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Too Much Noise
adapted for classroom use only

I. Once there was a farmer. He lived in one room of his small hut with his wife and her mother and his three small children.

II. He worked hard on his farm all day.

III. When he came home at night, the noises in his house drove him crazy.

IV.His wife talked to him.

II. His mother-in-law talked to him.

I. His three small children talked to him.

ALL. And they all talked at the same time!

III. The poor farmer put his hands over his ears and cried, "Too Much Noise!! Please, please, Quiet , please!"

ALL. But they went right on talking.

II. At last, in desperation, he asked the advice of a wise man.

III. "What shall I do?" he asked. "The noise is driving me crazy!"

IV. "Will you follow my advice?" the wise man asked.

III. "Yes, "said the farmer.

IV. "Good," the wise man said. "Go home and bring one cow into the house with you."

III. "A cow in the house!" cried the farmer. "How could that help?"

IV. "Well, if you don't want my advice.., "the wise man said.

II. So the farmer went home and brought the cow into his house.

I. "A cow in the house!" said his wife.

II. "A cow in the house!"said his mother-in-law.

V. "A cow in the house!" said the children.

ALL. And they all said it at once. "A cow in the house!"

II. "Moooooo, " said the cow, bewildered by the noise.

I.&IV. The poor man just held his head.:Quiet, please, Quiet, all of you !'HE cried

III. The next day he went back to the wise man.

V. "Well, " said the wise man, "how is it?"

III. "Worse than ever, : said the farmer. "While they talk, the cow moos. It's terrible!"

:I. Good, "said the wise man. "You have a dog?"

III. "Yes, two of them."

II. Good," said the wise man. "Tonight bring the dogs into the house. too."

III. Bring the dogs into the house!" shouted the farmer.

II. "Well--if you don't want my advice..., "said the wise man.

V. So the farmer went home and brought the two dogs into the house, too.

IV. " A cow and two dogs!" said his wife.

:I. A cow and two dogs in the house,!" said his mother in law.

IV. "A cow and two dogs!" said the children.

ALL. "MOoooo, " said the bewildered cow.

I.& II. And the two dogs barked at being locked up inside.

IV. The poor farmer just held his head.

III. "Quiet. please, all of you, "he moaned.

V. The next day the farmer went back to the wise man.

II. "How is it now?" the wise man asked.

III. "Worse, worse than ever, "said the farmer. "are you sure you know what you are doing?"

II. "Yes, " said the wise man. "Tonight I want you to be sure to bring indoors your rooster and all the hens.

III. My rooster and all the hens!" cried the farmer. "How will that help?"

II. Well--- if you don't want my advice..., "the wise man said.

I. So the farmer went home and brought his rooster and all the hens into his house.

IV. "A cow, two dogs, a rooster and all these hens in our house!" said his wife. "Are you crazy?"

I. "A cow , two dogs, a rooster and all our hens! "said his mother in law. "Are you crazy?"

IV. "A cow two dogs, a rooster and all our hens!" cried the children.

I&IV. "MOoooo..., "went the cow.

V&I. "Werf werf werf, "went the dogs

I&II&V. "Cackledecackle deckle, "went the hens

IV. and rooster crowed. Cockadoodledoooooo

III."Quiet,"moaned the poor man. "Oh, please be quiet."

I.The next day the farmer went back to the wise man.

II. "How is it?" the wise man asked.

III. "Terrible, "said the farmer, "terrible. I cannot last another night like this."

II. "All right," said the wise man. "Now listen with care. Tonight, go home and be sure to put the cow back in the barn."

IV. The farmer did, and while there was still a lot of noise, at least the cow was not there to moo at him.

V. The following night he went to the wise man again.

II. "How was it?" the wise man asked.

III. "Better," the farmer said, "better than the night before.

II. ""Good," the wise man said. "Tonight go home and be sure to put the two dogs back in the barn."

I. That night there was a lot of noise. But at least there was no cow mooing and no dogs barking.

II. "How was it?" the wise man asked the next night.

III."Better," the man said

II. "Fine, " the wise man said. "Tonight go home and put out the rooster and the hens."

V. And the farmer did.

I. No cow mooed at him.

IV. No dogs barked.

II. No rooster crowed.

III. No hens cackled.

All. It was wonderful!

V. The next night he went back to the wise man.

II. "How is it now?" the wise man asked.

III. "Last night it was so wonderful,"the farmer said, "so quiet, so quiet, no mooing, no barking, no crowing, no cackling."

II. "Good,"said the wise man, "I told you it would be better."

I. And the farmer went home.

IV. His wife and mother in law and three children said, "At last, you have come to your senses again."

V. But the farmer only smiled to himself.

IV. For without the cow and the two dogs, and the rooster, and the hens, their voices seemed very quiet indeed.

All together:

I. Mooo Moooo Moooo.
II. Cockadoodledooo Cockadoodledooo
III. Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof
IV. Cackle Cackle Cackle Cackle Cackle Cackle
V. Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter Chatter

First I (Moooo) drops out
Then II (Cockadooodledooo) drops out
Then III (Woof) drops out
Then IV (Cackle) drops out
Then V (Chatter) says 5 more chatters and then drops out

All. And never again did the farmer say Too Much Noise!!

(printer friendly copy)