Chantecler eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 143 pages of information about Chantecler.

Chantecler eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 143 pages of information about Chantecler.

THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK [Low and quickly to his mother.] Tsicadas, mother.  You must pronounce it Tsi!

A MAGPIE [In black coat and white tie, announcing the guests as they arrive through a hole such as Chickens dig at the foot of hedges.] The Gander!

THE GANDER [Entering, jocularly.] What’s all this fuss and feathers my lady?  Our names called as we enter?

THE GUINEA-HEN [Demurely.] Yes, you see, expecting some rather great people, I thought it well to stand an usher at the blackthorn door.

THE MAGPIE
[Announcing.] The Duck!

THE DUCK [Entering, impressed by the elegance of the occasion.] Here is style and grandeur indeed!  Our names called!

THE GUINEA-HEN
Yes, you see, expecting some rather great people—­

THE MAGPIE
The Turkey-hen!

THE TURKEY-HEN [Entering, after a supercilious glance.] This is quite more of an affair, my dear, than I was anticipating.—­Names called!

THE GUINEA-HEN
Yes, I had in the Magpie to supplement my usual staff.

CHORUS
[Among blossoming branches.]
  Boom!  Boom! 
  From bloom to bloom
!

THE TURKEY-HEN
[Lifting her bill.] A Chorus?

THE GUINEA-HEN
[Breezily.] The Bees!

CHORUS
  Make distant flowers
  Bride and groom!

THE TURKEY-HEN
Wonders on every side!

THE GUINEA-HEN
The Bees here, the Tsicadas yonder—­[To a passing HEN.] How do you do? 
How do you do?

BEES
[At the right.]
  Boom!

CICADAS
[At the left.]
  Our praises!

BEES
  Boom!

CICADAS
  Our praises!

THE GUINEA-HEN [To the PHEASANT-HEN.] My garden produces the most remarkable of everything!

THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK
The brightest flowers!

THE GUINEA-HEN
The big potatoes!

THE BLACKBIRD
And peaches!  Perfect peaches!

THE PHEASANT-HEN [Inconvenienced by the movement and the crowd, to the BLACKBIRD.] Let us stand out of the crowd a moment, behind this watering-pot.

THE BLACKBIRD The watering-pot, alias the Intermittent Baldpate, so called because there flows from his copper scalp when he is tilted a marvelous growth of silver hair.

THE GUINEA-HEN [Spying the CAT, who, outstretched along an apple-bough is watching with half-closed eyes.] I have among my guests the Cat.

THE BLACKBIRD
Tomkyns de Tomkyns! [A BIRD is heard warbling in a tree.]

THE GUINEA-HEN
I have the Chaffinch!

THE BLACKBIRD
Let him chaff inchworms, what care we?

THE GUINEA-HEN
The Darning-needle!

THE BLACKBIRD
She shall mend up Ragged Robin, now’s his chance!

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Chantecler from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.