{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_19826/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_19826","id":"gutenberg_19826","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19826","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Children & Young Adult Reading","Category: Plays/Films/Dramas","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Christmas","Christmas plays"],"text":"Produced by Suzanne Shell, Linda Cantoni, and the Online\nDistributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE WHITE CHRISTMAS\n\nAND OTHER\n\nMERRY CHRISTMAS PLAYS\n\nBY\n\nWALTER BEN HARE\n\nAUTHOR OF THE PLAYS\n\n\"_Aaron Boggs, Freshman_,\" \"_Abbu San of Old Japan_,\" \"_Civil\nService_,\" \"_A College Town_,\" \"_Kicked Out of College_,\" \"_Macbeth a\nla Mode_,\" \"_Mrs. Tubbs of Shantytown_,\" \"_Parlor Matches_,\" \"_A Poor\nMarried Man_,\" \"_My Irish Rose_,\" \"_A Rustic Romeo_,\" \"_Savageland_,\"\n\"_A Southern Cinderella_,\" etc.\n\nILLUSTRATED BY\n\nBUCKTON NENDICK\n\nCHICAGO\nT.S. DENISON & COMPANY\nPUBLISHERS\n\nCOPYRIGHT, 1917\nBY\nEBEN H. NORRIS\n\nMADE IN U.S.A.\n\n[Illustration: From \"ANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE\"]\n\n\n\n\nTHIS BOOK IS DEDICATED\n\nWITH THE BEST WISHES OF THE AUTHOR\n\nTO\n\nFRANCES MAAS ULLMANN\n\nTHE ORIGINAL\n\n\"ANITA\"\n\nAND\n\nLUDWIG BLOCK ULLMANN\n\nTHE ORIGINAL\n\n\"JOLLY JACK FROST\"\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n     \"I have always thought of Christmas time ... as a good time;\n     a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time\n     ... when men and women seem by one consent to open their\n     shut-up hearts freely ...; and I say, God bless it!\"\n\n     CHARLES DICKENS.\n\n\n\n\nFOREWORD\n\n\nIn these little plays I have tried to bring before the public the two\ndominant characteristics of the ideal Christmas season, kindness,\nexpressed by \"good will toward men,\" and the inward joy wrought by\nkind acts, and suggested by \"peace on earth.\" As Yuletide draws near\nwe like to think of the swell of Christmas feeling, kindness, peace\nand good will, that rises like a mighty tide over the world, filling\nit with the fresh, clean joys and generous impulses that produce the\npeace that passeth understanding.\n\nSome of the plays are filled with the spirit of fun and jollity that\nis always associated with Christmas merrymaking; in others I have\ntried to emphasize the spiritual blessings brought to the children of\nmen on that first white Christmas night when Christ, the Lord, was\nborn in Bethlehem, and all the angels sang, \"Gloria in excelsis, peace\non earth, good will toward men.\"\n\n\nCHILDREN IN PLAYS.\n\nThe love of mimetic representation, either as a participant or as a\nspectator, is an ineradicable instinct of childhood and adolescence.\nMost of these plays call for a somewhat large number of children. This\nneed not daunt the producer as the chief characters are few and many\nof the parts have very few lines to speak. Many extra children may be\nintroduced in several of the plays, as a chorus. At Christmas time,\nthe children's season, it is best to allow all who so desire to take\npart in the entertainment. Some of the parts are rather long, but all\nhave been played by children of the age indicated in the text. Very\nlittle children have sometimes done remarkable work in the plays. I\nremember one instance when a very tiny Tiny Tim, who was not four\nyears old, spoke his part correctly, was heard in every corner of the\nchurch and acted with a naturalness that was indeed remarkable.\n\n\nREHEARSALS.\n\nFirst and foremost, do _not_ over-rehearse your play. The chief charm\nin Christmas plays lies in their naturalness and simplicity, a part of\nwhich is almost sure to be lost if they have rehearsed the play until\nthey have lost their wonder and excitement and enjoyment in the\nmake-believe game of amateur theatricals.\n\nThe director's aim should be to establish a happy co-operation with\nthe players that will make the whole production, rehearsals, dress\nrehearsals and final performance, a series of good times crowned by a\nhappy, if not perfect, production. The director should always strive\nto be cheerful and happy, ever ready to give advice and ever ready to\nask for advice, even from the youngest players. Take them into your\nconfidence. Discuss color schemes, costuming, property making,\nlighting and scenic effects with your actors.\n\nAt the first rehearsal have the children listen to a reading of the\nplay. Then read a short scene in detail, allowing each actor to read\nseveral parts. Try every child in every child's part before you make\nyour final selection of the cast of characters. If it is possible,\nbegin your second rehearsal on the stage where the play is to be\ngiven. Arrange chairs to represent entrances, doors, windows, etc.,\nand have all properties on hand, in order to impress on the children's\nminds the necessity of learning the words and the action at the same\ntime. At the third rehearsal the play should be given in its entirety,\nmusic, gestures, entrances, exits, groupings and crossing from one\nside of the stage to another at a given cue, etc. In fact, everything\nas in the completed production, except that the actors may use their\ncopies of the play for reading the lines.\n\n\nDELAYS.\n\nThe director should make every effort to guard against stage waits and\ndelays of every sort. Have your stage hands, prompter, property\nmanagers, scene painters and all your assistants on hand at every\nrehearsal, if possible. Long waits between the acts, tardiness in\nbeginning the performance, and all delays do much to destroy an\notherwise happy impression. Every piece of scenery, every costume,\nevery bit of make-up and every property should be in its place--all\nready to make a smooth final performance. Dress rehearsals are\nabsolutely necessary. The last two rehearsals should be complete\nperformances of the play with lights, curtains, costumes, make-up,\nscenery and all incidentals exactly as they are to be on the night of\nthe performance.\n\nWith such preparation, scarcely anything is impossible of attainment.\nThe pleasure of the work and the pride in a production well done will\namply repay an ungrudging lavishment of time and labor.\n\nWALTER BEN HARE.\n\n_Drury College_,\n  _Springfield, Mo._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nSTAGE DIRECTIONS.\n\nStage directions are purposely simplified and few abbreviations used.\n_R._ means right of the stage: _C._, center; _L._, left, etc. The\nactor is supposed to be facing the audience.\n\n\nMUSIC.\n\nMusic is provided for a few of the songs in this book. The others are\nto be sung to old airs that are presumably familiar to everyone. If\nany of them should prove unfamiliar, the music of all except some of\nthe hymns will be found in Denison's \"_Songs Worth While_,\" one of the\nbest arranged and most carefully edited collections of old favorites\never published. This book is beautifully printed on non-glossy paper,\nmeasuring 7 by 10-1/4 inches, and is well bound in a stout paper cover\ndone in colors. It may be obtained from the publishers for the price\nof $1.00, postpaid.\n\nFor all the hymns not included in \"_Songs Worth While_,\" see any\nstandard church hymnal.\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS\n\n\nThe White Christmas (8 Male, 7 Female Adults)             13\n\nAnita's Secret or Christmas in the Steerage\n(1 Male Adult, 9 Boys, 7 Girls)                           49\n\nChristmas With the Mulligan's (2 Female Adults,\n5 Boys, 5 Girls)                                          93\n\nThe Wishing Man (4 Male Adults, 13 Boys,\n7 Girls)                                                 131\n\nA Christmas Carol or the Miser's Yuletide\nDream (10 Male, 5 Female Adults, 4 Boys,\n4 Girls)                                                 167\n\nHer Christmas Hat (4 Male, 5 Female Adults)              203\n\n\n\n\nTHE WHITE CHRISTMAS\n\n[Illustration:\n\nJOSEPH     MARY     SIMEON\n\nTIMOTHY    ISAAC    ANNA       THOMAS\n\nRUTH       RACHEL   DEBORAH    PRISCILLA\n\nMELCHOIR   GASPAR   BALTASAR   PROLOGUE]\n\n\n\n\nTHE WHITE CHRISTMAS\n\nA CHRISTMAS MORALITY PLAY IN ONE ACT.\n\n_Originally produced by the Quadrangle Club of the University of\nMissouri, Christmas Eve, 1909._\n\n\nCHARACTERS.\n\nMARY                      _The Maiden Mother_\nJOSEPH                    _Of the House of David_\nSIMEON                    _An Old Shepherd_\nTIMOTHY                   _A Shepherd, the Husband of Anna_\nISAAC                     _A Young Shepherd_\nANNA                      _The Wife of Timothy, the Shepherd_\nTHOMAS                    _Her Little Son_\nRUTH                      _Her Little Daughter_\nDEBORAH                   _Hostess of an Inn at Bethlehem_\nRACHEL                    _A Maiden of Bethlehem_\nPRISCILLA                 _Her Cousin_\nMELCHOIR }\nGASPAR   }                _The Wise Men from the East._\nBALTASAR }\n\n_A Concealed Choir. The Prologue._\n\n_For description of costumes, arrangement of the scene, etc., see\n\"Remarks on the Production\" at the end of the play._\n\nTIME OF PLAYING--_About One Hour._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nSCENE I: _Before the play begins the_ PROLOGUE _steps in front of the\ncurtains and addresses the congregation._\n\nPROLOGUE.\n\n     The earth has grown old with its burden of care,\n       But at Christmas it always is young,\n     The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair,\n     And its soul, full of music, bursts forth on the air,\n       When the song of the angels is sung.\n\n     It is coming, Old Earth, it is coming tonight!\n       On the snowflakes which cover thy sod\n     The feet of the Christ Child fall gentle and white,\n     And the voice of the Christ Child tells out with delight,\n       That mankind are the children of God.\n\n     On the sad and the lonely, the wretched and poor,\n       The voice of the Christ Child shall fall;\n     And to every blind wanderer open the door\n     Of hope that he dared not to dream of before,\n       With a sunshine of welcome for all.\n\n     --_Phillips Brooks._\n\nAnd it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from\nCaesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing\nwas first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be\ntaxed, every one into his own city.\n\nAnd Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,\ninto Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because\nhe was of the house and lineage of David. To be taxed with Mary his\nespoused wife....\n\nAnd so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished\nthat she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born\nson, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;\nbecause there was no room for them in the inn.\n\n(_Exit_ PROLOGUE.)\n\n(_Soft chimes. As these chimes die away in the distance a concealed\nchoir is heard singing._)\n\n     O COME, COME, AWAY.\n\n     O come, come away\n     From labor now reposing,\n     Let busy care a while forbear;\n     O come, come away.\n\n(_The front curtains are drawn, showing a winter street in Bethlehem.\nNo one appears on the stage, but the choir continues singing outside\nat right front._)\n\n     Come, come, our social joys renew,\n     And thus where trust and friendship grew,\n     Let true hearts welcome you,\n     O come, come away.\n\nRACHEL _and_ PRISCILLA _enter from the inn at right front, arm in arm.\nThey go to the center, then to the rear of the stage, turn and face\nthe inn, pause a moment or two, listening to the choir, and then go\nout at rear left. The choir continues:_\n\n     From toils and the cares\n     On which the day is closing,\n     The hour of eve brings sweet reprieve,\n     O come, come away.\n     O come where love will smile on thee,\n     And round its hearth will gladness be,\n     And time fly merrily,\n     O come, come away.\n\n_While the choir is singing the last three lines of the song_, SIMEON\n_and_ ISAAC _enter from rear left, leaning on their shepherd's crooks.\nThey pause at rear center and listen to the singing. When the song is\nfinished the organ continues the same music softly._\n\nSIMEON.\n     Make haste, my son, the hour is waxing late,\n     The night is cold, methinks our sheep await.\n\nISAAC.\n     Nay gran'ther, I would liefer tarry here.\n     The town is gay, the inns are full of cheer.\n\nSIMEON (_points to rear right_).\n     But there our duty lies, the wind grows cold!\n     Come, let's away and put the sheep in fold.\n\n(_Starts off right._)\n\nISAAC.\n     Nay, Simeon, wait! What means this crowd of men\n     And women here in peaceful Bethlehem?\n\nSIMEON (_comes to him_).\n     Herod the King hath issued a decree\n     That each and all his subjects taxed be;\n     And every one who in this town saw light\n     Must here return and register tonight.\n     From all Judea, aye, from th' distant land,\n     Each Bethlehemite must come at his command.\n\nISAAC (_comes to the doorway of the inn and peers in_).\n     The town is full of people, great and small,\n     Each inn is crowded to its very wall.\n\nSIMEON (_comes down center and takes his arm_).\n     But come, we're wasting time, 'tis very late.\n     Make haste, my son, I know the flocks await!\n\nISAAC.\n     Thou speakest true, though I would rather stay,\n     Our duty calls, so to the hills, away!\n\n(_They go out at rear right._)\n\n_The concealed choir repeats the first stanza of the song softly.\nAfter a slight pause_ DEBORAH _enters from the inn._\n\nDEBORAH (_coming down to right front_).\n     My inn is crowded to the doors. The heat\n     Is stifling, but out here the air is sweet.\n\n(_Looks upward._)\n\n     The bright stars twinkle with mysterious light,\n     Methinks there's something strange about the night.\n\n_She sits on the bench in front of the inn._ TIMOTHY _enters from rear\nleft._ DEBORAH _continues her soliloquy._\n\n     The air is still, the night is very cold,\n     The shepherds seek the hills to watch the fold.\n\n(_Sees him._)\n\n(TIMOTHY _goes out at rear R._)\n\nDEBORAH.\n     Some strange, unearthly voice seems calling me,\n     Methinks this night portends great things to be.\n\n_Enter_ RACHEL _and_ PRISCILLA _from rear right, then come down center\nand address the hostess._\n\nRACHEL.\n     Hail, hostess of the inn, my cousin here\n     Hath lodgings at your inn. We'd seek its cheer.\n\nDEBORAH (_rises_).\n     Enter within. My guests tonight are gay\n     And fain would turn this winter's night to day.\n\nRACHEL _and_ PRISCILLA _enter the inn, followed by_ DEBORAH. _The\norgan music continues softly. After a slight pause enter_ ANNA _from\nrear left. She leads_ RUTH _and_ THOMAS _by the hand._\n\nTHOMAS (_at rear center_).\n     Oh, mother, hark! There's music in the inn!\n\nANNA.\n     'Tis not for us--their noise and merry din.\n\nRUTH.\n     Our little town is crowded, joyous, gay.\n\nTHOMAS.\n     So many travelers came this way today.\n\nRUTH.\n     The night is chill and cold, I much do fear\n     The little sheep will shiver by the mere.\n\nANNA.\n     Too cold it is for thee, I fear, in truth,\n     Return and get thy cloak, my little Ruth.\n     We'll wait for thee upon the little hill.\n\n(_Points off R._)\n\n     But speed thy steps, the cold will work thee ill.\n\nRUTH.\n     I'll fly, dear mother, like an arrow home.\n\n(_Runs out at L._)\n\nANNA.\n     We must not tarry. Come, my Thomas, come!\n\n(_She leads him out at rear R. There is a pause. The music changes to\na mysterious plaintive air. The old German song, Holy Night, may be\neffectively introduced as an organ solo._)\n\n_Enter from rear right,_ JOSEPH, _walking with a staff and supporting_\nMARY.\n\nMARY.\n     Here is a place, now I must rest awhile!\n     For many a league, for many a weary mile,\n     We've trudged along since break of day began.\n\nJOSEPH.\n     'Tis true, and I'm an old and ancient man,\n     My joints are stiff, my bones are waxing old--\n     And the long night is bitter, bitter cold.\n     Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within,\n     And wait thee here while I search out an inn.\n\n(_He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in\nfront of the manger. He goes out at rear left. The music changes to\nthe Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals._)\n\nMARY (_sings_).\n     My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God\n       my Saviour.\n     For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.\n     For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.\n     For he that is mighty has magnified me: and holy is his Name.\n     And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.\n     He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud\n       in the imagination of their hearts.\n     He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the\n       humble and meek.\n     He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath\n       sent empty away.\n     He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he\n       promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.\n\n_Enter_ JOSEPH _from rear L._\n\nJOSEPH.\n     For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest,\n     Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.\n\n_Enter_ DEBORAH _from the inn._\n\nMARY.\n     Husband, I'm faint; I can no farther go.\n     Methinks I'll rest me here upon this loe.\n\n(_Sits in front of the manger._)\n\nJOSEPH (_assisting her_).\n     Have courage, Mary, here's the hostess here.\n\n(_Comes to_ DEBORAH _at right._)\n\n     We'd lodge with thee tonight.\n\nDEBORAH.\n     Alas, I fear\n     My inn is crowded to the very wall,\n     Soldiers and scribes, the rich, the great, the small!\n\nJOSEPH.\n     Is there room for us? My wife is ill.\n\nDEBORAH.\n     My heart is sad and it is not my will\n     To send you hence, but naught is left to do.\n     Perhaps some other inn will shelter you.\n\nJOSEPH.\n     Alas, the other inns are all the same!\n\nDEBORAH.\n     Never was seen the like in Bethlehem.\n\n(_Laughter and noise at R._)\n\n     My guests are merry, hear their jovial din!\n\n(_Goes to R._)\n\n     I pity you, there's no room at the inn.\n\n(_Exits into the inn._)\n\nMARY.\n     Our last hope gone! Now, what shall we do?\n     My strength is leaving!\n\n(_Bows head._)\n\nJOSEPH.\n     Would I could succor you.\n     I'll wrap thee warm. Now rest thee here a while.\n     We've traveled far, full many a weary mile.\n\n_Enter_ RUTH _from rear L., hurrying along._\n\nJOSEPH.\n     Maiden, I fain would stop thee in thy flight--\n     Can'st tell where we could lodge this winter night?\n\nRUTH.\n     That inn is crowded. There's one upon the hill.\n\nJOSEPH.\n     I've tried them all, my wife is very ill.\n\nRUTH.\n     That little stable there upon the loe,\n\n(_Points to L front._)\n\n     'Tis snug and warm. 'Twill shield thee from the snow.\n\nMARY (_rises_).\n     God's blessing on thy little head, sweet child!\n     Come, Joseph, for the wind now waxes wild.\n\n(_Exits L. front._)\n\n(JOSEPH _leads her to exit L., then turns and looks off R._)\n\nJOSEPH.\n\n     O little town of Bethlehem,\n       How still we see thee lie!\n     Above thy deep and dreamless sleep\n       The silent stars go by.\n     Yet in thy dark streets shineth\n\n(_Turns toward manger._)\n\n       The everlasting Light;\n     The hopes and fears of all the years\n       Are met in thee tonight.\n\n(RUTH _stands at rear C., watching him._)\n\n_The curtains slowly fall._\n\n\nScene II: _Hymn by the congregation._\n\n     WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS.\n\n     While shepherds watched their flocks by night,\n       All seated on the ground.\n     The angel of the Lord came down,\n       And glory shone around,\n       And glory shone around.\n\n     \"Fear not,\" said he,--for mighty dread\n       Had seized their troubled mind,\n     \"Glad tidings of great joy I bring,\n        To you and all mankind,\n        To you and all mankind.\"\n\n     \"To you in David's town this day,\n        Is born of David's line,\n     The Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord,\n       And this shall be the sign,\n       And this shall be the sign.\"\n\n     \"The heav'nly babe you there shall find\n       To human view displayed,\n     All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,\n       And in a manger laid,\n       And in a manger laid.\"\n\n     Thus spake the seraph--and forthwith\n       Appeared a shining throng\n     Of angels, praising God, who thus\n       Addressed their joyful song,\n       Addressed their joyful song:--\n\n     \"All glory be to God on high,\n       And to the earth be peace;\n     Good will henceforth, from heav'n to men,\n       Begin and never cease,\n       Begin and never cease.\"\n\n_The_ PROLOGUE _appears before the curtains and speaks._\n\nPROLOGUE.\n\n     There's scarlet holly on the streets, and silver mistletoe;\n     The surging, jeweled, ragged crowds forever come and go.\n     And here a silken woman laughs, and there a beggar asks--\n     And, oh, the faces, tense of lip, like mad and mocking masks.\n     Who thinks of Bethlehem today, and one lone winter night?\n     Who knows that in a manger-bed there breathed a Child of Light?\n\n     There's fragrant scent of evergreen upon the chilling air;\n     There's tinsel tawdriness revealed beneath the sunlight's glare;\n     There's Want and Plenty, Greed and Pride--a hundred thousand souls,\n     And, oh, the weary eyes of them, like dull and sullen coals.\n       Who knows the town of Bethlehem, once gleamed beneath the star,\n       Whose wondrous light the shepherds saw watching their flocks afar?\n\n     And yet above the city streets, above the noise and whir,\n     There seems to come a fragrant breath of frankincense and myrrh.\n     I saw a woman, bent and wan, and on her face a light\n     The look that Mary might have worn that other Christmas night.\n       And as the little children passed, and one lad turned and smiled,\n       I saw within his wistful eyes the spirit of the Child.\n\n     --_Caroline Reynolds._\n\nAnd there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,\nkeeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the\nLord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them;\nand they were sore afraid.\n\nAnd the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good\ntidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is\nborn this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the\nLord.\n\nAnd this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in\nswaddling clothes, lying in a manger.\n\nAnd suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host\npraising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth\npeace, good will toward men.\n\nAnd it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into\nheaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto\nBethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord\nhath made known to us.\n\nAnd they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe\nlying in a manger. (_Exit_ PROLOGUE _at L._)\n\n(_Soft chimes are heard. The_ SHEPHERDS, _accompanied by the concealed\nchoir, are heard singing:_)\n\n     LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT\n\n     Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom,\n         Lead Thou me on!\n     The night is dark and I am far from home;\n         Lead Thou me on!\n     Keep Thou my feet, I do not ask to see\n     The distant scene; one step enough for me.\n\n_As the_ SHEPHERDS _begin on the second stanza of the hymn, the\ncurtains rise disclosing the same scene as before._ SIMEON, TIMOTHY\n_and_ ISAAC _discovered seated in a group at rear center, singing._\nTHOMAS _stands by his father._\n\n     So long Thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still\n         Will lead me on\n     O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till\n         The night is gone,\n     And with the morn those angel faces smile\n     Which I have loved long since, and lost a-while.\n\nSIMEON.\n     Methought I heard a whir of wings on high.\n\nTIMOTHY.\n     I see naught save the snow and starry sky.\n\nISAAC.\n     We've come a long and mighty step today,\n     From o'er the frosty hills and far away.\n\nTHOMAS (_pointing over the manger_).\n     Look, father, dost thou see that shining star\n     That seems to stand above the town so far?\n     'Tis like a wondrous blossom on a stem,\n     And see, it ever shines o'er Bethlehem!\n\nTIMOTHY.\n     A brighter star, I'm sure I never saw--\n     And perfect form, without a speck or flaw.\n\nSIMEON.\n     A stranger star! It never shone before,\n     It standeth still above that stable door.\n\n_Enter_ ANNA _and_ RUTH _from rear left._ ANNA _carries a little\nlamb._\n\nANNA (_joining the group_).\n     Look ye, I've found a little lamb new-born.\n\nTIMOTHY.\n     Poor little beastie! Wrap him well and warm.\n\nSIMEON.\n     An ill night to be born in, frost and snow,\n     Naught but cold skies above, cold earth below.\n     I marvel any little creature should be born\n     On such a night.\n\nANNA.\n     I found it all forlorn,\n     Crying beside its mother in the storm.\n\nSIMEON (_comes down a little to right front_).\n     Hark, I thought I heard a sound of mighty wings!\n     Listen! Is it the winter sky that sings?\n\nISAAC (_with the group at rear center_).\n     Nay, gran'ther, I heard naught. You're old and gray\n     And weary with the miles you've walked today.\n\nSIMEON.\n     At noon I met a man who tarried in the shade,\n     He led a mule, and riding it a maid--\n     A maiden with a face I'll ne'er forget,\n     A wondrous face, I seem to see it yet\n     Lit with an inward shining, as if God\n     Had set a lighted lamp within her soul.\n     Many have passed all day, but none like these,\n     And no face have I ever seen like hers.\n\nTIMOTHY.\n     Belike the man and maid were strangers here,\n     And come to Bethlehem at the king's command.\n\nRUTH (_comes down to_ SIMEON _and takes his hand_).\n     Methinks I met that very man and maid--\n     A maiden with such wondrous dove-like eyes,\n     I saw them near this place, all tired and worn,\n     Trudging about the town, seeking an inn.\n\nSIMEON.\n     And did they find one?\n\nRUTH.\n     Nay, not so!\n     For every inn was crowded to its doors.\n     Hard by Deborah's inn there is a little barn,\n     All full of cattle, oxen, cooing doves--\n     I showed it to them, and they went therein.\n\nTHOMAS (_standing at rear L. with_ ANNA).\n     Mother, that star! That wondrous, wondrous light,\n\n(_Points up._)\n\n     It turns the night to day, it shines so bright\n     I am afraid! It cannot be that any star,\n     Only a star, can give so great a light.\n     It frightens me.\n\nANNA.\n     All things are strange tonight.\n     The very sheep are restless in their fold,\n     They watch the star and do not mind the cold.\n\nSIMEON (_puts hand to right ear, bends toward right and listens_).\n     Again I heard a singing in the sky!\n\nTIMOTHY.\n     You heard the tinkling bell of some stray sheep,\n     The night grows late, come let us all to sleep.\n\nSIMEON.\n     Yea, all ye lie down and take your rest,\n     I'll keep the watch alone, this night is blest.\n\n(_The others recline at the rear._)\n\nANNA (_comes to_ SIMEON).\n     Here, take the little sheep and keep it warm.\n\n(_Lies down._)\n\nSIMEON.\n     Poor little new-born beast, I'll guard from harm.\n     Again I marvel that you should be born\n     On such a night, poor little lamb forlorn.\n\n(SIMEON _walks toward the manger with the sheep in his arms. The\nothers sleep._)\n\nThe Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.\n\nHe maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the\nstill waters.\n\nHe restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for\nhis name's sake.\n\nYea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will\nfear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort\nme.\n\nThou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou\nanointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.\n\nSurely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and\nI will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.\n\n(_Soft Music._)\n\n     Hark! There's music in the wind! And that strange light\n     There in the east, it brightens all the night!\n     I seem to hear again the whir of wings,\n     Awake, awake! It is an angel sings!\n\n(_He arouses the others. They listen wonderingly, standing or\nreclining._)\n\nVOICE (_an unseen soprano chants softly_).\n\n     Glory to God in the highest!\n         Fear not!\n     For behold I bring you glad tidings\n         Of great joy.\n     For unto you is born this day\n     In the city of David, a Saviour\n         Which is Christ, the Lord.\n     And this shall be the sign unto you:\n     Ye shall find the heavenly Babe\n     Wrapped in swaddling clothes,\n         Lying in a manger.\n     Glory to God in the highest,\n     And on earth peace,\n         Good will toward men!\n\nTIMOTHY.\n     'Twas a fine voice, even as ever I heard.\n\nANNA.\n     The hills, as with lightning, shone at his word.\n\nSIMEON.\n     He spoke of a Babe here in Bethlehem.\n     That betokens yon star!\n     Full glad would I be,\n     Might I kneel on my knee,\n     Some word to say to that Child.\n\nTIMOTHY.\n     See! In the east there breaks the day.\n\nANNA.\n     Let us tarry no longer; away, then, away!\n\n(ANNA _goes out at rear, behind the stable, with_ TIMOTHY, RUTH _and_\nTHOMAS.)\n\nISAAC.\n     Come, gran'ther, let us go and see this thing!\n\nSIMEON.\n     But first get gifts to take the new-born King!\n     Glory to God in the highest,\n     And on earth peace,\n     Good will toward men.\n\n(_They follow the others out at rear._)\n\n_The curtains fall._\n\n\nSCENE III: _Hymn by the congregation:_\n\n     HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING.\n\n     Hark! The herald angels sing,\n     \"Glory to the new-born King!\n     Peace on earth, and mercy mild,\n     God and sinners reconciled.\"\n     Joyful, all ye nations, rise,\n     Join the triumph of the skies;\n     With th' angelic host proclaim,\n     \"Christ is born in Bethlehem.\"\n\n     Christ, by highest Heaven adored;\n     Christ, the everlasting Lord;\n     Late in time behold Him come,\n     Offspring of the favored one.\n     Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;\n     Hail th' incarnate Deity:\n     Pleased, as man with men to dwell,\n     Jesus, our Immanuel.\n\n     Hail! The Heav'n-born Prince of Peace!\n     Hail! The Son of Righteousness!\n     Light and life to all He brings,\n     Risen with healing in His wings.\n     Mild He lays His glory by,\n     Born that man no more may die:\n     Born to raise the sons of earth,\n     Born to give them second birth.\n\n_Enter_ PROLOGUE _before the closed curtains._\n\nPROLOGUE.\n\nNow when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the\nking, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying,\nWhere is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star\nin the east, and are come to worship him.\n\nWhen Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all\nJerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and\nscribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ\nshould be born.\n\nAnd they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written\nby the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the\nleast among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a\nGovernor, that shall rule my people Israel.\n\nThen Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them\ndiligently what time the star appeared.\n\nAnd he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for\nthe young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that\nI may come and worship him also.\n\nWhen they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which\nthey saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over\nwhere the young child was.\n\nWhen they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.\n\nAnd when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with\nMary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had\nopened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and\nfrankincense, and myrrh.\n\n_The White Christmas._\n\nAs the three wise men rode on that first Christmas night to find the\nmanger-cradled Babe of Bethlehem, they bore gifts on their\nsaddle-bows. Gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And so the spirit\nof Christmas giving crept into the world's heart. We bring our gifts\nto the children. Rich children, poor children! The children of the\nhigh and the children of the humble! Poor little sick children--and\nthe ragged children of the slums of our cities. Let us remember them\nall.\n\nSo go ye, all of ye, into the highways and byways, and seek out the\npoor and the distressed, the humble and the afflicted, seek out the\nragged children and the outcasts and the aged ones, and in the name of\nHim who was born on Christmas day, carry some sunshine into their\nhearts! Give unto the poor and the afflicted, and your hearts shall\nglow with that inward peace that passeth all understanding.\n\nThen--and then only--will you be able to sing with all the company of\nHeaven, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward\nmen! And this will be your pure white Christmas. (_Exit_ PROLOGUE _at\nL._)\n\n_Soft chimes are heard. The curtains are drawn, disclosing the same\nscene as before._ DEBORAH _sits before her inn, deep in thought._\n\nDEBORAH (_reading a scroll_).\n\nThis is the ancient prophecy. Therefore the Lord himself shall give\nyou a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall\ncall his name Immanuel.\n\nButter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and\nchoose the good.\n\nFor before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the\ngood, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her\nkings.\n\n_Enter_ GASPAR _from behind the inn. He comes down center._\n\nGASPAR.\n     I pray thee, tell me, Lady Bethlehemite,\n     If any wonders you have seen this night?\n\nDEBORAH (_rises_).\n     I've seen a wondrous silver shaft of light\n     Come from a star, and blinded is my sight.\n\nGASPAR.\n     Tell me, for thou art native of this place,\n     What dost thou know about the King of Grace--\n     King of the Jews?\n\nDEBORAH.\n     Aye, in Jerusalem\n     He dwells, and not in Bethlehem.\n     He sits upon his mighty judgment throne,\n     Cruel and stern, his heart a living stone.\n\nGASPAR.\n     I mean a new-born King, of love and peace;\n     His is the star--His reign shall never cease.\n\nDEBORAH.\n     All things tonight seem passing strange to me,\n     I have just read an ancient prophecy\n     That this, our Bethlehem, King David's town,\n     Shall be the birthplace, e'er of great renown,\n     Of one called Councillor of King David's line\n     Whose coming is foretold in words divine.\n     And now you come with words of mystery!\n\n(_Muses._)\n\n     Why should thy questions, which are dark to me,\n     Cause me to think of Him?\n\nGASPAR.\n     The star! The star!\n     No more it moves about the heavens afar,\n     It standeth still. O, hostess, kneel and pray,\n     For Jesus Christ, the Lord, is born today!\n\n(_Hurries out right._)\n\nDEBORAH.\n     His words are fraught with mystery; I'll within\n     And seek protection in my humble inn.\n\n(_Exits right front._)\n\n_After a short pause_, MELCHOIR, GASPAR _and_ BALTASAR _enter from\nrear right._\n\nMELCHOIR.\n\n     Three kings came riding from far away,\n       Melchoir, Gaspar and Baltasar;\n     Three wise men out of the east were they,\n     And they traveled by night and they slept by day,\n       For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.\n\nBALTASAR.\n\n     The star was so beautiful, large and clear,\n       That all other stars of the sky\n     Became a white mist in the atmosphere;\n     And by this they knew that the coming was near\n       Of the Prince foretold in prophecy.\n\nGASPAR.\n\n     Of the child that is born, O Baltasar,\n       I begged a woman to tell us the news;\n     I said in the east we had seen His star,\n     And had ridden fast and had ridden far\n       To find and worship the King of the Jews.\n\n     --_Adapted from Longfellow._\n\nMELCHOIR.\n     Brothers, our quest is ended; see the star\n     Is standing still over this lowly hut.\n\nBALTASAR.\n     Methinks it is a stable. Knock and see!\n\nGASPAR (_knocks on the door of the manger_).\n     What ho, within!\n\nJOSEPH _enters from the L. rear._\n\nJOSEPH.\n     Sirs, whom seek ye?\n\nMELCHOIR.\n     We have journeyed from afar\n     Led by the shining of yon splendid star.\n     We are Gaspar, Melchoir and Baltasar.\n\nBALTASAR.\n     We seek a new-born King,\n     Gold, frankincense to him we bring.\n     And many a kingly offering.\n\nJOSEPH _draws back the curtain and reveals the interior of the\nmanger._ MARY _is seen bending over the crib. The_ SHEPHERDS _are\nkneeling in the background. Very soft music heard in the distance,\nwith faintly chiming bells at intervals._\n\nGASPAR.\n     Behold, the child is clothed in light!\n\nMELCHOIR.\n     Our journey ends, passed is the night.\n\nBALTASAR.\n     Now let us make no more delay,\n     But worship Him right worthily.\n\n(_They enter the manger and kneel._)\n\nSIMEON.\n     Hail, hail, dear child\n     Of a maiden meek and mild.\n       See, he merries!\n     See, he smiles, my sweeting,\n     I give thee greeting!\n         Have a bob of cherries.\n\n(_Places a spray of cherries on the crib._)\n\nTIMOTHY.\n     Hail, little One we've sought,\n     See, a bird I've brought,\n         See its feathers gay.\n     Hail, little One adored,\n     Hail, blessed King and Lord,\n         Star of the day!\n\n(_Places a bird on the crib._)\n\nISAAC.\n     Hail, little One, so dear,\n     My heart is full of cheer,\n         A little ball I bring,\n     Reach forth thy fingers gay,\n     And take the ball and play,\n         My blessed King.\n\n(_Places a ball on the crib._)\n\n_Enter all others from the Inn. They kneel outside the manger._\n\nALL (_sing, with concealed choir_).\n\n     CHRISTMAS CAROL.\n\n     (_See page 169_)\n\n     Christ was born on Christmas day,\n     Wreathe the holly, twine the bay,\n     Light and life and joy is He--\n         The Babe, the Son,\n         The Holy One\n           Of Mary.\n\n     He is born to set us free;\n     He is born our Lord to be;\n     Carol, Christians, joyfully;\n         The God, the Lord,\n         By all adored\n           Forever.\n\n     Let the bright red berries glow,\n     Everywhere in goodly show,\n     Life and light and joy is He,\n         The Babe, the Son,\n         The Holy One\n           Of Mary.\n\n     Christian men, rejoice and sing;\n     'Tis the birthday of our King,\n     Carol, Christians, joyfully;\n         The God, the Lord,\n         By all adored\n           Forever.\n\nTHE THREE KINGS.\n     Hail, King of Kings!\n\nGASPAR.\n     I bring Thee a crown, O King of Kings,\n     And here a scepter full of gems,\n     For Thou shalt rule the hearts of men.\n\n(_Places crown and scepter on crib._)\n\nMELCHOIR.\n     For Thee I bring sweet frankincense!\n\n(_He swings a smoking censor._)\n\nBALTASAR.\n     And I bring myrrh to offer Thee!\n\n(_Places casket on the crib._)\n\nGASPAR.\n     The greatest gift is yet ungiven,\n     The gift that cometh straight from Heaven.\n         O, Heavenly King,\n         Heart's love we bring.\n\nMELCHOIR.\n     Not gold nor gems from land or sea\n     Is worth the love we offer Thee.\n\nBALTASAR.\n     And lowly folk who have no gold,\n     Nor gift to offer that is meet,\n     May bring the dearest thing of all--\n     A loving heart and service sweet.\n\n(_All join in singing \"Joy to the World.\"_)\n\n_Curtain falls._\n\n\nTHE WHITE CHRISTMAS.\n\nWHAT IT MEANS.\n\nHow to make a pleasant, _helpful_ Christmas for the Sunday School is\nan annual problem. A tree with gifts, Santa Claus coming down the\nchimney, a treat of candy and nuts--these and many other schemes have\nbeen tried with a greater or less degree of success. But the criticism\nis often made that the true significance of the celebration of the\nbirth of Christ is lost in the mere idea of bartering Christmas\npresents. \"She didn't give me anything last year, so I'm not going to\ngive her anything this year.\"\n\nOne wise superintendent determined to teach his Sunday School pupils\nthe precious lesson of the beauty of giving. He called his teachers\ntogether a few weeks before Christmas and proposed to eliminate\nentirely the idea of \"getting something,\" and in its stead to try to\nteach something of the true spirit of Christmas, the blessedness of\ngiving.\n\nThe children were told that while at home they would receive all the\nusual presents, of course they would not get anything whatever from\nthe Sunday School. The story of Jesus and how He gave His life, and\nhow He liked best the gifts that cost us something, love, thought,\nforesight, charity, money--was told to the children and they were\nasked to save their pennies, instead of spending them for candy and\nnuts, to brighten the Christmas Day for God's poor and unfortunate.\n\nIt was put to a vote and every little hand was raised, although it may\nbe confessed that a few went up a little reluctantly.\n\nTeachers and young ladies met a few evenings later and made little\nstockings out of cheap cambric, with a cord put into the top of each\nin such a manner that it could be drawn together so the pennies would\nnot be lost out. The stockings were about five inches long, and of\nvarious bright colors, and there were enough for every child. These\nwere given out two weeks before Christmas.\n\nOn Christmas Eve, near the close of the regular program, a large tree\nwas disclosed, but without a single present on it. The Minister made a\nshort talk on the joys of giving to the poor and the children marched\nup, singing a Christmas carol, and attached their little stocking-bags\nto the tree.\n\nSix little boys and girls passed among the congregation with larger\nstockings, collecting donations for the tree. These stockings had\ntheir tops neatly sewed around little circles of wire to keep them\nopen.\n\nThe program consisted of Christmas hymns and carols, interspersed with\nrecitations--all breathing the spirit of the White Christmas.\n\n\nREMARKS ON THE PRODUCTION.\n\nSCENERY.\n\nHang the rear and the sides of the stage with dark blue curtains,\nspangled with small silver bits of tinfoil, to represent very tiny\nstars. If the blue curtains are not available, use white sheets.\n\nCover the floor with white sheets. Have two or three small evergreen\ntrees at rear, covered with white calcimine and diamond powder. Soak\nlong rags, shaped like icicles, in a strong solution of alum, and then\nlet them crystallize, then attach them to the trees.\n\n[Illustration]\n\nDown right, near the audience, is a doorway, supposed to be the\nentrance to the inn. This may be simply an opening between two wooden\ncolumns, with a step or two leading in. A lantern hangs over the door.\nA small bench stands by the inn.\n\nDown left, near the audience, is the manger, a building extending out\nfrom left about seven feet. It has a back and one side of scenery or\ndark draperies and a thatched roof, covered with twigs or evergreen\nbranches. There may be a door leading into the manger from the stage,\nbut this is not necessary, as the characters can go out behind the\nmanger. A front curtain, of dark goods, conceals the interior of the\nmanger from the audience until it is withdrawn by Joseph.\n\nThe interior of the manger is covered with hay. Rude boxes and farm\nimplements all around. A large upturned chair with wooden legs may\nsimulate the crib, if it is concealed by enough straw. An electric\nlight bulb is concealed in this straw and shines on the face of Mary,\nbending over the crib.\n\nIf desired, the manger scene may be presented in the choir loft, the\nmanger hidden by curtains until revealed by Joseph. In this case have\nthe evergreen trees at the left of the stage and arrange the manger\nscene at the rear and elevated above the other scene. This will prove\nmost feasible in churches where the choir loft is immediately behind\nand above the platform.\n\n\nLIGHTS.\n\nDim all the lights in the audience. Have a powerful searchlight,\nengine headlight or two powerful auto lights shining on the stage from\na concealed elevation at the left. Shade these lights with a blue\nisinglass shield, thus casting a blue light over the entire stage. Use\na strong yellow light on the manger scene, the rest of the stage being\nin darkness.\n\n\nPROPERTIES.\n\nIf it is possible have bits of white confetti or finely cut paper fall\nfrom above during the shepherds' scene in Act II.\n\nThe bases of the trees should be covered with cotton.\n\nThree rough crooks for the shepherds.\n\nChimes to ring off the stage. A dinner gong or set of chimes will\nanswer.\n\nFor the lamb use a white muff, being careful to shield it from the\ndirect gaze of the audience.\n\nA spray of cherries.\n\nA small bird of blue feathers.\n\nA ball.\n\nA crown and scepter made of gilded wood.\n\nA censor made of metallic butter dish suspended by chains.\n\nA fancy jewel case, supposed to contain myrrh.\n\nBench in front of inn.\n\nRude box in front of manger.\n\n\nCOSTUMES.\n\nMARY--A sweet-faced blonde. Long tunic of light blue, falling straight\nfrom neck to the ankles. White stockings. Sandals. Hair in two long\nbraids either side of face. White veil draped around head and\nshoulders, bound about the brow with circlet. Dark red mantle,\nfastened to left shoulder and draped around body. This mantle may\ntrail on the ground. The tunic may be made of cotton crepon, the\nmantle of dyed muslin.\n\nJOSEPH--A virile, bearded man of about fifty. Sandals. Long black\ncassock, easily obtained from an Episcopal choir. Striped couch cover\nmay serve as mantle. This should be draped about head and body. Long\nstaff.\n\nSIMEON--An old man with white hair and beard. Tunic of potato sacking\nfalling in straight folds from neck to ankles. Large gray shawl serves\nas mantle, draped on head and body. Long crook. Sandals.\n\nTIMOTHY--Man of forty. Costume similar to Isaac's. Striped mantle.\n\nISAAC--Man of twenty. Shorter tunic similar to Simeon's. Fur rug\ndraped over left shoulder. Dark red drapery on head. Sandals. Brown\nstripes criss-crossed on legs. Crook.\n\nANNA--Long tunic of brown. Take a square white sheet and stripe it\nwith bands of dark blue. This serves as a mantle, draped over head and\nbody. Hair hanging. A woman of thirty-five. Sandals. If desired, a\nblue veil may be draped around the head and neck and the mantle draped\nover the body.\n\nTHOMAS--A boy of seven. Sandals. Brown strips criss-crossed on legs\nfrom sandals to hips. Short white tunic cut like a boy's nightgown,\nbut coming only to knees. Dark blue mantle. Small crook.\n\nRUTH--A girl of eleven. Blue tunic hanging in straight folds from neck\nto three or four inches above ankles. Border of figured goods, to\nsimulate oriental embroidery, around bottom of robe and down the\nfront. This should be about two inches wide. Sandals. White stockings.\nHair hanging. White veil draped around head and shoulders. Later she\nenters with striped mantle.\n\nDEBORAH--A dignified matron of about forty-five. Sandals. Long kimono\nof solid color. Sash of yellow. Hair in two long braids on either side\nof face. Yellow drapery over head and shoulders. Rich striped mantle\ndraped over the costume.\n\nRACHEL--Sandals. White tunic trimmed with red figured cloth to\nsimulate oriental embroidery. Red sash. Wreath of red roses on head.\nMantle made of a square white sheet with stripes of red sewed on it.\nBracelets, armlets and anklets of silver paper.\n\nPRISCILLA--Sandals. Light green tunic. Dark green mantle. Gold paper\narmlets, etc.\n\nMELCHOIR--Tall, dark man with dark mustache. Long black cassock may be\nborrowed from an Episcopal Church. Over this is a red or yellow\nkimono. Sandals. Turban on head. This turban may be made from a calico\ncovered crown of an old derby, with red and white striped rim. He\nwears many rich ornaments. Curtain chains around neck and on arms.\nThis costume may sometimes be borrowed from a lodge of Shriners,\nKnights Templar, Royal Arch Masons or Odd Fellows.\n\nGASPAR--Similar to Melchoir. He is a young king aged about twenty-two.\nWear white drapery on head and over it a golden (paper) crown. May\nwear sword. Sandals.\n\nBALTASAR--Old king with white hair. Long rich robe or kimono over a\ncassock. Red sash. Red head drapery. Golden crown. Sandals.\n\nANGELS--Invisible to the audience.\n\nPROLOGUE--Stately lady in trailing Grecian robe of white. Hair\npowdered. This character should be played by a lady with distinct\ndramatic ability.\n\nNOTE.--If it is desired to simplify these costumes, kimonos, cassocks\nand cottas from Episcopal choirs, draperies of sheets and couch\ncovers, and sandals made of a sole bound to foot with brown cloth\ncords, will answer admirably in the dim blue light.\n\nNightgowns, dressing gowns, fur rugs, fur muffs opened, fur stoles,\nopera capes, spangled tunics, window cords and chains, etc., will make\nvaluable substitutes for the oriental garments.\n\n\n\n\nANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE\n\n[Illustration:\n\nSANTA CLAUS   JACK FROST    ANITA        HULDA\n\nSERGIUS       MEENY         BIDDY MARY   PADDY MIKE\n\nTOMASSO       DUTCH TWINS   NEELDA       AH GOO\n\nYAKOB         HANS          MIEZE        SANO SAN]\n\n\n\n\nANITA'S SECRET OR CHRISTMAS IN THE STEERAGE\n\nA CHRISTMAS PLAY IN ONE ACT FOR SANTA CLAUS AND SIXTEEN CHILDREN.\n\n\nCHARACTERS.\n\nSANTA CLAUS                              _Adult_\nJOLLY JACK FROST                         _Little Boy_\nANITA, _a Little Italian Immigrant_      _Aged Eight or Nine_\nHULDA, _from Holland_                    _Aged Ten_\nSERGIUS, _from Russia_                   _Aged Nine_\nMEENY, _from Germany_                    _Aged Seven_\nBIDDY MARY, _from Ireland_               _Aged about Eight_\nPADDY MIKE, _from Ireland_               _Aged about Seven_\nKLINKER                }                 _Little Dutch Twins_\nSCHWILLIE WILLIE WINKUM}                 _Aged Four or Five_\nNEELDA, _from Spain_                     _Aged Five_\nAH GOO, _from China_                     _Little Boy_\nYAKOB, _from Denmark_                    _Aged Six_\nHANS, _from Norway_                      _Aged Four_\nMIEZE, _from Germany_                    _Aged Six_\nSANO SAN, _from Japan_                   _Little Girl_\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nTIME OF PLAYING--_About One Hour and Fifteen Minutes._\n\n\nCOSTUMES, ETC.\n\n_For notes on costuming, scenery and properties, see \"Remarks on the\nProduction of the Play\" at the end of the play._\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nIt is the night before Christmas and the scene is on a big ocean-going\nvessel many miles out at sea. Down in the lower part of the ship, in\nthe steerage, is a group of poor little immigrant children who are\nleaving the trials and troubles of the old world behind them and are\nlooking forward to the golden promises held out by our own \"land of\nthe free and the home of the brave.\" But the hearts of the little\nimmigrants are sad. It is the night before Christmas, and how could\nSanta Claus ever hope to reach them away out in the middle of the\nocean? Even the sleigh and the magical reindeers could never be\nexpected to make such a trip.\n\nAnita, a little Italian girl, alone has faith in the coming of the\ngood Saint. She is wandering around the ship when all of a sudden,\nmuch to her surprise, she hears a mysterious noise in a great big\nbarrel, and who should jump out but little Jack Frost himself. Jack\nassures her that Santa Claus really is coming to visit the ship, and\nmore than that, he is going to make an especial trip in an air ship!\nAnd this is little Anita's secret. The children all fall asleep, but\nAnita keeps watch for the mysterious aeroplane that will bring joy to\nevery little heart in the steerage, and, sure enough, just a little\nbefore midnight Anita and Jack Frost look through a telescope and see\nthe lights of the approaching air ship.\n\nSoon Santa Claus himself is on board, and such a time as he and Anita\nand jolly Jack Frost have in arranging a wonderful Christmas surprise\nfor the children. As an especial favor the good Saint decides to\nawaken the children himself very early on Christmas morning. The clock\nstrikes twelve and it is Christmas Day. The bells of merry Christmas\nare heard chiming in the distance, and Santa Claus and jolly Jack\nFrost hold a Christmas morning revel with the little immigrant\nchildren away down in the steerage of the big vessel.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nSCENE: _The steerage of a large ocean-going vessel. Entrances R. and\nL. Boxes and barrels down L. Box down R. Large barrel up L.C., with_\nJOLLY JACK FROST _concealed therein._ HULDA _is seated on a small\nstool down R., taking care of_ KLINKER _and_ SCHWILLIE WILLIE WINKUM,\n_who are standing near her._ MEENY _is seated down L. on a box; she is\nknitting a woolen stocking._ SERGIUS, PADDY MIKE, TOMASSO, YAKOB _and_\nAH GOO _are playing leapfrog at C. of stage._ HANS, MIEZE, NEELDA\n_and_ SANO SAN _stand at rear._ BIDDY MARY _is seated near_ HULDA;\n_she is peeling potatoes. All sing._\n\n\n     OPENING SONG.\n\n[Music illustration:\n\n     1. The ship is sail-ing ver-y fast,\n     We can't go out to play;\n     But Christmas Day is com-ing soon,\n     It is-n't far a-way.\n\n     2. We're sail-ing to A-mer-i-ca,\n     So far a-cross the sea,\n     We're hap-py lit-tle im-mi-grants,\n     Our hearts are light and free.\n\n     3. We're hap-py lit-tle for-eign-ers,\n     From far a-cross the way,\n     But soon we will be cit-i-zens\n     Of dear old U.S.A.\n\n     Then clap, clap, clap to-geth-er,\n     Clap, clap, a-way;\n     The steer-age is a hap-py place--\n     Tomorrow's Christmas Day.]\n\n(_On the words \"clap, clap, clap together,\" the children hold left\nhand horizontally in front of their chests, palm upward, raising the\nright hand and bringing it down on the left with a sharp clap._\n\n_Sing the first verse seated around stage. On the first four lines of\nthe second verse nod heads and smile at audience. On the line \"We're\nhappy little immigrants,\" each one points to chest, nods head and\nsmiles broadly._\n\n_For the third verse all rise and stand in couples in small groups all\naround stage. On the first two lines of the third verse each one faces\nhis partner slightly, nods at him and shakes index finger of right\nhand at partner. On \"dear, old U.S.A.\" all make a deep bow to\naudience. After third verse is completed, all form a circle and skip\naround in time to the music, repeating the third verse. On \"clap,\nclap, clap together,\" they stand still and clap hands as before. When\nthe song is ended all resume former positions, as at the rise of the\ncurtain, but the boys do not play leapfrog._)\n\nTOMASSO (_seated on floor at C._). Tomorrow comes the great, grand\nfestival of Christmas, is it not, Paddy Mike?\n\nPADDY MIKE (_seated near him, nods his head_). Sure and it is. This is\nthe holy Christmas Eve.\n\nMEENY (_seated down L., knitting stocking_). The night of the day\nbehind Christmas is always Christmas Eve, ain't it? (_Nods head._)\nSure it is.\n\nSCHWILLIE. Und tomorrow we gets lots of Christmas presents always, me\nund Klinker; don't we, Klinker?\n\nKLINKER. Sure we do. Leedle horses and pictures und candy und other\nthings also; don't we, Schwillie Willie Winkum?\n\nHULDA. That was when we were at home in Holland. It's different,\nmaybe, out here in this great big boat. Ven we get by the city of New\nYork next week then maybe we'll get some presents already.\n\nKLINKER. But good Saint Nicholas always comes the night before\nChristmas; don't he, Schwillie Willie Winkum?\n\nSCHWILLIE. Sure. Won't he come tonight, Hulda?\n\nHULDA. How could he get way out here on the ocean already? Do you\nthink he is a fish? We ain't living at home in Holland no more. We're\nway out on the Atlantic Ocean in a great big ship.\n\nMEENY. Ja, und I wish I was back at home already. So much have I been\nseasick, mit der ship going oop und down, oop und down! Ach, it's\nawful. (SERGIUS, TOMASSO, YAKOB, PADDY MIKE _and_ AH GOO _play\njack-stones._)\n\nKLINKER. But Saint Nicholas ought to come tonight, Hulda. I been a\nawfully good boy, isn't I, Schwillie Willie Winkum?\n\nSCHWILLIE. Sure you is. Und I've been a awfully good boy, too. Isn't\nI, Klinker?\n\nKLINKER. Sure. We've been awfully good boys.\n\nHULDA. Maybe even if Saint Nicholas don't come tonight, you can see\nthe great, big whale tomorrow. If he's a good whale he'll surely let\nthe leedle Dutch twins see him on Christmas Day.\n\nMEENY. Oh, I vant to see der whale. I've looked und I've looked und\nI've looked, but I ain't even so much as seen his leedle tail yet\nalready. Und it makes me seasick to look so much, too.\n\nBIDDY MARY. Are ye sure it was a whale ye saw that day, Sergius boy?\n\nSERGIUS. Of course I'm sure. It was awful big. The biggest fish I ever\nsaw. Even in Russia we do not have such big fish as whales. Paddy Mike\nsaw it, too.\n\nPADDY MIKE. Sure and I did. And me two eyes nearly fell out of me head\nwith lookin' at it, it was that wonderful. He shot a big stream of\nwater right up out of his head, he did, and then he dived down in the\nocean again, and we didn't see him any more at all, at all. (MIEZE\n_and_ SANO SAN _turn backs to audience and look over the railing into\nthe water._)\n\nHULDA (_to the twins_). There! Now if you get to see the great big\nwhale, that's almost as good as having old Saint Nicholas come, ain't\nit?\n\nSCHWILLIE. Whales can't bring you no Christmas presents, can they,\nKlinker?\n\nKLINKER. Und whales you can see any time. I'd rather have Saint\nNicholas, wouldn't I, Schwillie Willie Winkum?\n\nSERGIUS. Who is this Saint Nicholas they are looking for, Hulda?\n\nHULDA (_astonished_). Why, don't you know who he is yet? He's the best\nold man that ever was. Und he comes the night before Christmas und\nvisits all the little children in Holland.\n\nMEENY (_proudly_). Und in Germany, too. (SERGIUS _goes to_ HULDA.)\n\nKLINKER. Und if they're good they get candy und oranges und toys und\nthings, don't they, Schwillie Willie Winkum?\n\nSCHWILLIE. Und if they're bad, they get a good big birch stick. But I\nain't been bad. I've been awfully good, isn't I, Klinker?\n\nKLINKER. Sure. Und me also.\n\nHULDA (_to_ SERGIUS). On Christmas Eve in Holland all the children\nmarch around the streets, following one who carries a big silver star.\nAnd the people who meet us give us money and gifts to help the poor.\nOh, Christmas time is just grand in Holland!\n\nKLINKER. Und we set out our leedle wooden shoes und old Saint Nicholas\nfills 'em with candy.\n\nSCHWILLIE. Und we put a leedle bit of hay in our shoes for his good\nold horsie, Sleipner. Dot makes him happy.\n\nMEENY. In Germany we call him Santa Claus, und he comes riding in a\nsleigh drawn through the sky mit reindeers. Und we have Christmas\ntrees all lighted mit candles und things, und full of toys und paper\nstars und angels und apples. But Santa Claus could never get out here\nin der middle of der ocean. If he did maybe he'd get seasick already,\nund all der reindeers would get drownded in der water.\n\nSERGIUS (_standing R.C._). In Russia there is an old woman named\nBabouska who visits all the children on the night before Christmas.\nShe carries a big basket full of good things.\n\nTOMASSO (_seated on floor at C._). In sunny Italy the children all go\nto midnight church on Christmas Eve, and when we make ourselves awake\non Christmas morning, our shoes are all full of candy and chestnuts\nand figs and oranges. But of course on a big ship like-a this we'll\nnot get-a nothing at all.\n\nKLINKER (_crying_). But I want some presents already.\n\nSCHWILLIE (_crying_). Und me also. I want some presents, too.\n\nKLINKER. Und Saint Nicholas can't come. Oh, oh! He can't get out on\nthe big ocean.\n\nSCHWILLIE. Maybe he could float out on a piece of ice yet. Could he,\nHulda?\n\nHULDA. No. I don't think he's much of a floater.\n\nMEENY. If he did it would make him awful seasick.\n\nKLINKER. I wish we was landed in New York yet, so I do.\n\nSCHWILLIE. Where is Anita? She'll know.\n\nHULDA. Yes, Anita will know whether he is coming or not. She knows\nalmost everything.\n\nPADDY MIKE (_standing at rear L._). Here comes Anita now, and sure\nshe's having a grand time, so she is.\n\nALL (_rising and going to rear, looking off L._). Here she comes.\nHurrah for Anita. (_Music: The same as for the Opening Song._)\n\nTOMASSO (_calling_). Anita, Anita, come here quick. We want you.\n\nANITA (_outside L._). I'm coming. Wait a minute. I'm coming.\n\n_Music swells louder._ ANITA _dances in from L., all sing as she\ndances around, waving her tambourine._\n\nALL (_singing to tune of the \"Opening Song\"_).\n\n     We're sailing to America,\n       Away across the sea,\n     We're happy little immigrants,\n       Our hearts are light and free.\n     Then clap, clap, clap together,\n\n(_All skip around._)\n\n       Clap, clap away;\n     The steerage is a happy place--\n       Tomorrow's Christmas Day.\n\nANITA (_comes forward to C. surrounded by the others_). Oh, I've just\nhad the grandest time. It was so superb, magnificent, sublime!\n(_Extends arms in ecstasy._) I have-a been at the leetla window\nwatching the great, grand, magnificent ocean. It was all so blue and\nso green and so purple--and the sinking sun is all shining on the\ngreat-a, beeg waves, like-a sparkling diamonds. (_Use elaborate\ngestures at all times._) And me, the poor, leetla Italian girl, gets\nto see all this great-a, grand-a ocean. It is superb, magnificent,\nsublime! Ah, I am so happy, I could sing and dance and kees everybody\non the great-a, grand-a earth!\n\nMEENY (_at L._). Vot makes you so happy, Anita? Maybe I'd be happy yet\nalso, if I didn't get seasick once in a while.\n\nANITA. What makes me so happy, Meeny? It's the sun and the waves, and\nthe sunlight shining like diamonds on the great-a, grand-a ocean. Are\nyou not also happy, Biddy Mary?\n\nBIDDY MARY (_standing by_ ANITA). I am not. Sure, I niver do be having\ntime to be seeing diamonds on the great big waves. I have to be hard\nat work, so I do, peeling the praties for our Christmas breakfast.\n\nANITA. I watched the great-a red sun as he began to sink, sink, sink\nway down in the ocean. And the beeg-a waves got more beeg and more\nbeeg and on top of them I saw long white lace fringe. The green silk\nwaves were all-a trimmed with white lace fringe. And sometimes I think\nI see the leetla mermaid fairies dancing in the foam. Leetla green and\nwhite mermaids with the long long-a hair.\n\nTOMASSO (_at R._). You make-a me seek, Anita. There is-a no such\nthings as fairies.\n\nANITA. But I love to _think_ there is. It is a great, grand-a pleasure\njust to think there is. Is it not, Meeny?\n\nMEENY (_stolidly_). Oh, sure.\n\nANITA. And that is why we should all be so verra, verra happy. We can\nthink such-a lovely things. The poor leetla children at-a home, pouf!\nThey cannot think such things, because they have never seen such a\ngreat, beeg-a ship, or such a great, beeg-a ocean--\n\nSERGIUS. Or a whale.\n\nPADDY MIKE. Or a sailor man.\n\nHULDA. Or a nice little steerage bed built just like a shelf in the\nwall.\n\nTOMASSO. Or the great beeg-a engine that makes the ship go.\n\nMEENY. Or the tons and tons of coal vay down deep by the cellar.\n\nSERGIUS (_mocking her_). Way down deep by the cellar! Whoever heard of\na cellar on board of a ship? You mean--down in the hatch.\n\nMEENY. Hatch? Vot is dot hatch? Dis ain't a chicken, it's a boat.\n(_All laugh._)\n\nKLINKER (_takes_ SCHWILLIE _by the hand and goes to_ ANITA). Anita, we\nwant to ask you a question.\n\nANITA. Well, and what is the question of the leetla Dutch twins?\n\nSCHWILLIE. Tonight is the night before Christmas.\n\nKLINKER. Und we want to know if the good Saint Nicholas is coming\ntonight.\n\nANITA. I don't know. You see it would be a great beeg-a, long-a trip\nway out here on the ocean.\n\nKLINKER (_half crying_). But I want him to come. I've been a awful\ngood boy, isn't I, Schwillie Willie Winkum?\n\nSCHWILLIE. Sure, you is. Und me also, ain't I, Klinker?\n\nANITA. If you have both been verra, verra good I think that maybe the\ngood Saint will come. (_Looks around._) Have you all been verra, verra\ngood?\n\nOTHERS. Yes, all of us.\n\nHANS. We're always very, very good at Christmas time.\n\nAH GOO. Me velly, _velly_ good.\n\nANITA (_points off R._). See, way up there on the upper deck, are the\nrich, grand-a ladies and gentlemen coming out from the great, beeg-a\ndining-room. If you go and stand under the hole maybe they'll throw\nyou some oranges or candy. They're awful nice peoples on the upper\ndeck.\n\nMEENY. Let's all go right away quick. Maybe we'll get some oranges und\ncandy.\n\nKLINKER. Oh, how I do love oranges und candy, don't I, Schwillie\nWillie Winkum?\n\nSCHWILLIE. Sure, und me also, don't I, Klinker?\n\nSERGIUS. Let us all go together. (_All come forward and sing to tune\nof the Opening Song._)\n\n     We're happy little immigrants,\n       We'll sing our happy song,\n     Our hearts are light, our faces bright--\n       The good ship speeds along.\n     Then clap, clap, clap together,\n       Clap, clap away;\n     The steerage is a happy place--\n       Tomorrow's Christmas Day.\n\n(_All the children except_ ANITA _go out at R., repeating the chorus\nof their song._)\n\nANITA. Surely the good-a Saint Nicholas will come tonight, because\nthere are so many, many verra good children on board this-a ship.\n(_Counting on fingers._) There's Hulda from Holland and her two leetla\nbrothers, the Dutch twins, Klinker and Schwillie Willie Winkum. They\nmust have a great-a beeg-a Christmas present. And there's Sergius from\nRussia, and Meeny and Paddy Mike and Biddy Mary, and Neelda from\nSpain, and Yakob and Hans and Ah Goo and Mieze and leetla Sano San\nfrom afar away Japan. They must all have the great-a, grand-a\npresents. Maybe I could write old Santa Claus a leetla letter and tell\nhow good the poor children way down in the steerage have been. And\nthere's my cousin Tomasso from Italy. Oh, Santa Claus must bring him a\nnew violin. Then he can make-a the beautiful music on the golden\nstreets of New York. If there is anybody at all in the whole beeg\nworld who should have a nice-a, beeg-a Christmas, it is the verra poor\nleetla children whose mammas and papas haven't got very much money.\nBut sometimes the good Santa Claus forgets all about the verra poor\nleetla children--and that's the mostest saddest thing of all, for they\nare the verra ones he should remember. When I get to be a great-a,\nbeeg, grand-a, reech lady in the golden streets of New York, ah! then\nI will buy presents and presents and presents, and I will-a give them\nto all the verra poor leetla children in the world. I wonder why it is\nthat the verra good Santa Claus sometimes forgets the poor leetla\nchildren on-a Christmas Day. He never forgets the reech leetla\nchildren, only those who are verra, verra poor. And that is a sad\nmisfortune. If I had-a nice-a Christmas present, with many candies and\nfigs and oranges, I could never rest until I had given something nice\nto all the poor leetla children in the city--for that is what makes\nthe mostest happy Christmas of all.\n\n_Enter_ SERGIUS _from R. quietly. He comes down behind_ ANITA _and\nplaces his hands over her eyes._\n\nSERGIUS. Guess who it is.\n\nANITA. Sergius!\n\nSERGIUS (_disappointed_). Why, I thought that you would think it was a\ngoblin.\n\nANITA. Goblin? What is a goblin, Sergius?\n\nSERGIUS. It's a little, wee bit of a man with a long beard. And they\ngo around having a good time at night. They are always very active on\nthe night before Christmas. (_Looks cautiously around._) I shouldn't\nbe at all surprised if we should see some tonight.\n\nANITA (_frightened_). Oh, Sergius, will they harm us?\n\nSERGIUS. Not very much. They just like to have a little fun, that's\nall. We have lots of them in Russia. And I believe there are some down\nhere in the steerage.\n\nANITA (_grasps his arm_). Oh, Sergius! Where are they?\n\nSERGIUS. Well, last night I could not sleep, so I got up and came in\nhere, and just as I was passing by that barrel (_points to barrel up\nL.C. where_ JACK FROST _is concealed_), I thought I heard a noise. It\nwas like some one rapping on the barrel. Like this. (_Raps on another\nbarrel._) I thought it was a goblin and I never stopped running until\nI was safe in my bunk with the bedclothes around my head.\n\nANITA. Pooh! I'm not afraid. No leetla goblin man can make-a me\nafraid.\n\nSERGIUS. They do wonderful things on Christmas Eve. But come; let us\ngo to the bottom of the stairs. The ladies and gentlemen are looking\ndown and Tomasso is playing his violin. Soon they will throw apples\nand oranges down to us, and perhaps money. Come and see.\n\nANITA. No, I'd rather wait here.\n\nSERGIUS (_crossing to door at R._). All right, but don't let the\ngoblin man catch you. (_Exits at R._)\n\nANITA. The goblin man! Poof! There is no such thing as a goblin man.\nIn-a Italy we do not have such goblin mans. He said he heard something\nrap, rap on the inside of the barrel. Poof! Sergius must have been\nhaving one beeg, grand-a dream. Never in all my life did I ever hear\nanything go rap, rap on the inside of a barrel. (_Stands close to_\nJACK FROST'S _barrel._) And if I did, I'd think it was a leetla,\nweeny-teeny mouse. But a leetla, weeny-teeny mouse never could go rap,\nrap on the inside of a barrel, try as hard as he could. It must have\nbeen a dream.\n\nJACK FROST (_raps sharply on the inside of the barrel_).\n\nANITA. Oh, what was that? I thought I heard something. (_Goes toward\nbarrel cautiously._) Maybe it is the leetla, teeny-weeny baby mouse.\n(Rises on tiptoes to peer into the barrel.) I'll just peek in and see.\n(_Just as she looks into the barrel_, JACK FROST _pops up his head\nalmost in her very face._)\n\nJACK FROST. Hello!\n\nANITA (_starting back, very much frightened_). Oh!\n\nJACK FROST. Did you say oh, or hello?\n\nANITA. I just said, oh.\n\nJACK FROST. Well, then, hello. (_Climbs out of the barrel._)\n\nANITA. Hello.\n\nJACK FROST (_goes to her_). You aren't frightened, are you?\n\nANITA (_at R._). Well, I'm a leetla frightened, but not verra much.\n\nJACK FROST. Why? I won't hurt you.\n\nANITA. You came up so sudden. I never expected to find a boy in that\nbarrel. And you are such a queer looking boy.\n\nJACK FROST. Boy? I'm not a boy.\n\nANITA. You're not? You look like a boy. You're not a girl, are you?\n\nJACK FROST (_indignantly_). Well, I should say not! I'm just a kind of\na sort of a kind of an idea, that's all. I'm your imagination.\n\nANITA. I hope you're not a goblin.\n\nJACK FROST. Oh, no. I'm not a goblin. They're old and have long\nbeards. I'm not old at all. (_Twirls around on toes._) See, I'm even\nyounger than you are. (_Makes low bow._) I'm a pixie.\n\nANITA. And what is a pixie?\n\nJACK FROST. I told you before, it's just your imagination.\n\nANITA. You look like a boy. What is your name?\n\nJACK FROST. My name is Claus.\n\nANITA. Claus! Why, what a funny leetla name. I never heard a name like\nthat in Italy. Claus what?\n\nJACK FROST. Santa Claus. Haven't you ever heard of Santa Claus?\n\nANITA. Oh, yes; many, many times. But you _can't_ be Santa Claus.\n\nJACK FROST (_indignantly_). I'd like to know why I can't! It's my\nname, isn't it?\n\nANITA. But you are not the real, real truly Santa Claus. He is an old,\nold man. A leetla fat old man with white-a hair just like-a the snow,\nand a long, white-a beard.\n\nJACK FROST. Ho, you must be thinking of my daddy.\n\nANITA. Your daddy? Is Santa Claus your daddy?\n\nJACK FROST. Sure, he is. I'm Jack Frost Santa Claus, Jr. Most folks\ncall me Jolly Jack Frost. The little fat man with the white beard is\nmy father.\n\nANITA (_astonished_). Why, I didn't know Santa Claus had any leetla\nboys.\n\nJACK FROST. Sure, he has. Who do you think takes care of the reindeer,\nand who waters the doll-tree and picks the dolls?\n\nANITA. Picks the dolls? Do the dolls grow on trees?\n\nJACK FROST. Yes, indeed, right next door to the taffy cottage, down\nChocolate Lane. I take care of the marble bushes and the popgun trees.\nYou just ought to see our wonderful gardens.\n\nANITA. Oh, I'd love to see them.\n\nJACK FROST. We've got a Teddy-bear garden, and a tool garden, and a\nfurniture garden, and a game garden, and a candy garden, though most\nof the candy comes from mines.\n\nANITA. The mines?\n\nJACK FROST. Sure. We dig out just the kind we want. We have caramel\nmines, and vanilla mines and mines full of chocolate almonds, and\nrivers of fig paste and strawberry ice cream soda. They flow right\nthrough the picture-book garden.\n\nANITA. Oh, it must be the most wonderful place in the whole world.\n\nJACK FROST. And I help take care of it. I have fourteen little\nbrothers, and we're all twins.\n\nANITA. And have you a mother, too? Has Santa Claus a nice-a, fine-a\nwife?\n\nJACK FROST (_laughs_). Of course he's got a wife. Haven't you ever\nheard of my mother. Her name is Mary.\n\nANITA. Mary? Mary what?\n\nJACK FROST. Why, Merry Mary Christmas, of course. I thought everyone\nknew that.\n\nANITA. And does she go round the world with Santa Claus on the night\nbefore Christmas?\n\nJACK FROST. Oh, no, she's too busy for that. She stays at home and\ntakes care of the gardens.\n\nANITA. But what are you doing here on the ship? I should think you'd\nbe with your father.\n\nJACK FROST. Ah, that is a secret. You mustn't tell anyone.\n\nANITA. How can I tell anyone when I don't know myself.\n\nJACK FROST. Well, maybe I'll tell you.\n\nANITA. Oh, if you only would. I'd just love to have a great-a, beeg,\ngrand-a secret.\n\nJACK FROST. You can keep a secret, can't you?\n\nANITA. Of course I can. Girls can always keep secrets.\n\nJACK FROST. Some girls can't. But I believe you really can. Your\nname's Anita, isn't it?\n\nANITA. Yes. But how did you know?\n\nJACK FROST. Oh, we know everything. How old are you?\n\nANITA. If you tell me how you knew my name, I'll tell you how old I\nam.\n\nJACK FROST. Well, I just guessed it.\n\nANITA. Then why don't you guess how old I am?\n\nJACK FROST. Cute, ain't you?\n\nANITA. Not so verra cute. I'm going on nine.\n\nJACK FROST. Then you're old enough to keep the secret. Now, first you\nmust promise you won't tell until tomorrow morning.\n\nANITA. Cross my heart. (_She does so._)\n\nJACK FROST (_crosses to her_). Listen, then; here's the secret. (_He\nwhispers in her ear._)\n\nANITA (_after a pause, while he is whispering_). He is? _He is?_ Oh!!\n\nJACK FROST (_nods his head wisely_). Yes, he is.\n\nANITA. Honest?\n\nJACK FROST. Honest injun!\n\nANITA. With his pack and presents and a Christmas tree and everything?\n\nJACK FROST (_nods head emphatically_). Yes, ma'am, every single thing.\n\nANITA. Tonight?\n\nJACK FROST. Just before the clock strikes twelve, when all the little\nchildren in the steerage are asleep.\n\nANITA. But how will he get out here in the middle of the ocean?\n\nJACK FROST. Fly.\n\nANITA. Fly? But he hasn't any wings. (JACK _nods._) He has? (JACK\n_nods._) Really and truly wings?\n\nJACK FROST (_nods_). Really and truly wings.\n\nANITA. I never knew Santa Claus had wings before.\n\nJACK FROST. He only bought them this year.\n\nANITA. Bought them? (JACK _nods._) Then they didn't grow on him?\n\nJACK FROST (_laughs_). Of course not. He's coming in an air ship.\n\nANITA. Why, I never knew Santa Claus had an air ship.\n\nJACK FROST. He's got the very latest twentieth century model. He only\nuses the reindeer once in a while now. He can go much faster on an air\nship. (_Sits down._) Oh, I'm tired.\n\nANITA. I didn't know pixies ever got tired.\n\nJACK FROST. You ought to see the work I've done today.\n\nANITA. Here on the boat?\n\nJACK FROST. Yes, ma'am, right here on the boat.\n\nANITA. Oh, show me.\n\nJACK FROST. I will. But it's part of the secret. (_Goes to rear L._)\nCome here and I'll show you what I've been doing.\n\nANITA (_goes to him_). It isn't anything scary, is it?\n\nJACK FROST. Of course not. (_Lets her peep through the curtain that\nconceals the Christmas tree from the audience._) There; what do you\nthink of that?\n\nANITA. Oh, oh! oh!! It's too great and grand and wonderful for words.\nOh, what a wonderful, wonderful secret! I'm so glad you've told me. It\nis so much nicer to know all about it beforehand. I wish I could tell\nTomasso.\n\nJACK FROST. Well, you can't. It's a secret and you mustn't tell\nanybody.\n\nANITA. But are you really, truly sure he's coming?\n\nJACK FROST. Of course he is. That is our secret.\n\nANITA. Oh, it's the grandest secret I ever had in all-a my life. I\nwill not tell a soul that he is-a coming. It will be a Christmas\nsurprise, and when I get to the beeg city of New York in America, I'll\nalways remember this great-a beeg, nice-a secret about old Santa Claus\nand his nice leetla boy, Jack Frost.\n\nJACK FROST. What are you going to do when you get to America?\n\nANITA. I am going to dance. My uncle, Pedro Spanilli, he haba de\ngrind-organ. Until last-a month he had-a de nice-a monkey, named Mr.\nJocko, but last-a month Mr. Jocko he die, and my uncle, Pedro\nSpanilli, he send for me to take-a his place.\n\nJACK FROST. Take the monkey's place?\n\nANITA. Yes, sir. I'm going to go round with my uncle and hold out my\ntambourine, so! (_Poses and holds out tambourine._) And then I will-a\ncollect the pennies, just like-a Mr. Jocko used to do.\n\nJACK FROST (_mocking her_). I suppose you are going to wear a leetla\nred cap and jump up and down this way (_imitates a monkey_), and say,\n\"Give-a de monk de cent!\"\n\nANITA (_laughing_). Oh, no. I'm going to sing the leetla song, and\ndance the leetla dance, so! (_Hums and dances, or a song may be\nintroduced at this point by_ ANITA.) Then, when I'm finished, I go to\nthe kind leetla boy, Jack Frost, and hold out my tambourine, so!\n(_Does so._) And maybe he drops a nickel in my tambourine. Eh? Does\nhe?\n\nJACK FROST (_sighs, then drops a nickel in tambourine_). Yes, I guess\nhe does. And you just wait till tomorrow morning, Anita, and I'll give\nyou the finest Christmas present on the Atlantic Ocean.\n\nANITA. And you must not forget the leetla Dutch twins, and my cousin\nTomasso, and Hulda and Meeny and Sergius and Ah Goo and Sano San and\nNeedla and Biddy Mary and Paddy Mike and all the rest.\n\nJACK FROST. Whew! That's a big order. But we won't forget a single\nsoul on Christmas Day. And now I've got to go and put the finishing\ntouches on--you know what! (_Goes behind curtains that conceal the\nChristmas tree._)\n\nANITA (_looks around_). Why, he's gone.\n\nJACK FROST (_sticking his head out of the curtains_). The sun has set,\nit's out of sight, so little Jack Frost will say good-night!\n(_Disappears back of curtains._)\n\nANITA. Good-night, Jolly Jack Frost, good-night. Oh, it's the most\nwonderful secret in all the world. And won't the leetla children be\nglad to know that old Santa Claus has not forgotten them. He said that\nSanta Claus was coming tonight in the air ship, and it's got to be\ntrue, it's just got to be true.\n\n_Enter_ TOMASSO _from R., carrying violin._\n\nTOMASSO. Anita, if you don't hurry you'll not get any supper at all.\nIt's most eight o'clock.\n\nANITA. Oh, I don't care for supper, Tomasso. I could-a not eat. I'm\ntoo much excited to eat.\n\nTOMASSO. What make-a you so excited, Anita?\n\nANITA. Why, tonight--(pauses as she remembers her promise) Oh, that I\ncannot tell; it's a secret.\n\nTOMASSO. What is the secret?\n\nANITA. If I told-a you, Tomasso, then it would no longer be a secret.\n\nTOMASSO. You should-a not have the secrets from me, Anita. I am your\ncousin, also--I am the head of the family.\n\nANITA. But I made the promise not to tell.\n\nTOMASSO. Who you make-a the promise to?\n\nANITA. I promised Jack--(_hesitates_) I mean, I make-a de promise to\nsomeone.\n\nTOMASSO. To Jack! Who is this-a Jack, Anita?\n\nANITA. That is part of the secret. Listen, Tomasso, tomorrow morning\nyou shall know everything. Early in the morning shall I tell-a you my\nsecret. That will be my Christmas present to you.\n\nTOMASSO. All right. I'll wait. Oh, see, Anita, the moon is coming up.\n(_Points to L._) Just like-a big, round-a silver ball.\n\nANITA. Let us stay here and watch the moon, Tomasso.\n\nTOMASSO. You'd better go and get your supper. Those leetla Dutch twins\nare eating everything on the table. I think they'd eat the table\nitself if it was-a not nailed to the deck. Hurry, Anita!\n\nANITA. I go. (_Crosses to door at R., then turns toward him_). It's a\nawful good-a secret, Tomasso. (_Laughs and runs out at R._)\n\nTOMASSO (_looks off L._). Ah, the great, grand-a lady moon. She looks\nat me, I look at her. Maybe she'll like a leetla serenade.\n\n(_Simple violin solo by_ TOMASSO, _accompanied by hidden organ or\npiano. After he has been playing sometime, the other children come\nsoftly in from the R. and group around the stage. Note: If possible,\nget a boy for_ TOMASSO'S _part who can play the violin; if not,\nintroduce a song at this point. \"Santa Lucia,\" found in most school\ncollections, would prove effective either as a vocal solo or as a\nviolin solo._)\n\nBIDDY MARY. Sure, that's beautiful. It takes me back again to dear\nould Ireland where the River Shannon flows.\n\nHULDA. What do you do in Ireland the night before Christmas, Biddy\nMary?\n\nMEENY. Do you have a Christmas tree like we do in Germany?\n\nBIDDY MARY. We do not. We don't have any tree at all, at all.\n\nPADDY MIKE. And we don't get many presents. But it's a fine time we\nhave for all that. Instead of getting presents, we have the fun of\ngiving presents--and that's the finest thing in all the world, so it\nis, to make the other fellow happy. Sure, I just love to give\npresents.\n\nKLINKER. You can give me some if you want to.\n\nSCHWILLIE. Und me also some.\n\nBIDDY MARY. But where would we be getting presents out here in the\nmiddle of the ocean? In dear ould Ireland sure it's a fine time we're\nafter having on Christmas Day.\n\nPADDY MIKE. It is that. With the fiddles playing and the dancers\ndancing and the fine suppers upon the table.\n\nSERGIUS. In Russia we always set a table in front of the window and\nput a fine linen cloth on it. (_Produces white lace-edged cloth._)\nHere is the cloth, but we have no window.\n\nHULDA. Here, use this box as a table. (_Indicates a large box at rear\nC._) Now, let us put the cloth on, so! (HULDA _and_ SERGIUS _put cloth\non the box._)\n\nBIDDY MARY. The night before Christmas we always put a big candle, all\ngay with ribbons, in the window to welcome the Christ child.\n\nPADDY MIKE. Here is the candle. (_Places it on box at rear C._) Now\nI'll light it. (_Lights candle._)\n\nTOMASSO. We do that also in Italy. And we put a leetla picture of the\nChrist child on the table. (_Puts colored picture of Madonna and Child\nback of the candle._)\n\nBIDDY MARY. On Christmas Day it's the fine old tales we're after\nhearing in Ireland, all about the wonderful star that shone so bright\nthat it turned night into day, and led the Wise Men all the way to\nwhere a little Babe in the manger lay.\n\nPADDY MIKE. And all the angels sang above of peace on earth, good will\nand love.\n\nBIDDY MARY.\n\n     The shepherds wandering on the hill,\n     Beheld the star and followed till\n     They saw the Child and heard the song,\n     The angels sang the whole night long.\n\nSERGIUS. May the spirit of Christmas enter every heart tonight, making\nall the world one big, happy family, no rich, no poor, no high, no\nlow, all brothers and sisters, all children of the Lord on high!\n\nMEENY. Maybe good old Santa Claus will come after all. Vell, if he\ndoes I want to be ready for him. (_Produces two very large red\nstockings, made for the occasion._) Come, Yakob and Hans and Mieze,\nlet us hang up our stockings here under the burning candle. (_They\nhang up the four pair of stockings._)\n\nNEELDA (_places a wreath of holly on the table_). Christ was born on\nthe Christmas Day, wreathe the holly, twine the bay! Light and Life\nand Joy is He, the Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary!\n\nTOMASSO. Meeny and Yakob and Hans and leetla Mieze have hung up their\nstockings for the good-a Saint Nicholas, but in Italy we set out our\nshoes, so! And we always get them full of presents. (_Places small\npair of wooden shoes on table._)\n\nMEENY. I like stockings much better than shoes already, because the\nstockings can stretch yet, und if they stretch real, real wide out\nmaybe we can get a baby piano or a automobile in our stockings. Jah,\nstockings is mooch better als shoes.\n\nHULDA. Here is my beautiful star. (_Produces tinsel star._) That will\nremind us of the Star of Bethlehem that led the three Wise Men across\nthe hills and plains of Judea unto the little manger where,\nsurrounded by cattle and oxen, amid the straw, the Lord of Heaven was\nborn on Christmas Eve.\n\nSCHWILLIE. Und all the angels sang, \"Peace on earth, good will to\nmen,\" didn't they, Klinker?\n\nKLINKER. Und all the shepherds heard them, and they followed the star\nand came to the manger to see the little Baby.\n\nMEENY. Let us all sit down here in front of the candle and the star,\nand see if old Santa Claus has forgotten us already. It's almost time\nfor him to be coming. (_All sit down._)\n\nALL (_sing_).\n\n     THE TIME IS NEAR.\n\n[Music illustration:\n\n     1. The time is near, the time is near,\n     San-ta Claus will soon be here!\n     All the world is sweet-ly sleep-ing,\n     An-gels now their watch are keep-ing,\n     And the moon shines clear,\n     And the moon shines clear.\n\n     2. Be-fore the dawn, be-fore the dawn,\n     Saint Nick will have come and gone!\n     Now with pa-tience we'll a-wait him,\n     Hop-ing noth-ing may be-late him,\n     On his jour-ney long,\n     On his jour-ney long.]\n\nHULDA. Oh, I do hope Santa Claus will come and visit us tonight. But\nof course he cannot go every place. Some children have to be left out.\n\nKLINKER. Yes, that's so; but I hope it ain't us. Don't you, Schwillie\nWillie Winkum?\n\nSCHWILLIE. Sure, I do. I wish old Santa would hurry up and come,\n'cause the old Sandman is here already. I'm getting awful sleepy.\n\nKLINKER. Me--I'm getting awful sleepy, too. (_Stretches and yawns._)\n\nTOMASSO. I wonder what has become of Anita? She said she had a\nwonderful secret that was-a verra, verra grand.\n\nMEENY. A secret, Tomasso? (_Goes to him._)\n\nTOMASSO (_standing at C._). Yes, a great, beeg, grand-a secret.\n\nBIDDY MARY (_goes to him and takes his L. arm_). Oh, what is it,\nTomasso?\n\nMEENY (_taking his R. arm_). Yes, Tomasso, tell us vot it is already.\n\nBIDDY MARY (_turning_ TOMASSO _around to face her_). Sure, if there's\nanything on earth I _do_ love, it's a secret.\n\nHULDA (_and the other girls, surrounding_ TOMASSO). Yes, Tomasso, tell\nus the secret; we'll never tell anyone.\n\nMEENY (_pulling him around to face her_). Sure we won't. Nice Tomasso,\ntell us vot it is yet.\n\nTOMASSO (_hesitates_). Well, I----\n\nBIDDY MARY (_pulling him around to face her_). Now, you tell _me_,\nTomasso. I never tell any secrets at all, at all.\n\nTOMASSO. Well, I----\n\nMEENY (_pulls him around again_). If you're going to tell it, I want\nto hear every word. I never want to miss noddings no times.\n\nBIDDY MARY (_pulls him back_). Neither do I.\n\nHULDA. Neither do I.\n\nMEENY. Neither do any of us.\n\nKLINKER. I don't want to miss nothing neither.\n\nSCHWILLIE. No, und I don't neither.\n\nALL. Now, what is the secret, Tomasso?\n\nTOMASSO (_loudly_). It is not my secret. It is Anita's secret.\n\nALL. Well, what is Anita's secret.\n\nTOMASSO. She wouldn't tell me.\n\nALL (_turn away very much disappointed_). Oh!\n\nTOMASSO. She's promised to tell us all in the morning. She said that\nwould be her Christmas present to us--to tell us the secret. (_All sit\nor recline around the stage. Lower the lights._)\n\nSERGIUS. It seems so strange to spend Christmas Eve away out here in\nthe middle of the ocean.\n\nKLINKER (_almost asleep_). Wake me up, Hulda, just as soon as Santa\nClaus comes.\n\nBIDDY MARY (_at R._). Sure I think the Sandman has been after spillin'\nsand in all of our eyes. I'm that sleepy I can't say a word at all, at\nall.\n\nSANO SAN. They're putting out all the lights. Here, Sergius, hang my\nlittle lantern in front of the candle.\n\nAH GOO. Allee samee hang mine. (SANO SAN _and_ AH GOO _each give their\nlanterns to_ SERGIUS, _who lights them and hangs them on the table.\nNote: Nails must be put in the table at R. and L. corners facing front\nfor these lanterns._)\n\nSERGIUS. I'm going to stretch out here and take a little nap.\n(_Reclines on floor._) Be sure and wake me up, Hulda, just as soon as\nyou hear the bells on his reindeer.\n\nTOMASSO (_yawns_). I wonder what has become of Anita?\n\nHULDA (_stretches_). I believe I'm getting sleepy, too.\n\nOTHERS. So are all of us.\n\nBIDDY MARY. We're all noddin', nid, nid noddin', sure I think it's\ntime we were all of us fast asleep.\n\nALL (_sing sleepily_).\n\n     \"WE'RE ALL NODDIN'.\"\n\n[Music illustration:\n\n     1. We are all nod-din', nid, nid nod-din',\n     We are all nod-din', and drop-ping off to sleep.\n     So see San-ta Claus we've all done our best,\n     [Transcriber's Note: probably should be \"To see\"]\n     But we're aw-ful-ly sleep-y, so we'll take a rest.\n\n     2. We are all nod-din', nid, nid nod-din',\n     We are all nod-din', and drop-ping off to sleep.\n     It's aw-ful-ly late, we'll no lon-ger de-lay,\n     But ride with the Sand-man, a-way and a-way.]\n\n(ALL _are sound asleep. Stage is dark._)\n\nKLINKER (_talking in his sleep_). Noddin', nid, nid noddin'.\n\nSCHWILLIE (talking in his sleep). Dropping off to sleep, ain't we,\nKlinker?\n\n_Soft, mysterious music._ ANITA _dances in from R. She dances around\nthe stage, keeping time to the music and bending over the little\nsleepers._\n\nANITA. Asleep! Every last one of them is verra sound asleep. Meeny and\nBiddy Mary, and Sergius and Tomasso and the leetla Dutch twins and\nall! (_Goes to curtain at rear._) Jack Frost! Jolly Jack Frost! Come-a\nquick, come-a quick! They're all asleep.\n\nJACK FROST (_sticks his head out of the curtains_). Hello, what is it?\n\nANITA. It is Anita. The leetla children are all here and sound asleep.\n\nJACK FROST (_coming down to her_). And so was I. They sang a song\nabout noddin', nid, nid noddin', and I just went to sleep myself. I\ndreamed I was hunting a polar bear way up by the North Pole.\n(_Yawns._) I'm still awfully sleepy.\n\nANITA. I didn't know that you ever went to sleep.\n\nJACK FROST. You bet I do. That's the one thing I've got against my\ndaddy's Christmas trip every year. It wakes us all up right in the\nmiddle of the night.\n\nANITA. The middle of the night? What _do_ you mean?\n\nJACK FROST. Middle of the north pole night. If it wasn't for Christmas\nwe could go to bed about half past October and sleep until a quarter\nof May, but ma thinks we ought to help pa and then wait up until he\ncomes home. My, I'm sleepy! Aren't you?\n\nANITA. Oh, no, no! I'm verra too much excited to sleep. It's all about\nmy secret. Are you really sure he is coming?\n\nJACK FROST. Of course he is, and it's almost time he was here now.\nIt's nearly Christmas Day. Look way up there in the sky. You don't see\nanything that looks like an air ship, do you?\n\nANITA (_looking up and off at R._). No, I cannot see a single thing.\n\nJACK FROST (_sees table at rear_). Oh, look here! The children have\nlighted a candle for him. That's just fine. It always pleases him. And\nsee; here's a picture and a wreath of holly and the star of Bethlehem.\nAnd stockings and shoes all in a row.\n\nANITA (_looking up and off R._). I can't see a thing.\n\nJACK FROST. Here's a telescope. Look through that. (_Takes home-made\ntelescope from his barrel._) Now do you see anything?\n\nANITA. Oh, no; now I cannot even see the stars or the moon.\n\nJACK FROST. Of course you can't. You are looking through the wrong\nend. Turn it around.\n\nANITA (_looks up and off R. through telescope_). Oh, now I can see the\nstars. And, oh, look! I see a leetla, teeny-weeny thing way, way\noff--far up in the sky. Look, Jack Frost, is that the air ship?\n\n(_Fast music, played softly._)\n\nJACK FROST (_looks through the telescope_). Yes, I believe it is.\n\nANITA (_dances wildly about the stage_). Oh, he's coming, he's\ncoming. I'm going to get to see Santa Claus! Is it not wonderful? I'm\ngoing to see him. Let me look. (_Takes telescope._) Oh, it's getting\nbigger and _bigger_ and BIGGER!\n\n_Sleigh bells heard outside at R., far away in the distance._\n\nJACK FROST (_capering around_). Hurray! daddy's coming! daddy's\ncoming!\n\nANITA. Now I can hear the bells. Oh, it's coming closer and _closer_\nand CLOSER. Look out, it's going to hit the boat! (_Small toy air ship\nflies across the stage at rear, with tiny lights twinkling in it.\nStretch a wire across rear of stage and high up, for the toy to run\non._)\n\nJACK FROST. He flew right by us.\n\nANITA. Maybe he didn't see the boat. Oh, now he isn't coming at all.\n\nJACK FROST (_looking out at L._). Yes, he is. He's landed right over\nthere. Here he comes; here he comes! (_Music and bells louder and\nlouder._)\n\nANITA (_runs to L._). Here we are, Santa Claus. This is the place.\nCome in. Merry Christmas, Santa Claus, merry Christmas!\n\n_Loud fast music. Enter_ SANTA CLAUS _from L._\n\nSANTA CLAUS. Hello, there--where are you? It's so dark I can't see a\nsingle thing.\n\nJACK FROST. Hello, daddy; merry Christmas.\n\nSANTA CLAUS (_shaking hands with him_). Hello yourself. Merry\nChristmas to you, too. Are you all ready for me?\n\nJACK FROST. Yes, it's all ready. The magical tree is just waiting for\nyour touch to turn into a real Christmas tree.\n\nANITA. Oh, we're going to have a real Christmas tree.\n\nSANTA CLAUS. Hello, who's this young person?\n\nJACK FROST. This is Anita.\n\nSANTA CLAUS. And why isn't she sound asleep like the rest of the\nchildren?\n\nJACK FROST. She's such a good little girl that I told her she could\nstay up with me and wait until you came.\n\nSANTA CLAUS (_laughs_). Oh, ho; so you've made a hit with my boy, Jack\nFrost, have you? Well, if that's the case, I guess you can stay.\n\nANITA. But all of the children would like to see you, Santa Claus.\nSee, they've prepared the candle and the wreath of holly and the star\nof Bethlehem all for you. There's Sergius and Tomasso and Hulda and\nMeeny and Hans and Yakob and Neelda and Ah Goo and Sano San and Mieze\nand the leetla Dutch twins, Klinker and Schwillie Willie Winkum.\nThey've all been awfully good children. And Biddy Mary and Paddy Mike\nthey brought the candle. They're good, too.\n\nSANTA CLAUS. Hurry, Jack, and fill up the shoes and stockings.\n\nJACK FROST (_filling them from the sack_). Yes, daddy, I'm hurrying.\n\nSANTA CLAUS. It's just two minutes till Christmas morning. I've had a\nhard night's work and I think I'll just take a little vacation here in\nthe steerage.\n\nANITA. Oh, Santa Claus, may I wake up all the leetla children and let\nthem see you?\n\nSANTA CLAUS. Yes, just as soon as you hear the chimes announcing the\nbirth of Christmas Day.\n\nANITA. And don't you have any other place to go this year?\n\nSANTA CLAUS. I hope not. Here I am in the middle of the ocean and my\nair ship is just about played out. Jack, dump everything out of the\nsack and we'll give the little immigrants the jolliest kind of a\nChristmas. I'm not going to lug all of those toys and candy and things\nback to the North Pole again.\n\nJACK FROST (_empties sack on floor_). Here they are, daddy.\n\nSANTA CLAUS. Now, where's the tree?\n\nJACK FROST (_goes to rear of the stage and removes the curtains that\nhave been concealing the dazzling Christmas tree._). There she is.\nIsn't she a beauty?\n\nANITA. Oh, it's the greatest, most grand-a tree in all the world.\n\n(_Faint chimes are heard in the distance._)\n\nJACK FROST. There are the chimes. It is Christmas Day. Merry\nChristmas, daddy; merry Christmas, Anita. Christmas Day is here.\n\nANITA (_dancing around_). Merry Christmas, Jack Frost! Merry\nChristmas, Santa Claus! Merry Christmas, everybody! Merry Christmas to\nall the world. Wake up, Hulda! Wake up! (_Shakes her._)\n\nJACK FROST. Wake up, Paddy Mike and Sergius! Wake up! Merry Christmas!\n\nSANTA CLAUS. Wake up, Meeny and Biddy. It's Christmas morning. And you\ntwo little shavers, Klinker and Schwillie Willie Winkum, wake up and\ngive Santa Claus a good, old hug!\n\n(_The children all awaken. Rub eyes, stretch, etc._)\n\nHULDA. Oh, he's come, he's come, he's come! (_Runs and hugs_ SANTA\nCLAUS.)\n\nSCHWILLIE. Me, too. (_Hugs him._) I said he'd come, didn't I, Klinker?\n\n(_Lights all on full._)\n\nKLINKER (_hugging_ SANTA CLAUS). Sure you did. And me, too, didn't I,\nSchwillie Willie Winkum?\n\nMEENY. Oh, see the tree! The beautiful, beautiful Christmas tree.\n\nTOMASSO. And my leetla shoes are full of candy and toys.\n\nPADDY MIKE. Now, let's be all after giving three cheers for old Santa\nClaus. (_The cheers are given._)\n\nANITA (_bringing_ JACK FROST _forward_). And this is the leetla Jolly\nJack Frost.\n\nPADDY MIKE. Then three cheers for the leetla Jolly Jack Frost. (_The\ncheers are given._)\n\nANITA (_at C. with_ JACK FROST). This was my Christmas secret. Santa\nClaus and the air ship and the Christmas tree and jolly Jack Frost and\neverything. This was the secret.\n\nPADDY MIKE. Now all of yeez give three cheers for Anita's secret.\n(_The cheers are given. Folk dance may be introduced. All sing\nChristmas carol as the curtain falls._)\n\nCURTAIN.\n\n\nREMARKS ON THE PRODUCTION OF THE PLAY.\n\nTHE SCENERY.\n\nThe stage should be set to represent the steerage of a large\nocean-going vessel. A good elaborate set may be arranged with very\nlittle expense by following the diagram. The back drop should be of\nlight blue with a few cumulus clouds in white. The water line should\nbe about one-fourth from the bottom, and from this line downward the\nscene should be darker blue, with white waves.\n\nThe background may be made from canvas or paper, as desired. A good\neffect has been produced by covering frames with tissue paper of the\ndesired shades, the clouds and the water lines being cut from white\npaper and pasted on.\n\nA railing runs across rear of stage. This railing is made of wood,\nwith a tennis net serving for the wiring. Round life-savers are cut\nfrom paper, painted and attached to the railing. The ventilator and\nhatchways may be made from brown bristol board.\n\nA large Christmas tree, lighted and decorated, stands at rear L. This\nis concealed by curtains.\n\nA square box or table stands at rear C. Several barrels and boxes are\nat left front, and a box is at right front. A large barrel stands at\nleft of center near the rear.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\nPROPERTIES.\n\nWoolen stocking and knitting needles for Meeny.\nPotatoes, knife, bowl for Biddy Mary.\nJack-stones for Sergius.\nTambourine for Anita.\nNickel (coin) for Jack Frost.\nViolin for Tomasso.\nWhite, lace-edged table cloth for Sergius.\nLarge candle decorated with red ribbons for Paddy Mike.\nBright picture of Virgin and Child for Tomasso.\nTwo large red stockings for Meeny.\nExtra stockings for Yakob, Hans and Mieze.\nWreath of holly for Neelda.\nSmall wooden shoes for Tomasso.\nTinsel star for Hulda.\nTelescope for Jack Frost. Made from a pasteboard roll covered with\n  black cloth.\nToy air ship on a wire, to sail across stage at rear.\nPack of toys for Santa Claus.\nSleigh bells for Santa.\nChimes heard outside.\n\n\nCOSTUMES AND SUGGESTIONS.\n\nSANTA CLAUS--High boots. Red or brown coat or mackinaw, trimmed with\nfur (or cotton, dotted to imitate ermine fur). Cap to match coat.\nString of bells around neck. Pack of toys. White hair, mustache and\nlong, white beard. Rosy cheeks. Do not wear a false-face, as this\noften frightens little children and makes the character seem unreal.\nWhen there are little children in the cast, their belief in Santa\nClaus must not be disturbed and the adult portraying the character\nneed not attend the general rehearsals. The high boots may be shaped\nfrom black oil-cloth and drawn on over black shoes. Use a pillow or\ntwo to give an ample girth.\n\nJOLLY JACK FROST (aged 8 or 9)--A jolly, little chubby-faced boy who\ncan memorize and deliver a long part. White stockings and shoes.\nCanton flannel suit of white, trimmed with long points cut from cloth,\nto represent icicles. Long-pointed cap of white, coming down around\nback of head and forming a long-pointed collar in front. The top point\nshould be wired into position. Face and hands are powdered very white.\nPut small dabs of mucilage on the costume and sprinkle here and there\nwith diamond dust powder. Trim the costume with bits of cotton to\nrepresent snow.\n\nANITA (aged 8 or 9)--Dark hair and complexion. Black slippers with red\nrosettes or bows on them. White stockings. Green skirt. Small dark red\napron, edged with white, black and green. Black spencer waist laced in\nfront showing the white underwaist. Puffed sleeves falling to elbows.\nGreen and red bows on elbows. Red silk handkerchief laid loosely over\nthe shoulders. Gold beads around neck. Large earrings may be attached\nwith court plaster. The headdress is a white oblong cloth, about six\ninches wide and about eighteen inches long. This cloth is gayly\ndecorated with bands of red, green and black ribbons and the part on\nthe head is padded with a small square of pasteboard. Tambourine\ndecorated with red, black and green ribbons. A yellow silk\nhandkerchief may replace the Sicilian headdress above described.\n\nHULDA (aged 10)--A blonde girl with hair in two long braids. Wooden\nshoes, white stockings. Several very full underskirts. Long skirt of\ndark blue, made very full around the bottom. This skirt is patched\nwith squares of dark red and striped goods. Large blue gingham apron\nedged with stripes of dark red. White waist. Blue bodice of same\nmaterial as skirt. Small white cap fitting close to head in back, but\nturned back in front with points over each ear. Face round and rosy.\nIf the wooden shoes are not easily obtained, fair substitutes may be\nmade by covering an old pair of shoes with cream colored oil-cloth.\n\nSERGIUS (aged 9)--Black oil-cloth leggings to knees. Dark trousers.\nLong Russian blouse of dark green coming nearly to knees and belted in\nat waist with black oil-cloth belt. Blouse edged with dark fur. Dark\ngreen cap trimmed with dark fur.\n\nMEENY (aged 7)--Full white waist. Black bodice laced with red. Rather\nshort red skirt, with black stripes sewed around bottom. White lace\napron edged with red and black. White mob cap, puffed high in front.\nRed and black strings on cap which are tied under her chin. She\ncarries a gray woolen sock, half finished, and knitting needles.\nWooden shoes if possible.\n\nBIDDY MARY--Old shoes and ragged stockings. Old-fashioned dress,\nrather short, of plaid gingham. Worn gingham apron. Little square\nshawl of red and black checked goods, crossed on breast.\nOld-fashioned, little black bonnet tied under her chin. She carries a\npan of potatoes and a knife. Her age is about 8.\n\nPADDY MIKE--Small boy of 7, dressed in a man's suit, cut down in a\nclumsy manner. Green vest. Black swallow-tail coat. Little plug hat,\nmade by covering a pasteboard form with black cloth. Shoes, old and\nworn, and many, many sizes too large for him.\n\nTOMASSO--Black slippers, white stockings. Red and yellow ribbons wound\naround legs. Black knee breeches and zouave jacket. Striped sport\nshirt. Red and yellow bows at knees and on shoulders. Red handkerchief\nknotted loosely at throat. Black felt hat, turned up side, gayly\ndecorated with red and yellow ribbons. On his second entrance he\ncarries a violin. A dark complexioned boy aged about 9.\n\nTHE DUTCH TWINS (aged 4 or 5)--Hair in Buster Brown style. Very full\nblue trousers extending from under the arms to ankles. These are made\nof blue denim and patched with large vari-colored patches. Wooden\nshoes. Striped shirts. Dutch caps made of dark cloth, with a peak in\nfront and a crown about six inches high. The twins should be dressed\nexactly alike and look as much alike as possible. Get chubby little\nfellows and thoroughly rehearse them in their part; in fact they must\ngo over it so much that it must come as second nature to them on the\nnight of the performance. Much of the humor in the play depends on the\nlittle Dutch twins. When they walk let them take long striding steps.\nUse frequent gestures, nods, etc., in their dialogue, but be sure and\nhave every movement exactly the same at each rehearsal. These parts\nare not difficult if the little actors are well trained, and their\nsuccess on the night of the performance will amply repay the trouble\nspent in their proper coaching.\n\nNEELDA--A little brunette girl, aged 4 or 5. Yellow sateen skirt and\nzouave jacket, trimmed with coarse black lace. Broad red sash tied on\nthe side. White baby waist. Black lace mantilla over head, and hair\ndressed high with a high comb. Red rose over left ear.\n\nAH GOO--A chubby little Chinese boy of 5. White stockings, black\nslippers, white pajamas, slanting eyebrows, small round white cap and\nlong pig-tail made of black yarn. Carries Chinese kite.\n\nYAKOB--Chubby boy of 6, dressed similar to twins, but in contrasting\ncolors. Wears yarn stocking cap. Wooden shoes.\n\nHANS--Tall, thin boy of 9. Dressed similar to the twins, but in brown.\nTall black cap similar to those worn by the twins.\n\nMIEZE--Little girl of 3 or 4, dressed similar to Hulda, but in dark\nred and red and white checked gingham.\n\nSANO SAN--Little Japanese girl in kimono and sash. Eyebrows slanting.\nHair dressed high. Chrysanthemums over ears. Carries a paper parasol\nor fan.\n\nThe Christmas tree is for the whole school and is concealed during the\nfirst part of the play by curtains. If there is to be no tree, all\nreference to it may be omitted without injury to the continuity of the\nplay.\n\nOther songs may be substituted for the songs here given, but these\nhave proved very successful in several performances of Anita's\nSecret.\n\n\n\n\nCHRISTMAS WITH THE MULLIGAN'S\n\n[Illustration:\n\nPATSY          MATSY            PETER PAN               MRS O'TOOLE\n\nMRS MULLIGAN   TEDDY MAGEE      PATSY & MATSY (3rd Act)\n\nMICKY MACHREE  BRIDGET HONORA   MARY ANN\n\nMELISSA        CLARISSA         NORA EUDORA]\n\n\n\n\nCHRISTMAS WITH THE MULLIGAN'S\n\nA FUNNY CHRISTMAS PLAY IN THREE SHORT ACTS.\n\n\nCHARACTERS.\n\nTHE WIDOW MULLIGAN             _With a Heart Overflowing with Sunshine_\nPATSY                          _Aged Twelve_\nMATSY                          _Aged Eleven_\nTEDDY MAGEE                    _Aged Seven_\nNORA EUDORA                    _Aged Fourteen_\nMICKY MACHREE                  _Aged Five_\nBRIDGET HONORA                 _Aged Ten_\nSWEET MARY ANN                 _Aged Eight_\nMELISSA                        _Aged Six_\nCLARISSA                       _Aged Six_\nWEE PETER PAN                  _Aged Four_\nMRS. O'TOOLE, _A Neighbor_     _With a Heart Overflowing with Kindness_\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nTIME OF PLAYING--_About One Hour._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n_How they lived and what they wore will be told under the \"Notes to\nthe Manager\" at the end of the play._\n\n\nARGUMENT.\n\nSure, there isn't much argument at all, at all. It's all happiness and\nmerriment and love, and where there is happiness and merriment and\nlove there isn't any time for argument. The Widow Mulligan is a\ncheerful washerwoman who lives in Mulligan Alley in Shantytown,\nsurrounded by her ten little Mulligans, to say nothing of the goat,\nShamus O'Brien. A good-hearted neighbor, Mrs. O'Toole, has a lively\ntime with the goat, but she forgives all his misdeeds as it is\nChristmas Eve and the little Mulligans are starting out for a grand\nChristmas entertainment. When they return they entertain their mother\nand Mrs. O'Toole, and, incidentally, the audience.\n\nBut let's have done with the argument and let the fun begin.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nACT I.\n\nSCENE: _The Mulligan's front room. Entrances at right and left. Window\nat rear. At rise of curtain_ MRS. MULLIGAN _is discovered at C.,\nwashing clothes in a tub._ BRIDGET HONORA _and_ MATSY _are hanging wet\nclothes on a line, which runs across the rear of the stage._\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_singing to a made-up tune as she washes_).\n\n     Oh, give me a nice little home,\n     And plenty of suds in me tub,\n     And I will be happy all day,\n     With me rubby-dub, rubby-dub, dub.\n\n     The queen on her golden throne,\n     Will envy me here at me tub,\n     For no one's as jolly as I,\n     With me rubby-dub, rubby-dub, dub.\n\n     Sure, what would I do at a dance?\n     Or what would I do at a club?\n     But here in me kitchen I'm queen\n     With me rubby-dub, rubby-dub, dub.\n\n     Oh, give me a nice little home,\n     And plenty of suds in me tub,\n     And I will be happy all day,\n     With me rubby-dub, rubby-dub, dub!\n\nMATSY. Maw, don't you think it's most time fer us to be going?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Time to be going, is it? Well, I should hope not. Sure,\nhalf of the children are not dry yet, and the other half are not\ndressed. Bridget Honora, darlin', look in the other room and see how\nthey're coming on. (_Exit_ BRIDGET _at R._)\n\nMATSY. I think we ought to be there early, so as we can get a good\nseat on the front row. I don't want to miss nothing. (_Hangs up a\nboy's union suit._)\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. True for you, Matsy, and I don't want yeez to be\nmissing anything either. It ain't like as if yeez go to a fine\nChristmas entertainment ivery night of yer lives. (_Washes._)\n\nMATSY. It's the first one any of us ever went to at all, at all. Do\nyeez think they be after having moving pictures?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Of course not. Not in a Sunday School, Matsy. But\nbelike they'll have a fine, grand Christmas tree with singin' and\nspaches and fine costumes and prisints for every one. (_Calls off\nR._) Bridget Honora!\n\nBRIDGET (_off R._). Yes, maw?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Come here.\n\n_Enter_ BRIDGET _from R._\n\nBRIDGET. Melissa and Micky Machree have been scrubbed until they\nshine. They're sitting in the window drying in the sun. Mary Ann is\ncleaning Peter Pan in the lard bucket, and Patsy is washing Teddy\nMagee in the rain-barrel. Nora is curling Clarissa's hair with the\npoker, and somebody's untied the goat.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Untied the goat, is it? Matsy Mulligan, put on yer hat\nat once and see what's become of Shamus O'Brien. He's a good goat, is\nShamus, but he's like the late Mr. Mulligan, he has a rovin'\ndisposition and a tremenjous appetite. Hurry now, Matsy.\n\nMATSY (_whining_). Aw, now, maw, I can't go and hunt the goat. I'm all\ndressed up for the entertainment. If I go after the goat, sure it's\nall mussed up I'll be.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Yis, if I swat you one wid this wet cloth, it's worse\nthan mussed up you'll be. Hurry after the goat. Niver a step does any\nMulligan take from this house tonight until Shamus O'Brien is safe in\nthe kitchen, wid his horns tied to the wash boiler.\n\nMATSY. Sure, I dunno where to look fer him.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Go over to Mrs. O'Toole's cabbage garden; like as not\nye'll find him there. Sure, Shamus has a fine appetite for cabbages.\n\nMATSY. Don't let 'em start afore I get back. I don't want to miss\nnothin'. (_Takes cap and exits L._)\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Now, Bridget Honora, lave off hanging up the clothes\nand go in and see if Melissa and Micky Machree are dry yet. And if\nthey are call me in and I'll attend to their costumes.\n\nBRIDGET. Maw, Mary Ann's having an awful time. She's growed so that\nher skirt and her waist has parted company, and what she'll be after\ndoing I don't know at all, at all.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Is there anything she can use as a sash?\n\nBRIDGET. No'm. Nora and Clarissa have used up all the sashes.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_takes fringed bureau cover from wash-basket_). Look\nhere, now, Bridget Honora, see what I've found in the wash. It's a\ntidy to go on top of a dresser, but I'm thinking it's just the thing\nto fill the gap between the skirt and the waist of Mary Ann.\n\nBRIDGET. Yes, maw. (_Exit R._)\n\n_Enter_ PATSY _from R. He runs in and is very much excited._\n\nPATSY. Oh, maw, maw, come quick! Hurry, or he'll be drowned.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. What is it, Patsy? Spake quick.\n\nPATSY. It's Teddy Magee. I was givin' him a wash in the rain-barrel,\nwhen all of a sudden, bad luck to him, he slipped through me fingers\nand fell head-first down in the barrel. (_Cries._) Oh, it's drownded\ndead he'll be. Oh, oh! (_Cries._)\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Oh, me baby, me baby! (_Rushes out at R._)\n\n_Enter_ NORA _and_ CLARISSA _from L._\n\nNORA. Now sit right down there, Clarissa, and don't be moving a hair,\nbecause you're all fixed and ready for the entertainment.\n\nCLARISSA. And how do I look, Nora?\n\nNORA. Ye look like a Christmas angel, so you do. Your hair curled just\nlovely and your striped stockings will be the admiration and envy of\nthe entire Sunday School.\n\nPATSY. Oh, Nora Eudora, come on quick. Teddy Magee fell in the\nrain-barrel and it's drownded dead he is intirely. (_Cries._)\n\nNORA. In the rain-barrel? How did he get in the rain-barrel?\n\nPATSY. Sure, I was washing him, I was. And he was that slippery with\nthe soap that he slid through me fingers and down to the bottom of the\nbarrel.\n\nNORA. Oh, the poor little Teddy Magee. (_Runs out R., followed by_\nPATSY _and_ CLARISSA.)\n\n_Enter_ MARY ANN _and_ PETER PAN _from L._\n\nMARY ANN. And how de yeez like me new sash, Peter Pan?\n\nPETER PAN. Scwumptious.\n\nMARY ANN. It's a tidy cover off'n a bureau, and I don't want to wear\nit at all, at all. Folks'll be after thinking I'm a bureau. Don't it\nlook funny, Peter Pan?\n\nPETER PAN. Scwumptious.\n\nMARY ANN. I'm not going to wear it, so I'm not.\n\n_Enter_ BRIDGET _from L._\n\nBRIDGET. Mary Ann Mulligan, and what are yeez trying to do with your\nnice new sash?\n\nMARY ANN. I ain't going to wear no tidy cover. Folks'll be after\nthinking I'm a bureau.\n\nBRIDGET. Sure they'll think worse than that if yeez take it off.\nThat's what comes of yer growing so fast. Yer skirt is fer six years\nold, and yer waist is fer six years old, and so you have to wear the\nsash to help out the other two years. Sashes are awful stylish,\nanyhow. It's pretty, too, ain't it, Peter Pan?\n\nPETER PAN. Scwumptious.\n\n_Enter_ MRS. MULLIGAN _from R., followed by_ PASTY _and_ NORA.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. It's lucky for him that there wasn't any more water in\nthe rain-barrel, or he would have been drownded dead sure. Patsy, yeez\nhad no business to let him drop. Nora, you go out and finish him.\nWhere's Clarissa?\n\n_Enter_ CLARISSA _from R._\n\nCLARISSA. Here I am, maw.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_looks her over carefully_). Well, you're all ready.\nThat's one. Nora and Patsy and Matsy are all ready. That makes four.\nMary Ann, are you all fixed?\n\nMARY ANN. Yes, mum, but I don't like me sash at all, at all. Folks\nwill all know it's a bureau tidy, it's got fringe and everything.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Oh, ho, me fine young lady. I suppose yeez want a\npeek-a-boo dress all trimmed with mayonnaise ruffles down the bias, do\nyou? It's lucky for you I found that tidy in the wash, so it is. And\ndon't yeez eat too much or breathe hard or ye'll bust it, and then\nwhere'll you be at?\n\nBRIDGET. Maw, Mary Ann's chewing her apron.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_at the wash-tub_). Mary Ann Mulligan, take that apron\nout'n your mouth. I niver saw such a girl to be always chewing\nsomething. It's first yer dress and then yer apron or your petticoat,\nwhatever happens to be your topmost garment. Clothes were not made to\nchew.\n\n_Enter_ NORA _with_ TEDDY, MELISSA _and_ MICKY, _from L._\n\nNORA. Here they are, maw, all ready for the party.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Are ye sure they're all clean?\n\nNORA. I am that. They've been scrubbed until me two arms ache. And\nMicky's had a bath in the rain-barrel.\n\nMICKY. I have that, and I don't want another one, either.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. All yeez sit down and let me look ye over.\n\nNORA. Have ye finished the washing, maw?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. For the prisint, yes. I have more important duties to\nperform. Now, first and foremost, don't walk pigeon-toed. Bridget,\nhave ye got a clane handkerchief?\n\nBRIDGET. Yis, mum.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Well, don't forget to use it if the necessity arises,\nand you'd better set next to Peter Pan so's he can use it, too. He's\nbeen kinder nosey all day, and I shouldn't wonder if he wasn't coming\ndown with a cold in his head. How do you feel, Peter Pan?\n\nPETER PAN. Scwumptious.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Micky Machree Mulligan, and what are yeez looking\ncross-eyed for? Do ye think it improves yer beauty?\n\nMICKY. I thought there was a speck of dirt on me nose.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Well, there's not, and hold yer head up straight.\n\nPATSY. Maw, ain't it most time to go?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. It lacks two hours yet of the time, and Matsy ain't\ncome back with the goat. Whatever's become of Shamus O'Brien I'd like\nto know. Which of yeez seen him last?\n\nNORA. I saw him this mornin'. He was eatin' a tin tomato can down in\nthe alley.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. The poor thing! Now I suppose I'll have a sick goat on\nme hands on top of all me other troubles--and tomorrow's Christmas\nDay.\n\nBRIDGET. Maw, suppose they won't let us in the Sunday School at all,\nat all. We don't belong to that Sunday School. What'll we do then?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Indade they'll not turn yeez away on Christmas Eve. I\nchose that Sunday School for yeez to attend because it's the largest\nand the most fashionable in town. Mrs. Beverly Brewster goes there,\nand wherever Mrs. Beverly Brewster goes, sure yeez can count on it,\nit's bound to be most fashionable and select.\n\nMARY ANN. But we never went there before. They'll think it's awfully\nnervy fer us to come buttin' in at their Christmas entertainment.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Niver once will they. They'll welcome yeez with open\narms and many Christmas prisints. And whatever yeez get be sure and\nsay, \"Thank yeez kindly and much obliged.\" Can ye do that?\n\nALL. Oh, yes, mum.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Clarissa, look out'n the door and see if ye see\nanything of Matsy and the goat.\n\nCLARISSA. Yes, mum. (_Goes to door at L._)\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Mary Ann Mulligan, quit fooling with yer sash. If I've\ntold yer once I've told yer a hundred times it's liable to bust and\nyer skirt and yer waist ain't on speakin' terms.\n\nCLARISSA (_at door_). Maw, here comes Mrs. O'Toole.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. It's the goat. He's been filling himself up on the\nO'Toole cabbages. My, my, that goat'll be the death of me yet.\n\n_Enter_ MRS. O'TOOLE, _limping in from L._\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Good evening, Mrs. Mulligan.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. The same to ye, Mrs. O'Toole. Come in and set down.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. I have no time to set down, and I have no inclination to\nset down. And it's all on account of yer goat, Shamus O'Brien.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Me goat, is it?\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. It is the same, and it's an injured woman I am this\nnight.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. My, my! I'll have to kill that old goat. He's entirely\ntoo obstreperous. And did he chase you, Mrs. O'Toole?\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Chase me? He did worse than chase me. He caught up with\nme.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. And where is he now?\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Niver a know do I know where he is. I left your boy\nMatsy chasing him down the alley with a rope.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Bridget, go in the far room and get a wee drop of tay\nfor Mrs. O'Toole.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. I can't drink any tay. I'm that injured I can't drink at\nall, at all.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. A drop of tay will warm ye up. Hurry, Bridget.\n\nBRIDGET. Yis, mum. (_Exits R._)\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. I was out in me cabbage garden picking a bit of cabbage\nfor me owld man's Christmas dinner. I was bending over looking at the\ncabbage whin all of a sudden I felt meself flying through the air and\nI landed in the watering trough, so I did. And it was full of water.\nAnd I'm almost killed entirely--and it's all the fault of your goat,\nMrs. Mulligan.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. There, now, Kathleen, darlin', sit down and take things\neasy.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. I'll not sit down, Mollie Mulligan. Sure I'm thinking\nI'll be after spindin' the rist of me life standing up on me two fate.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. So the goat struck ye, did he?\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. He did.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. My, my, the trouble I've had all along of that Shamus\nO'Brien. He's an awful goat, is Shamus O'Brien.\n\n_Enter_ BRIDGET _with two cups of tea._\n\nBRIDGET. Here's the tea, mum.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Thank ye kindly, Bridget. Here, Kathleen, take a cup of\ntay and let it soothe your wounded feelings.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Sure, it's more than me feelings that is wounded, Mrs.\nMulligan. (_Drinks tea._)\n\nCLARISSA. Maw, ain't it time we were starting for the entertainment?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. My, my, I've been that excited about the misdeeds of\nthat rascal Shamus O'Brien that I had forgotten the Christmas\nentertainment entirely.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Sure, your family looks as though they were going out in\nsociety, Mollie Mulligan.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. They are that. They're on their way to the fine church\nentertainment at the Sunday School down the strate.\n\nNORA (_at door L._). Maw, here comes Matsy with the goat. (_Looks out\nof door._)\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_goes to door and speaks off L._). Matsy Mulligan, tie\nthat goat in the back yard and tie all his four fate together. I'll\ntach him a lesson, if it's the last thing I ever do. Patsy, go out and\nhelp your brother tie up Shamus O'Brien. (_Exit_ PATSY _at L._)\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Nora Eudora, darlin', have ye got a sofy pillow handy. I\nthink if I had a couple of sofy pillows I could set down and enjoy me\ntay.\n\nNORA. Yis, mum. Here's two of 'em. (_Arranges them in the chair._)\n\n_Enter_ PATSY _and_ MATSY _from L._\n\nMATSY. Come on, all of yeez, or we'll be late for the show. And I\ndon't want to miss nothin'.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_standing at R._). I think yeez are all ready now. Let\nme see if there's anyone missing. (_Counting and pointing to each in\nturn._)\n\n     There's Patsy and Matsy and Teddy Magee,\n     Nora Eudora and Micky Machree,\n     Bridget Honora and sweet Mary Ann,\n     Melissa, Clarissa and wee Peter Pan.\n\nPATSY. We are all here, maw.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Now, yer all ready. Throw out yer heads. Forward,\nmarch!\n\nCHILDREN. Good-bye, maw.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Good-bye, and the Lord love yeez all. Have a good time.\nGood-bye. (_The children march out at L._)\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Ten of 'em. I don't see how ye ever manage to make both\nends meet, Mollie Mulligan, with ten big, healthy children--to say\nnothing of the goat, Shamus O'Brien.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_in door waving hand to children_). Good-bye. Have a\ngood time. (_Yells._) Mary Ann, don't let yer sash bust in two!\n(_Crosses to R. and sinks in chair._)\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Ye have a fine family, Mrs. Mulligan. Ye have a fine\nbunch of boys, and ye have a bunch of girls, and ye have a fine bunch\nof babies; but ye have an awful goat.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Shamus O'Brien is the pest of me heart, Kathleen\nO'Toole; so he is; but he's all that's left of me late husband's\nproperty. Michael Mulligan thought the world of that goat, he did.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. I'm a peaceful woman, Mollie Mulligan, and a calm,\nneighborly woman; but I don't like goats.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. I don't blame ye at all, at all, Kathleen. But poor\nShamus O'Brien was probably only nosing around fer a bit of Christmas\nEve dinner. I'll kape him tied in the future.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Sure and it is Christmas Eve, isn't it?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Indade it is, and for the sake of the holy eve, I think\nye'd best be after forgiving the poor goat and not harbor any ill\nfeeling agin him on Christmas Day.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Harbor ill feeling, is it? Faith, then I'll not, Mollie\nMulligan, and it's meself that'll be bringing over a big cabbage head\non the morning for Shamus O'Brien's Christmas dinner.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_rises_). I'll be after tidying up the house a bit.\nIt's little enough I've got for the children's Christmas tomorrow\nmorning; but at least I can have me house in order and a burning\ncandle shining in the windy. (_Lights candle and sets it on table in\nfront of the window._)\n\n     This light shall burn on Christmas Day,\n     For Him who in the manger lay,\n     And all are welcome at my door,\n     The high, the low, the rich, the poor,\n     And every heart shall sing again\n     Of peace on earth, good will to men.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE (_rises_). Your burning candle takes me back again to the\ndays of me childhood in County Clare. Well do I mind me last Christmas\nEve in ould Ireland, the little thatched cabin with its one window,\nthe stinging smoke of the peat fire, the lads and the colleens and the\nould piper--and the merry dances and songs, do ye remember, Mollie,\ndarling? (_Puts arms on hips, wags head from side to side and sings\nbriskly_:)\n\n[Music illustration:\n\n     1. Did you ev-er go in-to an I-rish-man's shanty,\n     Where mon-ey was scarce but where wel-come was plen-ty?\n     A three-leg-ged stool and a ta-ble to match it,\n     But the door of the shan-ty is al-ways un-latched.\n\n     2. Our nate lit-tle house, it looks out on the street,\n     There's two beau-ti-ful rooms and a pig-sty com-plete.\n     Each girl has a dress and each boy has a coat,\n     There's tin hap-py chil-dren, six pigs and a goat.\n\n     3. Sure the Mul-li-gans al-ways are hap-py and bright,\n     They sing in the morn-ing, they sing in the night,\n     Now Pat-sy and Mat-sy are strong as can be,\n     But the bil-ly-goat's strong-er than ath-er, you see!\n\n     Tee-oo-dle, dum-doo-dle, dum-doo-dle, dum day!\n     Tee-oo-dle, dum-doo-dle, dum-doo-dle, dum day!\n     Tee-oo-dle, dum-doo-dle, dum-doo-dle, dum day!\n     Tee-oo-dle, dum-doo-dle, dum-doo-dle, dum day!]\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE (_sings briskly_):\n\n     Did you ever go into an Irishman's shanty,\n     Where money was scarce but where welcome was plenty?\n     A three-legged stool and a table to match it,\n     But the door of the shanty is always unlatched.\n       Tee-oodle, dum-doodle, dum-doodle, dum day!\n\n(_Repeat until end._)\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_faces her, assumes same position, sings briskly_):\n\n     Our nate little house, it looks out on the street,\n     There's two beautiful rooms and a pig-sty complete.\n     Each girl has a dress and each boy has a coat,\n     There's tin happy children, six pigs and a goat.\n       Tee-oodle, dum-doodle, dum-doodle, dum day!\n\n(_Repeat until end._)\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE (_sings_):\n\n     Sure the Mulligans always are happy and bright,\n     They sing in the morning, they sing in the night,\n     Now Patsy and Matsy are strong as can be,\n     But the billy-goat's stronger than ather, you see!\n       Tee-oodle, dum-doodle, dum-doodle, dum day!\n\n(_Repeat until end._)\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE _hums the song faster and begins to jig, by kicking out\nR. and L. foot alternately, on first three lines and twirling on\nfourth line._\n\n_At the beginning of the \"Tee-oodle,\"_ MRS. MULLIGAN _starts in and\ndoes exactly as_ MRS. O'TOOLE _did on the first four lines, while_\nMRS. O'TOOLE _skips around stage in a circle._\n\n_On the second verse they march forward and back, arms on hips.\nForward again. Do-si-do (backs to back). March forward and back and\nthen each twirls alone._ MRS. O'TOOLE _knocks over the table._ MRS.\nMULLIGAN, _not to be outdone, knocks over the tub. The music becomes\nfaster and faster._\n\n_On third verse they jig alone, then forward and back, forward again\nand swing each other madly. While they are dancing they shout out\noccasionally, \"Huroo for ould Ireland!\" \"That's me fine lady!\" \"Look\nat me now!\" etc._\n\nCURTAIN.\n\n\nACT II.\n\n_Same as scene before. The wash-tub has been removed, also the washing\nfrom the line. The table has been straightened and_ MRS. O'TOOLE _is\nseated there making a toy elephant._ MRS. MULLIGAN _is seated at L.\ndressing a doll body in a baby's dress. The candle burns before the\nwindow._\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. It's lucky for us, darlin', that me husband is out at\nhis lodge tonight. I can stay with you until the children return from\nthe entertainment, and maybe it's a bit of a Christmas Eve high-jinks\nwe can be having afterwards.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Indade, I'm glad to have ye, Kathleen. Will your\nhusband be long at lodge?\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE (_cutting the elephant's ears from brown paper_). He will\nthat. Pat is the Grand Exalted Chafe Ruler of the Benevolent and\nObstreperous Order of United Wooden-men, and he won't be home till\nmarnin'.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Is he now? The late Mr. Mulligan was niver much of a\nlodge joiner but that made no difference to him; he niver came home\ntill marnin', lodge or no lodge.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Remember, Mollie, you're coming over to dinner with us\ntomorrow. It's at one o'clock.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Oh, Kathleen, I can't be laving the children at all, at\nall. On Christmas Day, too.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Of course you can't. Ye're going to bring the children\nover with ye.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. The whole tin of them?\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE (_counting on fingers_).\n\n     Patsy and Matsy,\n     And Teddy Magee,\n     Nora Eudora,\n     And Micky Machree,\n     Bridget Honora,\n     And sweet Mary Ann,\n     Melissa, Clarissa,\n     And wee Peter Pan.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. And ye're willing for the whole bunch of us to come?\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. All but the goat. I draw the line at Shamus O'Brien. Ye\nsee it's this way. Me man, Pat, won a turkey in a raffle, and it's as\nbig as a billy-goat. Then on top of that me daughter Toozy, that's\nmarried and lives in the country, sent us two chickens and a goose.\nAnd there's only me and Pat to ate all that.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Kathleen O'Toole, it's a saint ye are.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. I says to Pat, says I, \"Christmas ain't Christmas at\nall, at all, unless there's some children at the dinner.\" \"What'll we\ndo?\" says Pat. \"Invite the Mulligans,\" says I. And Pat was tickled to\ndeath. We've potatoes and squash and cabbage from me own garden, and\nwe've oyster dressing and cramberries and stewed corn and apple\nfritters, and it's meself that has made eight mince pies, and four\npunkin ones--and I think we'll be after having a dinner on Christmas\nDay that would do credit to ould Saint Patrick himself.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Sure, ye almost make me cry for joy, Kathleen O'Toole,\nand after the goat trated ye the way he did, too.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. If a woman can't be neighborly and loving on Christmas\nDay, Mollie Mulligan, sure I'm thinking she niver can be neighborly\nand loving at all, at all.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. And ye're aven makin' a bit of an iliphant for wee\nPeter Pan.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. I am that. Here's the little, fat body. (_Shows\ncylindrical piece of dark green squash._) And here's the four legs.\n(_Shows two bananas cut in half._) I'll just stick the legs on with\nnails--and there he stands. Now, here's a little potato for a head,\nand an ould skinny carrot for a trunk. I'll stick them on with a hair\npin. (_Does so._) Now, I'll stick on the ears and put in the\nshoe-button eyes, and with this wee bit of black paper for a\ntailpiece, and there ye are. Mr. Mumbo Jumbo Mulligan as natural as\nlife and twice as handsome. (_Shows elephant to audience._)\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Here's a doll baby I've dressed, but it's no head she\nhas at all, at all.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Use a big yellow apple or a wee yellow punkin, and put\non a baby cap--and there ye are. Stick in some buttons for eyes, and a\nwee nose and mouth of red paper--and stick the head on the body with\nsome hair pins, and the quane herself niver had a better doll baby.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. I'll put her right here on the table alongside of the\niliphant.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. It's nine o'clock, it is. Isn't it time for the children\nto be home?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_goes to door at R._). It is that. (_Looks out._) And\nhere they come now.\n\n(_The children are heard outside at R., singing to the tune of\n\"Marching Through Georgia.\"_)\n\n     The Mulligans are coming now, as happy as can be,\n     We've been to the Sunday School and saw the Christmas tree,\n     Had a lark with Santa Claus and take a tip from me,\n       We'll all be marching on Christmas!\n\n(_They march in from R., come down to front and line up._)\n\n       Hurrah, hurrah, the Mulligans are here,\n       Hurrah, hurrah, for Santa Claus so dear,\n           Sure, it was a happy night,\n           The best one in the year,\n       And we'll be marching on Christmas!\n\n     Patsy got a trumpet, little Micky got a drum,\n     Matsy got a spinning top, you ought to hear it hum,\n     Clarissa got a candy cane, oh, won't we have the fun,\n       When we are marching on Christmas!\n\n       Hurrah, hurrah, the Mulligans are here,\n       Hurrah, hurrah, for Santa Claus so dear,\n           Sure, it was a happy night,\n           The best one in the year.\n       And we'll be marching on Christmas.\n\n     Nora got a picture-book, Melissa got a rake,\n     Every Mulligan on deck got oranges and cake,\n     Got a bag of candy, too--and got the stomachache,\n       But we'll be marching on Christmas.\n\n       Hurrah, hurrah, the Mulligans are here,\n       Hurrah, hurrah, for Santa Claus so dear,\n           Sure, it was a happy night,\n           The best one in the year.\n       And we'll be marching on Christmas.\n\n(_They march around stage while singing the chorus, but line up in\nfront while singing the verses. Use gestures to indicate the different\npersons and their toys._)\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. And did ye have a good time at the entertainment?\n\nBRIDGET. Indade and we did that. It was as good as a circus parade and\na picture show together. They treated us just lovely.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Did they now? And you wasn't invited at all, at all.\n\nMATSY. They gave us a seat way up in front, and Micky Machree acted\nlike a pig, he did. Sure, he grabbed two oranges.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Why, Micky, it's ashamed of ye I am.\n\nMICKY. I grabbed one to bring home to you, maw. I wanted you to have\nsome of the Christmas present, too.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_hugs him_). That's just like your father, Micky.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE (_helping children off with hats, wraps, etc._). And did\nye have a good time, wee Peter Pan?\n\nPETER PAN. Scwumptious, just scwumptious.\n\nMARY ANN. And me sash niver busted in two at all. And I was one of the\nmost stylish young ladies present, so I was.\n\nMELISSA. And they had a great, big Christmas tree. Clean up to the\nceiling. With lights and toys and candy and little stars and bright\nfairies and angels and everything.\n\nPATSY. And ould Santy Claus was there with a long white beard and a\nbig pack of presents to everyone.\n\nCLARISSA. And I pulled Santa Claus' whiskers and they nearly fell off.\nHe must be getting pretty old, 'cause his whiskers is coming loose.\n\nBRIDGET. And Santy Claus called out all the names and everybody got up\nwhen their names was called and he gave 'em a present.\n\nMICKY. And they never called our names at all, at all.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. That's because they didn't know them. They didn't\nexpect you at the party.\n\nMARY ANN. It was a surprise party, maw.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. How was it a surprise party, Mary Ann?\n\nMARY ANN. They all looked surprised when we came in.\n\nNORA. When I saw they weren't going to call out our names, I just rose\nup in me seat and took the whole nine of 'em by the hand and marched\nright up to Santa Claus. He looked real surprised at the bunch of us.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. I should think he would.\n\nNORA. \"And who are you?\" says he. \"We're the ten little Mulligans from\nMulligan Alley in Shantytown,\" says I, as cool as an icicle. \"And\nwe're ready for our presents, if it's all the same to you,\" says I. I\nthought they was going to fire us out, but what did he do but dive way\ndown in the bottom of the sack and give every last one of us a\npresent?\n\nTEDDY. And then he gave us bags of candy and oranges and apples and\npeanuts and popcorn and a candy cane, and then they had a show and\nBridget Honora spoke a piece, she did.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. How did ye happen to spake a piece, Bridget Honora?\n\nBRIDGET. I just stood up and told 'em I knowed one. There ain't\nnuthin' bashful about me. And I kind o' thought we ought to do\nsomething to help pay fer the good things they gave us.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_petting her_). That's me good little Bridget Honora.\n\nMELISSA (_sees doll on table_). Oh, wee! Lookee there! Where'd she\ncome from?\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Santa Claus was after being here while you were away and\nhe left it for you.\n\nMELISSA. Is it all for me?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. It's the Mulligan dolly. It's fer all ten of yeez.\n\nPATSY. She can have my share. I don't want no dolls.\n\nMICKY. Oh, look at the efulunt. Look at the efulunt.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. That is Mumbo Jumbo Mulligan from the sunny shores of\nAfrica, way down in Louisiana.\n\nCHILDREN. Who's he fur? Who's he fur?\n\nPETER PAN (_takes elephant_). He's fur me. Scwumptious!\n\nTEDDY. Maw, they had a show there at the Sunday School. There was a\nwee little man, about so long (_measures about two feet_), and he\nstood up on a table and sang a song, so he did.\n\nPATSY. Humph! I know how they did that. Matsy and me can show it to\nyou.\n\nMELISSA. And they had the Turnover Topsy Turvies, too.\n\nCLARISSA. They stood upside down on their heads.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. My, my--but it must have been a wonderful show.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Just think what we missed, Mollie Mulligan.\n\nMATSY. I didn't miss nothin'. I never miss nothin' no time.\n\nNORA. We could give just as good a show our own selves.\n\nOTHERS. Let's do it; let's do it. Let's give a show for maw and Mis'\nO'Toole.\n\nTEDDY. Would you like to see it, maw?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. If it ain't too late.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. What matters it how late it is? Christmas comes but once\na year----\n\nALL. And when it comes it brings good cheer.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Then sure we'll have the show. Poor folks can be just\nas happy on Christmas Day as rich folks. It's all in the way you feel\nabout it.\n\nPATSY. Now, maw, you and Mrs. O'Toole take your seats out there in\nfront. (_Points to front row of the audience._)\n\nMATSY. I'll help you carry them out. (_They carry down two chairs from\nthe stage and seat_ MRS. MULLIGAN _and_ MRS. O'TOOLE _in the\naudience._)\n\nPATSY. Now, we'll have to draw the curtain to get the stage ready.\n\nNORA. And while we're getting ready Mary Ann can say her piece.\n\nCURTAIN FALLS.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_in audience_). My, my, Kathleen, what a large crowd of\npeople are here tonight. I'm afraid I'm not dressed up for the\noccasion.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Dressed up, is it? Indade you are. Ye have on short\nsleeves and a low-neck dress. What more would ye want? There's the\nminister and his wife setting right back there. (_Speaks to them._)\nGood avening, Brother ----; sure, it's a fine avening we're having, is\nit not?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_speaks to a lady in audience_). My, my, is it\nyourself, Mrs. ----? Sure, I'm glad to see ye out. It's a long time\nsince I've had the pleasure of seeing you. (_Speaks to several\nchildren._) And there's ---- and ---- and ----. I'm glad to see all of\nyeez. Sure, some day yeez must come over to me house in Mulligan Alley\nand I'll let you play with the goat, Shamus O'Brien.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. I see the young ladies over there, and each one of them\nhas a young man. My, my, it does me ould heart good to see the young\nfolks enjoying themselves. It ain't so many years since me and Pat was\ncourting each other just like the rest of yeez.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Mrs. O'Toole, do you see that young man sitting there\nall by his lonesome? Ain't it a shame? And him such a good looking\nyoung feller, too. I've a good notion to go over there and cheer him\nup a bit. Maybe his girl is here with another fellow.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Sure, there's plenty of girls here without any fellows\nat all, at all. Why should a young man sit all alone like a bump on a\nlog, whin there's so many handsome colleens waiting for the chance at\nhim?\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Whist, Mrs. O'Toole, it's making him embarrassed yeez\nare. Will you look at the red color in his face?\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. If ye ask me my opinion, Mollie Mulligan, sure and I\nthink he's after waiting fer one of yer own lovely daughters.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Well, he might go further and fare worse. Nora Eudora's\na fine girl, if I do say it myself.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Whist, here comes Mary Ann out in front of the curtain\nto spake her piece.\n\n(MARY ANN _comes in front of the curtain, makes a bow and recites:_)\n\n     LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS.\n\n     Blessed old Santa Claus, king of delights,\n     What are you doing these long winter nights?\n     Filling your budgets with trinkets and toys,\n     Wonderful gifts for the girls and the boys.\n     While you are planning for everything nice,\n     Pray let me give you a bit of advice.\n\n     Don't take it hard if I say in your ear,\n     Santa, I thought you were partial last year;\n     Loading the rich folks with everything gay,\n     Snubbing the poor ones who came in your way.\n     Now of all times of the year I am sure\n     This is the time to remember the poor.\n\n     Plenty of children there are in our city,\n     Who have no fathers or mothers to pity;\n     Plenty of people whose working and heeding\n     Scarcely can keep all their dear ones from needing.\n     Now, if I came every year in December,\n     These are the ones I would surely remember.\n\n     Once on a beautiful Christmas you know\n     Jesus our Saviour was born here below,\n     Patiently stooping to hunger and pain,\n     So He might save us, His lost ones, from shame;\n     Now if we love Him, He bids us to feed\n     All His poor brothers and sisters who need.\n\n     Blessed old Nick! I was sure if you knew it,\n     You would remember and certainly do it;\n     This year, at least, when you empty your pack,\n     Pray give a portion to all who may lack.\n     Then, if there's anything left and you can\n     Bring a small gift to wee Peter Pan.\n\n     _--Emily H. Miller.--Adapted._\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE (_applauding vigorously_). Wasn't that dandy? Sure,\nlittle Mary Ann has a wonderful education, so she has!\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. She takes after her own mother. I was just like her\nwhen I was that age.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. And you're just like her still, Mollie Mulligan. Sure\nyou're the sunshine of Mulligan Alley and the belle of Shantytown.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN. Whist now! It's covered I am wid blushes. But, hush! I\nthink the show is about to begin.\n\n\nACT III.\n\n_Curtain rises disclosing the same scene. Three long sheets hang on\nthe line, reaching down to the floor and extending clear across the\nstage. The children are behind the sheets. The line is about three and\none-half feet high. The table sets obliquely in front of the door at\nR. It is covered with a sheet or long cloth reaching to the ground._\nPATSY _and_ TEDDY _form the dwarf._ PATSY, _coatless, has a long pair\nof striped stockings on over his arms, and a pair of shoes on his\nhands, ornamented on insteps with large rosettes._ TEDDY _stands\nbehind him and thrusts his arms as far as they will go under_ PATSY'S\n_armpits. A kind of a tunic covers both. Wear a large crimped frill or\nan enormous turned-down collar._\n\nPATSY _stands behind table and places his shoe-clad hands upon it,\nwhich represent the feet of the dwarf. The door curtains are fastened\ntogether a few inches above his head, concealing_ TEDDY.\n\nPATSY _must lean slightly over the table or the legs will not appear\nto support the body._\n\n_When the curtain is up, enter_ MATSY _from L. dressed as a Showman._\n\nMATSY (_bows to audience, speaks in a loud voice, using megaphone_).\n\n     Come and see Jumbo, Samson symbolical!\n     Come and see Slivers, Clown really comical!\n     Come and see Zip, the foremost of freaks!\n     Come and see Palestine's Sinister Sheiks!\n     Eager Equestriennes, each unexcelled,\n     Most mammoth menagerie ever beheld,\n     The Giant, the Fat Girl, the Lion-faced Man,\n     Aerial Artists from far-off Japan,\n     Audacious Acrobats shot from a gun,\n     Don't miss the greatest show under the sun!\n\nNow, if you will kindly lend me your ears for a moment, I will fill\nthem free of charge with a few words concerning the world's greatest\nassortment of marvelous monstrosities. In the first cell we have Senor\nMacaroni Spaghetti from the land of the banana. The senor is\nthirty-nine inches high, and, strangely enough, thirty-nine years old,\nto say nothing of the fact that he weighs thirty-nine pounds. (PATSY\n_scratches his nose with his foot._) He arrived last week by parcel\npost to join our circus. The senor is looking for a wife. Oh, you\nneedn't laugh! It's true. Some of you near-sighted ladies should have\nbrought magnifying glasses, for Senor Macaroni Spaghetti is the\nsmallest speck of humanity that ever lived in captivity. He stands on\na silver dollar and puts his hand in a thimble. (TEDDY _makes funny\ngestures during this entire speech._) The senor will now entertain you\nin his entertaining way.\n\nPATSY (_sings_).\n\n     SPAGHETTI FROM OLD ITALY.\n\n     (Music on page 107)\n\n     Me name is Spaghetti, I came o'er the sea,\n     To visit this land from old Italy,\n     I have a small monkey, he jumps with a string,\n     And if he was here to you he would sing:\n     (_Dances._)\n     Tee-oodle, dum-doodle, dum-doodle, dum day!\n\n(_Repeat until end._)\n\n     I once fell in love with the sweet Antoinette,\n     She say she will marry the little Spaghett,\n     But she said she no like-a a hand-organ man,\n     So I stand on the corner and sell-a banan.\n     (_Dances._)\n     Tee-oodle, dum-doodle, dum-doodle, dum day!\n\n(_Repeat until end._)\n\n     I wed Antoinetta and live in a flat,\n     I buy-a fine clothes and a big silk-a hat,\n     I make-a much money and this little gent,\n     He maybe some day will be big President.\n     (_Dances._)\n     Tee-oodle, dum-doodle, dum-doodle, dum day!\n\n(_Repeat until end._)\n\nMATSY. And now, ladies and gentlemen, I'll call your attention to the\nseven little Sunbonnet babies. Behold them, them famous Mulligan\ntwins. (_Exits L._)\n\n_The heads of_ NORA, MICKY, BRIDGET, MARY ANN, MELISSA, CLARISSA _and_\nPETER _appear above the sheets at rear. Each wears a large sunbonnet.\nThey sing to the tune \"Tramp, Tramp, Tramp!\"_\n\n     Little Mulligans are we, and our hearts are light and free,\n       For it's Christmas Eve and soon we'll be in bed,\n     We're peculiar little folks, full of jollity and jokes,\n     And you ought to see us stand upon our head!\n\n         Tramp, tramp, tramp, we'll soon be marching,\n         We are going off to bed,\n         But before we leave you now,\n         Each of us will show you how\n         Little Mulligan can stand upon her head.\n\n(_All disappear under sheet. They repeat chorus and hold up their arms\nabove the sheet. The arms are covered with stockings and shoes are on\ntheir hands. They slap hands together, making feet dance, etc._)\n\n     Tramp, tramp, tramp, we'll soon be marching,\n     We are going off to bed,\n     But before we leave you now,\n     Each of us will show you how\n     Little Mulligan can stand upon her head.\n\n(_Repeat._)\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_from audience_). Nora! Bridget! Mary Ann! What do ye\nmane! You'll kill yourselves entirely. (_Rushes to the stage, followed\nby_ MRS. O'TOOLE.) If you stand on your head like that, all your\nbrains will rush down into your fate.\n\nNORA (_head above curtain_). That's the way they did in the show.\n(_All come out on stage._)\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE. Well, well, well, wonders will never cease. Sure, I\nniver spint such a fine Christmas Eve in all me life before.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN (_stands C. facing audience, surrounded by the ten\nchildren._) Sure, I think we've had a fine Christmas celebration,\ndon't you? And before ye go let this sink down deep in your hearts and\nminds--it doesn't take money and fine clothes and costly gifts to make\na fine Christmas at all, at all. All it takes is loving hearts and\nloving hands, and merry faces of happy boys and girls. We didn't have\nany money--but you see what a lovely time we've had--and it's all\nbecause the spirit of Christmas was in our hearts--and the spirit of\nChristmas means love, and love is the greatest thing in all the world.\nMerry Christmas to all of yeez, and may ye never regret the time you\nspent Christmas Eve with the ten little Mulligans.\n\nCURTAIN.\n\n\nNOTES TO THE MANAGER.\n\nWHERE THE MULLIGANS LIVED.\n\nThe scenery is very simple or may be dispensed with entirely.\nEntrances R. and L. and a window at the rear are necessary. An old\ntable stands in front of the window, and a larger table, also old,\nstands down R. Several soap boxes are down L. and these with an\nupturned bucket serve as seats for the Mulligans.\n\nAn old rag carpet covers the floor. A wash-tub, with wash-board,\nclothes, etc., stand at C. Two rickety chairs are on the stage, one\nR.C. and one L.C., the latter a rocking-chair. The larger table is\ncovered with a well worn red cloth and supports an old-fashioned\nlighted lamp.\n\nSeveral tin cans, filled with bright flowers, stand on the table in\nfront of the window. Curtains or bed comforts are draped over the door\nat R. An old sofa stands up L. Colored prints adorn the walls.\n\nA clothes line runs across the stage at rear. On this line several\ngarments are drying, bright stockings, a union suit, red flannels,\netc. Remember the scene is laid in Mulligan Alley and the stage must\nbe arranged according to Mulligan taste.\n\n\nWHAT THE MULLIGANS WORE.\n\nMRS. MULLIGAN--Powdered hair, parted in middle and combed over ears,\nsomewhat unkempt. Well worn, old-fashioned cloth waist, with sleeves\nrolled up and open in the neck. Skirt of contrasting color. The skirt\nis turned up, showing flannel petticoat. Unstarched and rather soiled\ndark gingham apron, of ample proportions, but without bib. Hair\ntwisted in knob at the back of head. Large, old shoes.\n\nMATSY and PATSY--Long, tattered trousers, old suspenders, large, well\nworn shoes, calico shirts, torn and patched. Bright calico neckties.\nCaps. In Act III Matsy wears a large black mustache, a long black\ncoat, much too large, and a stiff hat three sizes too big, while Patsy\nwears the dwarf's tunic and has his face made up yellow, with rouge on\ncheeks.\n\nTEDDY and MICKY--Short trousers, well worn and patched. Striped\nstockings. Old shirts.\n\nNORA and BRIDGET--Ankle skirts, waists of a different color. Bright\ncalico bows. Large hair ribbons.\n\nMARY ANN, MELISSA and CLARISSA--Short skirts. Striped stockings. Old\nshoes. Funny hats and waists.\n\nPETER PAN--Calico slip. Baby's hat.\n\nMRS. O'TOOLE--Old-fashioned walking dress of bright colors. Shawl and\nlittle bonnet. Red wig, if desired.\n\n\n\n\nTHE WISHING MAN\n\n[Illustration:\n\n              Type of        Type of\nWISHING MAN   FRENCH DOLLS   TIN SOLDIERS   KA-ZIN-SKI\n\nGRANDPA       GRANDMA        FATHER         MOTHER       NURSEMAID\n\nDUMPLING      TOOTSY         SNOOKUMS       ATTENUATED   ROLY POLY\n                                            TOOTSY       DUMPLING\n\nENLARGED      Type of\nSNOOKUMS      BEARS          JIM DANDY      BABY JUMBO]\n\n\n\n\nTHE WISHING MAN\n\nA CHRISTMAS WHIMSY FOR SWEETE CHARITIE.\n\nIN THREE SHORT ACTS.\n\n_As presented by Class No. 10, Wesley Chapel, Columbus, Ohio.\nRe-written from memory._\n\n\nCHARACTERS.\n\nTHE WISHING MAN                           _Young Man_\nTHE ROLY-POLY DUMPLING                    _Stout Young Man_\nTHE ATTENUATED TOOTSY                     _Tall, Thin Young Man_\nTHE ENLARGED SNOOKUMS                     _Young Man_\nGRANDPA GREEN                             _Boy of Fourteen or Fifteen_\nGRANDMA GREEN                             _Plump Girl of same age_\nFATHER FRITZ                              _Boy of about Fourteen_\nMOTHER FRITZ                              _Girl of about Fifteen_\nNURSE MAID                                _Girl of about Thirteen_\nDUMPLING                                  _Boy of Eight_\nTOOTSY                                    _Girl of Seven or Eight_\nSNOOKUMS                                  _Boy of Six or under_\nKA-ZIN-SKI                                _Tall Boy_\nTEDDY BEAR                                _Small Boy_\nJIMMIE BEAR                               _Small Boy_\nBABY JUMBO                                _Made of Two Larger Boys_\nANNETTE                                   _Little Girl_\nBABETTE                                   _Little Girl_\nOLIVETTE                                  _Little Girl_\nPRIVATE BLACK                             _Little Boy_\nPRIVATE JACK                              _Little Boy_\nPRIVATE MACK                              _Little Boy_\nJIM DANDY, _a Stick of Candy_             _Little Boy_\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nTIME OF PLAYING--_About Forty-five Minutes._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n_For description of costumes, scenery, etc., see \"Remarks on\nProduction\" at the end of the play._\n\n\nACT I.\n\nSCENE: _A room in_ FATHER FRITZ'S _house. Doors at R. and L. Small\ntable down L. with three chairs around it. Sofa down R. Easy chair\ndown C. Lighted lamp on table. Window at rear._ DUMPLING _is seated on\na rocking-horse at rear C._ GRANDPA _stands by him helping him rock\nit._ TOOTSY _is on a rocking-horse at L. front, with_ FATHER _and_\nMOTHER _helping her rock it._ SNOOKUMS _is on a baby rocking-horse at\nR. front, with_ GRANDMA _and_ NURSE MAID _in attendance. Very little\nfurniture on stage. If the rocking-horses are not easy to get,_\nDUMPLING _and_ TOOTSY _may be astride of sticks with horses' heads._\n\n_Curtain rises to bright music._\n\nALL (_sing_).\n\n     HOP, HOP, HOP!\n\n[Music illustration:\n\n     1. Hop, hop, hop! Nim-ble as a top,\n     Where 'tis smooth and where 'tis sto-ny,\n     Trudge a-long, my lit-tle po-ny,\n     Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop! Nim-ble as a top.\n\n     2. Whoa, whoa, whoa! How like fun you go!\n     Ver-y well, my lit-tle po-ny,\n     Safe's our jaunt tho' rough and sto-ny,\n     Spare, spare, spare, spare, spare! Sure e-nough we're there.\n\n     3. Here, here, here! Yes, my po-ny dear;\n     Now with oats and hay I'll treat you,\n     And with smiles will ev-er greet you,\n     Po-ny, po-ny dear! Yes, my po-ny dear.]\n\nDUMPLING (_dismounting_). Whoa, there, Jimmie! Oh, Grandpa, I do love\nmy pony. It's the best of all my presents.\n\nGRANDPA. Well, it's time you put him in his stall.\n\nTOOTSY (_dismounting_). I'm going to call my pony after Mr. ----.\n(_Insert the name of some well known man._) 'Cause he looks just like\nhim.\n\nGRANDMA (_helping_ SNOOKUMS _from pony_). And what are you going to\ncall your pony, Snookums?\n\nSNOOKUMS. Going to call him Elizabeth, after you, Grandma.\n\nGRANDMA (_kisses her_). That's my baby!\n\nMOTHER. Grandma, we'd better get our hats and coats. It's nearly time\nfor the car to be after us.\n\nFATHER. Come, Grandpa. It's nearly eight o'clock.\n\nGRANDPA. But I don't like to leave the children.\n\nDUMPLING. And we don't like to have you leave us, either. My, this has\nbeen the grandest Christmas day I've ever seen.\n\nMOTHER. Come, Grandma. (_Exits L. with_ GRANDMA.)\n\nGRANDPA. Come, children. (_They gather around him._) I'm glad you've\nhad such a happy Christmas. You got everything you wanted, didn't you?\n\nTOOTSY. Yes, everything. My, I wish Christmas would come every day.\n\nDUMPLING. Tell us the story about old Saint Nick, Grandpa.\n\nGRANDPA. Do you want to hear that old chestnut again?\n\nCHILDREN. Oh, yes, yes!\n\nGRANDPA (_takes_ SNOOKUMS _on his lap, the other children stand by his\nknee._)\n\n     'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house\n     Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;\n     The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,\n     In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.\n     The children were nestled all snug in their beds,\n     While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads;\n     Grandma in her kerchief and I in my cap,\n     Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,--\n     When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,\n     I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.\n     Away to the window I flew like a flash,\n     Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.\n\n     When what to my wondering eyes would appear\n     But a wee little sleigh and eight little reindeer,\n     With a wee little driver, so lively and quick,\n     I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.\n     More rapid than eagles his reindeers they came,\n     And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:\n     \"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!\n     On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!\n     To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!\n     Now, dash away, dash away, dash away, all.\"\n\n     So up to the housetop the reindeer they flew,\n     With a sleigh full of toys, and Saint Nicholas, too.\n     As I drew in my head and was turning around,\n     Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.\n     He was dressed all in red from his head to his foot,\n     And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.\n     His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!\n     His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.\n     He had a broad face and a little round belly\n     That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.\n\n     A wink of his eye and a twist of his head\n     Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.\n     He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work\n     And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,\n     And laying his finger aside of his nose,\n     And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.\n     He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,\n     And away they all flew like the down of a thistle;\n     But I heard him exclaim e'er he drove out of sight:\n     \"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!\"\n\n     --_Clement C. Moore._\n\nCHILDREN. Oh, that was just lovely.\n\nTOOTSY. I just wish I could see him. Just once!\n\nDUMPLING. And so do I. I'm going to catch him some Christmas Eve.\n\nSNOOKUMS. Me, too!\n\n_Enter from L._, MOTHER _and_ GRANDMA, _wearing winter coats and hats.\nThey carry coats and hats for_ FATHER _and_ GRANDPA.\n\nMOTHER. Here, Grandpa, put on your coat and hat, or we'll be late for\nthe dinner. (_Helps him._)\n\nGRANDPA. I'd rather stay here and talk to the children.\n\nFATHER (_putting on his coat_). But Aunt Clara is expecting us.\n\nGRANDMA. And the auto is at the door.\n\nGRANDPA. Dumpling, are you sure you got everything you wanted for\nChristmas?\n\nDUMPLING. I can't think of anything else.\n\nGRANDPA. If you didn't, and if all three of you children can agree on\nanything else, it shall be yours if money can buy it.\n\nTOOTSY. Money can buy everything, can't it, Grandpa?\n\nGRANDPA. No, my dear, not quite everything.\n\nDUMPLING. But suppose we wish for something that money can't buy?\n\nGRANDPA. I'd try to get it for you some other way.\n\nTOOTSY. How, Grandpa; how?\n\nGRANDPA. Why, I'd tell the Wishing Man. He'd get it for you.\n\nGRANDMA. Come along, John; don't put such nonsense in the children's\nheads.\n\nFATHER. We must hurry along to Aunt Clara's, children. But this is\nChristmas night. You may all stay up tonight just as long as you wish.\n\nDUMPLING. Oh, can we? Can we?\n\nMOTHER. Yes. Cecelia will look after you. Cecelia?\n\nNURSE MAID. Of course I will, mum.\n\nMOTHER. Come along, now. We must hurry. (_Kisses the children and goes\nout R. with_ GRANDMA, GRANDPA _and_ FATHER.)\n\nTOOTSY (_dancing around_). Oh, we can stay up just as long as we wish!\nGoody, goody! Why that is the very best gift of all.\n\nNURSE MAID. Now you children be good, and if you want me, call out.\nI'll be down in the kitchen with the cook. (_Goes out at L._)\n\nDUMPLING. Now we're left all alone.\n\nTOOTSY. I don't see why Aunt Clara couldn't have invited us to her\ndinner party, too.\n\nSNOOKUMS (_playing with doll_). Snookums likes dinner party.\n\nDUMPLING. It's 'cause we ain't big enough.\n\nTOOTSY. My, I wisht I was a great, great, great big girl.\n\nDUMPLING. There, that's a wish that money can't buy.\n\nTOOTSY. Grandpa said he'd get us anything we wished for.\n\nDUMPLING. What do you wish, Snookums?\n\nSNOOKUMS. Wish Grandpaw would come home.\n\nTOOTSY. I know a real good wish. I wish it were Christmas every day.\nDon't you, Dumpling?\n\nDUMPLING. No, I don't. We'd have to have a present and a tree and a\nturkey and plum pudding every day of our lives. We'd get awfully tired\nof it after a while. Just think, we'd have to give away about a\nmillion presents every year.\n\nTOOTSY. I'll tell you what I really do wish.\n\nDUMPLING. What?\n\nTOOTSY. I wish we could do just like grown up folks do. I wish I was\nthe biggest little girl in all the world.\n\nDUMPLING. And I wish so, too. I wish we were just awfully, awfully,\nawfully big--and then we could go to Aunt Clara's dinner party, and\neverywhere.\n\nSNOOKUMS. Me wish me was great big Snookums.\n\nTOOTSY. But money couldn't buy that wish, Dumpling.\n\nDUMPLING. No, that's right. But Grandpa said if he couldn't buy our\nwish he'd get it some other way.\n\nTOOTSY. How could he get it?\n\nDUMPLING. He said he'd tell the Wishing Man.\n\nTOOTSY. My, I wonder if there really is such a person!\n\nDUMPLING. I don't know. But I'd like to see him if there is.\n\nTOOTSY. I'll make a rhyme.\n\n     Good Mr. Wishing Man, how do you do?\n     If there is such a person, we'd like to see you!\n\nDUMPLING.\n\n     If you come from afar, if you come from near,\n     Good Mr. Wishing Man, appear, appear!\n\n_The_ WISHING MAN _rolls out from under the table, rises, faces the\nthree children, arms akimbo._\n\nWISHING MAN (_after a pause, drawls_). Well?\n\nDUMPLING _and_ TOOTSY (_frightened, down R._). Well? (_They look at\neach other, pause, then repeat._) Well!\n\nSNOOKUMS (_comes in front of them, stands facing the_ WISHING MAN,\n_arms akimbo_). Well?\n\nWISHING MAN. Well, I'm here.\n\nDUMPLING. Who's here?\n\nWISHING MAN. Why, _I_ am here. You said you would like to see me and\nso I have come. _I'm_ here.\n\nTOOTSY. Are you the Wishing Man?\n\nWISHING MAN. That's my name. (_Sings to the tune of \"Wearing of the\nGreen.\" He sings briskly, shaking head in time and dancing a step or\ntwo._)\n\n     I'm the friend of all the children,\n       And I'll help you if I can,\n     Just tell me what your wishes are,\n       For I'm the Wishing Man.\n     I have wishbones on my fingers,\n       I have myst'ry in my eyes,\n     My clothes are trimmed with horseshoes,\n       And they're stained with magic dyes.\n     My pocket's full of rabbits' feet,\n       And clover leaves and charms,\n     For luck I've got a big black cat\n       All tattooed on my arms,\n     I'm a friend of all the children,\n       And I'll help you if I can,\n     So tell me what your wishes are--\n       For I'm the Wishing Man.\n\n     I come from a distant country\n       Away up near the pole,\n     But the things that I am telling you,\n       You mustn't tell a soul.\n     I know every witch and goblin,\n       And if you would believe!\n     I have fortunes in my pocket-book,\n       And wonders up my sleeve.\n     When any little boy or girl\n       Says, \"Wishing Man, appear!\"\n     I jump right up from underneath,\n       And here I am, my dear!\n     I'm a friend of all the children,\n       And I'll help you if I can,\n     So tell me what your wishes are--\n        For I'm the Wishing Man.\n\nDUMPLING. And can you really grant us anything we wish for?\n\nWISHING MAN. I can, if it's a good wish--and if you all agree on the\nsame thing.\n\nTOOTSY. Anything in the wide, wide world?\n\nWISHING MAN. Well, pretty nearly anything. Would you like some new\ntoys?\n\nTOOTSY. Oh, no, thank you. This is Christmas, you know, and we got\never so many toys.\n\nSNOOKUMS. Ever so many toys.\n\nWISHING MAN. I don't see what you called me for. You seem to have\neverything you want.\n\nDUMPLING. Oh, no, we haven't. We've made a wish, and we're all agreed\non it.\n\nWISHING MAN. Are you sure it's a good wish?\n\nDUMPLING. Oh, yes, it's an awful good wish. You see, we want to be\ngreat big children so we can stay up late at night and go to Aunt\nClara's dinner parties. That's our wish. We want to be the biggest\nchildren there are anywhere.\n\nWISHING MAN (_laughs heartily_). Oh, ho, ho, ho! That's the funniest\nwish I ever heard since I've been in the wishing business. So you want\nto be the very biggest children there are anywhere, do you?\n\nTOOTSY. Yes, sir; that's just what we want. I want to be a great, big,\ntall little girl.\n\nWISHING MAN (_laughing_). A great, big tall little girl, hey?\n\nDUMPLING. And I want to be a great, big, big, _big_ little boy.\n\nWISHING MAN. Oh, a big, _big_, BIG little boy, hey?\n\nSNOOKUMS. And so do I.\n\nWISHING MAN. And so do you, hey?\n\nCHILDREN. Yes, sir; that is our wish.\n\nWISHING MAN. Well, I'll have to see if I can accommodate you. It's a\npretty big job, you know.\n\nTOOTSY. You said you could give us anything we wished for.\n\nWISHING MAN. But I didn't think you'd wish for anything like that.\n\nDUMPLING. That's the only thing we want, Mr Wishing Man.\n\nWISHING MAN (_rubbing his chin and speaking thoughtfully_). Well,\nnow--let me see. I'm afraid it's too big a job for me. In the first\nplace I haven't any marble.\n\nCHILDREN. Marble?\n\nWISHING MAN. Yes. In order to make you grow and grow and grow, you'll\nhave to stand on marble.\n\nTOOTSY. We have a marble-top table in the front hall.\n\nDUMPLING. Oh, yes. And we can all stand on top of the table.\n\nWISHING MAN. But I have to stand here by the open window.\n\nTOOTSY. Well, we can go in there and leave the door open. You can stay\nhere and make our wish come true. Come on, Dumpling.\n\nWISHING MAN. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Are you all of you sure you\nwant to be made into great big, big little children?\n\nCHILDREN. Yes, all of us.\n\nWISHING MAN. All right. If that's your wish, it's no business of mine.\nGo out in the front hall and climb on the marble-top table and I'll\nsee what I can do for you.\n\nTOOTSY. Oh, come on, quick, Dumpling, before he changes his mind.\n(_Runs out R. with_ DUMPLING _and_ SNOOKUMS, _the latter taking very\nlong strides._)\n\nWISHING MAN. It's a very foolish wish, but maybe they'll be satisfied\nif I make them the biggest children on earth. (_Throws back curtains\nat the window._) I'll see what I can do.\n\nDUMPLING (_outside_). I'm standing up on the table now.\n\nWISHING MAN.\n\n     Hickety, kickety, setting sun,\n         (_Making mysterious passes._)\n     Thunder, lightning, flash of a gun!\n     Let him grow bigger, it won't be much fun;\n     Hickety, kickety, number one!\n\n(_Lights flash out, then on again, then out. Low rumbles of thunder\nheard. Lights on again, then off. Loud crash outside._)\n\nTOOTSY. Now it's my turn. I'm on the table.\n\nWISHING MAN.\n\n     Witchery, twitchery, kangaroo,\n     Thunder and lightning, Kalamazoo!\n     Lengthen her, strengthen her, rip, bazoo,\n     Make her a giantess, number two!\n\n(_Lightning and thunder as before._)\n\nSNOOKUMS (_outside_). Now, Mr. Wishing Man, I'm on the table.\n\nWISHING MAN. That's the Baby Snookums. Very well, little Snookie\nOokums! I'll change you into the biggest baby on earth.\n\n     Rumpety, thumpety, Kankakee,\n     Lengthen him out to six foot three!\n     The biggest baby we ever did see,\n     Rumpety, thumpety, number three!\n\n(_Same noises as before, only louder._)\n\n_Enter_ NURSE MAID _from L._\n\nNURSE MAID. Goodness, gracious! Is it a tornado or an earthquake?\n(_Sees_ WISHING MAN.) Oh! (_Screams loudly._) And who are you? Murder!\nThieves! Robbers! Where's me children? Where's little Dumpling and\nTootsy and Baby Snookums? (_Fast, loud music._)\n\nWISHING MAN (_yells_). Where are your children?\n\n_Enter_ BIG DUMPLING, BIG TOOTSY _and_ BIG SNOOKUMS. _They join hands\nand dance around at R._\n\nWISHING MAN. There they are. There are little Dumpling and Tootsy and\nBaby Snookums.\n\n(NURSE MAID _looks at children, screams loudly, throws up her arms and\nfaints in a chair at L. of stage._ WISHING MAN _stands at C. with arms\nakimbo, laughing at her. The three big children dance in a circle at\nR._)\n\nCURTAIN.\n\n\nACT II.\n\nSCENE: _No scene at all. The action takes place in front of the closed\ncurtains. Note: During this act the managers should be arranging the\nstage for the next act._\n\n_The children who are present in the audience should be given seats\ndown in front. At this point they rise and go upon the stage in front\nof the curtain and sing, accompanied by a chorus of older children\nbehind the scenes. An adult leader may appear with the children. All\nsing, marching around platform and acting out the song:_\n\n     FOLLOW ME, FULL OF GLEE.\n\n     Movement Song.\n\n[Music illustration:\n\n     1. Chil-dren go, to and fro,\n     In a mer-ry, pret-ty row:\n     Foot-steps light, fa-ces bright,\n     'Tis a hap-py, hap-py sight;\n     Swift-ly turn-ing round and round.[A]\n     Do not look up-on the ground,\n\n     2. Birds are free, so are we,\n     And we live as hap-pi-ly;\n     Work we do, stud-y, too,\n     Learn-ing dai-ly some-thing new;\n     Then we laugh, and dance, and sing,\n     Gay as birds or an-y-thing:\n\n     3. Work is done, play's be-gun,\n     Now we have our laugh and fun:\n     Hap-py days, pret-ty plays,\n     And no naught-y, naught-y ways.\n     Hold-ing fast each oth-er's hand,\n     We're a hap-py, cheer-ful band;\n\n     CHORUS.\n\n     Fol-low me, full of glee,\n     Sing-ing mer-ri-ly.\n     Sing-ing mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly,\n     Sing-ing mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly,\n     Fol-low me, full of glee,\n     Sing-ing mer-ri-ly.]\n\n[Footnote A: They all twirl around.]\n\n(_The music continues softly as they resume their seats in the\naudience. After a pause the_ WISHING MAN _sticks his head out from the\ncurtains. He takes one step in front, bows, then skips down to front\nand bows again._)\n\nWISHING MAN. Hello, little boys and girls, how do you do this fine\nwinter night? I know what each of you has been thinking. You've been\nwishing that _you_ could meet the Wishing Man and that he would make\n_your_ wishes come true. Now, haven't you? Well, I've made that wish\ncome true. You wished to meet me, and here I am. I've been watching\nyou all the year in Sunday School. I know how you have worked over\nyour lessons, how you have helped your teachers and how punctual you\nhave been. To be sure, I know some of you haven't helped your teachers\nas much as you could have done, but I'll forget all that at Christmas\ntime. Now tell me what you wish for most.\n\nCHILDREN (_in audience who have previously rehearsed this scene_). A\nChristmas tree. A look at old Santa Claus. Some nice Christmas\npresents, etc.\n\nWISHING MAN. Stop, stop. I can't attend to so many wishes at once.\n\nLITTLE GIRL (_rising_). Please, Mr. Wishing Man, couldn't you tell us\nwhat we'd better wish for?\n\nWISHING MAN. Have you ever had a great, big Christmas tree?\n\nCHILDREN. Oh, yes, lots of times.\n\nWISHING MAN. Have you ever seen my old friend, Mr. Santa Claus?\n\nCHILDREN. Oh, yes.\n\nLITTLE BOY. We see him every year at Christmas.\n\nWISHING MAN. How would like to go with me to Wishing Land.\n\nCHILDREN. Oh, goody! (_Clapping hands._) That would be fine. Can you\ntake us there?\n\nWISHING MAN. Of course I can. And that's just what we'll do. We'll all\nof us go to the Wishing Land. First, I'll call little Dumpling.\nDumpling, little Dumpling, where are you?\n\nBIG DUMPLING _comes in from behind the curtains._\n\nBIG D. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. I was playing with my little horse\nand wagon. (_He plays with tiny horse and wagon._)\n\nWISHING MAN. And how do you like being a great, big Dumpling?\n\nBIG D. Well, not very well. I'm always bumping my head on the doors\nand things. And all my toys are so very little I'm always breaking\nthem.\n\nWISHING MAN. Where is your sister? Where is little Tootsy?\n\nBIG TOOTSY _enters._\n\nBIG T. Here, Mr. Wishing Man. I'm here. Me and my little dolly.\n\nWISHING MAN. Well, little Tootsy, how do you like being a great, big\nTootsy?\n\nBIG T. I don't like it very well. My clothes don't seem to fit, and I\nknow I look awfully funny. (_To audience._) Don't I? Everybody laughs\nat me and it always makes me cry. (_Cries._)\n\nWISHING MAN. And where is little Snookie Ookums?\n\nBIG SNOOKUMS _enters._\n\nBIG S. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. Here's 'ittie Snookie Ookums.\n\nWISHING MAN. You look like a 'ittie baby elephant, Snookie Ookums.\nWell, are you children satisfied with your wish?\n\nTHE THREE. Not very much. We wish we were little again.\n\nBIG S. (_crying_). I tried to ride my little horsie and I bweaked him\nall to pieces.\n\nBIG D. And I can't get enough to eat. My little knife and fork and\nspoon are too little, and when I eat I swallow dishes and all.\n(_Cries._)\n\nBIG T. And all my clothes are too little for me, and I look so funny\nthat everybody laughs at me. And I don't like it at all. (_Cries._)\n\nWISHING MAN. I'm just going to start on a journey to the Wishing Land.\nThe toys there are awfully big. They'd be just the right size for\nyou. Would you like to go with me?\n\nBIG S. Is it very far?\n\nBIG D. Could we get back by bedtime?\n\nBIG T. Wouldn't it be awfully cold flying through the air?\n\nWISHING MAN. Oh, no. We'd fly so fast you'd only have time to shiver\nonce and then we'd be right there.\n\nTHE THREE. Oh, yes; let's go.\n\nWISHING MAN. All right. Now all of you part your hair right in the\nmiddle, so you won't be heavier on one side than on the other. (_They\ndo so._) That's good. Now give me your hands and hold on tight and\nwe're off to the Wishing Land. Follow me, full of glee.\n\n(_All sing the first verse and chorus of \"Follow Me, Full of Glee,\"\naccompanied by the children in the audience. At the end all dance off\nthe stage at R._)\n\n\nACT III.\n\nSCENE: _The Wishing Land. Green or dark colored curtains at rear and\nat sides. Use all the large palms and potted trees available. A\ntrumpet vine is attached to curtains at the rear. This is made of\nbranches pinned on curtain to simulate a vine. Several tin trumpets\nare tied to the branches and many trumpets of various sizes made of\npaper. These stick out of the vines like blossoms._\n\n[Illustration: Fig. 1]\n\n_At rear right is a large tree with buds made of tissue paper and toy\ndrums showing in the buds. See diagram. The leaves forming these buds\nshould be pointed oval in shape and vary in size as they represent\nbuds or open flowers. The drums hang down from the branches and the\npetals, when open, hang open and partly cover them. Another tree\nstands at rear L. This is hung with candy or bits of colored paper\nsimulating candy. Candy canes are on this tree and_ JIM DANDY _is\nsleeping at bottom of tree._\n\n_At R. about half-way back are branches arranged to look as if\ngrowing, and about three feet high, hung with balls of various sizes\nand colors._\n\n_At L. about half-way back are three little girls dressed as French\ndolls. They stand in a row facing the audience. At either end of the\nrow is a frame to support the cheesecloth curtain that hides them from\nthe audience. They must stand stiffly with arms held out straight in\nfront of them._\n\n_At L. front are several rows of flower pots or boxes containing\ngrowing plants with dolls fastened among the leaves. These are\nbranches about eighteen inches high, with green paper buds partly\nenveloping the dolls._\n\n_At R. front is a large square box (a pasteboard cracker box or\nbreakfast food box covered with red tissue paper will answer) in which\nis_ KA-ZIN-SKI _concealed by the lid._\n\n_At R. half-way back just in front of the ball-trees stand three\nlittle boys dressed as toy soldiers. They stand erect and do not\nmove._\n\n_Curtain rises to mysterious music played by piano. This continues\nsome little time until the audience \"takes in\" the scene._\n\n_After a pause, enter the_ WISHING MAN, _followed by the three_ BIG\nCHILDREN.\n\nWISHING MAN. Well, here we are in the Wishing Land. My kingdom and not\na soul to welcome me!\n\nBIG D. Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful place.\n\nBIG S. See 'ittie bitsy teeny weeny trumpets gwowing in twees.\n\nBIG T. And the dolls. The lovely, lovely dolls.\n\nWISHING MAN (_clapping his hands_). What, ho! Is there none to welcome\nme?\n\n_Enter_ TEDDY BEAR _from L._\n\nTEDDY BEAR (_comes to_ WISHING MAN _and bows low_).\n\nBIG D. Oh, see the Teddy Bear.\n\nBIG T. And he's the biggest one I ever saw.\n\nBIG S. Nice pussy, nice, nice pussy! (_Strokes_ TEDDY BEAR.)\n\nTEDDY BEAR (_growls_).\n\nBIG S. (_much frightened_). Oh, naughty, naughty, naughty!\n\nWISHING MAN. Hello, Teddy Bear. Where's your brother?\n\nTEDDY BEAR (_shakes head as if he does not know_).\n\nWISHING MAN. Go out and find him for me. Have you been a very, very\ngood Teddy Bear while I was away?\n\nTEDDY BEAR (_nods his head_).\n\nWISHING MAN. That's good. Now go out and find Jimmy Bear.\n\nTEDDY BEAR (_nods head and ambles out at R._).\n\nWISHING MAN (_looking around_). Everything is growing fine. I think\nthe bicycle trees need a little more water. Well, children, what do\nyou think of the Wishing Land?\n\nBIG D. It's awfully pretty.\n\nBIG T. It's perfectly gorgeous.\n\nBIG S. Wunnerful, simply wunnerful.\n\nWISHING MAN. Here's where I grow my toys. See, there is the trumpet\nvine, and the candy tree and the dolly flowers. Whenever a little\nchild makes a wish for anything like that, all I have to do is to come\nin here and pick a toy. See?\n\nBIG D. Oh, lookee at the tin soldiers. They're awful big. Can I have\none, Mr. Wishing Man?\n\nWISHING MAN. I don't think they're quite ripe yet.\n\nBIG S. Me want a twumpet. Want a nice, big twumpet to blow.\n\nWISHING MAN (_picks a trumpet_). There you are, my little man.\n\nBIG T. I want one, too. A nice loud one.\n\nWISHING MAN (_picks one_). And there's one for you, Tootsy.\n\nBIG D. Believe I'll take a drum.\n\nWISHING MAN (_picks a drum_). There you are. Right off the tree.\n\nBIG D. Now we'll have a parade. (_They march around stage playing\ntrumpets and drums._)\n\nWISHING MAN. Here, here, wait a minute. You're making enough noise to\nwake the dead. Hold on, there. Quiet, quiet!\n\nBIG T. Oh, dear! Just as we were having such a lovely time.\n\nBIG S. Oh, whee! See the funny box. (_Goes to_ KA-ZIN-SKI'S _box._)\nWhat is in it, Mr. Wishing Man?\n\nWISHING MAN. You'd better let it alone. That's Ka-zin-ski, and\nKa-zin-ski doesn't like babies.\n\nBIG S. But I wish to see him.\n\nWISHING MAN. Is it a wish?\n\nBIG S. Yes, sir; it's a wish.\n\nWISHING MAN. Then pull the string.\n\n(BIG S. _leans over the box, pulls a spring, the lid flies up and_\nKA-ZIN-SKI _pops out almost in the baby's face._ BIG S. _screams and\nfalls flat down on the stage._)\n\nBIG S. Oh, whee! Take him away! I'm fwightened, I am. Vill he come\nafter me?\n\nWISHING MAN. No, no. Get up, 'ittie Snookie Ookums, he won't hurt you.\n\nBIG D. Say, Mr. Wishing Man?\n\nWISHING MAN. What is it, my little boy?\n\nBIG D. Can we have anything we wish for here in the Wishing Land?\n\nWISHING MAN. Of course you can. That's what the Wishing Land is for.\n\nBIG D. Then I wish I was a little boy again. I'm too big to enjoy\nmyself.\n\nBIG T. And I wish I was a little girl again. Everybody laughs at me,\n'cause I'm so big.\n\nBIG S. And I wish I was a 'ittie, teeny, weeny baby again. Being so\nbig fwightens me so.\n\nWISHING MAN. Oh, ho! So you all want to be little again?\n\nTHE THREE. Yes, sir, if you please.\n\nBIG T. Why, I'm so big that I can't get all of me into bed. I'll have\nto let my feet hang outside.\n\nBIG S. And if I get in my baby buggy, I'll bweak it all down.\n\nBIG D. And my mamma won't recognize me at all, 'cause I'm grown so\nbig.\n\nWISHING MAN. That's all very well, but it will be quite a job to make\nyou all little again. It will take three magic fern seeds, and I\ndon't think I have any ripe yet.\n\n(_Music, a march._ TEDDY BEAR _dances in in time to the music. He goes\nup to the_ WISHING MAN, _pulls his head down and whispers something in\nhis ear. Then hands him a little box._)\n\nBIG D. Oh, what is it, Mr. Wishing Man? Is it the fern seed?\n\nWISHING MAN (_looks in the little pill box_). Yes, but it's only one\nfern seed. Only one of you can be made little again.\n\nBIG D. Give it to my sister, Tootsy. She's a girl.\n\nBIG T. No, give it to Dumpling. He's the oldest.\n\nWISHING MAN. I think I'll give it to 'ittie Snookie Ookums. Here,\nSnookums, take that little seed and go down by the pump and get a\ndrink of water. Put the seed in the water and swallow it and you'll be\nthe original 'ittie Snookums again.\n\nBIG S. Oh, goody, goody, goody! (_Takes box and skips out at R._)\n\n(_Music again, a march._ JIMMY BEAR _dances in, whispers to the_\nWISHING MAN _and gives him a pill box._)\n\nWISHING MAN. Here's another fern seed. Ladies first, Dumpling. I'll\ngive it to Tootsy.\n\nBIG T. Oh, you dear, good Wishing Man. I'll give you a nice hug and\nkiss for that. (_Does so, takes box, skips out at R._)\n\n(_Music again. Enter_ BABY JUMBO, _dancing in time to the music._\nWISHING MAN _bends down and whispers to the elephant._ JUMBO _raises\none foot, a front one, and gives him a pill box._)\n\nWISHING MAN. And here's the third magical fern seed. Here you are,\nMaster Dumpling. Hurry along and grow little again.\n\nBIG D. Oh, thank you, sir. (_Takes box and skips out at R._)\n\nJUMBO _and the_ TWO BEARS _dance out at L. in time to the music._\n\nWISHING MAN (_goes to the doll bushes_). The dolly plants don't seem\nto be doing very well. (_Picks a doll._) Here's a ripe one. I'm going\nto give that to (_insert some little girl's name_) for a Christmas\npresent. And here's another for ----. I wonder how my big French dolls\nare doing. They're dreadfully hard to raise. They require so much\nattention. I have to keep them under cover to protect them from the\nsun. The wax melts so easily and the pretty red cheeks are apt to run\ndown over their pretty French dresses. (_Removes cover._) How nice\nthey look. There's Annette, Olivette and Babette. Three as pretty\nlittle French ladies as ever came out of Paris. I think they're just\nabout ready to pick. They're such pretty dollies that I think I'll\ngive them to little boys instead of little girls. I'll give Annette to\n(_insert little boy's name_) and I'll give Olivette to ----, and\nlittle Babette I'll give to ----. My, my, I was forgetting all about\nthe children and the mysterious fern seed. I wonder if it has changed\nthem back into real little children again. (_Looks out at R._) Yes,\nhere they come.\n\n_Enter from R._ DUMPLING, TOOTSY _and_ SNOOKUMS.\n\nDUMPLING. Oh, thank you, Mr. Wishing Man. I feel ever so much better\nnow.\n\nTOOTSY. Yes, indeed. My clothes are a perfect fit and nobody will\nlaugh at me now.\n\nSNOOKUMS. I feel perfectly fan-tas-a-ma-gor-ious.\n\nTOOTSY. Oh, see the pretty French dollies. I wish they would talk to\nme.\n\nWISHING MAN. If that's your wish, they can.\n\nTOOTSY (_presses_ ANNETTE). Can you talk?\n\nANNETTE (_imitates talking doll_). Pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa!\n\nTOOTSY (_presses_ OLIVETTE). And what can you say?\n\nOLIVETTE. Ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma!\n\nSNOOKUMS (_presses_ BABETTE). Go on and talk to me.\n\nBABETTE. Mer-ry Christ-mas! Mer-ry Christ-mas!\n\nTOOTSY. I wish you could wind them up so they could walk around and\nplay with us.\n\nWISHING MAN. Is that your wish?\n\nTOOTSY. Oh, yes. Do you think you can do it?\n\nWISHING MAN. I can try. (_Takes large clock key and winds each doll.\nThe sound of winding should be imitated by a rattle behind the\nscenes._)\n\nANNETTE. Pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa! (_Walks forward without bending knees._)\n\nDUMPLING. Here, stop her. She'll fall down. (_Grabs her._) Here, turn\naround. Walk this way. (_Walks with her._)\n\nOLIVETTE. Ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma; (_Starts to walk._)\n\nTOOTSY (_catches her_). Oh, I think you are a darling. (_Walks with\nher._)\n\nBABETTE. Mer-ry Christ-mas! Mer-ry Christmas. (_Starts to walk._)\n\nWISHING MAN. Here, wait for me. (_Takes her arm and they walk\ntogether._)\n\nDUMPLING. Wind up the soldiers. Then each dolly can have a partner.\n\nWISHING MAN. Just a minute. (_Winds up the soldiers._)\n\n(_The dolls continue walking around with jerky steps._)\n\nPRIVATE BLACK (_as_ BABETTE _passes him_). Allow me. (_Offers her his\narm._)\n\nPRIVATE JACK (_as_ ANNETTE _passes him_). Allow me. (_They\npromenade._)\n\nPRIVATE MACK (_as_ OLIVETTE _passes him_). Allow me. (_They\npromenade._)\n\nTOOTSY (_very much excited, runs to_ WISHING MAN.) Oh, I wish they\nwere all alive.\n\nWISHING MAN. You do? Is that your wish? (_She nods._) Then I'll make\nthem all alive.\n\n     Hickety, kickety, bees in a hive,\n     Witchery, twichery, you're alive.\n\n(_The dolls and soldiers twirl around and chatter merrily in\npantomime. Their actions from now on are as natural as possible._)\n\nSNOOKUMS (_suddenly sees the candy tree_). Oh, lookee! Candy!\n\nWISHING MAN. That's alive, too. (JIM DANDY _marches down._) Mr.\nSnookie Ookums, let me introduce you to Mr. Jim Dandy, a stick of\ncandy.\n\nSNOOKUMS. Would he mind if I'd take a bite out of his leg?\n\nJIM DANDY. You bet he would. I'm alive now.\n\nWISHING MAN (_looks off at L._). And here comes Teddy Bear and Jimmy\nBear. They're alive, too. And look at the Baby Elephant.\n\n_Enter_ TEDDY BEAR, JIMMY BEAR and BABY JUMBO. _The piano plays a\nmarch. All march around the stage, first the_ WISHING MAN, _then_\nBLACK _and_ BABETTE, JACK _and_ ANNETTE, MACK _and_ OLIVETTE, JIM\nDANDY _and_ TOOTSIE, TEDDY BEAR _and_ DUMPLING, _then_ BABY JUMBO\n_with_ SNOOKUMS _riding on his back, then_ JIMMY BEAR _capering in the\nrear. March around several times. A simple folk dance may be\nintroduced at this point. All sing two verses of \"Follow Me, Full of\nGlee.\"_\n\nCURTAIN.\n\n\nREMARKS ON THE PRODUCTION.\n\nThe room was all in shimmering white with a background of small pine\ntrees in large wooden pots. The floor was covered with white muslin\nand scattered with leaves, pine needles and cones.\n\nIn one corner was a giant snow pile, made of a frame covered with\ncotton. This was presided over by the Snow Queen and her Maids and\nwhite-wrapped bundles were on sale for five cents.\n\nJack Frost and his boys presided over a large tree in another corner.\nSmall toys wrapped in white tissue paper were attached to this tree\nand sold for five cents. Or Santa Claus may preside at the sale.\n\nSnowballs of white popcorn and snowballs filled with candy were on\nsale at another booth, presided over by red and white Striped Candy\nGirls. Candy canes were also sold here.\n\nIn the fourth corner a snow scene in the woods was depicted. A local\nacrobat, dressed as a Snow-man, did stunts, assisted by several boys\ndressed as clowns. They pelted the Snow-man with snowballs and then\nsold bags of white confetti. The Snow-man also ran a game where\nsnowballs were thrown at a target. The target was a circle of black\ncambric, the snowballs were rubber balls covered with raw cotton and\nrolled in flour. Balls sold three for five cents.\n\nA postoffice in charge of Mrs. Santa Claus is recommended, where each\npays five cents postage due for packages and postcards.\n\nIf snowballing the target is too \"mussy,\" a large holly wreath with a\ncluster of sleighbells in the center may be suspended from the ceiling\nwith red and green streamers. Three balls of soft rubber are provided\nand the contestants try to throw the balls through the wreath and ring\nthe bells.\n\nStuffed stockings on a clothesline may be offered for sale. This\nshould be presided over by Moll Pitcher and her colonial wash-maids.\n\nA rummage sale of toys added quite a large sum to the general fund.\nThere was a 5-cent table, a 10-cent table and a 25-cent table.\n\n\nTHE SCENERY FOR THE PLAY.\n\nThe rear of the stage should be hung with dark curtains. Arrange the\ntrumpet vine and the trees in place before the play begins. Then hide\nthem with screens, these screens serving as the \"scenery\" for Act I.\n\nDuring the progress of Act II, in front of the front curtain, remove\nthe screens and furniture of Act I and arrange the stage for Act III\nas described in the text.\n\nFor the thunder effect in Act I rattle a large sheet of sheet-iron and\nexplode several large fire-crackers.\n\nThe arrangement of the stage in Acts I and III is fully described in\nthe text.\n\n\nPROPERTIES.\n\nTable with long cover completely hiding the Wishing Man.\n\nLighted lamp on table. Chairs and sofa.\n\nWindow at rear. Two curtains can simulate a window.\n\nTrumpet vine with tin and paper trumpets.\n\nDrum tree with tissue paper buds and toy drums.\n\nCandy tree.\n\nBall plants.\n\nFrame to hide the French dolls.\n\nDoll plants.\n\nPasteboard box with cover for Ka-zin-ski.\n\nThree small pill boxes.\n\n\nCOSTUMES.\n\nTHE WISHING MAN--Dressed as a clown, white suit with red horseshoes on\nit. Red ruffles around arms, ankles and neck. Long, pointed, white\nclown cap. Face and neck should be covered with white grease paint and\nwhen it is dry apply white powder. Then blacken the nose and lips with\nhot black grease paint. Make tiny high eyebrows of this black paint\nand paint round black circles on cheek bones.\n\nGRANDPA, GRANDMA, FATHER and MOTHER should be dressed in modern\ncostume, but they must be made up and costumed to look the part.\n\nNURSE MAID--Black dress, long. White apron, collar, cap and cuffs.\n\nDUMPLING, TOOTSY and SNOOKUMS--Pretty dresses suitable for Christmas.\n\nTHE BIG DUMPLING, TOOTSY and SNOOKUMS--Dressed exactly like their\nlittle counterparts. Wigs, etc.\n\nKA-ZIN-SKI--Tall boy dressed as a clown. False face. Bushy whiskers\nand wig. A regular jack-in-the-box make-up.\n\nTHE TIN SOLDIERS--Long trousers of shiny blue cambric with red stripes\nat the sides. Shiny red jackets with yellow bands and buttons across\nfront and on sleeves. Toy guns. The cheeks and lips should be very red\nto imitate toy soldiers.\n\nTHE FRENCH DOLLS--Fancy dresses and bonnets. Hair in curls. Faces\npainted to represent wax dollies, red cheeks, eyebrows black,\neyelashes beaded with black hot grease paint.\n\nJIM DANDY--Red and white striped stockings. From the knee to under the\narms the suit is a cylindrical roll of white pasteboard striped with\nred. Sleeves and collar white striped with red. Pointed white cap\nstriped with red.\n\nTHE BEARS--Costumes of brown canton flannel, fuzzy side out. Get a\npattern for a child's nightdress with feet. Allow it rather loose in\nfront, so that a folded knit shawl can be securely fastened (with\nsafety pins) to the shoulders in front, beneath it, thus making the\nround body of the bear. For the back of the suit do not cut the waist\npart separate from the legs, as is usual in the pattern, but allow the\nwaist to be as wide as the seat of the drawers.\n\nThen lay a pleat from A to B on either side, tapering to form a loose\nfit below the waist. Sew thumbless mittens to the ends of the sleeves,\npadding them a little on the back and sewing on palms of a light tan,\nto represent paws.\n\n[Illustration: Fig. 2]\n\nFit the seat of the drawers at the back loose enough to give freedom\nof motion, but no more.\n\nFor the heads, cut hoods like Fig. 3, taking a straight piece of cloth\nand fitting it with pleats around the face, etc. Make ears of two\nthicknesses of the cloth, stitched and turned like Fig. 4. Lay a\nbox-pleat at A-B and sew them to the hood at C-D, so that they will\nstand out and forward. See Fig. 5. Sew this hood to the neck of the\nsuit, so that all goes on together. Bear false faces.\n\n[Illustration: Fig. 3]\n\n[Illustration: Fig. 4]\n\n[Illustration: Fig. 5]\n\nBABY JUMBO--Two medium sized boys form the elephant. Two four-foot\nsticks are fastened together with twenty-inch crosspieces, thus:\n[Illustration] Forming a rack which two boys carry on their\nshoulders. Cut two pieces from gray cambric like Fig. 6 to form the\nhead, having the trunk about a yard long; sew them together and stuff\nwith rags; sew on white pasteboard tusks, large buttons for eyes and\nbig ears cut out of cambric and lined with one thickness of paper.\nAttach strings at A and tie to the first crosspiece of the rack. Pad\nthe rack with an old comfort sewed fast with cord to hold it in place.\n\n[Illustration: Fig. 6]\n\nSet the rack on the boy's shoulders, then standing with heads bent\nforward, the foremost boy supporting the elephant's head with his head\nand slipping his right hand into the upper part of the trunk so as to\nswing it. Throw over them a large, dark-colored shawl, reaching to\ntheir knees, fasten it together in the back and pin on a tail made of\ncambric and stuffed. Legs covered with brown burlap.\n\n\n\n\nA CHRISTMAS CAROL OR THE MISER'S YULETIDE DREAM\n\n[Illustration:\n\nSCROOGE        BOB CRATCHIT  MARLEY'S GHOST  SECOND SPIRIT\n\nTHIRD SPIRIT   WAIT          MISSION LASS    FRED             FIRST SPIRIT\n\n                                             COSTUME OF\nMRS. FEZZIWIG  FEZZIWIG      BELLA           EBENEZER & DICK  FIDDLER\n\nPETER, BETTY,\nBELINDA and MRS. CRATCHIT    MARTHA          BOB              TINY TIM\n\nTHE CRATCHIT FAMILY]\n\n\n\n\nA CHRISTMAS CAROL OR THE MISER'S YULETIDE DREAM\n\nADAPTED FROM CHARLES DICKENS' IMMORTAL STORY.\n\n\nCHARACTERS.\n\nEBENEZER SCROOGE                  _A Middle-aged Merchant_\n\"Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck\nout generous fire.\"\n\nBOB CRATCHIT                      _Scrooge's Clerk_\n\"With the Christmas spirit in his heart.\"\n\nFRED                              _Scrooge's Nephew_\n\"A whole-souled, merry-hearted young married man.\"\n\nTWO MISSION LASSIES\n\nTHE GHOST OF JACOB MARLEY         _Scrooge's Partner_\n\"Dead these seven years.\"\n\nFIRST SPIRIT (Little Girl)        _The Ghost of Christmas Past_\n\nSECOND SPIRIT                     _The Ghost of Christmas Present_\n\nTHIRD SPIRIT                      _The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be_\n\nA CHORUS OF YOUNG BOYS            _Carol Singers_\n\nFIRST WAIT                        _The Leader of the Singers_\n\nMR. FEZZIWIG                      _A Jolly Old Merchant_\n\nMRS. FEZZIWIG                     _One Vast Substantial Smile_\n\nEBENEZER                          _Scrooge as a Young Man_\n\nDICK                              _His Fellow Clerk_\n\nTHE OLD FIDDLER\n\nBELLA                             _Scrooge's First and Only Love_\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT                     _Bob's Wife_\n\nBELINDA, _Aged Eighteen_  }\nMARTHA, _Aged Seventeen_  }\nPETER, _Aged Fourteen_    }\nBOB, _Aged Eleven_        }       _Bob Cratchit's Family_\nBETTY, _Aged Nine_        }\nTINY TIM, _Aged Four_     }\n\n_Five Ladies, Five Gentlemen and a Little Boy for the Fezziwig Tableau_\n\n\nSTAVE I.\n\nSCENE: _The counting house of_ SCROOGE _and_ MARLEY. _A dark, dreary\noffice, indicated by brown curtains at sides, with entrances R. and L.\nand brown curtains at rear. Note: These rear curtains must be arranged\nto be parted, showing the tableau stage back of the real stage. The\ntableau stage is elevated a few feet above the real stage (this makes\na better picture but is not absolutely necessary). High desk at R.\nfacing the R. wall. Tall stool at this desk; ledger, quill pen, ink,\ncandle on this desk. Small, old desk down L., facing audience. Desk\nchair back of this desk. Two common wooden chairs at R.C. and L.C.\nLedger, quill pen, books, candle stuck in an old dark bottle, on desk\ndown L._\n\n_Full description of costumes, a detailed illustration of the stage\nsetting, etc., will be found at the end of the play._\n\n_Before the curtain rises_ WAITS _are heard singing off L. Curtain\nrises disclosing_ BOB CRATCHIT _seated on stool, bent over ledger at\ndesk R., working by the light of the candle._\n\nWAITS (_outside, sing \"Christmas Carol\"_).\n\n(CRATCHIT _turns and listens._)\n\n_Enter_ SCROOGE _from R. in a towering passion. Slams door R._\nCRATCHIT _hurriedly returns to his work._ SCROOGE _crosses to door L.\nand flings it open angrily._\n\n     CHRISTMAS CAROL.\n\n     J.M. NEALE.\n     THOMAS HELMORE.\n\n[Music illustration:\n\n     1. Christ was born on Christ-mas day,\n     Wreathe the hol-ly, twine the bay,\n     Light and life and joy is He,\n     The Babe, the Son, the Ho-ly One of Ma-ry.\n\n     2. He is born to set us free;\n     He is born our Lord to be;\n     Car-ol, Chris-tians, joy-ful-ly;\n     The God, the Lord, by all a-dored for-ev-er.\n\n     3. Let the bright red ber-ries glow\n     Ev-'ry-where in good-ly show,\n     Light and life and joy is He,\n     The Babe, the Son, the Ho-ly One of Ma-ry.\n\n     Christian men, re-joice and sing;\n     'Tis the birth-day of our King.\n\n     Car-ol, Christians, joy-ful-ly;\n     The God, the Lord,\n     By all a-dored\n     For-ev-er.\n     Night of sadness,\n     Morn of glad-ness\n     Ev-er-more:\n     Ev-er, Ev-er,\n     Aft-er man-y troub-les sore,\n     Morn of glad-ness ev-er-more, and ev-er-more.\n\n     Mid-night scarce-ly passed and o-ver,\n     Draw-ing to the ho-ly morn;\n     Ver-y ear-ly, Ver-y ear-ly, Christ was born.\n     Sing out with bliss,\n     His name is this:\n     Em-man-u-el!\n     As 'twas fore-told,\n     In days of old,\n     By Ga-bri-el.]\n\nSCROOGE (_flinging open door L. at this point_). Get away from my\ndoor. Begone, ye beggars! I've nothing for you.\n\nFIRST WAIT (_sticking his head in door at L._). Only a shillin', sir,\nfor a merry Christmas, yer honor.\n\nSCROOGE. Get away from there or I'll call the police.\n\nFIRST WAIT. Only a shillin', sir.\n\nSCROOGE. Not a penny. I have other places to put my money. Go on, now.\nYou don't get a cent. Not a penny!\n\nFIRST WAIT. All right, sir. Merry Christmas, just the same, sir.\n(_Exits L._)\n\nSCROOGE (_comes down to his desk at L., muttering_). Howling idiots!\nGive 'em a shilling, hey? I'd like to give 'em six months in the\nwork'us, that I would. Paupers! I'd show 'em what a merry Christmas\nis. (CRATCHIT _gets down from stool and starts to slink out L._) Hey!\n\nCRATCHIT (_pauses, turns to_ SCROOGE). Yes, sir.\n\nSCROOGE. Where you goin'?\n\nCRATCHIT. I was just goin' to get a few coals, sir. Just to warm us up\na bit, sir.\n\nSCROOGE. You let my coals alone. Get back to work. I'm not complaining\nabout the cold, am I? And I'm an older man than you are. Back to work!\n\nCRATCHIT (_sighs, pauses, then says meekly_). Yes, sir. (_Resumes\nwork._)\n\nSCROOGE. You want to let my coals alone if you expect to keep your\njob. I'm not a millionaire. Understand? (_Loudly._) Understand?\n\nCRATCHIT. Yes, sir, I understand. (_Shivers, wraps long white woolen\nmuffler closer about throat and warms hands at candle._)\n\nSCROOGE. Here it is three o'clock, the middle of the afternoon, and\ntwo candles burning. What more do you want? Want me to end up in the\npoorhouse?\n\nFRED (_heard outside at L._). Uncle! Uncle! Where are you? Merry\nChristmas, uncle.\n\nFRED _enters from L. He is happy and bright and has a cheerful, loud\nlaugh. He enters laughing and comes down C._\n\nSCROOGE (_looking up from his work_). Oh, it's you, is it?\n\nFRED. Of course it is, uncle. Merry Christmas! God save you!\n\nSCROOGE (_with disgust_). Merry Christmas! Bah! Humbug!\n\nFRED. Christmas a humbug, uncle? You don't mean that, I'm sure.\n\nSCROOGE. I don't, hey? Merry Christmas! What cause have you got to be\nmerry? You're poor enough.\n\nFRED (_laughing good-naturedly_). Come, then, what right have you got\nto be dismal? You're rich enough. So, merry Christmas, uncle.\n\nSCROOGE. Out upon your merry Christmas! What's Christmas time to you\nbut a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself\na year older, but not an hour richer? You keep Christmas in your own\nway and let me keep it in mine.\n\nFRED. Keep it? But you don't keep it!\n\nSCROOGE. Let me leave it alone, then. Much good may it do you! Much\ngood has it ever done you!\n\nFRED. Christmas is a good time, uncle; a kind, forgiving, charitable,\npleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the\nyear, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up\nhearts freely, and to think of people below them in the social scale.\nAnd therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or\nsilver in my pocket, I believe that it _has_ done me good, and _will_\ndo me good; and I say, God bless it, God bless Christmas!\n\nCRATCHIT (_who had been listening eagerly, claps his hands_). Good!\n\nSCROOGE. Let me hear another sound from _you_ and you'll keep your\nChristmas by losing your job. Get to work!\n\nCRATCHIT. Yes, sir. (_Resumes his work on the ledger._)\n\nSCROOGE (_to_ FRED). You're quite a powerful speaker, sir. I wonder\nyou don't go into Parliament.\n\nFRED. Don't be angry, uncle. Come, dine with us tomorrow.\n\nSCROOGE. Dine with you? Me? I'll see you hanged first. Dine with you?\nI'll see you in--\n\nCRATCHIT (_sneezes violently_).\n\nSCROOGE. What's the matter with _you_? (_Turns to_ FRED.) I'm a busy\nman. Good afternoon.\n\nFRED. Come, uncle; say \"Yes.\"\n\nSCROOGE. No.\n\nFRED. But why? Why?\n\nSCROOGE (_savagely_). Why did you get married?\n\nFRED. Because I fell in love.\n\nSCROOGE. Bah! (_Resumes his work._) Good afternoon.\n\nFRED. I want nothing from you. I ask nothing from you. But why can't\nwe be friends?\n\nSCROOGE. Good afternoon.\n\nFRED. Uncle I won't part in anger. My dear mother was your only\nsister--your only relation. For her sake let us be friends.\n\nSCROOGE (_savagely_). Good afternoon.\n\nFRED. I'll still keep the Christmas spirit, uncle. A merry Christmas\nto you.\n\nSCROOGE (_busy at ledger_). Bah!\n\nFRED. And a happy New Year.\n\nSCROOGE. Good afternoon!\n\nFRED (_goes to_ CRATCHIT). And a merry Christmas to you, Bob Cratchit.\n\nCRATCHIT (_getting down from stool, shaking hands with_ FRED\n_warmly_). Merry Christmas, sir. God bless it!\n\nFRED. Ay, God bless it! And a happy New Year.\n\nCRATCHIT. And a happy New Year, too! God bless that, too!\n\nFRED. Ay, Bob, God bless that, too. (_Exit L._)\n\nSCROOGE. Cratchit, get to work!\n\nCRATCHIT. Yes, sir. (_Resumes work._)\n\nSCROOGE (_looks at him_). Humph! Fifteen shillings a week and a wife\nand six children, and he talks about a merry Christmas. Humph! (_Works\non ledger._)\n\n_Enter from L._ TWO MISSION LASSIES. _They come down C._\n\nFIRST LASS. Scrooge and Marley's, I believe? Have I the pleasure of\naddressing Mr. Scrooge or Mr. Marley?\n\nSCROOGE. Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years. He died seven\nyears ago this very night.\n\nFIRST LASS. We have no doubt his liberality is represented by his\nsurviving partner. (_Shows subscription paper._)\n\nSCROOGE. Liberality? Humph! (_Returns paper to her._)\n\nSECOND LASS. At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, we are\ntrying to make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who\nare suffering greatly. Hundreds of thousands are in want of common\ncomforts, sir.\n\nSCROOGE. Are there no prisons?\n\nSECOND LASS (_sighs_). Plenty of prisons, sir.\n\nSCROOGE. And the workhouses--are they still in operation?\n\nFIRST LASS. They are, sir; but they scarcely furnish Christmas cheer\nfor mind and body. We are trying to raise a fund to buy the poor some\nmeat and drink and means of warmth.\n\nSECOND LASS. We chose this time because it is a time when want is\nkeenly felt and abundance rejoices. What shall we put you down for?\n\nSCROOGE. Nothing.\n\nFIRST LASS. You wish to be anonymous?\n\nSCROOGE. I wish to be left alone. I don't make merry myself at\nChristmas, I don't believe in it. And I can't afford to make idle\npeople merry. They should go to the poorhouse.\n\nSECOND LASS. Many of them would rather die, sir, than do that.\n\nSCROOGE (_savagely_). If they would rather die, they'd better do it\nand decrease the population. And besides, I am a very busy man.\n\nFIRST LASS. But, sir--\n\nSCROOGE. Good afternoon.\n\nFIRST LASS. I'm sorry, sir. Sorry--\n\nSCROOGE. Sorry for them?\n\nFIRST LASS. No, sir, I'm sorry for you, sir. Good afternoon. (_Exits\nL. followed by_ SECOND LASS.)\n\nSCROOGE. Sorry for me, hey? (_Pause. He works. The clock strikes\nfive._) Sorry for me!\n\nCRATCHIT (_closes his book, blows out candle_). Is there anything\nmore, sir? (_Comes to C._)\n\nSCROOGE. You'll want all day off tomorrow, I suppose?\n\nCRATCHIT. If it's quite convenient, sir.\n\nSCROOGE. Well, it isn't--and it's not fair. If I'd dock you a half a\ncrown for it you'd think I was ill using you, wouldn't you?\n\nCRATCHIT (_nervously_). I don't know, sir.\n\nSCROOGE. And yet you expect me to pay a full day's wages for no work.\n\nCRATCHIT. It only comes once a year, sir. Only once a year.\n\nSCROOGE. A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth\nof December! But I suppose you've got to have the whole day. But you\nbe here all the earlier next morning.\n\nCRATCHIT. Oh, yes, indeed, sir. (_Goes out R._)\n\nSCROOGE. I'll stay here a bit and finish up the work.\n\n_Enter_ CRATCHIT _from R. with hat. He turns up his coat collar, wraps\nthe long white woolen muffler around chin and pulls hat down over his\nface._\n\nCRATCHIT (_crosses to door L._). I'm going, sir.\n\nSCROOGE. All right.\n\nCRATCHIT (_shields face with arm as though he were afraid Scrooge\nmight throw something at him_). Merry Christmas, sir! (_Runs out L._)\n\nSCROOGE. Bah! Humbug! (_He works at ledger. Finally drops his head on\nhis arms and sleeps. The light of his candle goes out. Note: Scrooge\nmight blow it out unseen by audience._)\n\n_The stage is now in darkness. A musical bell tolls off L. After a\npause another bell tolls off R. The clinking of chains is heard. When\nthe stage is completely darkened the_ GHOST OF MARLEY _slips in and\nsits at R. He is entirely covered with black, face and all, as he\nslips in, so as to be quite invisible._\n\n_Mysterious music. Sudden clap of thunder heard. An auto light from\nthe wings at R. is thrown on the_ GHOST'S _face. This light should be\ngreen. The thunder dies away. Clanking of chains heard._\n\nGHOST (_groans_).\n\nSCROOGE (_starts up, looks at Ghost, pauses_). How now! What do you\nwant with me?\n\nGHOST. Much.\n\nSCROOGE. Who are you?\n\nGHOST. Ask me who I was.\n\nSCROOGE. Well, who were you, then?\n\nGHOST. In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley. It is required of\nevery man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his\nfellow-men, and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned\nto do so after death.\n\nSCROOGE. You are fettered. Tell me why.\n\nGHOST. I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, yard\nby yard, the heavy chain of avarice. Now I must make amends for the\nopportunities I neglected in life.\n\nSCROOGE. But you were always a good man of business, Jacob.\n\nGHOST. Business? Mankind should have been my business. Kind actions,\ncharity, mercy, benevolence, love--all should have been my business. I\nam here tonight to warn you, to warn you, Ebenezer Scrooge, that you\nhave yet a chance of escaping my fate.\n\nSCROOGE. You were always a good friend to me.\n\nGHOST. You will be haunted by Three Spirits.\n\nSCROOGE. If it's all the same to you, I think I'd rather not.\n\nGHOST. Without their visits, you cannot hope to escape my fate. Expect\nthe first when the bell tolls one.\n\nSCROOGE. Couldn't I take it all at once and have it over, Jacob?\n\nGHOST. Remember my warning, heed the message and you may yet be saved.\nMy time is over. (_Chains rattle._) Farewell, farewell, farewell!\n(_Loud crash of thunder. Light is quenched and_ GHOST _exits unseen by\naudience._)\n\n_Pause. The bell tolls one. Enter_ SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PAST _from R.\nShe comes down R. Strong white light on her from R._\n\nSCROOGE (_trembling_). Are you the Spirit whose coming was foretold to\nme?\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. I am.\n\nSCROOGE. Who and what are you?\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.\n\nSCROOGE. Long past?\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. No, your past.\n\nSCROOGE. Why have you come here to me?\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. For your own welfare. I must teach you the first lesson\nof consideration.\n\nSCROOGE. But I _am_ considerate.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. Are you a kind master to your clerk?\n\nSCROOGE. Well, I'm not unkind.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. Do you remember your own first master? One Fezziwig by\nname?\n\nSCROOGE. Indeed, I do. Bless his dear, old heart. He was the kindest\nmaster that ever lived.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. Then why haven't you followed his good example? Would\nany of your clerks say that you were the kindest master that ever\nlived?\n\nSCROOGE. Well, times have changed, that's it--it's all the fault of\nthe times.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. It's all the fault of a squeezing, wrenching, grasping,\nscraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint,\nfrom which no steel has ever struck out a generous fire. No wind that\nblows is more bitter than he, no falling snow is more intent upon its\npurpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. And his name is\nEbenezer Scrooge.\n\nSCROOGE. All I ask is to edge my way along the crowded path of life. I\nwant to be left alone. That's all--left alone.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. I have come to save you, Ebenezer Scrooge. I have come\nto kindle into life the stone that once was your heart. First I will\nshow you the kind heart and generosity of your old time master. Behold\nthe warehouse of Fezziwig and Company.\n\n(_Rear curtains are drawn apart, revealing a workshop, with desk down\nR. facing front. Barrel up L. Sign on rear wall reads, \"Fezziwig and\nCompany.\" Two young men_, EBENEZER _and_ DICK, _discovered happily\nworking at desk. Fezziwig stands up L. looking off L._ WAITS _are\nheard singing off L. at rear._)\n\nWAITS (_sing, music page 169_).\n\n     Christ was born on Christmas Day,\n     Wreathe the holly, twine the bay,\n     Light and Life and Joy is He,\n         The Babe, the Son,\n         The Holy One\n             Of Mary.\n\nFEZZIWIG (_flinging them a handful of coins_). That's right, my lads.\nSing away. Merry Christmas to you.\n\nWAITS (_outside_). Thank ye, sir. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!\nThank ye, sir. (_They sing and the song dies away in the distance._)\n\nSCROOGE (_down R. with_ FIRST SPIRIT). Why, it's old Fezziwig. Bless\nhis dear, old heart. It's Fezziwig alive again.\n\nFEZZIWIG (_comes merrily down C._). Yo ho, my boys! No more work for\ntonight. Christmas Eve, Dick! (_Throws his arms over the shoulders of\nthe two boys._) Christmas Eve, Ebenezer! God bless Christmas.\n\nDICK. Ay, ay, sir.\n\nEBENEZER. Ay, ay; God bless Christmas.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. Did you hear that, Scrooge? That is yourself--and you\nsaid God bless Christmas.\n\nSCROOGE. That's true. That was thirty years ago.\n\nFEZZIWIG (_bustling about_). The missis and the girls are down stairs,\nso let's clear away before you can say Jack Robinson. (_They push desk\nback, and decorate rear stage with strings of Christmas greens_,\nFEZZIWIG _talking all the time._) Yo ho! That's right, Dick. String\nthe Christmas greens. Here you are, Ebenezer. We're going to have the\nmerriest time in all the kingdom. (_Dancing a step or two._) I'll\nshow ye how to enjoy life. That's it. Now we're all ready. (_Sings._)\n\"Wreathe the holly, twine the bay!\" Let's have lots of room. Clear\naway, Dick. Here comes the fiddler now.\n\n_Enter_ OLD FIDDLER. _He sits on barrel at rear and starts to \"tune\nup.\"_\n\nOLD FIDDLER. Merry Christmas, sir.\n\nFEZZIWIG. The same to you, granfer, and many of 'em.\n\n_Enter_ MRS. FEZZIWIG _from L._\n\nMRS. FEZZIWIG. Lawsy, lawsy, I thought we'd be late. (_Goes to the two\nboys and puts her arms over their shoulders._) And how's my merry boys\ntonight?\n\nDICK. Finer'n a fiddle.\n\nEBENEZER. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Fezziwig.\n\nMRS. FEZZIWIG. The same to you, dear lads.\n\nFEZZIWIG. Where's the girls, mother?\n\nMRS. FEZZIWIG. Here they come, Flora, Felicity and little Fanny May.\n\n_Enter the_ THREE FEZZIWIG _girls with their escorts. Everybody\nbustles around shaking hands, wishing each other \"Merry Christmas.\"_\n\nFEZZIWIG. And here's the housemaid and her cousin the baker. (_They\nenter and are greeted by all._) The cook and the milkman, and the\nlonesome little boy from over the way! And Ebenezer's young lady, Miss\nBella. (_They enter and are merrily greeted._) And now, mother, what\ndo you say to a rollicking game of Puss in the Corner.\n\n(_They play Puss in the Corner with much loud laughter, clapping\nhands, running about, etc. The_ FIDDLER _plays._)\n\nMRS. FEZZIWIG. Oh, I never was so happy in all my life. This is the\nreal spirit of Christmas.\n\nFEZZIWIG (_hangs up a bit of mistletoe_). And here's the mistletoe.\n\n(_They form a ring and play a ring game with much noise and\nconfusion._)\n\nEBENEZER (_catching_ MRS. FEZZIWIG _under the mistletoe_). I've got\nye! (_Kisses her._)\n\nMRS. FEZZIWIG. God bless the boy!\n\nEBENEZER. And God bless the merry Christmas!\n\nFEZZIWIG. And now a dance, my hearties. Yo ho! For the old time\nChristmas dance.\n\n(_They dance a few figures of Sir Roger de Coverly or the Virginia\nReel. All are dancing wildly, swinging, etc., with plenty of loud\nlaughter, clapping of hands, etc., as the rear curtains are drawn.\nNote: Use brilliant lights from R. and L. upon the rear stage._)\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. What a small matter to make these silly folks so full of\ngratitude and happiness.\n\nSCROOGE (_astonished_). Small? It was the happiest time in my life.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. And yet your master only spent a few pounds of your\nmortal money. Three or four, perhaps. And yet he kindled the true\nspirit of Christmas in all your hearts.\n\nSCROOGE. He could have made us miserable, but he made every day we\nworked for him seem like Christmas.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT (_gazes steadily at Scrooge, who becomes uneasy under the\nlook_). What's the matter now?\n\nSCROOGE (_trying to appear unconcerned, but failing_). Oh, nothing!\n\nFIRST SPIRIT (_gazing at him_). Something, I think.\n\nSCROOGE. No, nothing; only this, I wish I could say a word or two to\nmy clerk just now. That's all. Poor fellow. I'm afraid I've been a\nlittle hard on him. Poor Bob Cratchit!\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. My work is thriving, but my time grows short. Quick, I\nhave another picture for you.\n\n_Soft music. The curtains part, showing the scene as before, but only_\nEBENEZER _and_ BELLA _are discovered. Soft music plays all through\nthis scene._\n\nBELLA. It matters little to you, very little. Another idol has\ndisplaced me, that's all. If it can comfort you and cheer you in time\nto come, as I would have tried to do, I have no just cause to grieve.\n\nEBENEZER (_irritated_). What idol has displaced you in my heart?\n\nBELLA. An idol of gold.\n\nEBENEZER. Well, I must make money. You know that. Poverty is the\nhardest thing in the world.\n\nBELLA. I have seen your nobler instincts fall off one by one. Now\nnothing remains in your heart but the love of gold. Therefore, I am\nreleasing you from your engagement. (_Offers ring._)\n\nEBENEZER. Have I ever sought release?\n\nBELLA. In words, no; but in everything else, yes. I am penniless. If\nyou married me, you would probably regret it. So I release you with a\nheart full of love for the noble man you once were.\n\nEBENEZER. But, Bella--\n\nBELLA. You will soon forget me. Your time and your mind will be full\nof business, seeking after gold. The idol of gold has driven love\nfrom your heart, but may you be happy and contented in the life you\nhave chosen. (_Rear curtains are drawn._)\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. And are you happy and content in the life you have\nchosen, Ebenezer Scrooge?\n\nSCROOGE. No, a thousand times--no. I threw away her love, the one pure\nthing in my life, for gold. And now I'm alone, alone. (_Sinks at desk\nand sobs._)\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. I have shown shadows of times that are passed. Have you\nlearned a lesson from the Spirit of Christmas Past?\n\nSCROOGE. I have, I have; a bitter, bitter lesson.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. And will you see more?\n\nSCROOGE. No, no. Show me no more. Torture me no longer.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT. Remember the lesson you have learned. Remember the\nkindness of your old master. Remember the love of your old sweetheart.\nYour life is barren and bitter, but there is yet time for repentance.\n(_Bell tolls twice._) The signal! My hour is past. On the stroke of\nsix my brother, the Spirit of the Christmas Present, will visit you.\nRemember! Repent! Believe! Farewell, farewell, farewell!\n\nFRONT CURTAIN SLOWLY FALLS.\n\n\nSTAVE II.\n\n_Same scene as Stave I. Lights half up, but candles are not burning.\nRear curtains closed._ SCROOGE _is discovered asleep at his desk. The_\nSPIRIT _of_ CHRISTMAS PRESENT _sits at R., a red light shining on him.\nHe carries a torch in which a red light burns. The bells toll six\ntimes._ SCROOGE _suddenly awakens and gazes at_ SECOND SPIRIT.\n\nSECOND SPIRIT. Arise, arise, Ebenezer Scrooge, and learn to know me\nbetter.\n\nSCROOGE (_frightened_). I don't believe I ever met you before.\n\nSECOND SPIRIT. Probably not. I am the Spirit of Christmas. The Ghost\nof Christmas Present.\n\nSCROOGE. The Ghost of Christmas Present?\n\nSECOND SPIRIT. I am a brother of the little Spirit of Christmas Past\nwho visited you before.\n\nSCROOGE. And are you going to show me all my past misdeeds?\n\nSECOND SPIRIT. Not me. I am going to show you your present misdeeds.\nIt is my mission to show you the love and comradeship of Christmas of\ntoday. I travel among the common people. My torch is their\nbenediction. If there is a slight quarrel or any misunderstandings on\nChristmas Day, I simply throw on them the light of my torch. And then\nthey say it is a shame to quarrel on Christmas Day--the Day of Peace\nand Love. And so it is! God bless it! God bless Christmas Day!\n\nSCROOGE. And what do you intend to show me?\n\nSECOND SPIRIT. I intend to show you the House of Happiness.\n\nSCROOGE. Is it a wonderful palace of gold?\n\nSECOND SPIRIT. It is a humble little kitchen. In fact, the kitchen of\nyour poor clerk, Bob Cratchit. Bob, with his fifteen shillings a\nweek--with his wife and six children--with his shabby clothes and his\nhumble, shabby manners--Bob, with his little four-roomed house, and\nhis struggle to keep the wolf from the door. The Ghost of the\nChristmas Present blesses his abode. Behold!\n\n_Bright, cheerful music._ SCROOGE _and_ SECOND SPIRIT _cross to R. The\nrear curtains open, showing the interior of the Cratchit kitchen.\nEverything neat, but showing extreme poverty. Fireplace C. rear.\nKettle boiling on crane. Table down L.C. with red cloth and lighted\nlamp. Cupboard up R. Old chairs around stage. Several pots of bright\nflowers in evidence. A bird in a cage is singing over the mantel._\nPETER _discovered watching the potatoes boiling in the kettle at the\nfireplace. Enter_ MRS. CRATCHIT _and_ BELINDA _from L._\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. Hurry, Belinda; we must set the table right away. How's\nthe taters, Peter?\n\nPETER (_peeks in the kettle_). Boiling, mammy, boiling.\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. Here, carry the lamp over there.\n\nBELINDA. Yes, ma'am. (_Puts lamp on cupboard._)\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. And now where's the white table cloth?\n\nBELINDA (_getting it from cupboard_). Here it is, mammy. (_They place\ncastor, plates, knives, etc., on table during the following scene._)\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. Whatever has got your precious father, I wonder? He and\nTiny Tim's been at the church these three hours.\n\n_Enter_ BOB _and_ BETTY _from R. They run down and kiss_ MRS.\nCRATCHIT.\n\nBOB. Oh, mumsy, we saw the goose, we did. We peeked in through the\nbakery window and we saw the goose, we did.\n\nBETTY. And we smelled him, too. And we went inside, we did. And the\nbaker asked us what was wantin'. And Bob said he wanted to know which\ngoose was the Cratchit goose.\n\nBOB. And he pointed to the very biggest one, mumsy. Didn't he, Betty?\n\nBETTY. And it was all nice and browny on top. And he said it 'ud be\nready in 'bout twenty minutes. Didn't he, Bob?\n\nBOB. And it was the best looking goose I ever saw, it was. It just\nmade me hungry to see him and to smell him baking.\n\nBETTY. And it had sage and onion stuffing, mumsy, didn't it, Bob?\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. I'm sure there never was such a goose before, and I'm\nsure there never will be such a goose again. How's the 'taters, Peter?\n\nPETER (_looks in kettle_). Boilin', mammy, boilin'.\n\nBOB. Oh, Peter's got on pa's shirt collar, he has. Peter's got on pa's\nshirt collar.\n\nPETER. If I didn't have to mind these 'taters, I'd show you!\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. I can't think what's keeping your father, and your\nbrother Tiny Tim. And Martha wasn't as late last Christmas Day by half\nan hour.\n\n_Enter_ MARTHA _from R._\n\nMARTHA. Here's Martha, mumsy.\n\nBOB (_dragging her down to Mrs. Cratchit_). Here's Martha, mumsy.\n\nBETTY. Oh, Martha, there's such a goose! Isn't there, Bob?\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT (_hugging and kissing_ MARTHA). Why, bless your heart\nalive, my dear, how late you are! (_Takes off her bonnet and shawl._)\n\nMARTHA. We'd a deal of work to finish up last night. I was on my feet\nall day. Oh, why won't people learn to do their Christmas shopping\nearly. If they'd only stop to give a moment's thought to the poor\nclerks.\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. There, there, my dear, sit ye down. Here's the big\nchair, Martha. (BOB _has been sitting in the big chair at R., but_\nMRS. CRATCHIT _simply turns it forward, letting_ BOB _slip to the\nfloor, and seats_ MARTHA _therein._) Well, never mind, as long as\nyou're home at last, Martha. Draw your chair up to the fire and have a\nwarm. God bless you. How's the 'taters, Pete?\n\nPETER (_looking in kettle_). Boilin', mammy, boilin'.\n\nMARTHA (_sitting in front of the fire_). Oh, mumsy, ain't this\nHeavenly? Be it ever so humble there's no place like home.\n\nBETTY (_at door R._). Father's coming, father's coming.\n\nBOB. Hide yourself, Martha. Here, here. (_Pulls her to L._)\n\nBETTY (_helping her_). Hurry up. Hide, hide! (_Exit_ MARTHA _at L._)\n\n_Bright music. Enter_ CRATCHIT _carrying_ TINY TIM _on his shoulder._\nTINY TIM _carries a little crutch._\n\nCRATCHIT (_down C._). Why, where's our Martha?\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT (_down L._). Not coming.\n\nCRATCHIT. Not coming? Not coming--on Christmas Day?\n\nMARTHA (_rushing in from L._). No, father, it's only a joke. Here I\nam, father, here I am. (_Rushes into his arms._)\n\nBETTY (_taking Tiny Tim_). Come on, Tiny Tim, out to the wash-house.\nWe've got something to show you, we have. Ain't we, Bob?\n\nBOB. You bet we have, Tiny Tim. Come and hear the Christmas pudding\nsinging in the wash boiler. Come on! (_Exit_ BOB, _followed by_ BETTY\n_and_ TINY TIM, _at L._)\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT (_taking Cratchit's hat and muffler and hanging them\nup_). And how did Tiny Tim behave in the church, father?\n\nCRATCHIT. As good as gold and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful,\nsitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever\nheard. (_Sits at L. surrounded by all._) He told me, coming home, that\nhe hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple,\nand it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who\nit was who made lame beggars walk and blind men see. (_Trembling\nvoice._) Little Tim is growing stronger and more hearty every day.\n\n_Enter_ TINY TIM _from L._\n\nTIM. I heard the pudding singing a song in the wash boiler, I did.\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. Everything is ready. Bob, you and Betty run across the\nstreet to the baker's and fetch the goose.\n\nBOB. Come on, Betty. (_Runs out R. with_ BETTY.)\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. I've got the gravy to heat, right away. Peter, mash the\npotatoes. Belinda, sweeten up the apple sauce! Martha, the hot plates!\n(_All bustle around, setting table._ CRATCHIT _with_ TIM, _on his\nknee, sit before the fire._)\n\nBELINDA. We haven't got enough chairs, mumsy.\n\nCRATCHIT. This young shaver can sit on my knee.\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. Peter, set up the chairs.\n\n_Enter_ BOB _and_ BETTY _from R. bearing a roast goose in a baking\npan._\n\nBOB. Here it is, mumsy.\n\nBETTY. Here's the goose. (MRS. CRATCHIT _puts it on plate on table._)\n\nBELINDA. What a wonderful goose.\n\nMARTHA. And how big it is! (_All take seats._)\n\nBOB. And don't it smell good!\n\nBETTY. Hurray for the Christmas goose.\n\nTIM. Hurray! (CRATCHIT _makes signal, all bend heads for a silent\ngrace._)\n\nCRATCHIT (_after pronounced pause_). And God bless Christmas Day.\n\nTIM. God bless us all, every one. (CRATCHIT _and_ MRS. CRATCHIT _serve\nthe meal. All eat._)\n\nCRATCHIT. I've got a situation in my eye for Master Peter.\n\nPETER. A situation for me?\n\nCRATCHIT. Yes, sir, for you. Full five-and-sixpence weekly.\n\nALL. Oh, Peter!\n\nBOB. Peter will be a man of business, won't you, Peter?\n\nPETER. What'll I do with all that money?\n\nCRATCHIT. Invest it, invest it, my lad. It's a bewildering income.\n\nMARTHA. Who do you think was in the shop yesterday? You'll never\nguess. A countess and a real lord.\n\nALL. Martha!\n\nMARTHA. A real, live lord, as fine as silk and just about as tall as\nPeter here.\n\nPETER (_pulls his collar up high and tosses his head_). As big as me?\n(WAITS _outside sing two verses of Christmas Carol, as before._)\n\nCRATCHIT (_goes to door_). Here's a sixpence for you, and God bless\nyou all.\n\nWAITS (_outside_). Thankee, sir. Merry Christmas, sir.\n\nBELINDA. And now the pudding.\n\nBETTY. Oh, suppose it should break in turning it out.\n\nMARTHA. Or suppose it isn't done enough.\n\nBOB. Suppose somebody should have got over the wall of the backyard\nand stolen it while we were in here eating the goose.\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. Nonsense. I'll get the Christmas pudding. (_Exits._)\n\nBOB (_very much excited_). Oh, I can smell it, I can. I smell the\npudding.\n\n_Enter_ MRS. CRATCHIT _bearing dish of pudding, decked with holly, and\nblazing._\n\nCRATCHIT. Oh, it's a wonder, mother, it's a wonder.\n\nBETTY. It looks like a little speckled cannon-ball.\n\nBOB. But just wait till you taste it; that's all. (_It is served._)\n\nCRATCHIT (_rises_). I have a toast. Mr. Scrooge! I'll give you Mr.\nScrooge, the founder of the feast.\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT (_indignantly_). The founder of the feast indeed! I\nwish I had him here. I'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon,\nand I hope he'd have a good appetite for it.\n\nCRATCHIT (_remonstrating gently_). My dear, the children! Christmas\nDay.\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. He's an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man. You know\nhe is, Robert. Nobody knows it better than you do.\n\nCRATCHIT (_mildly_). My dear, Christmas Day!\n\nMRS. CRATCHIT. Then I'll drink his health, for your sake and the\nDay's, not for his. Long life to him! A Merry Christmas and a Happy\nNew Year! He'll be very merry and happy, I've no doubt.\n\nCRATCHIT. And now a Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us.\n\nALL (_rising_). A very Merry Christmas.\n\nTIM. And God bless us every one!\n\n(_The tableau curtains are slowly drawn._)\n\nSCROOGE. Spirit, tell me if Tiny Tim will live.\n\nSECOND SPIRIT. I see a vacant seat in the poor chimney-corner, and a\nlittle crutch without an owner. If these shadows remained unaltered by\nthe future, the child will die.\n\nSCROOGE. No, no, kind Spirit! Say he will be spared.\n\nSECOND SPIRIT. If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease\nthe surplus population. Your very words, Scrooge. Decrease the surplus\npopulation. (SCROOGE _hangs his head in shame._) Man, if man you be in\nheart, forbear that wicked cant. Will you decide what men shall live,\nand what men shall die? It may be that in the sight of Heaven you are\nmore worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's\nchild.\n\nSCROOGE. Forgive me, forgive me.\n\nSECOND SPIRIT. You have seen the spirit of Christmas bless this poor\ndwelling. They were not a handsome family, they were not well dressed;\ntheir clothes were scanty and their shoes far from being\nwater-proof--but they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another,\nand contented with the Christmas time. They are my children. Have you\nlearned your lesson? (_Chimes ring._) My hour is spent.\n\nSCROOGE. I have learned the lesson, Spirit of Christmas. I have seen\nhappiness, in spite of poverty. A happiness that all my gold cannot\nbuy. I have seen the Christmas spirit. Forgive me that I ever dared to\nutter a word against Christmas. Forgive me! Forgive me! (_The chimes\ncontinue ringing, the_ SPIRIT _glides out._ SCROOGE _kneels in prayer,\nmuttering, \"Forgive me! Forgive me!\"_)\n\nCURTAIN.\n\n\nSTAVE III.\n\n_Same scene as before, the rear curtains drawn together._ SCROOGE _is\ndiscovered seated at his desk, his head buried in his hands. The_\nTHIRD SPIRIT _stands at C. with green, ghastly light on him from R.\nThis is the only light on the stage. The bells toll six._\n\nSCROOGE (_awakens_). I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas\nYet to Come.\n\nTHIRD SPIRIT (_inclines head_).\n\nSCROOGE. You are going to show me the shadows of things that are to\nhappen in the future?\n\nTHIRD SPIRIT (_inclines head_).\n\nSCROOGE. I fear you more than any I have yet seen. But I know you are\nworking for my welfare, so I will see your visions with a thankful\nheart. Will you not speak to me?\n\nTHIRD SPIRIT (_points downward with R. hand_).\n\nSCROOGE. No word for me. Well, have you anything to show me?\n\nTHIRD SPIRIT (_points to rear stage. The curtains part. Rear stage is\ndraped in white sheets, with bare trees at R. and L. A grave with\ncarved headstone is at C. Blue lights on this scene. Snow falls. Bells\nheard tolling in the distance._)\n\nSCROOGE. A churchyard!\n\nTHIRD SPIRIT (_goes to rear stage, points to tombstone._)\n\nSCROOGE. Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point, answer\nme one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or\nare they the shadows of things that May be, only?\n\nTHIRD SPIRIT (_points to stone_).\n\nSCROOGE (_creeps tremblingly toward it, moving very slowly, bends\nover, reads the name, screams_). Ebenezer Scrooge! My tombstone, my\ngrave! No, Spirit, no, no! (_Rushes to desk, sinks in chair._) I am\nnot the man I was. I am not past all hope. I will honor Christmas in\nmy heart, and try to keep it all the year. Save me, save me!\n\n(_The rear curtains are slowly closed_)\n\nSCROOGE (_rising_). I will keep Christmas in the past, the present and\nthe future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. Heaven be\npraised for this Christmas warning. (_Laughing._) I don't know what to\ndo. I'm as light as a feather, I'm as happy as an angel, I'm as merry\nas a schoolboy. A Merry Christmas to everybody. A happy New Year to\nall the world. Hip, hurrah!\n\n(_Christmas chimes heard outside. Waits singing in the distance._)\n\nWAITS (_singing louder, music, page 169_):\n\n     Christ was born on Christmas Day,\n     Wreathe the holly, twine the bay,\n     Light and Life and Joy is He,\n         The Babe, the Son,\n         The Holy One\n         Of Mary.\n\nSCROOGE (_rushes to the door_). Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. God\nbless ye! (_Flings them a handful of coins._)\n\nFIRST WAIT. Thankee, sir.\n\nSCROOGE (_grabs him and brings him down C._). What day is this, my\nmerry lad?\n\nWAIT. Hey?\n\nSCROOGE. What day is this my lad?\n\nWAIT (_loudly_). Today! Why, Christmas Day!\n\nSCROOGE. Do you know the grocer's in the next street?\n\nWAIT. I should hope I did.\n\nSCROOGE. Do you know whether they've sold the prize turkey that was\nhanging up there? Not the little prize turkey, the big prize turkey?\n\nWAIT. What, the one as big as me?\n\nSCROOGE. Yes, my buck.\n\nWAIT. It's hanging there now.\n\nSCROOGE. Is it? Go and buy it.\n\nWAIT. Aw, go on!\n\nSCROOGE. No, no; I'm in earnest. Go and buy it and tell 'em to bring\nit here, that I may tell 'em where to take it. Come back with the man,\nand I'll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five\nminutes, and I'll give you half-a-crown.\n\nWAIT. Watch me. (_Rushes out._)\n\nSCROOGE. What a fine little fellow. See him run. I'll send the turkey\nto Bob Cratchit's. He shan't know who sends it. It's twice the size of\nTiny Tim. He should be here by now.\n\n_Enter_ CRATCHIT _from R._\n\nCRATCHIT. Morning, sir. (_Takes off cap and muffler, goes to desk,\nstarts to work._)\n\nSCROOGE (_at desk_). What do you mean by coming here at this time of\nday?\n\nCRATCHIT. I'm very sorry, sir. Very, very sorry.\n\nSCROOGE. Sorry? (_Sarcastically._) Yes, you are! Come here! Come here\nat once! Understand!\n\nCRATCHIT (_comes to Scrooge's desk_). If you please, sir--\n\nSCROOGE. I'm not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And\ntherefore (_rises, dances toward_ CRATCHIT, _digs him in ribs_), and\ntherefore I am about to raise your salary.\n\nCRATCHIT. Heavens! The master has gone plumb crazy.\n\nSCROOGE. I'm going to help you and your family. I'm going to be a\nGodfather to all of 'em. The two girls and Master Peter, Bob, Betty\nand to dear Tiny Tim. Home to your family, now. Home to them, Bob\nCratchit--and merry Christmas to you and yours. God bless you.\n\n_Enter_ FRED _from R._\n\nFRED. Here I am again, uncle. Merry Christmas.\n\nSCROOGE (_rushes to him and shakes his hands heartily_). And the same\nto you, my lad, and many of 'em. I'm going to eat Christmas dinner\nwith you this day. I'm going to honor Christmas in my heart, and keep\nit every day in the year. I will live in the past, the present and the\nfuture. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. (_Stands C._,\nFRED _on his R._, CRATCHIT _on his L. He takes their hands._) Merry\nChristmas, boys, and God bless us!\n\nFRED _and_ CRATCHIT. The same to you, sir. God bless us.\n\n(_Rear curtains are drawn back, showing the Cratchit family at the\ntable._ TINY TIM _stands on table._)\n\nTIM. God bless us everyone!\n\n(_All unite in singing Christmas Carol to--_)\n\nSLOW CURTAIN.\n\n\nTHE SCENERY.\n\n[Illustration]\n\nTABLEAUX ON REAR STAGE.\n\nNo. 1. A room. Barrel up L. for fiddler. Desk at R. Sign on wall\n\"Fezziwig and Company.\" Garlands of green.\n\nNo. 2. Ebenezer and Bella. Same scene as No. 1.\n\nNo. 3. Cratchit's kitchen. Table at C. and home-made fireplace at rear\nC. are the only essentials, with a few stools or chairs. Fireplace\nmade of a few boards covered with red paper marked like bricks with\nwhite chalk or paint.\n\nNo. 4. White sheets hang at back and sides. Two small evergreen trees\nnailed in position, white cotton hanging from them. Grave at C.\ncovered with snow. Wooden headstone painted white and small footstone.\nThe headstone may be in the form of a cross or a slab.\n\n\nCOSTUMES.\n\nSCROOGE--Should be played by a thin man of middle age, if possible.\nGray hair. Shabby dark suit. Face lined. No jewelry or colors. If\ndesired to costume the play in the middle Victorian period, Scrooge\nshould wear very tight dark trousers, brown low cut vest, shabby black\nfull-dress coat, soft white shirt, black stock tie, high collar made\nby taking an ordinary turn-over collar and turning it up.\n\nBOB CRATCHIT--Very shabby dark suit. Long white woolen muffler. Old\ncap. Suit should be the same style as that worn by Scrooge, but much\nshabbier. Clothing neatly patched. He wears a sprig of mistletoe or\nholly in Staves 1 and 2.\n\nFRED--Bright, cheerful young man of 22. Overcoat and top hat. Ruffled\nshirt, stock tie and collar as for Scrooge.\n\nMISSION LASSIES--Dark skirts, capes, blue poke bonnets with red ribbon\nacross front.\n\nTHE GHOST OF JACOB MARLEY--Long black robe. Black hood. Chains around\nwaist, with toy money banks on chains. Take a skeleton false face and\nwith gray and black and white grease paint make up your own face like\na false face. Or if desired, wear the false face. Speak in low\nmonotone.\n\nFIRST SPIRIT--A little girl of 10. Long light hair. White Grecian\ndraperies trimmed with tinsel. Crown of tinsel.\n\nSECOND SPIRIT--Man dressed in a red robe, trimmed with sprigs of green\npine. White cotton border to represent snow. Cap of white cotton.\n\nTHIRD SPIRIT--Use same costume and make-up as Marley's Ghost.\n\nWAITS--White smocks, ragged trousers. Felt hats twined with red and\ngreen ribbon. Carry branches of holly.\n\nMR. FEZZIWIG--Low shoes with pasteboard buckles covered with tinfoil.\nShort black trousers. White stockings. Fancy colonial coat and hat.\nWhite colonial wig. A short, stout man of middle age. Always laughing,\nmoving around, etc.\n\nMRS. FEZZIWIG--Middle-aged lady in gay colonial tuck-up dress. White\ncolonial wig.\n\nEBENEZER and DICK--Two young men in colonial costume. No wigs.\n\nTHE FIDDLER--White wig and whiskers. Long white smock. Hat trimmed\nwith ribbons.\n\nBELLA--Neat colonial costume of pink and white. Hair in curls.\n\nTHE CRATCHIT FAMILY--Old-fashioned costumes, faded and worn, but\nbright with cheap lace and gay ribbons. Peter wears a large white\ncollar.\n\n\n\n\nHER CHRISTMAS HAT\n\n[Illustration:\n\nWARREN WILLIAMS   KITTY, HIS WIFE   MISS MINERVA MOCKRIDGE\n\nMAGINNIS GOOGIN   EDDIE             MRS HONORIA GOOGIN\n\nMRS LAURA LACEY   HOGAN             HARD TIMES ANNIE]\n\n\n\n\nHER CHRISTMAS HAT\n\nA FARCE IN ONE ACT.\n\n\nCHARACTERS.\n\nWARREN WILLIAMS             _A Young Architect_\nKITTY                       _His Wife_\nMISS MINERVA MOCKRIDGE      _From Kankakee_\nMAGINNIS GOOGIN             _The Janitor of the Apartment_\nMRS. HONORIA GOOGIN         _His Wife_\nEDDIE                       _The Elevator Boy_\nMRS. LAURA LACEY            _Kitty's Chum_\nHOGAN                       _A Policeman_\nHARD TIMES ANNIE            _A Beggar_\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nTIME OF PLAYING--_About Forty-five Minutes._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nSCENE: _Living room in an apartment house. Furnishings as desired.\nSeveral Christmas wreaths adorn the room._ KITTY _is discovered\ncomfortably seated down L. reading a fashion magazine. The door bell\nat R. rings._\n\nKITTY. Come in.\n\n_Enter_ EDDIE, _the colored elevator boy. He carries several Christmas\npackages._\n\nEDDIE. Yas'm, I'm in.\n\nKITTY. Eddie!\n\nEDDIE. Yas'm, it's me. I 'clare I's loaded up like a reg'lar old Santa\nClaus. (_Laughs loudly._) Yas'm, I sure am.\n\nKITTY. Anything for us, Eddie?\n\nEDDIE. Two packages for you and one for Mr. Williams. Santa Claus is\nsure liberal to you-all.\n\nKITTY (_taking the three packages_). Thank you, Eddie.\n\nEDDIE (_briskly_). I don't usually bring up de mail, Mis' Williams,\nbut this is Christmas Day and mos' everybody is anxious to git all\ndat's comin' to 'em. I knows I is.\n\nKITTY. Have you had a merry Christmas, Eddie?\n\nEDDIE. No'm, not yet. All I got is a yaller and green striped necktie\nfrom (_insert local name_). He's been wearin' it for more'n a year.\n\nKITTY (_has opened smaller package_). Oh, it's from Rannie Stewart.\n(_Takes off tissue paper, disclosing a small bit of white embroidery\ntied with a huge pink bow._) Mercy! Another pin-cushion cover. That\nmakes six I have already. Cost about twenty cents, and I sent her a\nperfectly lovely doily embroidered with scarlet forget-me-nots. I'll\nnever send Rannie Stewart another present as long as I live. (_Throws\nbox and wrappings into waste basket._) Pink! And she knows my rooms\nare in blue and yellow. Eddie!\n\nEDDIE. Yas'm.\n\nKITTY. Here's a little Christmas present for you. (_Hands it to him._)\n\nEDDIE (_reads card on it_). \"Merry Christmas to my Darling Kittens.\"\nIs dat for me?\n\nKITTY. Oh, no; not the card, just the embroidery.\n\nEDDIE (_holding it up_). Lawdy, Mis' Williams, what is dis yere? A\ndust cap?\n\nKITTY. It's a cover for a pin-cushion. Isn't it a dear?\n\nEDDIE. I hopes you'll excuse me, but honest I hain't got no more use\nfor dat thing dan a pussy cat has for a hot water bottle.\n\nKITTY (_opening larger package_). Throw it in the waste basket, Eddie.\nThis is from Warren. I know the handwriting. It looks like a hat.\n(_Opens box and removes wrappings, disclosing a hideous red and orange\nhat._) Heavens, what a nightmare! Red and orange and a style four\nyears old. It must have come from the five and ten cent store. Look at\nthe plume! Oh!\n\nEDDIE (_admiring it_). Um-um, dat shore am a fine present. Your\nhusband certainly am a man ob taste, he shore am.\n\nKITTY (_sarcastically_). Yes, he has wonderful taste, hasn't he? A\nlittle bizarre. No, it's more than bizarre; it's baroque.\n\nEDDIE. It looks like a hat to me.\n\nKITTY. I know what I'll do. (_Wraps it up and puts it back in box._)\n\nEDDIE. Dat certainly was a nice present, Mis' Williams. Must have cost\na heap of money.\n\nKITTY. It probably did. But it isn't my style. And Madame Brunot never\nexchanges hats. What a shame! I suppose he paid an enormous price for\nit and I could have satisfied myself with one for half the money. If\nonly men would allow their wives to select their own Christmas\npresents.\n\n_Enter_ LAURA LACEY _from R._\n\nLAURA. Hello, Kittens. I saw your door open and came right in.\n\nKITTY (_kisses her_). That's right, Lolly. I was just going over to\nyour apartment. I have a little present for you.\n\nLAURA. A present? You dear! (_Kisses her again._)\n\nKITTY. Yes. Here! (_Gives her the box containing the hat._) I hope\nyou'll like it.\n\nLAURA. A hat? Oh, you darling! (_Kisses her again._)\n\nWARREN (_outside L._). Kitty!\n\nKITTY (_goes to door at L._). Yes, Warren?\n\nWARREN. I can't find my collar button.\n\nKITTY. Did you look on the dresser?\n\nWARREN. Of course I did. I've looked every place except in the\nrefrigerator.\n\nKITTY. I'll be back in a minute, Laura. Excuse me. (_Hurries out L._)\n\nLAURA (_opens the box hastily and takes out the hat_). Red and orange!\nHorrors! And I gave her a cut glass cold-cream jar that I got at the\nauction. I wouldn't wear this to a dog fight. Eddie!\n\nEDDIE. Yas'm.\n\nLAURA. You've been a good boy to us all year. I'm going to give you a\nlovely Christmas present.\n\nEDDIE. Is you?\n\nLAURA. I'm going to give you this duck of a hat. (_Holds it up._)\n\nEDDIE (_delighted_). Dat red and yaller hat?\n\nLAURA. Yes. Hurry and put it in the box. I don't want Kitty Williams\nto know I gave her Christmas present away. (_They put it in box._)\n\nEDDIE. Um-um! Dat shore am some Christmas present. Won't ma lady-love\nbe delighted with all dat gorgeousness? I certainly am much obliged to\nyou, Mis' Lacey; I shore am.\n\nLAURA. When Kitty comes back tell her I was called to the 'phone.\n(_Goes to door R._) I'll never give Kitty Williams another present as\nlong as I live. (_Exits R._)\n\n_Enter_ WARREN WILLIAMS _from L._\n\nWARREN. Hello, Eddie. Are you acting as Santa Claus?\n\nEDDIE (_who has put the hat on floor at rear_). Yas, sah; yas, sah.\nI's old Santa Claus to most everybody 'cept maself. Looks like old\nChristmas done passed me by.\n\nWARREN (_sees package on table_). Hello, here's a present for me.\n\nEDDIE. Yas, sah. I brung it up.\n\nWARREN (_opens it_). Cigars! From my wife. (_Looks at box dubiously._)\nShe must have got them at a bargain sale. (_Reads cover._) Santas\nOdoriferous. (_Passes box to Eddie._) Have a cigar, Eddie.\n\nEDDIE. Yas, sah. Thank you, boss.\n\nWARREN (_lighting one_). Now, that certainly is a sensible present. So\nmany women don't know how to select a cigar, but Kitty--\n\nEDDIE (_smoking_). Yas, sah. Your wife certainly am a lady ob\ndiscernibility. She shore am.\n\nWARREN. So many women give their husbands such foolish presents.\n\nEDDIE. De lady in Apartment B done give her husband a pearl La\nValliere for Christmas.\n\nWARREN (_takes cigar from mouth, looks at it a moment, replaces it and\nsmokes furiously_). You like a good cigar, don't you, Eddie?\n\nEDDIE (_removes his cigar, looks at it, replaces it_). Yas, sah. I\nlikes a _good_ cigar.\n\nWARREN. I tell you these are something like cigars, aren't they?\n\nEDDIE. Yas, sah. Dey's sumpin like 'em, boss, but not quite.\n\nWARREN (_chokes and then throws cigar in cuspidor_). I don't believe I\ncare to smoke just now.\n\nEDDIE (_does the same_). Neither does I, boss; neither does I.\n\nWARREN. You wouldn't like a nice box of cigars for a Christmas\npresent, would you, Eddie?\n\nEDDIE (_slowly_). No, sah, I don' 'spects I would. Ma lady-love don't\nlike to hab me smoke no cigars, kase she says it contaminates ma\npresence. Well, I's got to go and deliber de res' ob my Christmas\npackages. Merry Christmas, boss. (_Exit R., carrying the hat in the\nbox._)\n\n_Enter_ KITTY _from L._\n\nKITTY. Warren, I've laid out the costumes in your room. They're too\nlovely for anything.\n\nWARREN. Well, did you get it?\n\nKITTY. Get it?\n\nWARREN. Your Christmas present.\n\nKITTY. Oh, yes, I got it. (_Looks around._) Why, where is Lolly?\n\nWARREN. She probably got tired of waiting and went back to her\napartment. How did you like the hat?\n\nKITTY. It was a dream. You're such a good boy and you have the most\nwonderful taste in the world.\n\nWARREN. Your cigars were just what I wanted.\n\nKITTY. Why aren't you smoking one?\n\nWARREN. I did. Just one.\n\nKITTY. Just one?\n\nWARREN (_hastily_). I mean--I only smoke one cigar in the afternoon,\nyou know. But where is your hat?\n\nKITTY. I'm going to have it fixed over a little, Warren. Just enough\nto suit my own individuality, you know.\n\nWARREN. Jack Dawson gave his wife a cook stove.\n\nKITTY. Speaking of impossible presents, I just got the most horrible\npin-cushion cover from Rannie Stewart. I threw it in the waste basket.\n\nWARREN. That's what comes of promiscuous giving. I told you how it\nwould be. First I decided not to buy anything at all, but I couldn't\nresist that hat. Your tickets to the masquerade dinner and ball are\nthe rest of the present.\n\nKITTY. But I told Lolly we'd take tickets from her.\n\nWARREN. I know. I haven't bought the tickets yet. I meant the money\nfor them was the rest of your present. That and the hat. All my\npresents are beautiful practical things that every one wants.\n\nKITTY. Yes, that's so. You have wonderful taste.\n\nWARREN. I didn't even give Eddie anything.\n\nKITTY. It doesn't matter. Oh, Warren. (_Sits on arm of his chair._)\nI'm so glad we're going to have tonight all to ourselves. Aunt Minerva\nwould have spoiled everything.\n\nWARREN. Is she so very awful?\n\nKITTY. Not awful; just good. Real downright good. And so intellectual.\nI'm sure she'd never approve of a Christmas masquerade.\n\n(_Ring at the bell at R._)\n\nKITTY. See who it is.\n\nWARREN _admits_ MAGINNIS GOOGIN _from R._\n\nGOOGIN. Merry Christmas, sor.\n\nWARREN. The same to you, Googin.\n\nGOOGIN. I jest drapped in to see if you naded any more heat or\nanything like that. My, my, but I've been working hard the day. Sure,\nto be the janitor of an apartment house is no cinch at all, at all.\nAnd paple are not as liberal as they used to be, aven at Christmas\ntime.\n\nWARREN. Have a cigar.\n\nGOOGIN. Thank ye, sor. (_Smokes one._)\n\nKITTY. Warren, you'd better try on your costume. I might have to\nchange something, you know.\n\nWARREN. But I--\n\nKITTY. Please. We haven't got much time. It's after four.\n\nWARREN (_crosses to left_). All right. (_Exits L._)\n\nKITTY. Now, Mr. Googin, I want you to go down stairs and tell your\nwife to come up. I have a nice little present for her.\n\nGOOGIN (_brightening_). Have ye, now? A prisint for Honoria? Sure,\nit's a kind and thoughtful lady ye are.\n\nKITTY. She's at home, isn't she?\n\nGOOGIN. She is that.\n\nKITTY. Ask her to come up here and wish us a merry Christmas.\n\nWARREN _appears at L._\n\nWARREN. Kitty, how does that ruffle thing work? I can't get it around\nmy head at all. I don't know the combination.\n\nKITTY. Oh, I must have sewed it together. Can't you get it over your\nhead?\n\nWARREN. Not without choking myself.\n\nKITTY. Wait a minute. I'll rip it for you. (_Exits L._)\n\nWARREN (_gets box of cigars and hands it to Googin_). Here's a little\nChristmas present, Googin. They're awfully good. I smoked two of them.\n\nGOOGIN (_lights one_). Thank ye, sor.\n\nWARREN. Don't let my wife see you smoking in here. She doesn't like\nit.\n\nGOOGIN (_chokes, takes cigar from mouth, looks at it_). What kind of a\nstogie is it, Mr. Williams?\n\nWARREN. It's pure Havana. Santas Odoriferous.\n\nGOOGIN (_smells it_). It's odoriferous all right, all right. Begorry,\nit smells like someone had been burnin' the beans.\n\nWARREN. That's the way all pure Havanas smell.\n\nGOOGIN. I think I'll chop 'em up and smoke 'em in me pipe. Much\nobliged, sor, and merry Christmas to the both of yeez. Tell yer wife\nthat me and Honoria will be right up. (_Exits R._)\n\n_Enter_ KITTY _from L._\n\nKITTY. It's all right now. I left an opening. And I sewed on the last\npompon. Warren, don't you think we ought to remember the Googins?\n\nWARREN. I do remember them. When people have faces like the Googins\none never forgets them.\n\nKITTY. He's such a good janitor. Really, I think we ought to make them\na little present.\n\nWARREN. But I'm busted, Kitty. Those masquerade tickets will take our\nlast cent.\n\nKITTY. We might give the Googins some little thing here. (_Looks\naround._) I have it!\n\nWARREN. Yes?\n\nKITTY. We'll give them Aunt Minerva's picture.\n\nWARREN. Thank goodness. At last we've found a use for Aunt Minerva's\npicture. Ever since you hung it up there it's haunted me. But the\nGoogins don't want it.\n\nKITTY. I'm sure they will. They're frightfully poor and it would just\nmatch their furniture, I'm sure. Henceforth Aunt Minerva shall shed\nher light in the basement.\n\n_Enter_ MRS. GOOGIN _from R., followed by_ GOOGIN, _smoking a cigar._\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. A merry Christmas to the both of yeez. (_To_ KITTY.) Me\nman Maginnis tould me ye wanted to see me.\n\nKITTY (_at R._). Yes, indeed; come right in.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. I know what it is, darlin'. Sure it's a bit of a prisint\nfer me and the childer, now ain't it, Mrs. Williams? (_Smiles._)\n\nKITTY (_at R._). What a good guesser you are.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. The Widow O'Toole, her in Apartment C, was after givin'\nme one of her ould worn-out waists. But I took her down a peg as quick\nas a wink. I'm a lady, I am, and me mother was a lady before me, and I\ndon't accept cast-off clothes fer Christmas prisints.\n\nKITTY. You don't. (_At R.C. near front with_ MRS. GOOGIN.)\n\nGOOGIN (_at rear L. with_ WARREN). And nather do I.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. The ould bachelor in Apartment F gave me a fine prisint.\nI brung it up to show yeez. (_Shows fancy waste basket, tied with\nribbon bows._) It's a new bunnet. (_Puts it on her head._) Sure,\nthat's a Christmas prisint that touches me heart.\n\nKITTY. I'm going to give you that picture. (_Points to crayon\nportrait._)\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. The picture of the ould lady, is it?\n\nKITTY. Yes. It's a lovely frame.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. And it's a nice lookin' ould lady, too. She looks a\nlittle like me own mother, who before she was married to a Mulvaney\nwas a McShane.\n\nKITTY. Warren, take it down.\n\nWARREN. With pleasure. (_Takes picture down._)\n\nMRS. GOOGIN (_taking the picture_). Sure, I have no picture of me own\nmother at all, at all. More's the pity. I'll jist take this picture\nand then I'll be after tellin' all me frinds that it is a likeness of\nme mother who was a McShane from County Kilkenny. (_Sits R._)\n\nGOOGIN. Would ye decave yer frinds, Honoria?\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. A little deception is the spice of life. And besides it\nlooks enough like herself to be her own photygraft. Don't it,\nMaginnis?\n\nGOOGIN. Sure it looks like a chromo to me.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN (_angrily_). A chromo, is it?\n\nGOOGIN. Yis, or wan of them comic valentines.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. Listen to that now. He says me own mother looks like a\nchromo and a comic valentine. I'm a lady, I am, and me mother was a\nlady before me, and if I wasn't a lady, sure I'd break the picture\nover yer head, Maginnis Googin. Insulted am I and right before me\nface! (_Weeps._) Oh, wurra, wurra, that me own ould mother, who was a\nMcShane, should live to see that day whin her daughter's own husband\nwould call her a comic valentine. (_Weeps and rocks back and forth._)\n\nGOOGIN (_close to her_). I said nawthin' about yer mother, Honoria\nGoogin. I only remarked that the picture resimbled a comic valentine.\nAnd it do. And I'll lave it to Mr. Williams whither I'm right or no.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN (_rises with dignity, goes to_ KITTY). I thank ye kindly\nfer yer prisint, Mrs. Williams, and I wish yeez all the compliments of\nthe season. (_Turns to_ GOOGIN _savagely._) As fer you, Maginnis\nGoogin, ather ye beg me mother's pardon fer yer insults, or it's\nnather bite ner sup ye'll git in my house this night. (_Sails out at\nR. carrying picture and waste basket._)\n\nGOOGIN. Wait a minute. Listen to me, Nora, darlin'. Let me explain.\n(_Follows her out at R._)\n\nWARREN. Well, there goes Aunt Minerva.\n\nKITTY. And she sent it to us last Christmas.\n\nWARREN. I'm glad she decided not to visit us this year. Money is\nscarce at the end of the month and she's better off in Kankakee. New\nYork isn't any place for Aunt Minerva on Christmas Day.\n\nKITTY. I'm afraid auntie's gait is not quite up to New York in the\nholiday season.\n\nWARREN. I think I'll try on my costume. Are you sure I can get into\nthe ruff now?\n\nKITTY. Oh, yes. Wasn't that stupid of me? Just like making a skirt and\nthen sewing up the top of it. (_Exit_ WARREN _at L._)\n\n_Enter_ GOOGIN _from R._\n\nGOOGIN. Sure, it's a sad time we're havin' down in the basement.\n\nKITTY. What has happened?\n\nGOOGIN. Herself has locked the door of the apartment and divil a bit\nwill she open it at all.\n\nKITTY. Why, Mr. Googin!\n\nGOOGIN. I'm in a pretty pickle now. All me money is locked up in me\nhouse with Honoria. You could be doin' me a great favor, if ye would,\nMrs. Williams, mum.\n\nKITTY. What is it, Mr. Googin?\n\nGOOGIN. Go down to the basement and tell me wife to open the door to\nher lawful wedded husband.\n\nKITTY. Why, of course I will. (_Exits R._)\n\nGOOGIN (_sits down comfortably and lights a cigar from his box_).\nSure, it's a sad Christmas for me, so it is, whin Honoria lets an ould\npicture come bechune a man and his wife. (_Smokes._) Begorry, I smell\nsomething. (_Sniffs._) It's awful. (_Rises._) Some wan is burning some\nrubber. Maybe I've got too much hate on in the radiators. (_Sniffs._)\nMy, my, what an awful smell. (_Removes cigar and looks at it, smells\nit, makes horrible grimace._) Oh, ho, so it's you, is it? (_Throws it\nin cuspidor._) No wonder they call it Santas Odoriferous. If that\ncigar came from Havana they'd ought to take it back there again and\ngive it a dacent burial.\n\n_Enter_ EDDIE _from R. with the hat in box._\n\nEDDIE. Say, Mr. Googin!\n\nGOOGIN. What is it, Eddie?\n\nEDDIE. Does you want to buy a nice Christmas present for a lady?\n\nGOOGIN. Maybe I do. What is it?\n\nEDDIE. A nice hat. Right in de latest style. Jes' come home from de\nmillinery store. Mis' Lacey gib it to me for a Christmas present, and\nI ain't got no use for it.\n\nGOOGIN. Begorry, that's a good idea. I'll make peace with me wife.\nEddie, I'll trade ye a nice box of cigars for the hat.\n\nEDDIE. Is 'em some ob Mistah Williamses cigars?\n\nGOOGIN. They are. Santas Odoriferous.\n\nEDDIE. Man, man, I wouldn't deprive you ob dem cigars for de world.\n\nGOOGIN. Sure it's no depravity at all, at all.\n\nEDDIE. I'll sell you de hat for two dollars cash money.\n\nGOOGIN. Two dollars, is it?\n\nEDDIE. Yas, sah, and it's worth 'bout ten dollars. De lady done say\nit's worth _more'n_ ten dollars.\n\nGOOGIN. I'll take it. (_Takes out old wallet, counts out two dollars\nin small change and gives it to_ EDDIE.)\n\nEDDIE. Yas, sah. Dat's right.\n\nGOOGIN. There's yer two dollars.\n\nEDDIE. And dere's yer hat. (_Gives him box._) Excuse me, boss. I hears\nde elevator bell. (_Exits R._)\n\nGOOGIN (_opens box and looks at the hat_). Begorry, I've been robbed.\nEddie! Ye thavin' nagur, come here. Niver in all the world would me\nwife wear an orange hat. She hates orange worse ner pizen.\n\n_Enter_ KITTY _from R._ GOOGIN _has hat in the box._\n\nKITTY. It's all right, Mr. Googin. I had a long talk with your wife\nand she's all ready for you.\n\nGOOGIN. Ready for me? With a flatiron belike.\n\nKITTY. No, no. Her face is wreathed in smiles. She's waiting for you\nwith a real Kilkenny welcome.\n\nGOOGIN (_smiles_). Is she now? Sure, Mrs. Williams, mum, it's a grand\nlady ye are. Excuse me, mum, but this bein' Christmas day, I was\nwonderin' whether you'd be after accepting a wee bit of a Christmas\npresent from the likes of me?\n\nKITTY. Why, Mr. Googin, how very kind and thoughtful.\n\nGOOGIN (_hands her the box_). It's here, mum. A fine hat it is. Right\nout of the millinery store.\n\nKITTY. Oh, thank you so much. I'm just crazy to see it. (_Takes it\nout._) What! (_Stares at it._)\n\nGOOGIN. Ain't it a beauty, mum?\n\nKITTY (_recovering_). Oh, yes, indeed, Mr. Googin. But it is a far too\nexpensive present for you to give me. You'd better give it to your\nwife. Here, I'll wrap it all up again.\n\nGOOGIN. But me wife won't wear orange.\n\nKITTY. Tell her to take off the orange and replace it with a green\nbow. I'll give her a nice green gauze bow.\n\nGOOGIN (_smiling_). Will ye now?\n\nKITTY. Yes. Take it down to her now. It will please her so much.\nShe'll welcome you with open arms.\n\nGOOGIN. I'll do it. (_Takes box._) And I'm much obliged for your\ntrouble, mum. (_Exits R._)\n\nKITTY. Warren!\n\nWARREN (_outside L._). Yes?\n\nKITTY. Are you dressed yet? It's nearly five o'clock.\n\nWARREN. Sure.\n\n_Enter_ WARREN _from L., wearing white Pierrot costume._\n\nKITTY. Oh, it's a dream.\n\nWARREN. I feel like a fool. Say, Kittens, you'd better get into yours.\n\n_Enter_ MRS. GOOGIN _from R. with picture._\n\nMRS. GOOGIN (_not seeing Warren_). Sure I had to run up to tell yeez\nthat iverything was all right, Mrs. Williams. And it's a darlin' y'\nare.\n\nKITTY. Oh, I'm so glad.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN (_seeing Warren_). Howly snakes of Ireland, what's that?\n\nKITTY. That's Warren.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. He gave me such a start. I thought it was wan of them\ncircus clowns got loose, mum.\n\nWARREN (_gayly_). Wait till you see me with my paint on. (_Runs out\nL._)\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. Me husband has given me his consint and I can hang up the\npicture in me drawing-room, and he furthermore says that me mother is\na quane and the picture is her perfect likeness.\n\nKITTY. Then I'm sure you'll have a very merry Christmas, Mrs. Googin.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. I brought you up a little Christmas gift, mum.\n\nKITTY. You did?\n\nMRS. GOOGIN (_takes out the hat_). Ain't it a beauty?\n\nKITTY. Indeed it is. But really you should keep that for yourself.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. Indade I'll not. I says to Maginnis, says I, \"She's\ntrated me like a lady, and I'll trate her like a lady also.\" So,\nhere's yer Christmas prisint and many happy returns of the day.\n\nKITTY. But this is such an expensive present, Mrs. Googin. Really, I--\n\nMRS. GOOGIN (_loftily_). What's ixpense bechune frinds?\n\nKITTY. I don't think I ought to accept such a lovely gift.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. Ye'll be hurtin' me feelings if ye don't. I'm a lady,\nMrs. Williams, and me mother was a lady before me, and I have very,\nvery sensitive feelings.\n\nKITTY (_sighs, then takes hat and box_). Very well, Mrs. Googin. Thank\nyou so much.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. And now I'll be goin' back to the basement. I hope ye\nhave a pleasant time at yer party, mum.\n\nKITTY. Thank you, Mrs. Googin.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. Are you goin' to fix yerself up like a circus clown, too?\n\nKITTY. Oh, no. I'm to be Pierrette.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. Pierrette, is it? Well, look out ye don't git pinched.\nMerry Christmas. (_Exit R._)\n\n_Enter_ WARREN _from L._\n\nWARREN. Kittens, there's a poor beggar woman out on the back steps.\nCan't you find something for her?\n\nKITTY. No, I haven't a thing. (_Sees hat box._) Oh, yes, I have! Tell\nher to come in. (_Exit_ WARREN _at L._) Now, I'll be rid of my\nChristmas hoodoo. (_Puts hat in box._)\n\n_Enter_ HARD TIMES ANNIE _from L., weeping loudly._\n\nANNIE. Oh, oh! On Christmas day! Just to think of it. Oh! (_Wails._)\n\nKITTY. What is it, my good woman? What's the matter?\n\nANNIE. Oh, mum, it's starving I am. A poor lone widow with sivin\nlittle children huddled up in the straw in a stable. No fire have we,\nno coal have we, no food have we. And on Christmas day, too.\n(_Cries._) Could ye let me have a little money, mum?\n\nKITTY (_looks in her purse and shows audience that it is empty._) No,\nI haven't any money.\n\nANNIE. And it's such hard times we're having. With the cost of living\nso high and me with sivin children. No fire have we, no coal have we,\nno food have we.\n\nKITTY. I'm so sorry for you.\n\nANNIE. Thank ye kindly, mum. And can you help me a little?\n\nKITTY. How would you like a nice winter hat? It's perfectly new and\nhas never been worn. It's red and orange.\n\nANNIE. Oh, lady, yer a fallen angel, so yer are, fallen right down\nfrom the skies. I'd rather have a nice winter hat than have a bushel\nof coal.\n\nKITTY. There it is. And merry Christmas.\n\nANNIE. Thank you, mum. Has it got flowers on it or feathers?\n\nKITTY. Feathers.\n\nANNIE. Oh, thank ye. Yer a fallen angel; indade ye are, mum.\n\nKITTY. You'd better go out this way. (_Points to R._) I don't want my\nhusband to see what I've given you.\n\nANNIE. I know how it is, mum. I've had two of 'em meself. But nather\none was a circus clown, mum. I suppose that makes 'em bad-tempered.\n\nKITTY. Yes, I suppose so. Good-bye.\n\nANNIE (_crosses to door R._). Merry Christmas, mum. And bless ye for\nwhat ye have done for me this day. Yer a fallen angel, mum; indeed yer\nare. (_Exits R._)\n\n_Enter_ WARREN _from L._\n\nWARREN. Get rid of her?\n\nKITTY. Yes. Gave her some little things. Now I must hurry and dress.\nHow nice you look. I'll be ready in ten minutes. (_Exit L._)\n\n(_Ring at bell R._)\n\nWARREN (_opens the door, admitting_ LAURA). Hello, Lolly.\n\nLAURA. Are you all ready?\n\nWARREN. Kittens has just started to dress. Did you get the tickets?\n\nLAURA. Yes. Here they are. Jim's waiting for me.\n\nWARREN (_takes the two tickets_). Thank you.\n\nLAURA. I had an awful time getting the places reserved.\n\nWARREN. Ten dollars, aren't they?\n\nLAURA. Yes.\n\nWARREN. Just a minute, till I get the money. Sit down. Kittens has the\nmoney. (_Exit L._)\n\nLAURA (_calls after him_). Hurry, please, Warren.\n\nWARREN (_outside_). All right.\n\nLAURA _crosses to R. and sits. She takes up the fashion magazine and\nreads a moment. Rises impatiently and walks around the room, showing\nmarked impatience. After a pause_ KITTY _enters from L. wearing a\nkimono._\n\nKITTY. Laura!\n\nLAURA. Yes, dear.\n\nKITTY. That hat I gave you!\n\nLAURA. The hat?\n\nKITTY. Yes, the one I gave you for Christmas. Warren had just given it\nto me as a present, and as it wasn't becoming to me so I gave it to\nyou. Where is it?\n\nLAURA. Why?\n\nKITTY. He put ten dollars in it at the millinery shop. It was hidden\nin the lining. The ten dollars for the tickets.\n\nLAURA. Good heavens!\n\nKITTY. So that pays you for the tickets, doesn't it?\n\nLAURA. But I gave it away.\n\nKITTY. Why, Laura!\n\nLAURA. It wasn't becoming to me, either. I gave it to Eddie.\n\nKITTY (_weakly_). To Eddie?\n\nLAURA. Of course I didn't know it had ten dollars hidden in the\nlining.\n\nKITTY. I didn't think you'd treat my present that way.\n\nLAURA. Now, Kittens--\n\nKITTY (_angrily_). Gave it to the negro elevator boy. Well, I like\nthat! That hat cost ten dollars.\n\nLAURA. I never could have worn it.\n\nKITTY. But you shouldn't have given it away.\n\nLAURA. Warren gave it to you and you gave it away.\n\nKITTY. That's different.\n\nLAURA. Shall I explain to Warren?\n\nKITTY. No; for goodness sakes, don't do that! I haven't a cent to my\nname and I can't explain to Warren. How can I tell him I gave his\nChristmas present away?\n\nLAURA. Send for Eddie and make him give you the ten dollars.\n\nKITTY. Eddie hasn't got it.\n\nLAURA. What did he do with it?\n\nKITTY. I don't know. A beggar woman has the hat now. I saw her with\nit.\n\nLAURA. Then she has the ten dollars.\n\nKITTY. Laura, you'll have to trust me until the first of the month.\n\nLAURA (_coldly_). Oh, very well. It's of no importance.\n\nKITTY. Now, Laura--\n\nLAURA (_crosses to door R._). In the future I'd advise you to keep\nyour Christmas presents. I must go now. Jim is waiting for me.\n\nKITTY. Lolly--\n\nLAURA. We'll probably see you at the dinner. (_Exit R._)\n\nKITTY (_crying_). I'll never give another present away as long as I\nlive.\n\nWARREN (_outside L._). Hurry, Kittens; it's almost time to go.\n\nKITTY. In a minute. (_Exits L._)\n\n_Enter_ EDDIE _from R., followed by_ MISS MINERVA. _She carries the\nhat in her hand._\n\nMISS M. That will do, boy. Mr. Williams is my nephew. I'll find him.\n\nEDDIE. Lawdy, now she's got de hat. (_Exits R._)\n\n_Enter_ WARREN _from L._\n\nWARREN (_to_ MISS M.). I beg pardon?\n\nMISS M. Heavens!\n\nWARREN. What's the matter?\n\nMISS M. I thought you were a ghost.\n\nWARREN. I am Mr. Williams.\n\nMISS M. You are? (Drops everything, runs to him and shakes both his\nhands heartily.) Don't you know me?\n\nWARREN. No; never saw you before in my life.\n\nMISS M. I'm your Aunt Minerva.\n\nWARREN. Not Aunt Minerva Mockridge from Kankakee?\n\nMISS M. (_positively_). Aunt Minerva Mockridge from Kankakee.\n\nWARREN. But I thought you said you weren't coming.\n\nMISS M. I changed my mind. And I wanted to surprise you and Kitty.\n\nWARREN. Well, you did. You've surprised us all right.\n\nMISS M. Let me sit down. I've had such an adventure. (Holds up hat.)\nSee what I brought you?\n\nWARREN. A hat?\n\nMISS M. Yes, what's left of it.\n\nWARREN. It looks just like the one I gave Kittens for a Christmas\npresent.\n\nMISS M. I got out of the taxi at the corner and was walking along\ntrying to find the house when all of a sudden I heard a great\ncommotion down the street behind me. I turned around and just then a\nman darted right at me, slapped the hat in my hand and was off like\nthe wind. A crowd of policemen were chasing him. I slipped into the\nvestibule of a building and luckily it was this house.\n\n_Enter_ EDDIE _and_ HOGAN _from R._\n\nEDDIE. You can't come in yere. Not unless you got a search warrant.\n\nHOGAN. I saw her run into the vestibule, boy--and I'll find her if I\nhave to search every apartment from piano to ice-box. (_Sees_ MISS M.)\nThere she is now. That woman just came up in the elevator, didn't she?\n\nEDDIE. Yassir, boss; dat's de one.\n\nHOGAN (_goes to_ MISS M.). Come on with me. I guess I've got you at\nlast.\n\nMISS M. What do you mean?\n\nWARREN. Officer, this lady is my aunt. I am Mr. Williams, the owner of\nthis apartment.\n\nHOGAN (_to_ EDDIE). Is that man the owner of this apartment?\n\nEDDIE. Yessir, boss; dat's Mr. Williams.\n\nHOGAN. And you say this lady is your aunt?\n\nMISS M. Of course I'm his aunt.\n\nHOGAN. That'll do you! Keep still or I'll put the bracelets on ye.\n\nWARREN. Well, she _said_ she was my aunt.\n\nHOGAN. Have ye ever seen her before?\n\nWARREN. No, sir.\n\nHOGAN (_turns to_ EDDIE _at R._). Ye hear? He thinks she's his aunt\nand yet he niver seen her before. This woman is a crook. One of the\nworst in the country. She's old Boston Bell and is wanted in Omaha for\nhighway robbery, in Salt Lake for arson, in Chicago for shoplifting,\nin Columbus for assault and battery, and in New York for receiving\nstolen goods.\n\nWARREN. And I thought she was my Aunt Minerva.\n\nMISS M. (_at L.C._). Warren Williams, are you going to let that man\nstand there and insult me? Throw him out of your house.\n\nHOGAN (_C._). I was standing on me beat when I saw Dopey Daniel snatch\na swell hat from a poor old woman. She screams and he hot-foots it\ndown the street with me after him. This dame was standing at the\ncorner. She was working with him. He saw we had him all right, so he\nslipped the hat to her and she made a getaway up the elevator. Come\non, Boston Bell. I've got you with the goods on you. I want that hat\nfor evidence. Now will you come easy or must I use the cuffs? (_Pulls\nher to door R._)\n\nMISS M. (_screams_). Kitty, Kitty! Help, help!\n\n_Enter_ KITTY _from R._\n\nKITTY. Aunt Minerva! (_Rushes to her and embraces her._) What is the\nmeaning of all this?\n\nAUNT M. (_at R., weeping_). Oh, Kitty, Kitty, I'm arrested. On my\nfirst visit to New York. Oh, why did I ever leave Kankakee?\n\nKITTY. Warren, make him release her.\n\nHOGAN. Are you sure she's your aunt?\n\nKITTY. Of course I am. Why, we have her picture. There it is. Oh,\nno--I'd forgotten.\n\nHOGAN. I believe the whole gang of yeez is a bunch of crooks. Yeez\nlook like crooks, all drissed up like clowns and things.\n\nKITTY. Eddie, call the janitor.\n\nEDDIE. Here he comes now.\n\n_Enter_ GOOGIN _from R. with_ MRS. GOOGIN.\n\nHOGAN. Maginnis Googin, is it yerself?\n\nGOOGIN. What's goin' on here, Hogan. Who's been pinched?\n\nHOGAN. This dame is Boston Bell. We got her with the goods. She stole\na hat.\n\nKITTY. Why, that's my hat. Isn't it, Warren?\n\nWARREN. I thought it looked familiar. (_Takes hat._) Yes, that's your\nhat. (_Takes two five-dollar bills from the lining._) Now, I know it's\nyour hat.\n\nKITTY. But where did you get it, Aunt Minerva?\n\nMISS M. Some man ran into me in the street and left it in my hand.\n\nGOOGIN. Hogan, sure I think you've made a mistake.\n\nHOGAN. Do you know these folks, Googin?\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. I know them, Officer Hogan. It's the Williamses, and\nthey're both perfect ladies. And I'm a lady, and so was me mother\nbefore me.\n\nGOOGIN. Hush, Honoria. Ye've been drinkin' too much frozen egg nog.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN (_crying_). And the ould lady that ye've pinched, sure I\nblave it's me ould mother from Kilkenny, Ireland. Oh, Maginnis,\nthey've pinched me ould mother.\n\nGOOGIN. It's all a mistake, Hogan.\n\nHOGAN (_to_ MISS M.). Ye say a man ran into you in the street and left\nthis hat in your hand?\n\nMISS M. Yes, sir.\n\nHOGAN (_to_ KITTY). And you say it's your hat?\n\nKITTY. Of course it is.\n\nWARREN (_goes to_ HOGAN, _gives him a five-dollar bill_). I think that\nwill be all, officer. Merry Christmas.\n\nHOGAN. Merry Christmas to all of yeez. (_Exits L., followed by_\nEDDIE.)\n\nKITTY. Mrs. Googin, this is my aunt, Miss Mockridge from Kankakee.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. Sure, I thought it was me ould mother from Kilkenny. Ye\nlook enough like her to be her own twin sister, ye do.\n\nGOOGIN. I came up to inform yeez that the taxi do be waiting.\n\nMISS M. Taxi? Are you going out?\n\nKITTY (_looks at_ WARREN). Well--er--that is--er we--\n\nWARREN. Yes, er--we thought you weren't coming.\n\nMISS M. Where are you going?\n\nKITTY. We were going to a masquerade dinner dance, but now that you've\ncome we'll stay at home.\n\nGOOGIN (_to_ MISS M.). Ye'd better go to the dance, mum. Ye'll have\nthe time of yer life. Faith, they've nothin' like it in Kankakee.\nCome on, Honoria.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN. All of yeez come down and take tea wid me in the marnin'\nfer breakfast. Merry New Year and happy Christmas to all. I'm a lady\nand me mother was a lady before me, and I knows a lady whin I sees\nher. So I wish yeez all a happy Christmas and many of them. (_Exits R.\nwith_ GOOGIN.)\n\nWARREN. Shall I send the taxi away, Kittens?\n\nMISS M. I should say not. I'm going to that masquerade ball, if it's\nthe last thing I ever do. That's why I came to New York. (_Takes out\npurse._) Here's a hundred and twenty dollars. That's enough to see us\nthrough until breakfast, isn't it?\n\nKITTY. We mustn't keep the taxi waiting. Come on, auntie. We're going\nto show you the time of your life.\n\nMISS M. But I haven't any costume.\n\nKITTY (_puts the hat on her head_). There you are. Now you're all\nfixed. I knew I could make some use of my Christmas hat. Hurry,\nWarren. (They hurry out R. as curtain falls.)\n\nCURTAIN.\n\n\nNOTES ON THE PRODUCTION.\n\nThis little satire on Christmas giving has been written to provide\nforty-five minutes of amusement for a holiday audience. The stage\nsettings are very simple, a room with two doors being all that is\nrequired.\n\n\nCOSTUMES.\n\nWARREN--A brisk young business man of about twenty-five. Ordinary\nwinter suit for first entrance. Change to white Pierrot costume with\nwhite pumps, white socks, white pajama suit with large black pompons,\nor discs of black satin, on it. Large stiff ruff of white tulle. Face\nwhitened with grease paint. Black patches. Black satin half-mask in\nhand. Head covered with close fitting white covering in Pierrot style.\n\nKITTY--A bright, vivacious young wife of twenty-two. Afternoon dress\nat first, but choose one that may be quickly changed. Changed to\nkimono as indicated in text. On last entrance she wears a Pierrette\ncostume, white pumps, hose, white tulle dress with very full skirts,\nankle length. White clown cap. The dress may be trimmed with black\nsatin discs, or pompons, or toy balloons in festoons, as desired.\n\nMISS MINERVA--Aged forty-five. Gray hair. Spectacles. Dark traveling\ncloak and hat. Grip. She discards cloak and hat when Hogan releases\nher, showing a very gay dress beneath. Faint gray wrinkles of grease\npaint on face.\n\nGOOGIN--Irish janitor. Red wig and whiskers all around face. Face\nreddened. White grease paint on upper lip. Red eyebrows. Old suit and\ncardigan jacket.\n\nMRS. GOOGIN--Portly lady in gaudy dress of calico. Gray hair, parted.\nGreen bows on costume. Face red and lined with gray grease paint. Use\na decided Irish brogue.\n\nEDDIE--Negro elevator boy. Face blackened with burnt cork. Uniform\nmuch too small for him. Negro wig.\n\nLAURA--Afternoon dress for first entrance. No hat, as she lives in\nthe same apartment house. Masquerade costume and opera cloak for last\nentrance.\n\nHOGAN--Irish policeman. Uniform, helmet, billie, etc.\n\nANNIE--Old shoes, very ragged dress, old gray shawl on head.\nStraggling locks of white hair show beneath shawl. Red patches. Face\nheavily lined with gray grease paint. Very old and dirty apron.\n\n\n\n\nDances, Drills and Story-Plays\n\nBy NINA B. LAMKIN\n\n_Director of Normal Course in Physical Education at Northwestern\nSchool of Oratory and Physical Education, Evanston, Ill._\n\n[Illustration]\n\nFourteen Folk Dances of various countries, suitable for schools,\nclubs, churches, settlements, etc. Twenty-six simple AEsthetic Dances,\nas Dances of the Seasons, Flower Dances, Brownies, Fairies, Bluebirds,\netc. Twenty-four Drills for every day and holidays, unusual, artistic\nand worth while. Forty-one Rhythms and twelve Story-Plays to be used\nwith primary ages in every-day recreation, in dramatization and in\nentertainments. There is something in this book to fit any occasion\nwhere such material is desired. For Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls,\nGymnasium Work, Play Festivals, Field Days, etc. Everything fully\ndescribed. Suggestive music named and description of costumes given.\nContains eight original photographs, half-toned, of various dances.\n\n=Beautiful cloth binding, lettering and design in two colors, clear,\nattractive type. Price, $1.25=\n\n=T.S. Denison & Company, Publishers=\n623 S. Wabash Ave.           CHICAGO\n\n\n\n\nMerry Monologues\n\nBy MARY MONCURE PARKER\n\n[Illustration]\n\nThese selections are wholly original and sufficiently varied in\ncharacter and sentiment to enable the reader to make up a well-rounded\nprogram in which high comedy mingles with farce and pathos in a manner\nsuitable for all occasions. Nineteen monologues and nine short poems\nwhich are especially adapted to that particular form of entertainment\ncalled the pianologue, viz., reading to music.\n\nSome of the selections are new but most of them are the pick from the\nauthor's wide repertoire, which she has used throughout this country\nand in England. They bear the stamp of enthusiastic public approval\nand are now first offered to the public.\n\n=Contents:= On the Street Car; The Renaissance of the Kiss; Husbands Is\nHusbands; Oh, Friend of Mine; George's First Sweetheart; Bobby and the\nNew Baby; Lucile Gets Ready for a Dance; Mandy's Man and Safety First;\nMaggie McCarthy Goes on a Diet; Mrs. Climber Doesn't Like Notoriety;\nLucindy Jones Expects a Legacy; Grown Folks Is so Awful Queer; At the\nMovies; The Gingie Boy; Ode to a Manikin; Isaacstein's Busy Day; Like\nPilgrims to the Appointed Place; Mrs. Bargain Counter Meets a Friend;\nMother Mine; Maggie McCarthy Has Her Fortune Told; In Vaudeville;\nUncle Jim and the Liniment; The Funny Story; In the Milliner Shop;\nMrs. Trubble's Troubles; George's Cousin Willie; When Lucindy Goes to\nTown; A Question.\n\n=Beautiful cloth binding, lettering and design in two colors, clear,\nattractive type. Price, $1.25=\n\n=T.S. Denison & Company, Publishers=\n623 S. Wabash Ave.           CHICAGO\n\n\n\n\nLet's Pretend\n\nA Book of Children's Plays\n\nBy LINDSEY BARBEE\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\"Come--let's pretend!\" has been the slogan of all childhood. A few gay\nfeathers have transformed an everyday lad into a savage warrior; a\nsweeping train has given a simple gingham frock the dignity of a court\nrobe; the power of make-believe has changed a bare attic into a gloomy\nforest or perhaps into a royal palace. These six plays will appeal to\nthe imagination, to the fun-loving nature and to the best ideals of\nall children.\n\nCONTENTS.--The Little Pink Lady (6 Girls); The Ever-Ever Land (16\nBoys, 17 Girls); When the Toys Awake (15 Boys, 5 Girls); The Forest of\nEvery Day (5 Boys, 7 Girls); A Christmas Tree Joke (7 Boys, 7 Girls);\n\"If Don't-Believe Is Changed Into Believe\" (21 Boys, 15 Girls). Full\ndescriptions for producing; easy to costume and \"put on.\" Clever\nillustrations showing the appearance of each character. The most\ncharming children's plays ever written.\n\n=Beautiful cloth binding, lettering and design in two colors,\nattractive type.=\n\n=Price, $1.25=\n\n=T.S. Denison & Company, Publishers=\n623 S. Wabash Ave.           CHICAGO\n\n\n\n\nImpromptu Magic, with Patter\n\nBy GEORGE DE LAWRENCE\n\n[Illustration]\n\nA supreme collection of clever, off-hand tricks that can be presented\nwith little or no practice, require no sleight-of-hand skill and are\nindependent of any apparatus. The only articles called for are\nordinary coins, cards, matches, etc., such as are always at hand. An\nexcellent line of patter, in which humor predominates, is included for\neach trick and there are numerous illustrations.\n\nAmong the many clever but easy effects taught may be mentioned the\nlemon and dollar bill trick without sleight-of-hand, several baffling\nmind reading effects, card in the pocket, vanishing drinking glass,\npenetrating match, traveling coins, four-coin trick, coins out of hat,\ndime and penny trick, swallowing a knife, torn and restored paper\nnapkin, etc.\n\nDr. A.M. Wilson, editor of \"The Sphinx,\" who contributes the\nintroduction, says:\n\n\"Many books and booklets on patter, numerous works, little and big, on\nmagic, have been published. But not until this work of DeLawrence has\nthere been one that covered both, and with material that anyone of\nreasonable intelligence could use successfully and satisfactorily.\nHaving read the manuscript I congratulate the author on his wise\nselection of tricks and on the sensible and appropriate patter.\"\n\n=Attractively bound in art boards, fully illustrated, well printed on\ngood paper.=\n\n=Price, $1.00=\n\n=T.S. Denison & Company, Publishers=\n623 South Wabash Avenue      CHICAGO\n\n\n\n\nWinning Monologues\n\nBy LILIAN HOLMES STRACK\n\n[Illustration]\n\nFor contests and public speaking. Eighteen splendid original\nselections for platform use in book form. The author has successfully\nportrayed various \"types\" in their most human and amusing aspects, and\npresents each monologue in a form that complies with the contest rules\ngenerally prevalent. Each of these readings is a real cross-section of\nlife. The humor is essentially human, and not merely witty. Various\ntypes of human beings are represented, all in a fashion that has a\nsure appeal to any audience. The book is invaluable for professional\nentertainers as well as for contest use.\n\nCONTENTS.--Johnny Gets Ready for Company; Aunt Polly at the Rural Aid\nSociety; The Strap-Hangers; Little Maymie Attends the Movies; The\nCheerful Laundress; John Tells a Bedtime Story; Aunt Polly Has\nCallers; Just Mary Louise; Friday Afternoon in Our School; When Edna\nTelephones; Johnny Does His Home Work; Look Pleasant, Please! Little\nMaymie Visits the City; In the Dark of the (Honey) Moon; The\nPunishment of Mary Louise; Practicing Domestic Science, or How Girls\nCook; On Contest Night; The Telephone Exchange at Junction Center.\n\n=Beautiful cloth binding, lettering and design in two colors,\nattractive type.=\n\n=Price, $1.25=\n\n=T.S. Denison & Company, Publishers=\n623 South Wabash Avenue      CHICAGO","title":"The White Christmas and other Merry Christmas Plays","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":47470}