t you anyway.
THE SELFISH WOMAN
TIME: _yesterday._
PLACE: _the village._
* * * * *
WOMAN.
BEGGAR.
* * * * *
[_The_ SELFISH WOMAN _is taking cakes from her oven. There is a knock at
the door._]
WOMAN. Enter!
[_The_ BEGGAR _enters. She wears a long cloak._]
BEGGAR. I am hungry, good woman. Will you give me a cake?
WOMAN. The cakes are too large to give away. I will make a cake for you.
[_She makes a very small cake and puts it in the oven._]
BEGGAR. I thank you, good woman.
[_The woman takes the cake from the oven._]
WOMAN. This cake is too large to give away. I will make another cake for
you.
[_She makes a very, very small cake and puts it in the oven._]
BEGGAR. I thank you, good woman.
[_The woman takes the cake from the oven._]
WOMAN. This cake is too large to give away. I will give you a slice of
bread.
[_She cuts a slice from a loaf of bread._]
BEGGAR. I thank you--
WOMAN. A slice is too much to give away. Here is a crust for you.
[_The beggar shakes her head._]
BEGGAR. May you never taste cake again! May the very cake in your mouth
seem to be crust! If you will not give, you shall not have!
WOMAN. Go, go!
[_The beggar throws off her cloak; a_ FAIRY _is seen._]
WOMAN. A Fairy! You are a Fairy?
FAIRY. I am the Fairy of Good Deeds. You would not give--you shall not
have!
[_The Fairy goes._]
WOMAN. As if cake could ever taste like bread! 'Tis
impossible--impossible!
(_She eats a cake._)
What is this? I seem to be eating crust, dry crust. I'll try another
cake.
[Illustration: "WILL YOU GIVE ME A CAKE?"]
(_She eats another cake._)
Why, this too changes to crust! Ah me! The Fairy's words were true. I
would not give, I cannot have. Ah me! Ah me!
THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT
TIME: _a year ago._
PLACE: _India._
* * * * *
THE DRIVER.
THE SIX BLIND MEN.
* * * * *
[_The_ SIX BLIND MEN _stand by the roadside, begging. The_ DRIVER _comes
with his elephant._]
BLIND MEN. A penny, sir! A penny!
DRIVER (_throwing pennies_). There, and there, and there! Now out of the
way with you! I must take my elephant by.
FIRST BLIND MAN. I have never seen an elephant, sir.
OTHER BLIND MEN. Nor I! Nor I!
DRIVER. Do you know what he is like?
BLIND MEN. No, sir! No, sir!
DRIVER. Would you like t
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