id="pgepubid00009">CHILDREN'S CLASSICS IN
DRAMATIC FORM

BOOK TWO

THE CLEVER KID

TIME: this morning.
PLACE: a pasture.

GRAY WOLF.
WHITE WOLF.
KID.

[The GRAY WOLF and the WHITE WOLF are standing at the foot of a hill; at the top of the hill is a KID.]¹

GRAY WOLF. Look, brother, there is a kid! WHITE WOLF. Where? Where? GRAY WOLF. On that hill to the south. WHITE WOLF. I do not see her. GRAY WOLF. She is on the very top. WHITE WOLF. Ah, now I see her! GRAY WOLF. I wish we could get at her. WHITE WOLF. She would make a fine dinner. GRAY WOLF. She would, my brother. WHITE WOLF. She is so young! GRAY WOLF. She is so tender! WHITE WOLF. Well, we cannot get her. The hill is too steep. GRAY WOLF. We must make her come to us. WHITE WOLF. Yes, yes! That will be fine! GRAY WOLF. O little Kid! Dear little Kid! WHITE WOLF. O little Kid! Sweet little Kid!

KID. What is it, sirs?

GRAY WOLF. The grass down here is sweeter!

WHITE WOLF. And greener!

GRAY WOLF. And fresher!

WHITE WOLF. And younger!

GRAY WOLF. Come down and eat your dinner here!

KID. Do you speak of my dinner, sirs?

WOLVES. O yes, yes, yes!

KID. You speak of my dinner, but you think of your own. I will stay where I am, sirs.

THE WOLF AND THE HORSE

TIME: last summer.
PLACE: a field of oats.

[The WOLF enters from the forest.]

WOLF. Ah, if I could only eat oats! What a dinner I should have! I would tell no one! No one would know, and the whole field would be mine.

(Enter the HORSE from the forest.)

Ah, good friend, such news as I can tell you!

HORSE. I will not promise to believe you.

WOLF. Well, then, believe your own eyes. There lies a field of ripe oats!

HORSE. As I live, you speak the truth!

WOLF. I have not tasted one! I have kept them all for you.

"as i live, you speak the truth!"

HORSE (calling)² Master! Master!

WOLF. Your master knows the oats are there. You do not need to tell him.

HORSE. Maid! Maid!

WOLF. The maid knows the oats are there. You do not need to call her.

HORSE. Boy! Boy!

WOLF. Stop your calling! You will have them all at me with clubs.

HORSE. Neighbors! Neighbors!

[Enter the MASTER, MAID, BOY, and NEIGHBORS