Scene X.—In the Garden

Little One-Eye. Mamma, mamma, look here! Come quickly! Isn't this a wonderful tree!

Mother. Why, how strange! This tree was not here yesterday. I wonder how it came! I never saw such a beautiful tree before!

Little One-Eye. Do you see the golden apples on it? O mamma! may we have some? Please, mother!

Mother. Yes, dear little One-Eye. You are the oldest, climb up into the tree and pick some golden apples for us.

One-Eye. That will be fun. Here I go!

Mother. Why don't you get the apples, little One-Eye?

Little One-Eye. They all get away from me. When I try to pick one it springs back!

Mother. Come down, little One-Eye. Now little Three-Eyes, you can see better with your three eyes, than your sister with her one eye. You may climb up and get some apples for us.

Little Three-Eyes. I'll pick a lot of them and throw them down for you to catch. Why, how funny they act! I almost get one and it always springs away!

Mother. Come down and let me try. I never heard of fruit that would not be picked. Now children, I'll get some of the lovely apples for you. There! Why, what is the matter? I can't reach a single apple.

Little Two-Eyes. Let me try; perhaps I can pick some.

Mother. You, with your two eyes! How can you expect to get them if we can't?

Little Two-Eyes. Please let me try, mother.

Mother. Well, I suppose you can try, but I know you can't get them.

Two-Eyes. Here they are. Catch them, mother; catch them, little One-Eye! Oh, mother! I see a young man on horseback coming along the road. He looks like a prince.

Mother. Hurry down, little Two-Eyes! He must not see you,—a girl with two eyes! I'm ashamed of you. Hide under this barrel!

[The prince rides up.]

Prince. Good morning, ladies, what a lovely tree you have here! She who gives me a branch shall have whatever she wishes.

Little One-Eye. The tree is ours, Great Prince; but when we try to get its fruit, it slips away from us.

Prince. It is strange, if the tree belongs to you, that you cannot get the fruit! But where do these apples come from?

Little Three-Eyes. We have another sister, but she has only two eyes and we are ashamed of her; so we hid her under this barrel, and she has rolled the apples out to you.

Prince. Little Two-Eyes, come out. Can you get me a branch from this wonderful tree?

Little Two-Eyes. Yes, Prince; here is a branch with many golden apples on it.

Prince. And what is your wish, little Two-Eyes?

Little Two-Eyes. O Prince! My mother and my sisters are ashamed of me and do not treat me well. They do not give me enough to eat and they do not like to have me near them. Please take me away where I can be happy and free!

Prince. Come with me, little Two-Eyes; you shall go to my father's palace and be a little princess. There you will be happy and free and never be hungry or lonely again.