Читать книгу St. Nicholas Book of Plays & Operettas онлайн

26 страница из 35

to be king. But if one of the twelve can make good

his claim to sovereignty, the rest are ready to crown

him and will become his loyal subjects—so they say.

Boy. Well, Father Time, why don’t you decide

which is your best child, and appoint him king, and

so settle the whole matter?

Father Time. Oh, a father cannot select his best

child. All the children in a family must be equal in

their parents’ eyes, you understand. But [tapping

his forehead]I think I see how this unfortunate dispute

can be ended. I’ll go talk to those months of

mine—I’ll ask them to submit to a trial by jury—and

if they will do that—

Children. [With great glee.]We may be the

jury? Oh, goody!

Father Time. Perhaps—maybe—But wait you

here—I’ll bring you their decision. [Goes out right wing.]

[The Children form ring and play drop the handkerchief, but rush at Father Time pell-mell when he returns.]

Children. May we decide? Are we the judges,

Father Time?

Father Time. Softly, softly—judges must be

grave and sober, you know. [Children stand very