READER 1: There was a time in this country when most people made their livings
by
farming. Some farmers did well; some barely scratched out a living.
2/JOHN: I was one of the farmers who had a hard time feeding his family.
My name is John
Carver. It has been many years since we lived, but my friends and I would
like to tell you a
story.
READER 3: John's farm was quite small, and though he toiled in the fields
everyday, his
crops were always brown and scrawny.
READER 4: It just so happened that John was married to Lucy, and Lucy was
a mighty
clever lady.
6/LUCY: My husband was not a very good farmer, but he loved his work.
So I decided that
as long as he was happy, I would make sure we had enough to eat.
READER 1: One winter day, when the wind blew very cold and the snow drifted
very high,
Lucy sent John to the chicken coop to fetch dinner.
2/JOHN: This is the last chicken we have, Lucy. I don't know what we
will eat tomorrow, so
roast it with care.
READER 3: When the chicken was cooked, Lucy set it on the table. John
said:
2/JOHN: What a grand chicken you have prepared! It looks so brown and
crispy, and it
smells delicious. It is a shame we have not even a crust of bread to go
with it. Oh well, we
cannot dwell on what we do not have. Let us call in the children and eat.
6/LUCY: Do not call the children. I am going to take this chicken to
the baron who lives in
the fine house on the hill.
2/JOHN: I do not understand you at all, Lucy Carver. Why do you want
to give away our last
morsel of food?
6/LUCY: Never you mind. I have an idea.
READER 4: Lucy thought that if she gave the chicken to the baron, he might
give her
something even better in return.
READER 3: So she set off for the baron's house.
READER 1: When she got there, she was shown into the parlour where the baron
sat with
his wife, two sons and two daughters. Lucy gave the chicken to him.
6/LUCY: I hope you will accept this gift, sir. It is all I have to
give you, but you are welcome to
it.
5/BARON: There is nothing we like better than juicy, roasted chicken.
It smells delicious. I
would like you to divide it among us so that each gets a fair share.
READER 3: Lucy picked up the knife and looked around the room. All
eyes were upon her.
6/LUCY: Let me see. There are six of you altogether.
5/BARON: Don't forget yourself. You shall share it with us.
2/JOHN: Dividing one chicken seven ways so that each person was satisfied
was the task
set out for Lucy.
READER 1: The baron made himself comfortable in his favorite chair as Lucy
looked at the
bird. The first thing she did was cut off the tail and give it to the
baron's wife.
6/LUCY: Here, ma'am, you shall have the tail because it is your job to sit
in the house and
see that it is properly run.
READER 3: Then she pulled off the two legs of the chicken and handed one
to each of the
baron's sons.
6/LUCY: Because you fine, strong boys walk your father's fields every day,
it is fitting for you
to have the legs.
READER 1: Lucy then gave a wing to each of the baron's daughters.
6/LUCY: You lovely girls get the wings because each of you will someday marry
and fly from
your father's care.
READER 3: Finally, Lucy cut off the head of the chicken.
6/LUCY: There can be no question that this is the right part for you, sir,
because you are the
head of the house. And since I am just a poor farmer's wife, I will be
happy with the leftovers.
2/JOHN: Of course, that meant Lucy got most of the chicken!
READER 4: Wasn't she clever?
READER 3: The baron laughed and slapped his thigh.
5/BARON: Bless my soul. You are a sly one, Lucy Carver! I have
enjoyed myself so much I
want you to take this jug of nectar and this loaf of bread along with the chicken.
I hope our
paths will cross again some day.
READER 1: Lucy took the food back home. That night she and her family
ate until they were
full.
2/JOHN: The next day I was in town and told some other farmers what Lucy
had done.
READER 3: One of those farmers was Amos Green. Amos was a greedy man
and was
always looking for a way to get the best of a deal.
READER 1: Amos saw no reason why he couldn't do what Lucy had done, so he
went home
and roasted five, fat geese. Then he took them to the baron.
READER 4: Here, sir. I would like you to have these five fine geese.
5/BARON: I thank you, farmer. If you don't mind, I would like you to
divide the geese
between my family and yourself so each of us gets a fair share.
READER 3: Amos took the knife, but just as he started to make a cut, he stopped
and
scratched his head.
READER 4: No, that won't work. Let's see. Maybe it would be better
if I cut here. No, that
won't work, either.
READER 1: Amos thought and thought. He stood on one foot and then the
other. But he
could not think of a way to divide the five geese fairly between the seven people.
READER 4: Finally the baron grew tired of waiting.
5/BARON: Send for Lucy. She will know what to do.
READER 4: When Lucy arrived, the baron said:
READER 5: Here is the problem. We have five geese to be divided fairly
between me, my
wife, my two sons, my two daughters, and you. Can you do it?
6/LUCY: Why certainly, sir. Here is a goose for you and your wife.
Now you, your wife, and
the goose are three. And here is a goose for your daughters and one for
your sons. Now
they are threes. If I take the two remaining geese, then I am three, also.
You see, it's really
very simple.
READER 3: The baron roared with laughter. When he stopped, he turned
to Amos and said:
5/BARON: Do not come back to my house until you are as clever as Lucy.
And since I do
not think that will ever be, I bid you a final farewell.
4/AMOS: I left the baron's house with nothing but my hat. There was
no gift of bread and
nectar for me.
READER 1: The baron was so pleased with Lucy he rewarded her with three gold
coins and
promised to teach John how to be a better farmer so the family would never go
hungry
again.
2/JOHN: The baron kept his promise, and slowly but surely, I became a good
farmer. My
crops grew high, and my family grew strong. All because of Lucy.
ALL: CLEVER, CLEVER LUCY!
THE END
