illustration]

_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

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--GOLDILOCKS, THE DOLLIE, FATHER BEAR, MOTHER BEAR,
BABY BEAR


SCENE I.--_Goldilocks in the Garden with her Doll_

_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.