THREE MAIDENS FAIR.
Reading edition
Concert Recitation and Pantomime.
Stanley Schell.
Written expressly for this book.
[Three girls in elaborate gowns. Each gown has a long cat-tail attached at back, and each girl wears a cat-mask suited to color of cat she represents. On each girl’s head, just back of ears, is a lady’s hat, with three plumes drooping forward. The hat is kept in place by white-lawn streamers, tied in big bow beneath chin. One girl wears chain, with lorgnette, which she uses occasionally; another girl carries fancy parasol over shoulder; the third girl carries very showy fan, which she uses at different times. Gloves should be worn by all girls. Girls enter from stage rear with mincing steps, and trip to stage front, doing all sorts of things with lorgnette, parasol and fan until stage front is reached. Then all stand still and look at audience, then look sad a moment, and recite in concert the following:]
MANY years ago there lived Three of us maidens fair and bright; But to sorrow we were doomed, All through a fairy’s spite; For she wanted us to wed Three sons of hers, we wot; But we maidens all refused, And hence this weary lot. Pity, friends, we ask of you, Doomed for years to cry me-you! In this castle were we shut, Many years ago; Here for weary days and nights, Our pearly tears did flow. Each a handsome lover met Within the garden fair; But that fairy changed them all To mice, and kept them there— Changed them into three white mice, And then devoured them in a trice! Then not satisfied with this, While we poor maidens sat Side by side, that fairy came, And changed us into cats! Here we must stay to pine and mope, In feline misery, ’Till three princes come to woo, And wed, and set us free— Me-you! There come three princes true! And now again we’ll happy maidens be.
