*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 54141 ***

A Party in Mother Goose Land

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Song Specialties for Your Entertainments

Teachers are discovering that no matter how much novelty there is in their entertainment, how well it is arranged, how thoroughly drilled, if they want to hold the active interest of the audience they must use the best of songs. The songs must be real novelties. The words must be interesting as well as decidedly clever. The music must be catchy and abounding in rich melody. With these things in mind we have prepared this list of superior song novelties for our patrons. All are in regular sheet music form.

Price, 35 cents each; 5 for $1.25

WELCOME SONGS

CLOSING SONGS

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Paine Publishing Co., Dayton, Ohio

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[1]

A PARTY IN
MOTHER GOOSE LAND



A ONE-ACT PLAY FOR
PRIMARY CHILDREN




BY
EFFA E. PRESTON



COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY
L. M. PAINE



PAINE PUBLISHING COMPANY
DAYTON, OHIO

[2]
[3]

A Party in Mother Goose Land

CHARACTERS AND COSTUMES

The costumes may be left to the discretion of the teacher and may be simple or elaborate, as desired. A few suggestions are given:

Mother Goose, large girl in old-fashioned dark dress with high pointed crowned hat.

Boy Blue, small boy in blue suit, with horn, which he uses as a megaphone in announcing people.

Hansel, small boy in Norfolk suit, slippers with buckles.

Gretel, small girl in white.

Robinson Crusoe, bareheaded boy in rags.

Jack the Giant Killer, boy in red knickerbocker suit, red plumed cap, large sword.

Puss in Boots, boy in black suit, tail, cat false face, high boots.

Goldilocks, yellow haired girl in white.

Bears are large, medium sized and small boys in brown bear suits and bear false faces.

Aladdin, boy in white suit, white plumed cap.

Fairy, small girl in white ruffled mosquito net dress with wings of same.

Red Riding Hood, small girl in long red cloak and hood.

Woodcutters are four boys in brown overalls and jackets, small brown caps, carrying hatchets.

Owl, boy in brown Canton flannel, wings of same. If owl face can not be obtained make brown hood with small pointed ears.

Pussy Cat, little girl in gray cat suit and cat face. Tail of same.

Blue Beard, boy in long gray robe with bright blue beard made of crepe paper.

Wives, girls in Empire dresses of bright colors.

Cinderella, girl in pretty white dress.

Prince is boy in purple suit, cloak, and plumed hat.

Peter, small boy in Dutch costume.

Snow White, little girl in white.

[4]

Dwarfs, are very small boys in gray suits with pointed gray caps and gray beards.

Dick Whittington, boy in red suit, long red cloak trimmed with ermine, made from cotton spotted with black, plumed hat. He carries toy cat.

Robin Hood and his men, boys in green suits and caps, carrying bows and arrows. Robin Hood wears red feather in his cap.

Hiawatha and his Braves, boys in Indian costume. Hiawatha in white costume. Braves in tan, feathers in hair.

Captain Kidd and Pirates, captain in black sailor suit, big hat with feather. Sailors and Pirates in blue sailor suits, red handkerchiefs about neck. All have knives and pistols in belts.

Alice, little girl in white.

White Rabbit, small boy in white canton flannel suit, rabbit face, or white hood with long ears. He carries white kid gloves in his hands.

Kings and Queens, are in white robes covered, respectively, with hearts and diamonds of red paper, and spades and clubs of black paper. They wear gilt crowns.

Suits for animals may be made over pattern for one piece pajamas with feet cut on them.

Characters should be grouped to form a pretty tableau for closing song. Mother Goose in center.

If class is small any of the characters may be omitted without spoiling the play. If it is difficult to get costumes children may simply wear white cardboard poster on which name of character represented is printed.

[5]

A Party in Mother Goose Land

Six little girls in white come before curtain and sing:

Air: AULD LANG SYNE.

1—O, COME with us awhile away
Sail over Memory’s sea.
Come to the Land of Story Books
Where old friends wait for thee.

Chorus:

The Land of dear old Story Books,
Of dear old Story Books
Come view with us awhile, we pray,
The Land of Story Books.
2—You’ll meet again those friends who passed
Such happy hours away,
And brightened all your childhood years
With tales so glad and gay.

Girls leave stage and curtain rises showing a room in the house of Mother Goose, who is seated in a large chair at side of stage, near front. Chairs for guests are in back of room. Guests enter opposite side of room from Mother Goose. As curtain rises Boy Blue enters and says:

Boy Blue:

Dear Mother Goose, Jack Horner said
That you had need of me,
So here I am at your command,
Whate’er the task may be.

Mother Goose:

Tonight, Boy Blue, my dear old friends
Who live afar, anear,
In this fair Land of Story Books
Will come to greet me here.
My footmen, who have served me well,
Have all, both young and old,
Gone searching for the rainbow’s end
[6]To find the pot of gold.
And you, tonight, I pray, Boy Blue,
Stand close beside me here
Announcing every guest who comes
In voice so loud and clear
That I shall understand each name,
And no mistakes occur.
I called the Cheshire Cat “King Cole”
Until I heard him purr
Last time they came. My eyesight’s poor,
And footmen speak so low
I’m never sure just what they say,
So how am I to know?

Boy Blue:

Leave that to me, dear Mother Goose.
I’ll make you understand.
I’m confident that I shall be
A footman, proud and grand.
My horn shall be a megaphone
And guests, not sheep, I’ll call.
They’ll soon be coming. Let us hope
That I shall know them all.

[To audience]:

I’m Mother Goose’s footman now.
I’m sure I’ll please her well.
I’ll plainly speak and stiffly bow
As names of guests I tell.

Mother Goose:

Be ready, for they’re coming now.
I hope my cap’s on straight.
Go promptly when they knock, Boy Blue,
And do not make them wait.

A knock is heard. Boy Blue opens door, announces thru horn “Hansel and Gretel”. They enter, advancing to front. Same form is used for entrance of all the guests who seat themselves at back of stage after speaking or singing.

[7]

Hansel:

We’re happy as the day is long
Our hearts are full of joy
Since we destroyed the wicked witch
Who can no more annoy.
The children, turned to gingerbread
By reason of her wiles,
Are now themselves again, and free—
Their faces wreathed in smiles.

Gretel:

Our father now is very rich.
Whene’er we go afar
Into the forest after flowers
We take our motor car.

Mother Goose: You deserve good fortune, children.

Boy Blue: Robinson Crusoe.

Robinson Crusoe:

It’s good to be at home once more
Far from the billow’s angry roar.
No desert island life for me.
I never more shall go to sea.
No more in distant climes I’ll roam
But live with Friday, safe at home.
Yes, I’m Robinson Crusoe, a man of great genius, ’tis true.
I was shipwrecked once upon the waters blue.
Life is lonely, out on a desert isle,
So I’ll stay at home for the rest of my life—
At least, I’ll stay awhile.

Mother Goose: I’m sure I hope you will stay at home, Robinson.

Boy Blue: Jack the Giant Killer.

[8]

Jack the Giant Killer:

My call tonight must needs be brief.
A task before me lies.
A giant’s captured yonder town
But ere the dawn he dies.
My trusty sword shall lay him low.
No giants need apply
To rule the Land of Story Books
While I am waiting nigh.

Mother Goose:

Brave Jack the Giant Killer
Our people never fear.
They know that you’ll protect us.
No danger can come near.

Boy Blue: Puss in Boots.

[Puss sings]:

Air: COMIN’ THRU THE RYE.

1—

I’m a very wise young Pussy—
Wondrous tricks I do.
Made my master rich and titled—
Taught him how to woo.

Chorus:

Puss in Boots is what they call me,
Very sly, they say.
If e’er you need my wise assistance
Call on me I pray.

2—

Craftiness becomes a virtue
As employed by me.
Brains must win in any contest
Gain the victory.

Mother Goose: Sly Boots, you are a useful friend at times.

Boy Blue: Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

[9]

Goldilocks:

Three bears, one summer, long ago
Most frightened me to death.
I left their house and ran and ran
Till I quite lost my breath.
They found me sleeping peacefully
Within their little bed,
But when they growled I quickly woke
And thru the window fled.
Then, when I realized my fault,
I went to make amends.
I found them very charming bears
And now we’re splendid friends.
Aren’t we, bears?

Bears: You bet we are.

[They sing]:

Air: UPIDEE.

SONG

Miss Goldilocks may use our chairs,
If she cares, if she cares.
Or eat the porridge in our bowls
And our milk and rolls.
Yes, all we have to her we’d lend
For she is now our dearest friend.

Chorus:

Goldilocks is now our friend,
Dearest friend, dearest friend.
Goldilocks is now our friend,
Very dearest friend.

[Growl one and one half measures]: Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

[Repeat first four lines of chorus.]

Mother Goose:

Dear child, I’m glad you bro’t your bears
To visit me tonight.
Tho’ had I met them all alone
I might have had a fright.

[10]

Boy Blue: Aladdin.

Aladdin:

I bro’t my lamps along tonight.
I tho’t you’d like to see
What wondrous things it can produce
When helped along by me.

[He rubs lamp]: Fairy enters.

Fairy:

You called and I came at your bidding
I hastened from far away.
The Lamp of Aladdin has spoken
The call I must ever obey
O’er torrents and seas wild and raging
At your behest I fly.
Your slightest wish ever commands me
The Slave of the Lamp am I.

Aladdin:

I pray you bring me quickly
Red roses, fresh and sweet.
I wish to lay an offering
At Mother Goose’s feet.

Fairy leaves while soft music is played and returns at once, bearing roses, which she gives to Aladdin. It is very effective if at Fairy’s entrances and exits the stage may be darkened for a moment, switching lights off and on, and the sound of thunder heard.

Fairy:

I bring you sweet red roses
All wet with fairy dew.
They grew in Fancy’s garden
Where skies are ever blue.
You called and I came at your bidding.
No wish will I deny
If the Lamp of Aladdin has spoken.
The Slave of the Lamp am I. [Exits.]

[11]

Mother: Thank you, Aladdin, for the flowers.

Boy Blue: Red Riding Hood and the Woodcutters.

Red Riding Hood:

Whenever I go out to play I take along with me
These brave Woodcutters to protect me from calamity.
They saved me once, as well you know, when I had disobeyed
And lingered in the forest to play within the shade.
The Wolf would soon have eaten me had they not heard my cries
And rushed to kill the cruel beast before my frightened eyes.
Since then I never venture far from my beloved home,
But take the Woodcutters with me, if I’m inclined to roam.

[Woodcutters sing]:

Air: MINSTREL BOY.

SONG

We fell the trees with mighty strokes.
All day long our chips are flying.
The ash, the elm, the sturdy oak,
In our path you’ll find them lying.
Our ax blades are so clean and bright,
They flash as high we swing them.
We use them well from dawn till night,
Then to our shoulders bring them.

Mother Goose: Red Riding Hood is fortunate to have you to protect her.

Boy Blue: The Owl and the Pussy Cat.

Owl and Pussy Cat together:

Oh, don’t you remember the wise little Owl
With feathers bewitchingly brown,
And the gray Pussy Cat with the sweet, tender smile,
[12]Who never was known to frown?
By the light of the moon, on the edge of the sand,
By the Turkey that lives on the hill,
We were married one day as we stood hand in hand
And we danced by the rippling rill.
And we’ve lived happily ever after.

Mother Goose: I’m glad to hear that.

Boy Blue: Bluebeard and his Wives.

Bluebeard:

I have been most basely slandered
All the world thinks ill of me;
Says my pretty wives I murdered,
Locked the door and hid the key.
With my kindly disposition
Could I treat a lady so?
Here they are, alive and happy,
As they’ve always been, you know.

Wives:

We went away, one summer day
To do all our spring shopping
Forgot to tell dear Bluebeard where
Or how long we’d be stopping.
Then Sister Anne got in a fright,
Unlocked the door forbidden—
She saw red paint all splashed around
And tho’t us slain and hidden.

Bluebeard: So, you see, I’ve been slandered.

Mother Goose: Yes, indeed, Bluebeard. You’re a good, kind man as everyone should know.

Boy Blue: Cinderella and the Prince.

[13]

Cinderella:

Although I am a Princess now, I never shall forget
The rags I wore as scullery maid. In fact, I keep them yet.
Whene’er I think I’m growing proud I look at them to see
What homely tasks I once performed, and learn humility.

Prince:

Among my choicest treasures a slipper small you’ll see
’Twas lost by someone at a ball and then returned to me.

Mother Goose: And it bro’t you a wonderful Princess, did it not?

Boy Blue: Peter from Holland.

Peter:

I found a leak within the dike
And stopped it with my strong right arm,
But any boy would do as much
To save his native land from harm.

Mother Goose: You were a brave boy, Peter.

Boy Blue: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Snow White:

My trusty friends, the Seven Dwarfs, I introduce to you.
I lived with them for many years, and found them good and true.

[Dwarfs sing]:

Air: COME BACK TO ERIN.

SONG.

Come back to us, little Snow White, we miss you.
Long are the hours since you first went away.
Come back to us with the flowers of the springtime.
[14]Then once again we’ll be happy and gay.
When, by the embers, we sit in the gloaming,
Watching the hearth fire you tended so well,
Sad are our tho’ts for each moment we miss you,
Miss you far more than our cold words can tell.
Then come back to us, little Snow White, we miss you.
Long are the hours since you first went away.
Come back to us with the flowers of the springtime,
Then once again we’ll be happy and gay.

Snow White:

Dear Dwarfs, how very kind of you to think so much of me.
I’ll visit you when springtime comes, and we shall happy be.

Boy Blue: Dick Whittington and his Cat.

Dick:

This little Cat is my best friend, she made my fortune once,
And if I should forget her now I’d be a perfect dunce.
She bro’t me gold. She heard the bells that said, “Lord Mayor, turn.”
And now she has the very best it’s in my power to earn.

Mother Goose: You are a wise man, Lord Mayor of London.

Boy Blue: Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

[Robin and his men sing]:

Air: LOCH LOMOND.

We roam, free from care, o’er the world everywhere.
In the forest watch we are keeping.
Many brave wrongs we right,
Beneath the pale moonlight,
While the silent world around us is sleeping.

[15]

Chorus:

Our roof is the sky and our home the good greenwood,
We wander from dawn until gloaming,
For bold Robin Hood and his Merry, Merry Men
Must be ever thru the dark forest roaming.

Mother Goose: Many a good deed is done by you and your merry men I am sure, Robin.

Boy Blue: Hiawatha and his Braves.

[Braves sing]:

Air: THE MOCKING BIRD.

SONG.

[Hiawatha stands with folded arms.]

We left our wigwams lonely, in the valley, in the valley.
We left our wigwams lonely, shining white as lilies ’neath the stars cold gleam.
We came with Hiawatha, Hiawatha, Hiawatha,
We came with Hiawatha—in our birch canoes we drifted down the stream.

Chorus:

Hiawatha’s braves are we, Hiawatha’s braves are we,
Our tents like lilies in the valley glow.
Hiawatha’s braves are we, Hiawatha’s braves are we,
We’ll follow him wherever he may go.

Mother Goose [to Boy Blue]: I’m glad they left their tomahawks at home. You are welcome Braves. Hiawatha, I am glad to see you.

Boy Blue: Captain Kidd and his Pirates.

Kidd:

I’m Captain Kidd and these my Pirates bold.

Pirates:

And a Captain fine is he.

Kidd:

We have sailed the seas and captured tons of gold.

[16]

Pirates:

We’re as rich as rich can be.

Kidd and Pirates [together]:

Oh, we’re Pirates, bad and bold,
And we rove the seas for gold.
We scuttle ships and make captives walk the plank,
And we laugh with horrid glee as we push them in the sea
And they drown in the water so cold.

Mother Goose [aside]: I hope he isn’t telling the truth, but he always was the black sheep of the family.

I think you’re joking, Captain Kidd,
And want to frighten me.
I’m sure you never scuttled ships
And caused such misery.

[Kidd and Pirates laugh wickedly as they go to their seats.]

Boy Blue: Alice from Wonderland, the White Rabbit, the King and Queen of Hearts, the King and Queen of Diamonds, the King and Queen of Clubs, the King and Queen of Spades.

Alice:

Some friends from Wonderland are here
These Kings and Queens, who came
Because they like to be a part
Of every little game.
The Cheshire Cat, I grieve to say,
Is seriously ill.
He choked upon his smile today,
The Doctor’s with him still.
The Doormouse is, of course, asleep;
The Lizard’s out to tea.
The Hatter’s madder than of old
And wouldn’t come with me.
White Rabbit, say your little speech
To Mother Goose, I pray.

[17]

White Rabbit:

It gives me pleasure, Alice,
To do whate’er you say.
There’s a curious land where the footmen are frogs,
And the Jubberwock prowls all the day;
Where we paint the white roses a beautiful red
And the Mock Turtle weeps at his play.
Where the babies can turn into wonderful pigs,
And you balance an eel on your nose.
’Tis the Wonderland Alice discovered one day.
Its location we’ll never disclose.

[If possible have Kings and Queens dance a minuet to music of DON JUAN.]

Mother Goose: I’ve been so glad to see you all.

Before you go we’ll sing one song and part with right good cheer.
I hope we all shall meet again before another year.

[All stand and sing.]

[All stand and sing]:

Air: WHEN THE SWALLOWS HOMEWARD FLY.

SONG.

In the Land of Story Books,
Where are quaint, familiar nooks,
Old friends greet us every day—
Cheering words to us they say.
All our woes end happily,
Troubles never last you see
In the Land of Story Books,
Pleasant Land of Story Books,
In the Land of Story Books.



CURTAIN

NOTE: Music for songs may be found in almost any song book. The Golden Book of Favorite Songs contains these airs. Price 15 cents. Paine Publishing Company.

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PAINE PUBLISHING CO.             Dayton, Ohio
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CHOICE CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTSBy Marie Irish
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For children under ten years of age. Contents: 68 recitations, 12 exercises, 7 songs, 6 drills, 12 dialogues and plays, 9 pantomimes. Price, 40 cents.
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PAINE PUBLISHING CO.             Dayton, Ohio
Transcriber’s Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Page 8, line “Call on me I pray” indented two spaces to match rest of song’s layout.

Page 10, “exists” changed to “exits” (entrances and exits the)

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 54141 ***