_Timid Hare._ Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling!
_Brother Hare._ [_Frightened._] Oh dear! Oh dear! The sky is falling!
_Deer._ Why, what is the matter, little hare?
_Timid Hare._ Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.
_Sheep._ Where are you going, little hare? Why do you run so fast?
_Sheep._ [_Frightened._] Dear me, dear me!
_Camel._ Stop a minute, little hare! What’s the matter?
_Timid Hare._ Oh, I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.
_Camel._ [_Frightened._] No, no, it can’t be.
_Elephant._ Why do you run so fast, little hare? What has happened?
_Timid Hare._ I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.
_Timid Hare._ I have no time to talk. The sky is falling.
_Lion._ Oh, what nonsense! There are no signs that the sky is falling. Come with me and I’ll show you.
_Timid Hare._ No, no, I must hurry along. I am afraid to go back.
_Lion._ Yes, you shall come with me to that tree. I will take you there myself. [_Lion and hare go to the tree._]
_Lion._ There, do you see? The sky is not falling. A little acorn fell upon a leaf. It made the noise that frightened you. Let us go back now, and tell the other animals.
CHARACTERS—_Grandma_, _Mabel_, _Lizard_, _Wolf_
_Mabel._ Grandma, may I go to the woods to pick some berries for supper?
_Grandma._ Yes, but be sure to come home before dark. There are animals in the woods, Mabel. They prowl around after dark.
_Mabel._ Oh, I’m not afraid. I’ll come home before night.
_Mabel._ Dear me! How dark it is getting. I must hurry home. [_Hears a little squeaking sound._] What’s that? [_Sees a little green lizard with a stone on its tail._] Oh, you poor little lizard! Let me lift that stone from your tail. [_Takes stone off._]
_Lizard._ Thank you. You are a very kind child.
_Mabel._ Oh! I didn’t know that lizards could talk!
_Lizard._ Some lizards can’t. But I am the king of all the lizards. I am going to do something for you because you lifted the stone from my tail.
_Lizard._ I am going to do something for you that I wouldn’t do for any other little girl. It’s this: I’m going to teach you the animal call. Then you will understand everything the animals say to you, and they will know what you say to them.
_Lizard._ Just listen. [_Gives a low whistle._] Now you do it after me. [_Mabel tries._] Try again, Mabel. [_She tries again and again._] Good, that’s it! Now if you wish any animal to be your friend, just whistle that way to him. That’s the call of all the animals. Good-by. [_Lizard goes away._]