A. D. Nelson

“ I command thee!
(The three resume circling and re-commence the chorus, Erebus and Noctis chanting louder.)
All We’re watching the pot and it’s going to boil,
The air will get hot and this region will spoil,
But that matters not for we——
Black Witch (Interrupting by beating the kettle with rod and screaming furiously) Curses upon thee, dead! black! pot!!
(Enter White Fairy at back of stage at word “pot”. Fairy raises wand. Light appears inside of kettle as Black Witch beats it, to be so timed that the glow appears at instant White Fairy raises wand.) ”

“ During next lines Black Witch raises arms aloft in supplication and backs toward place of Mirth’s entrance.)
Black Witch (Moving backwards, hands aloft in earnest supplication.) Come, Wind of night! oh, Night Wind come! Thy blasting fury loose upon this world! (Pauses, drops arms, no response, again muses sadly.) Ah! Wind of Night, on which I’ve drifted through the sky these thousand years, hast thou too deserted me? (Again raises arms aloft and cries in desperation) Will none come forth to do my will? ”

“ Children all glance towards dead Witch then towards Fairy.)
White Fairy What is it, children?
Mirth Good Fairy, we want no one to die.
White Fairy (touching Mirth with wand) Bless you, dear messenger of mine, but the witch is evil and cannot live.
Jollity Can’t you give the witch her life but keep her evil power away from her?
Children (in unison) Please good Fairy, restore the Witch’s life! Please oh! please.
White Fairy (pondering) Your pleas move me. I will restore the witch’s life. In Spirit world she can no longer live. A mortal, she must dwell upon the earth. ”

“ White Fairy (calling) Come Mirth and Jollity! Come, children, come.
(Mirth and Jollity and children, come tripping in with exclamations of childish delight, etc., until they spy the dead Witch; then their cries are hushed, their tripping ceases and they move furtively on tip-toe over to White Fairy glancing at her for explanations.)
White Fairy Black Witch is dead. Her power is [14] gone, and Hallowe’en shall always be a hallowed evening—holy night! redeemed from evil by the power of light. Let men rejoice and women sing. Let children play and dance. ”

“ Black Witch (Rather amused as if White Fairy were a foe of small consequence.) Ah, ha! White Fairy is now revealed as Jove’s agent to work my ruin and she hath sent Mirth, her messenger, to haunt my footsteps and bedevil me! (chuckles, then calls) Come [8] Erebus, Imp of Blackness, come! Make haste and drive this Mirth away.
(Erebus groans, off stage, left)
(Enter Erebus from left, treading slowly and heavily)
Black Witch What ails thee, Imp of Blackness? ”

“ From that proud eminence brought low by me and now decreed to devilish deeds and dark! Thus shall it ever be. (Calling toward left, off stage.) Come now my hosts of somber reputation. Make merry! With fell design make we night hideous. ”

“ Music starts up. Any lively dance song for children such as can be found in any school music book will be suitable here. All clasp hands and begin to circle around kettle, singing and dancing. Music breaks off and all stop singing abruptly in middle of first stanza. ”

“ Remember, that in addition to our entertainments we carry a large line of publications of other dealers. If in doubt as to the entertainment you desire, send particulars and we will suggest something to fit. ”