Stories to Act Author:Frances Gillespy Wickes Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Now the miner had been working many a long day down in the mine under the ground. He had plenty of coal ready to sell, and the man took all he could carry. ... more » Then he hurried away to the blacksmith. The blacksmith lighted his great red fire and hammered out a horseshoe. He fastened it on with a rap and a tap! And away rode the man on his little gray pony — clippety, clippety, clap! Maud Lindsay (adapted) THE LITTLE PLANT First Tall Tree Little Plant Crow Second Tall Tree Sun Wind Rain First Tall Tree. See that little plant down there. She hardly grows at all. Second Tall Tree. Yes, I should think she would be ashamed of herself. Come, little plant, try to grow. Look at us. You should learn to be straight and tall, as we are. Little Plant. I do try to grow; but it is so cold and the ground is so hard, and I get so tired. Crow. Why don't you grow, little plant? Everything ought to grow. Little Plant. I can't. Crow. Can't! Can't! Don't talk to me. I'll tell you what is the matter with you. You are lazy, that's all. Can't! Can't! Can't! Wind. The crow is right. You must. grow. I'll make you. Little Plant. Please, please, Mr. Wind, don't blow so hard. You will tear me from the ground. Wind. Nonsense! I will blow harder. I say you must grow. Sun. What is the matter here? Be quiet, Wind, you hurt her. Why don't you grow, little one? Crow. She is lazy. Wind. She won't try. Little Plant. Indeed, I do try. I try and try and try and try. But the ground is so hard, and the wind is so cold, that I just can't grow any faster. Sun. You poor little plant, I am so sorry for you. I am sure you have tried. Now, I will help you, and my brother, the rain, will help too. Won't you, Brother Rain? Rain. To be sure I will. All you need, lit...« less