_Little Girl_ (_frightened_). Why, no. _Spirit of Cotton._ How do you know whether it is interesting or not? I will tell you the story of my life. In the early spring the planter gets the ground ready for me. As soon as the frost is out of the ground, he plants me. _Little Girl._ What happens then? _Spirit of Cotton._ The good earth gives me food. The sun and rain make me grow, and soon-- Heigh ho! Ho heigh! There am I, A tall plant of cotton. _Little Girl._ How do you look? _Spirit of Cotton._ My leaves are green like the maple. I have lovely blossoms. They are white the first day and pink the next. _Little Girl._ I thought you said that you were a cotton plant. _Spirit of Cotton._ So I did. My blossoms fall off, and then-- Heigh ho! Ho heigh! There am I, A nice bunch of cotton. _Little Girl._ Is that all? _Spirit of Cotton._ No, I have some friends who will tell you more about my life. (_Goes out and returns leading a little girl by the hand._) This is my friend from India. (_Goes out again._) _Little Girl._ How did you get here? _Maiden from India._ I heard the Spirit of Cotton calling and I obeyed. _Little Girl_ (_pointing to a map of Asia which is pinned on Maiden from India_). Is this your country? _Maiden from India._ Yes, I have come to tell you something about cotton in my country. Cotton was first raised in my country. That was long, long, long ago. _Little Girl._ A hundred years ago? _Maiden from India._ We knew how to weave cotton thousands of years ago. _Little Girl._ Did you know how to weave well? _Maiden from India._ We made such fine dresses that you could draw a whole one through your ring. _Little Girl._ I don't believe I could draw my dress through my ring. _Maiden from India._ I know you couldn't. _Spirit of Cotton_ (_outside_). Heigh ho! Ho heigh! _Maiden from India._ I must return. The Spirit of Cotton is calling. (_Goes out._) _Spirit of Cotton_ (_comes in, leading a little girl by the hand_). This is my friend from Egypt. She has something to tell you too. (_Goes out._) _Little Girl._ Do you know about cotton? _Maiden from Egypt._ Yes, we knew how to use cotton long before your country was even heard of. _Little Girl._ Is this your country (_pointing to a map_)? _Maiden from Egypt._ Yes. _Little Girl._ Did your people like cotton dresses? _Maiden from Egypt._ Yes; just think how warm those woolen ones were. _Little Girl._ I guess every one who ever lived must have liked cotton. _Maiden from Egypt._ All good children do now. _Spirit of Cotton_ (_outside_). Heigh ho! Ho heigh! _Maiden from Egypt._ I must go. I hear the Spirit of Cotton calling. _Spirit of Cotton_ (_bringing a little girl into the room_). This is my friend from America. (_Goes out again._) _Little Girl._ I know you. We studied that map in school. You are from the United States. What did America have to do with cotton?