The children laughed at me.

MOTHER. It was a dream, my dear.

KATE. Well, I promised the Bed to get up early. I know that was not a
dream.

[_She jumps out of bed._]

MOTHER. Oh, that is fine!

KATE. I must not be late to school. I promised the Bed.

THE PROUD RING-FINGER

TIME: _this morning._
PLACE: _Mary's bedroom._

* * * * *

MARY.
MOTHER.
FATHER.
BROTHER.
SISTER.
POINTING-FINGER.
MIDDLE-FINGER.
RING-FINGER.
LITTLE-FINGER.
THUMB.

* * * * *

[MARY _lies in bed asleep. Her_ FATHER, MOTHER, BROTHER, _and_ SISTER
_enter softly. They carry birthday presents for Mary._]

MOTHER. Sh! We must not wake her!

FATHER. I will put the gold pen on the table.

BROTHER. I will lay the apple by the pen.

SISTER. I will place the rose by the apple.

FATHER. How pretty they look!

MOTHER. What shall I do with the ring?

FATHER. Why not put it on her finger?

MOTHER. I will do that. I will put it on her ring-finger. There! See how
pretty it looks!

SISTER. How pretty it makes her finger look!

MOTHER. Now come. We must not wake her. Sh! Sh!

[_They go._]

RING-FINGER. I have a gold ring. I am pretty. I am better than the other
fingers. I will not work with them.

THUMB. Do you hear that, fingers?

[Illustration:]

POINTING-FINGER. You are too proud, Ring-finger.

RING-FINGER. Have I not a ring?

MIDDLE-FINGER. That makes you no better, miss.

RING-FINGER. I will not work with any of you.

LITTLE-FINGER. Then I will not work with you.

POINTING-FINGER. Nor I!

THUMB. Nor I!

MIDDLE-FINGER. Nor I!

[_The Ring-finger sees the rose._]

RING-FINGER. I wish to hold the rose.

MIDDLE-FINGER. I will not help you.

RING-FINGER. I cannot get it alone.

MIDDLE-FINGER. I will not help you. Let the ring help you.

RING-FINGER. Dear me! Dear me! I cannot get the rose!

[_The Ring-finger sees the apple._]

RING-FINGER. I wish to hold the apple.

POINTING-FINGER. I will not help you.

RING-FINGER. I cannot get it alone.

POINTING-FINGER. I will not help you. Let the ring help you.

RING-FINGER. Dear me! Dear me! I cannot get the apple.

[_The Ring-finger sees the gold pen._]

RING-FINGER. I wish to write.

THUMB. I will not help you.

RING-FINGER. I cannot write alone.

THUMB. I will not help you. Let the ring help you.

RING-FINGER. The ring does not help me. I cannot work alone. I am no
better than