A Three-sided Question
Scene.A hollow tree in the woods.
Time.December evening.
Mr. Owl.Mr. Sparrow.Mr. Bear.
Mr. Owl(stretching his wings):eigho! It’s dark!How fast the daylight goes!I must have over-slept. It’s time I roseAnd went about my breakfast to prepare.I should keep better hours; I declare,Before I got to bed ’t was broad daylight!That must be why I’m getting up to-nightWith such a sleepy feeling in my head.Heigho! Heigho! (Yawns.)
Mr. Owl(stretching his wings):eigho! It’s dark!How fast the daylight goes!I must have over-slept. It’s time I roseAnd went about my breakfast to prepare.I should keep better hours; I declare,Before I got to bed ’t was broad daylight!That must be why I’m getting up to-nightWith such a sleepy feeling in my head.Heigho! Heigho! (Yawns.)
Mr. Owl(stretching his wings):eigho! It’s dark!How fast the daylight goes!I must have over-slept. It’s time I roseAnd went about my breakfast to prepare.I should keep better hours; I declare,Before I got to bed ’t was broad daylight!That must be why I’m getting up to-nightWith such a sleepy feeling in my head.Heigho! Heigho! (Yawns.)
Mr. Owl(stretching his wings):eigho! It’s dark!How fast the daylight goes!I must have over-slept. It’s time I roseAnd went about my breakfast to prepare.I should keep better hours; I declare,Before I got to bed ’t was broad daylight!That must be why I’m getting up to-nightWith such a sleepy feeling in my head.Heigho! Heigho! (Yawns.)
Mr. Owl(stretching his wings):
eigho! It’s dark!
How fast the daylight goes!
I must have over-slept. It’s time I rose
And went about my breakfast to prepare.
I should keep better hours; I declare,
Before I got to bed ’t was broad daylight!
That must be why I’m getting up to-night
With such a sleepy feeling in my head.
Heigho! Heigho! (Yawns.)
Mr. Owl(stretching his wings):eigho! It’s dark!How fast the daylight goes!I must have over-slept. It’s time I roseAnd went about my breakfast to prepare.I should keep better hours; I declare,Before I got to bed ’t was broad daylight!That must be why I’m getting up to-nightWith such a sleepy feeling in my head.Heigho! Heigho! (Yawns.)
Mr. Owl(stretching his wings):
eigho! It’s dark!How fast the daylight goes!I must have over-slept. It’s time I roseAnd went about my breakfast to prepare.I should keep better hours; I declare,Before I got to bed ’t was broad daylight!That must be why I’m getting up to-nightWith such a sleepy feeling in my head.Heigho! Heigho! (Yawns.)
eigho! It’s dark!
How fast the daylight goes!
I must have over-slept. It’s time I rose
And went about my breakfast to prepare.
I should keep better hours; I declare,
Before I got to bed ’t was broad daylight!
That must be why I’m getting up to-night
With such a sleepy feeling in my head.
Heigho! Heigho! (Yawns.)
EnterMr. Sparrow.
Mr. Sparrow: Why don’t you go to bed,If you’re so very sleepy?—it’s high time!The sun has set an hour ago, and I’mGoing home myself as fast as I can trot.Night is the time for sleep.Mr. Owl: The time forwhat?The time forsleep, you say?Mr. Sparrow: That’s what I said.Mr. Owl:Well, my dear bird, your reason must have fled!Mr. Sparrow(icily):I do not catch your meaning quite, I fear.Mr. Owl:I mean you’re talking nonsense. Is that clear?Mr. Sparrow(angrily):Say that again—again, sir, if you dare!Say it again!Mr. Owl: As often as you care.You’re talking nonsense—stuff and nonsense—there!Mr. Sparrow(hopping one twig higher up):You are a coward, sir, andimpolite!(Hopping on a still higher twig)And if you were n’t beneath me I would fight.Mr. Owl:Iambeneath you, true enough, my friend,By just two branches. Will you not descend?Or shall I—Mr. Sparrow(hastily):No, don’t rise. Tell me insteadWhat was the nonsense that you thought I said.Mr. Owl:It may be wrong, but if I heard aright,You said the proper time for sleep was night.Mr. Sparrow:That’s what I said, and I repeat it too!
Mr. Sparrow: Why don’t you go to bed,If you’re so very sleepy?—it’s high time!The sun has set an hour ago, and I’mGoing home myself as fast as I can trot.Night is the time for sleep.Mr. Owl: The time forwhat?The time forsleep, you say?Mr. Sparrow: That’s what I said.Mr. Owl:Well, my dear bird, your reason must have fled!Mr. Sparrow(icily):I do not catch your meaning quite, I fear.Mr. Owl:I mean you’re talking nonsense. Is that clear?Mr. Sparrow(angrily):Say that again—again, sir, if you dare!Say it again!Mr. Owl: As often as you care.You’re talking nonsense—stuff and nonsense—there!Mr. Sparrow(hopping one twig higher up):You are a coward, sir, andimpolite!(Hopping on a still higher twig)And if you were n’t beneath me I would fight.Mr. Owl:Iambeneath you, true enough, my friend,By just two branches. Will you not descend?Or shall I—Mr. Sparrow(hastily):No, don’t rise. Tell me insteadWhat was the nonsense that you thought I said.Mr. Owl:It may be wrong, but if I heard aright,You said the proper time for sleep was night.Mr. Sparrow:That’s what I said, and I repeat it too!
Mr. Sparrow: Why don’t you go to bed,If you’re so very sleepy?—it’s high time!The sun has set an hour ago, and I’mGoing home myself as fast as I can trot.Night is the time for sleep.
Mr. Sparrow: Why don’t you go to bed,
If you’re so very sleepy?—it’s high time!
The sun has set an hour ago, and I’m
Going home myself as fast as I can trot.
Night is the time for sleep.
Mr. Owl: The time forwhat?The time forsleep, you say?
Mr. Owl: The time forwhat?
The time forsleep, you say?
Mr. Sparrow: That’s what I said.
Mr. Sparrow: That’s what I said.
Mr. Owl:Well, my dear bird, your reason must have fled!
Mr. Owl:
Well, my dear bird, your reason must have fled!
Mr. Sparrow(icily):I do not catch your meaning quite, I fear.
Mr. Sparrow(icily):
I do not catch your meaning quite, I fear.
Mr. Owl:I mean you’re talking nonsense. Is that clear?
Mr. Owl:
I mean you’re talking nonsense. Is that clear?
Mr. Sparrow(angrily):Say that again—again, sir, if you dare!Say it again!
Mr. Sparrow(angrily):
Say that again—again, sir, if you dare!
Say it again!
Mr. Owl: As often as you care.You’re talking nonsense—stuff and nonsense—there!
Mr. Owl: As often as you care.
You’re talking nonsense—stuff and nonsense—there!
Mr. Sparrow(hopping one twig higher up):You are a coward, sir, andimpolite!(Hopping on a still higher twig)And if you were n’t beneath me I would fight.
Mr. Sparrow(hopping one twig higher up):
You are a coward, sir, andimpolite!
(Hopping on a still higher twig)
And if you were n’t beneath me I would fight.
Mr. Owl:Iambeneath you, true enough, my friend,By just two branches. Will you not descend?Or shall I—
Mr. Owl:
Iambeneath you, true enough, my friend,
By just two branches. Will you not descend?
Or shall I—
Mr. Sparrow(hastily):No, don’t rise. Tell me insteadWhat was the nonsense that you thought I said.
Mr. Sparrow(hastily):
No, don’t rise. Tell me instead
What was the nonsense that you thought I said.
Mr. Owl:It may be wrong, but if I heard aright,You said the proper time for sleep was night.
Mr. Owl:
It may be wrong, but if I heard aright,
You said the proper time for sleep was night.
Mr. Sparrow:That’s what I said, and I repeat it too!
Mr. Sparrow:
That’s what I said, and I repeat it too!
Mr. Owl:Then you repeat a thing that is not true.Dayis the time for sleep, notnight.Mr. Sparrow:Absurd!Who’s talking nonsense now?Mr. Owl:Impudent bird!How dare you answer back, you upstart fowl!Mr. Sparrow: How dare you call me upstart—you—you—Owl!Mr. Owl:This is too much! I’ll stand no more, I vow!Defend yourself!Mr. Bear(looking out of hollow tree):Come, neighbors, stop that row!What you’re about I’m sure I cannot think.I only know I have n’t had one winkOf sleep. Indeed, I’ve borne it long enough.’T would put the mildest temper in a huff;
Mr. Owl:Then you repeat a thing that is not true.Dayis the time for sleep, notnight.Mr. Sparrow:Absurd!Who’s talking nonsense now?Mr. Owl:Impudent bird!How dare you answer back, you upstart fowl!Mr. Sparrow: How dare you call me upstart—you—you—Owl!Mr. Owl:This is too much! I’ll stand no more, I vow!Defend yourself!Mr. Bear(looking out of hollow tree):Come, neighbors, stop that row!What you’re about I’m sure I cannot think.I only know I have n’t had one winkOf sleep. Indeed, I’ve borne it long enough.’T would put the mildest temper in a huff;
Mr. Owl:Then you repeat a thing that is not true.Dayis the time for sleep, notnight.
Mr. Owl:
Then you repeat a thing that is not true.
Dayis the time for sleep, notnight.
Mr. Sparrow:Absurd!Who’s talking nonsense now?
Mr. Sparrow:Absurd!
Who’s talking nonsense now?
Mr. Owl:Impudent bird!How dare you answer back, you upstart fowl!
Mr. Owl:Impudent bird!
How dare you answer back, you upstart fowl!
Mr. Sparrow: How dare you call me upstart—you—you—Owl!
Mr. Sparrow: How dare you call me upstart—you—you—Owl!
Mr. Owl:This is too much! I’ll stand no more, I vow!Defend yourself!
Mr. Owl:
This is too much! I’ll stand no more, I vow!
Defend yourself!
Mr. Bear(looking out of hollow tree):Come, neighbors, stop that row!What you’re about I’m sure I cannot think.I only know I have n’t had one winkOf sleep. Indeed, I’ve borne it long enough.’T would put the mildest temper in a huff;
Mr. Bear(looking out of hollow tree):
Come, neighbors, stop that row!
What you’re about I’m sure I cannot think.
I only know I have n’t had one wink
Of sleep. Indeed, I’ve borne it long enough.
’T would put the mildest temper in a huff;
And I am but a bear. Why don’t you goTo bed like other folks, I’d like to know?Summer is long enough to keep awake—Winter’s the time when honest people takeTheir three months’ sleep.Mr. Sparrow:That settles me! I fly!Dear Mr. Owl and Mr. Bear, good-by! [Exit.Mr. Owl:I must go too, to find another wood.Every one’s mad in this queer neighborhood!It is not safe such company to keep.Good evening, Mr. Bear.[Exit.Mr. Bear:NowI shall sleep.
And I am but a bear. Why don’t you goTo bed like other folks, I’d like to know?Summer is long enough to keep awake—Winter’s the time when honest people takeTheir three months’ sleep.Mr. Sparrow:That settles me! I fly!Dear Mr. Owl and Mr. Bear, good-by! [Exit.Mr. Owl:I must go too, to find another wood.Every one’s mad in this queer neighborhood!It is not safe such company to keep.Good evening, Mr. Bear.[Exit.Mr. Bear:NowI shall sleep.
And I am but a bear. Why don’t you goTo bed like other folks, I’d like to know?Summer is long enough to keep awake—Winter’s the time when honest people takeTheir three months’ sleep.
And I am but a bear. Why don’t you go
To bed like other folks, I’d like to know?
Summer is long enough to keep awake—
Winter’s the time when honest people take
Their three months’ sleep.
Mr. Sparrow:That settles me! I fly!Dear Mr. Owl and Mr. Bear, good-by! [Exit.
Mr. Sparrow:That settles me! I fly!
Dear Mr. Owl and Mr. Bear, good-by! [Exit.
Mr. Owl:I must go too, to find another wood.Every one’s mad in this queer neighborhood!It is not safe such company to keep.Good evening, Mr. Bear.[Exit.
Mr. Owl:
I must go too, to find another wood.
Every one’s mad in this queer neighborhood!
It is not safe such company to keep.
Good evening, Mr. Bear.[Exit.
Mr. Bear:NowI shall sleep.
Mr. Bear:NowI shall sleep.
CURTAIN.