_Goldilocks._ Don't say such uncomfortable things, Dollie. She couldn't turn you into gingerbread, anyway.

_Dollie._ Well, I know I'm made of sawdust, but she might make mush of me for breakfast!

_Goldilocks._ I know you're fooling now, dear Dollie. Let's look in the window. I don't see anyone. I'll knock at the door. No one answers.

Come, Dollie, we'll open the door and walk in. How nice and warm it is.

There is a good fire in the kitchen stove.

_Dollie._ Yes, and I smell something good to eat.

_Goldilocks._ Here it is on the table--what pretty bowls--one, two, three! I'll taste the porridge in the big bowl first. O Dollie, it is too hot! I burned my mouth.

_Dollie._ Try the next bowl. Perhaps the porridge in the middle-sized bowl is not so hot.

_Goldilocks._ No, indeed, it isn't; but it is too cold.

_Dollie._ Aren't you hard to please? I'm so hungry I could eat anything.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_Goldilocks._ Now this in the little bowl is just right. Sit down, Dollie, and we'll eat it all up.

_Dollie._ Do you think it is very polite for us to eat it all?

_Goldilocks._ You should have spoken of that before. It is too late now when it is all gone. Come, let us go into the parlor.

_Dollie._ Don't you think we'd better go home?

_Goldilocks._ How can we when I don't know the way? I'm tired, and I think I'll rest awhile in this nice big rocking-chair. But it's too high; I can't get into it.

_Dollie._ Don't move it out of its place.

_Goldilocks._ Never mind! I'll try the middle-sized chair. I don't like this, it is too low.

_Dollie._ Well, Goldilocks, you must not put chairs out of their places!

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_Goldilocks._ Oh, it won't hurt them. Now let us try this pretty little chair. Come, Dollie, I'll sing you a song:

Rock-a-bye, Dollie, in the treetop, When the wind blows, the cradle will rock; When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall And down will come Dollie, cradle and all!

[_Chair breaks._]

_Dollie._ Well, something broke then!

_Goldilocks._ Yes, the cradle and all came down that time. Dear, O dear!

I wish I hadn't rocked you so hard. I wish I hadn't run away!

[_Crying._]

_Dollie._ Don't cry, dear Goldilocks. Let us see what we can find in the next room. Perhaps some one is in there who will take us to your dear mother.

_Goldilocks._ O Dollie! I'm a naughty girl not to mind my mother. If I'd only stayed at home in the garden!

_Dollie._ Oh, see the big bed!

_Goldilocks._ I'm so tired I believe I'll climb in and go to sleep. But I don't like it. This big bed is too hard.

_Dollie._ And this middle-sized one is too soft.

_Goldilocks._ But this little one is _just right_.

Go--to--sleep--Dollie--

SCENE II.--_The Bear Family in the Wood_

_Father Bear._ Well, little son, aren't you about ready to go home?

_Sonny Bear._ Oh, no, father! Let me play just a little longer. Here are such good places to hide in the shady wood.

_Mother Bear._ No, dear little sonny, we must go home now. It is getting late. It's time for you to have your supper and go to bed.

_Sonny Bear._ All right, mother dear. I believe I am hungry, and your porridge is always so good.

_Mother Bear._ Most children like porridge. Perhaps you can have a nice red apple, too.

_Sonny Bear._ Oh, goody! Little sonny bears always like apples, don't they, papa?

_Father Bear._ Yes, my dear. Mother, let me take your knitting basket.

What are you making now?

_Mother Bear._ A warm cap for sonny. Isn't it pretty?

_Father Bear._ Very pretty, and he should be very glad he has such a good mother.

_Sonny Bear._ She _is_ a good mother, and you are a very good father, too.

_Father Bear._ Well, here we are at home again. But the door is open.

I'm certain I closed it when we went away. Who has been here?

_Mother Bear._ Let us take off our wraps and have our tea.

_Father Bear._ Why, somebody has been tasting my porridge.

_Mother Bear._ What? Let me see! Some one has left a spoon in my porridge, too.

_Sonny Bear._ Oh, mamma! Look at my bowl! Some one has eaten my porridge all up.

_Mother Bear._ Never mind, sonny boy, you may have some of mine. But I wonder who has been here. Let us go into the parlor and see if anyone is there.