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Little Dramas for Primary Grades cover

Little Dramas for Primary Grades

Chapter 18: THE MAIDEN AND THE BIRD
By Ada M. Skinner
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About This Book

A collection of brief, teacher-friendly scripts and dramatic readers intended for beginning primary grades that present simple scenes, animal fables, folk tales, and short adaptations. Each piece includes character lists, directions, and stage cues adaptable to classroom performance; selections aim to develop oral reading, imagination, and interpretive skills. Contents range from nursery dramas and moral fables to seasonal pieces and adaptations of well-known short stories and legends, offering varied roles for young children and practical material for classroom dramatization.

THE MAIDEN AND THE BIRD

Maiden. Little bird, little bird, come to me,
I have a green cage ready for thee,
Beauty-bright flowers I’ll bring anew
And fresh ripe cherries all wet with dew.

Bird. Thanks, little maiden, for all thy care,
But I love dearly the clear cool air
And my snug little nest in the old oak tree.

Maiden. Little bird, little bird, stay with me!

Bird. Nay, little damsel,—away I’ll fly
To greener fields and warmer sky;
When spring returns with pattering rain,
You’ll hear my merry song again.

Maiden. Little bird, little bird, who’ll guide thee,
Over the hills and over the sea?
Foolish one, come in the house to stay,
For I’m very sure you’ll lose your way.

Bird. Ah, no, little maiden, God guides me,
Over the hills and over the sea.
I will be free as the rushing air,
And sing of sunshine everywhere.

—Lydia Maria Child.