Little Dramas for Primary Grades

<h2 class='c008'>THE BIRD’S NEST</h2> <div class='figcenter id002'> <ANTIMG src='images/p093a.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='nf-center-c1'> <div class='nf-center c002'> <div><span class='sc'>Characters</span>—<em>Yellow-breast</em>, <em>Bobolink</em>, <em>Cuckoo</em>, <em>Crow</em>, <em>Cow</em>, <em>Dog</em>, <em>Sheep</em>, <em>Hen</em>, <em>Little Boy</em></div> </div></div> <div class='dl_2'> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Yellow-breast.</em></span> To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!<br/>Will you listen to me?<br/>Who stole four eggs I laid<br/>And the nice nest I made?</p> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/p093b.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <span class="pagenum" id='Page_94'>94</span> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Cow.</em></span> Not I. Moo-oo! Moo-oo!<br/>Such a thing I’d never do!<br/>I gave you a wisp of hay<br/>But didn’t take your nest away.<br/>Not I! Moo-oo! Moo-oo!<br/>Such a thing I’d never do.</p> </div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/p094a.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='dl_2'> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Yellow-breast.</em></span> To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!<br/>Will you listen to me?<br/>Who stole four eggs I laid<br/>And the nice nest I made?</p> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Bobolink.</em></span> Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!<br/>Now what do you think?<br/>Who stole a nest away<br/>From the plum tree to-day?</p> </div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/p094b.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='dl_2'> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Dog.</em><span class="pagenum" id='Page_95'>95</span></span> Not I! Bow-wow! Bow-wow!<br/>I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow!<br/>I gave hairs the nest to make,<br/>But the nest I did not take!<br/>Not I! Bow-wow! Bow-wow!<br/>I wouldn’t be so mean, I vow.</p> </div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/p095.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='dl_2'> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Yellow-breast.</em></span> To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!<br/>Will you listen to me?<br/>Who stole four eggs I laid<br/>And the nice nest I made?</p> <span class="pagenum" id='Page_96'>96</span> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Bobolink.</em></span> Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!<br/>Now what do you think?<br/>Who stole a nest away<br/>From the plum tree, to-day?</p> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Cuckoo.</em></span> Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!<br/>Let me speak a word, too!<br/>Who stole that pretty nest<br/>From little Yellow-breast?</p> </div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/p096a.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='dl_2'> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Sheep.</em></span> Not I! Oh, no! Oh, no!<br/>I wouldn’t treat a poor bird so.<br/>I gave wool the nest to line;<br/>But the nest was none of mine!<br/>Oh, no! Oh, no! I wouldn’t treat a poor bird so.</p> </div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/p096b.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='dl_2'> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Yellow-breast.</em><span class="pagenum" id='Page_97'>97</span></span> To-whit, to-whit, to-whee!<br/>Will you listen to me?<br/>Who stole four eggs I laid<br/>And the nice nest I made?</p> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Bobolink.</em></span> Bob-o-link! Bob-o-link!<br/>Now what do you think?<br/>Who stole a nest away<br/>From the plum tree, to-day?</p> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Cuckoo.</em></span> Coo-coo! Coo-coo! Coo-coo!<br/>Let me speak a word, too.<br/>Who stole that pretty nest<br/>From little Yellow-breast?</p> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Crow.</em></span> Caw, caw! Hear the crow!<br/>I should like to know<br/>What thief took away<br/>A bird’s nest, to-day?</p> </div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/p097.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='dl_2'> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Hen.</em><span class="pagenum" id='Page_98'>98</span></span> Cluck! Cluck! Hear me then!<br/>Don’t ask me again!<br/>Why, I haven’t a chick<br/>Would do such a trick!<br/>We all gave her a feather<br/>And she wove them together.<br/>I’d scorn to intrude<br/>On her and her brood.<br/>Cluck, cluck! hear me then,<br/>Don’t ask me again.</p> </div> <div class='figcenter id001'> <ANTIMG src='images/p098.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /></div> <div class='dl_2'> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Bobolink</em>,<br/><em>Cuckoo</em>,<br/><em>Crow.</em></span> Chirr-a-whirr! Chirr-a-whirr!<br/>All the birds make a stir,<br/>Let us find out his name<br/>And all cry “For shame!”</p> <span class="pagenum" id='Page_99'>99</span> <p><span class='dl_2'><em>Little Boy.</em></span> I stole that pretty nest<br/>From poor little Yellow-breast.<br/>And I feel so full of shame<br/>I do not like to tell my name!</p> </div> <div class='lg-container-r'> <div class='linegroup'> <div class='group'> <div class='line'>—Adapted from <span class='sc'>Lydia Maria Child</span>.</div> </div></div> </div> <span class="pagenum" id='Page_100'>100</span> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />