Aesop was an ancient Greek storyteller credited with a collection of fables known as “Aesop’s Fables.” Although the details of his life are uncertain and shrouded in myth and legend, it is believed that Aesop lived during the 6th century BCE in ancient Greece. He was said to be a slave known for his wit and wisdom.
Aesop’s Fables is a collection of short stories that typically feature anthropomorphic animals and teach moral lessons. These fables often involve animals engaging in human-like behavior, with each story conveying a moral or ethical lesson at the end.
DREAMS OF THE FARMYARD
In the heart of a lively farm, where dreams and aspirations take flight, we find two sisters, Mary and Jane. Join them on a journey of hope, ambition, and the bittersweet lessons that life on the farm teaches them. This is the tale of “Dreams of the Farmyard”.
CHARACTERS:
MOTHER
MARY
JANE
SCRIPT:
(On a farm, Mary and her sister Jane are in the hen house feeding the hens. Mother enters, carrying a large pail of milk)
MOTHER: Mary!
MARY: Yes, Mother!
MOTHER: I want you to go to town and sell this pail of milk.
JANE: Can I go with her?
MOTHER: Sure, Jane. (To Mary) Mary, you have to be very careful with this pail.
MARY: Don’t worry, I’m always careful.
MOTHER: Listen to me, Mary. You have worked hard in the barn, and that’s why you can keep the money you get from selling the milk.
MARY: (hugs her mother) Oh, Mother, thank you so much. Can I do whatever I want with that money?
MOTHER: Sure, you can. What do you have in mind?
MARY: I don’t know yet, but I’ll think about it on our way to town.
MOTHER: Go now. (To Jane) Help your sister with the pail. Oh, and as soon as you get to town, go straight to the market, do you understand?
MARY AND JANE: Yes, mother.
MARY: (to Jane) Come on, let’s go.
(Mary and Jane leave the barn and start walking to town)
JANE: Do you need help?
MARY: No, I’m fine. I’ll just carry the pail on my head like a mother does.
(Mary puts the pail of milk on her head)
JANE: What are you going to do with the money?
MARY: I think I’ll buy ten dozen eggs.
JANE: What for?
MARY: So that I can have a hundred beautiful chicks in the barn.
JANE: We already have chicks in the barn.
MARY: I know, but these will be all mine!
JANE: You’re right.
MARY: When they are all grown up, I’ll sell all the hens and roosters, and then I’ll buy a pig.
JANE: You mean another pig because we already have pigs!
MARY: I know, but this pig will be mine. It will be the biggest and fattest pig in town!
JANE: What will you do with it?
MARY: I’ll sell it in the market, and then I’ll buy a cow.
JANE: Another cow? Never mind, I suppose this cow will be yours, right?
MARY: Right! And I’ll take good care of her, and then I will have even more milk to sell.
JANE: And you will have more money.
MARY: Yes! I’ll be the richest farmer in town.
JANE: How lucky you are. You’ll have eggs, chicks, hens, roosters, pigs, and cows, and you will be rich!
MARY: I’m so happy.
(Suddenly, Mary trips on a rock, falls, and the pail breaks, spilling the milk on the ground)
JANE: Oh, no!
MARY: The pail is broken!
JANE: There’s no milk!
MARY: (crying) I have no milk to sell.
JANE: No eggs, no chicks, no pig, no cow…
MARY: Stop it!
JANE: You will have nothing.
MARY: Let’s go back to the barn.
(They stand up and walk back to the barn)
JANE: You have learned a lesson. No more daydreaming.
MARY: Anyway, I know that someday I will turn my dreams into reality.
As the sisters return to the barn, a newfound understanding settles within Mary’s heart. Though her dreams have shattered like spilled milk, she carries a resilience that will guide her toward a brighter future. The farm remains a place where dreams can flourish, and Mary knows that as she perseveres, one day, her dreams will become reality.
THE END
AUTHOR: AESOP FABLE
ADAPTED BY: K I D S I N C O
AESOP’S MOST FAMOUS FABLES:
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“The Tortoise and the Hare”: This fable tells the story of a slow and steady tortoise challenging a fast but overconfident hare to a race. Despite the hare’s initial lead, he becomes complacent and takes a nap, allowing the tortoise to steadily plod ahead and win the race. The moral of the story is that consistency and perseverance often lead to success.
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“The Boy Who Cried Wolf”: This fable follows a shepherd boy who repeatedly tricks the villagers by falsely claiming that a wolf is attacking his flock of sheep. When a real wolf finally appears and the boy cries for help, the villagers no longer believe him, resulting in the loss of his flock. The moral of the story emphasizes the importance of honesty and the consequences of lying.
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“The Ant and the Grasshopper”: In this fable, an industrious ant works hard during the summer, storing food for the winter ahead. Meanwhile, a carefree grasshopper spends the summer singing and playing. When winter arrives, the grasshopper is left hungry and seeks help from the ant, who refuses due to the grasshopper’s lack of preparation. The moral highlights the value of hard work and planning for the future.
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“The Lion and the Mouse”: This fable depicts a small mouse who, by chance, helps a mighty lion by freeing him from a hunter’s net. Later, when the lion is trapped in a hunter’s snare, the grateful mouse returns the favor by gnawing through the ropes to set the lion free. The moral of the story is that even small acts of kindness can be repaid in unexpected ways.
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“The Fox and the Grapes”: In this fable, a fox tries to reach a bunch of grapes hanging high above him but fails repeatedly. Frustrated, the fox eventually convinces himself that the grapes are likely sour and not worth his effort. The moral lesson here is that people often belittle what they cannot have.
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