Children's Classics in Dramatic Form Part 8

TEACHER. Ha, ha, ha!

BED. Good-by, children!

CHILDREN. Ha, ha, ha!

[_The Bed goes with Kate, who still tries to hide under the covers._]

SCENE III

TIME: _two minutes later._ PLACE: _Kate's bedroom._

KATE.

MOTHER.

[KATE _is asleep. Her_ MOTHER _comes._]

MOTHER. Kate, Kate! You are asleep again! Get up and go to school!

KATE. I have been to school.

MOTHER. What is this?

KATE. I have been to school. The Bed took me.

MOTHER. You have been dreaming, child.

KATE. No, no! The Bed took me to school. The children laughed at me.

MOTHER. It was a dream, my dear.

KATE. Well, I promised the Bed to get up early. I know that was not a dream.

[_She jumps out of bed._]

MOTHER. Oh, that is fine!

KATE. I must not be late to school. I promised the Bed.

THE PROUD RING-FINGER

TIME: _this morning._ PLACE: _Mary's bedroom._

MARY.

MOTHER.

FATHER.

BROTHER.

SISTER.

POINTING-FINGER.

MIDDLE-FINGER.

RING-FINGER.

LITTLE-FINGER.

THUMB.

[MARY _lies in bed asleep. Her_ FATHER, MOTHER, BROTHER, _and_ SISTER _enter softly. They carry birthday presents for Mary._]

MOTHER. s.h.!.+ We must not wake her!

FATHER. I will put the gold pen on the table.

BROTHER. I will lay the apple by the pen.

SISTER. I will place the rose by the apple.

FATHER. How pretty they look!

MOTHER. What shall I do with the ring?

FATHER. Why not put it on her finger?

MOTHER. I will do that. I will put it on her ring-finger. There! See how pretty it looks!

SISTER. How pretty it makes her finger look!

MOTHER. Now come. We must not wake her. s.h.!.+ s.h.!.+

[_They go._]

RING-FINGER. I have a gold ring. I am pretty. I am better than the other fingers. I will not work with them.

THUMB. Do you hear that, fingers?

[Ill.u.s.tration:]

POINTING-FINGER. You are too proud, Ring-finger.