going, my boy? Come back!

_Mayor._ Let me see! O woe! there are my own three lovely children. Run,
some one, and stop them!

_Third Councilman._ I'll go; I'll go.

[_Runs out._]

_Mayor._ It is useless. Every child in our city is following the magic
sound.

_Second Councilman._ The music seems to say: "Come, children, to the
wonderful land of play. There flowers and fruits will welcome you. The
birds and beasts will play with you, and you will never be sad or sorry
in the wonderful land of play." No wonder the children follow the Piper.

_Third Councilman_ (_enters_). The children and the Piper have all
disappeared! A mountain opened and let them in!

_First Councilman._ The children, the blessed children, have gone! What
shall we do without the children?

_Mayor._ Oh, wicked man that I am! Why did I break my promise? Why did
I not give him the thousand guilders?

_Second Councilman._ Yes, we are all wicked men, and we are punished for
not keeping our word.

_Mayor._ Let us write this sad story on a column so that all may read;
and let us paint the picture of the Piper with our little ones following
him, on a church window, so that all men may know how our children have
been stolen away.

_First Councilman._ And may this sad story teach us all to keep our word
with every one.

MOTHER GOOSE'S PARTY

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--MOTHER GOOSE, JACK GOOSE, MOTHER HUBBARD, DOG,
A-DILLAR-A-DOLLAR, MARY (AND HER LAMB), OLD MRS. SHOEMAN, HER SONS
(TOMMY TUCKER, JACKY HORNER), MISS MUFFET, BOY BLUE, BO-PEEP, NANCY
ETTICOAT, LITTLE BOY WHO LIVES IN THE LANE, OLD KING COLE, MAN IN THE
MOON, TOM THE PIPER'S SON, MISTRESS MARY

SCENE I.--_Home of Mother Goose_

_Mother Goose._ I really think I must give a party. All my friends have
been so good to me and I have been entertained in so many homes!
Wherever I go I am sure to see one of my Mother Goose books, and the
children all seem to love it so much. Let me see! whom shall I invite? I
think I'll ask Old Mother Hubbard to take tea with me and we'll talk
about the party together. Jack, Jack!

_Jack_ (_enters_). Yes, mother dear, what is it?

_Mother Goose._ Jack Goose, I wish you to run over to Mother Hubbard's
house and ask her to take tea with me this afternoon. Now be nimble,
Jack,--be quick!

_Jack._ Yes, mother dear. See me jump over the candlestick! Isn't that
fine jumping?

_Mother Goose._ Very fine indeed, Jack. Now do your errand, and hurry
home.