Nursery Comedies

Enter Goosey Poosey

G. P. – There you are, Ducky Daddles! I've been looking for you everywhere!

C. L. – What do you want?

G. P. – I just wanted to see what you were doing, and have a chat. What a horrid day it is! the roads are so dry there is no walking in them.

D. D. – Well, I am sorry I've not time to stay with you. I'm just off to London to see the Queen.

G. P. – You, Ducky Daddles! Something very strange must have happened to make you go so far.

D. D. – Indeed it has, and what do you think?

C. L. – Guess what fell on to Henny Penny's head.

G. P. – An acorn, or perhaps even a chestnut.

D. D. – A chestnut! Oh, if that were all! No, my friend. It was a piece of the sky, a great, solid slab of blue sky, that fell clump on to the top of poor Henny Penny's head, and nearly killed her.

G. P. – Oh, how terrible! Have you sent for the police?

C. L. – No, we're going to London to tell the Queen. We think she ought to know.

G. P. – Indeed she ought, and at once. I'll come with you to see what she says.

C. L. – Very well! Only you must not keep waiting to splash about in all the puddles, then.

G. P. – Of course not, when I'm out walking on business.

C. L. – Very well, then, we'll start without losing any more time.

G. P. – I'll just hiss first in case there's an enemy in the road. (Hisses.) Now, then, I'm ready.

C. L. – Then let us start.

(Cockie Lockie arm in arm with Henny Penny. Goosey Poosey arm in arm with Ducky Daddles. A voice outside is heard.)

Voice. – Cockie Lockie! Henny Penny! Goosey Poosey! Ducky Daddles!

C. L. – Dear me! We shall never get to London.

G. P. – It's that gobbling Turky Lurky!

Enter Turky Lurky

T. L. – Ha! ha! my friends. This is very nice. Oho! Aha! Where are you all off to so merrily?

C. L. – Not merrily, indeed! Our business is most serious.

T. L. – You make my feathers stand on end. What is the matter?

G. P. – Haven't you heard? The most terrible thing has happened!

H. P. – One half of the sky fell on me as I was sitting under a haystack, and we don't know what is going to happen next.

T. L. – Oh dear! This is terrible! Suppose the other half were to come down?

C. L. – Exactly! That's what we're afraid of. We're going to the Queen of England to see what she can do.

T. L. – A very good thing to do! I'll come with you and explain it all to her. Oho!

C. L. – Are you sure you're not too fat to walk so far?

T. L. – Too fat! Aha! On the contrary, I shall make you look respectable. We shall be admitted to the Queen at once. I'll just gobble first to let her know we're coming.

(Gobbles. They prepare to start as before, Turky in front. A voice outside is heard.)

Voice. – Stop! Stop! Good people, one moment, if you please.

D. D. – Why it's Mr. Fox!

H. P. – Is it safe to let him come?

T. L. – Oh dear, yes! There are quite enough of us to be a match for him. Oho! Aha!

Enter Mr. Fox

Mr. F. – Good afternoon, my friends. What a pleasant gathering you have here! You look as though you were going to enjoy yourselves.

C. L. – Alas! No! Nothing so festive. We are going to London on most serious business.

Mr. F. – To London?

G. P. – Yes, indeed! The whole sky has got loose and is slipping about in the most dangerous manner.

D. D. – It would have killed Henny Penny if she hadn't got under a beanstack.

Mr. F. – Oh how horrible! What shall we do?

C. L. – We're going to London to tell the Queen.

Mr. F. – To London! Why, that is capital! I'm going there myself.

D. D. – Are you, indeed!

Mr. F. – And what's more, I know a short cut to London, that will get you there in less than half the time.

C. L. – Oh, then, pray show it to us. Every minute is precious.