  Characters—Three Children, Spring, Rabbit and creatures of the woods Part I—The ChildrenFirst Child. Oh, how bare the woods look. Not a flower or bud anywhere! Second Child. Spring is late. Third Child. Ow-o-o. Let’s run home. Second Child. Spring has forgotten us. I shan’t come here again. Part II—Lady SpringSpring. At last! Be off, Jack Frost and North Wind. You have kept me waiting too long. Now to work. I must waken the flowers. [Waves her wand.] Flowers. [Awaken.] Welcome, Lady Spring. We have looked for you long. Spring. Break into buds, trees. Trees. [Awaken.] Welcome, Lady Spring. We have looked for you long. Spring. Waken, animals. Animals. [Awaken.] Welcome, Lady Spring. We have waited for you long. Spring. But where are the children? Perhaps they do not know we are here. I must find some way to send them a message. Robin, will you take it? Robin. I am too busy building a nest for my little ones. Send the fox. Spring. Fox, will you take it? Fox. I dare not go. The people will think I have come to steal their chickens. Send Black Bear. Spring. Black Bear, will you take the message to the children? Black Bear. Don’t send me. I am so big I would frighten them. All children love the rabbit. Send him. Spring. Rabbit, will you go? Rabbit. Yes, yes. I’ll go. But, dear me! The dogs! They might catch me. Spring. Go when they are asleep. Rabbit. Good. I will go to-night. But what message shall I take? Spring. I’ll weave a basket of twigs and leaves and green grass, and line it with soft moss. Each one of us will put a message into it. Part III—The JourneySpring. Here is the basket, Rabbit. Robin. Here is an egg. Thrush. Here is another. Squirrel. Here are some acorns that have just sprouted. Spring. My prettiest flowers go to the children. There! Stop at every house where there is a child. Rabbit. I shall not forget. I’m off. [To himself.] I’ll just make a nest of grass for each child, and leave it on Part IV—The MessageFirst Child. What a pretty nest! I found it on my doorstep—flowers and twigs and an egg. Second Child. I found one, too—with everything in it from the woods. Third child. Oh! Spring must be here. First child. See, here are the tracks of the rabbit’s feet! He came to tell us. Second Child. Then spring is here. Let’s run to the woods—now! Children. [Running.] Spring is here! Bunny has brought us the message. |
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