THE THIRD READER BELLING THE CAT RETOLD FROM ESOP Midnight in the garret of an old house. a circle. Eight or ten mice sit in In the center is Old Gray Ear, the judge. Old Gray Ear. Fellow Mice, I shall ask our friend, Black Whisker, to make the first speech. (Black Whisker steps forward.) Black Whisker. Wise judge and kind friends, these are sad times with us. Our enemy the Cat Brown Back. I lost another child last night. (Wipes her eyes.) Black Whisker. Quite true! Not one among us but has lost one or more of his family. (All weep.) Now what can we do? Old Gray Ear. That is hard to tell. As long as I can remember, this danger has been with us. Can you advise us in any way, Black Whisker? Black Whisker. I can not, myself, give any advice. However, as I came along, our friend, Young Frisker here, said that he knew a way. Old Gray Ear. Young Frisker, come, let us hear from you. We shall be glad to get new ideas. For years have we tried to get rid of this Cat. Young Frisker. It is easily done. (Laughs.) Put a bell around her neck. Then you will hear her coming. Brown Back. Why didn't we think of that before I lost my child! (Weeps again.). Black Whisker. Hurrah! No more fear of the Cat! (Claps his hands.) . Old Gray Ear. Truly, a fine plan. Now, who will put the bell around the neck of the Cat? Brown Back. Not I. I have a family to keep. Black Whisker. I am lame since I was caught in the trap. I can not run as I once did. Old Gray Ear. It seems to me, Young Frisker, you are the very one to- Why, the fellow has run away! (Holds up his hands.) Brown Back. Just the way with these young mice! They know so well how to do everything. My own children are always telling me how Black Whisker. The Cat! (All run.) 66 66 LADY MOON BY RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES Lady Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving?" "Over the sea." Lady Moon, Lady Moon, whom are you loving?" "All that love me." "Are you not tired with rolling and never Why look so pale and so sad, as for ever "Ask me not this, little child, if you You are too bold. love me; I must obey my dear Father above me, "Lady Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving?" "Over the sea." Lady Moon, Lady Moon, whom are you loving?" "All that love me." THE CRAB AND HIS MOTHER BY ESOP It was a pleasant day. The waves of the blue ocean were dancing in the sun. The beach was clean and white. A crab and her son were out for a walk. "Son," said she, "why do you walk so crooked? It looks far better to go straight forward." Then the young crab answered, "I do wish to walk straight, mother. If you will show me how, I will do it." The mother crab started ahead. You can see her in the picture. First she went to the right and then to the left. The young crab did his THE THROSTLE BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON Summer is coming, summer is coming. I know it, I know it, I know it. Light again, leaf again, life again, love again," Yes, my wild little Poet. Sing the new year in under the blue. Last year you sang it as gladly. "New, new, new, new!" Is it then so new That you should carol so madly? "Love again, song again, nest again, young again," Never a prophet so crazy! And hardly a daisy as yet, little friend, See, there is hardly a daisy. "Here again, here, here, here, happy year!" O warble unchidden, unbidden! Summer is coming, is coming, my dear, A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows. Francis of Assisi. |