Elsie Hobart Carter

“ Toinette. Oh, I'm so glad, because I love fairies. The children do too, and they are always teasing me to tell them fairy tales.
Hollyberry. I am the leader of the band of elves. My name is Hollyberry, and I've come with a message to you. I told you the elves and fairies all like you. So we are going to give you a Christmas present.
Toinette. Oh, oh! how kind you are.
Hollyberry [arms folded, nodding his head] . Yes, we are. Very kind. But people don't always think so. Toinette, how would you like to be invisible? ”

“ Mistress Longlane. Why, it's like Christmas every day in the year!
Dolly. Aren't you glad we've come to live in this village, Mother? [Clasps her hands.]
Mistress Longlane. That I am, my dear. Why, it's enough to make one laugh just to hear of it.
Mistress Spinning. That it is, Mistress. You're quite right. The Christmas Monks are so full of the Christmas spirit that it lasts them all the year round, and they just go about putting heart into them that get sad and discouraged. ”

“ Now, dear, isn't there one more you would like? [Tibbie's confusion overwhelms her.] I'll choose one for you, and you shall call her Cynthia, after me. How would you like that? Suppose we say this one with the forget-me-nots? She looks a little like me, doesn't she, with her hair parted in the middle? Her dress is made of a piece of one of my own, and that blue is my favorite color. [Rising.] There, Tibbie, now you have two whole dollies, and part of another. You must run right home to bed. A Merry Christmas to you, dear child. ”

“ Sally. Well, and would I be bringing you so far just to show you a dollar? This is worth as much as a dollar, every individual one of them. Tibbie, it's just the grandest sight you ever seen—pink and blue and yellow and striped——
Tibbie [after looking her fixedly in the face, now almost shouts] . It's marbles!
Sally. Aw, but you're downright stupid, Tibbie! I don't mind telling you I'm disappointed. You're just a common, everyday sort of a young one, with no idear of grandness in your idears, at all! And you don't seem to keep a hold on more than one notion at a time. First it's a dollar. ”

“ Gretel. Then, Hans, if we've been good children, I 'most know St. Nicholas will come.
Hans [dancing to look out of door] . Oh, he will! He will! Mother, give me something to do so I won't keep thinking about it.
Gretel. Oh, Hans, let's have a story!
Hans. Oh, yes, Mother, please tell us a story.
Mother. Bring your little stools, then I will tell you a Christmas story.
Gretel [coaxingly] . Mother, don't you think it is too dark to spin? Let me sit in your lap.
Mother. You funny little fairy! [Takes her on her lap. Hans brings a stool and sits at his Mother's feet nursing his knee.] ”

“ I never had but one brother myself, and I'm sure I was quite happy. What they want with ten brothers and sisters is beyond me. A dozen children in the house would be more than their father and Julia and I could stand, to say nothing of nurse and John. The two alone can think of quite enough mischief to drive the household crazy. I suppose our having so many friends when we were children made a difference. We never used to be alone at Christmas. ”

“ Cicely. But, Gillian, what was it thy grandam told about the portraits?
Gillian. Oh, verily, my sweet. Thinking about the secret door I had well-nigh forgot. My grandam said that if all the house was still and sleeping, just on the stroke of twelve every Christmas Eve, Sir Philip and my Lady Geraldine do move and breathe, step forth from-187- their picture frames, clasp hands, and move together in an ancient dance!
Rafe. Do they?
Cicely and Allison. Oh-h-h! [Drawing near to Gillian with a little delighted shiver.]
Lady K. [without] . Gillian, Gillian! Come hither, wench; I need thee. ”

“ The number of verses used may be determined by the amusement and applause of the audience. The boys who sing it must on no account allow themselves to laugh.
The charm and picturesqueness of the stage will be greatly enhanced if quaint old-time household articles can be borrowed or manufactured for properties—bellows, lantern, candlesticks, andirons, an old foot-stove—above all, a warming-pan, which the mother fills at the fire and carries out when she takes the younger children to bed. The dishes and platter so much admired by Patience should be rather conspicuously ugly. ”

“ Darling, a charming young widow with a quick temper, has dressed a hundred dolls for an Orphan Asylum. On Christmas Eve, Sally, the kitchen-maid, brings a little East-side friend to see the dolls, one of which is accidentally broken, to the consternation of the household. But Mrs. Darling is not the ogress the servants believe her, and Tibbie goes home happy, with her arms full of dollies. ”

“ Gillian [rising] . Anon, my lady! [To children.] Think of it, bairns—that fine brave gentleman and that beautiful lady, stepping across the floors in the moonlight—— [Exit, hand lifted as if holding a partner's, taking stately dancing steps.]
Cicely. Oh, Rafe, think'st that Gillian speaketh true?
Rafe. Yes, I do believe her. Christmas is such a marvelous fair time, Cicely, that I do think anything wonderful might happen.
Allison. I would I could see Sir Philip and Lady Geraldine at their dancing.
Cicely. Oh, so do I! Rafe, dost think—— [Hesitates, afraid to speak her thought.] ”

“ Oh, Papa, it would be too mean to hang up one of your horrid little ones!
Robin. No, sir!
Ted. Socks are no good on Christmas Eve. We've got one of Mamma's for you.
Father [laughing] . Oh, I see. Very well. But it's lucky they're to be marked. Santa Claus would never in the world recognize this one.
Mother [to Robin, who is stretching his stocking as much as possible] . Robin, what are you doing?
Robin. Just making it bigger. Now, come along. Papa's on the first hook. [All go to fireplace and hang stockings, Nurse helping Rose. All stand back to gaze.]
Kitty. Don't they make a fine show? ”

“ Why, what child smashes a doll a-purpose? You're a pretty set, the whole gang of you, to pitch into a child! [Tries, with Sally, to comfort and silence Tibbie, who by this time is freely weeping. Exit Bonnet, and re-enter at once without hat and coat.] ”

“ She's too funny—poor little monkey! Oh, Henri, when we are back in our own home, I should like to take this poor little neglected thing and give her a home and look after her a little. Do you suppose I could?
LeB. I don't see what's to prevent. She looks perfectly friendless. [They rise and go to door.]
Laura. You are a good heart, Henri.
LeB. The good heart is yours! I'm Marse Santa Claus—and I intend to put Minty-Malviny in your stocking! [Both laugh heartily, but quietly, and exchange good nights. Laura goes. LeBreton comes back, standing at table a moment.] ”

“ You know, he has so very much to do. Just think how many little children he must go to see every year! Someone must always be left out. Perhaps it is our turn now. We can wait until next year. Perhaps he will come then.
Hans [rubbing his eyes] . Oh, dear, I wish to-morrow wouldn't come at all.
Mother. Oh, Hans, don't say that. Think how happy we can be. Even if St. Nicholas doesn't come, to-morrow is still the bright, beautiful Christmas Day, when everyone in the world is happy, and we shall hear the chimes ringing, and see people going about wishing each other "Merry Christmas." ”

“ The old belief that at midnight on Christmas Eve the family portraits come to life, step down from their places, and join hands in a stately dance, leads the children to slip out of their beds at an unwonted hour, and so to take a hand in the adventures of their elders, quite beyond their ken. ”

“ It is most important to keep the Christmas spirit of the play from being smothered in the mechanics of production. Setting and costuming may be elaborate or simple, and every director will know his or her own resources. Groups of people interested in such work are apt to accumulate sets of costumes, odd properties, even pieces of furniture, which are convertible to many other uses than those for which they were made. Few things-xviii- are really impossible to compass if one is set upon them. A friendly janitor will spend his leisure upon stage-carpentry. ”

“ Children shout and applaud the animals. Farmer watches at intervals, and during each turn he rises as if to protest, and is emphatically set down by Dutch. His resistance is more and more feeble each time, and his interest in the performers visibly increases, until at the end he actually stands looking open-mouthed over Dutch's shoulder, even betrayed into applause. When he catches himself clapping, however, he stops short and clasps his hands behind his back. Professor Wormwood finally bows himself off. ”

“ Yes, and I think I may say that our garden has never been so fine as this year. It was a happy day for us when we found Peter.
Felix. Indeed it was. How neatly he keeps the garden paths raked.
Anselm. And what a good disposition the child has!
Felix. Always ready and willing——
Sebastian [who has stood at one side with folded arms and dejected countenance] . Peter. Peter. Peter. But what of the Prince?
Anselm. Alas, yes. You are right, Brother Sebastian. What of the Prince?
Gregory. Oh, I'm not utterly hopeless of the Prince, my Brethren.
Sebastian. Brother Gregory is always over-hopeful. ”

“ In most of the plays children greatly enjoy playing the adult parts and do good work in them. But several of the adult rôles call for adult players, because a deeper appreciation of the feeling contained in the story is required than can be given by girls in their teens. Such parts are the Babushka, the Mother in "The Christ-Candle," and the Mother in "Toinette." Partly for the same reason, a man should be chosen for the Abbot in "The Christmas Monks," but also his presence will lend dignity, and much greater orderliness to rehearsals in a play with a large cast. ”

“ He talks of nothing but big families. I suppose the sight of the five little Blair children across the way is tantalizing, and it certainly is lonely for the two little duds with nobody but grown-ups in the house. Their efforts to be a large party in themselves, to play games, on Thanksgiving day, were really laughable, but they were pathetic, too. If Julia had thought of it, we might have had a little Christmas party for them. It's a good deal of trouble for Santa Claus to climb down a chimney for just two children. ”

“ A
very gay waltz in very quick time is played
softly outside, and the four elves dance and
tumble about, coming up one at a time to
peep over Toinette's shoulder. They
show great fear of the fire, however.
Toinette. Now, little Elves, the feast is ready!
Elves. Oh, joy! Oh, joy! [All seat themselves at table, Toinette pours out broth, and they eat. Music continues, Toinette refills bowls, and elves drink from them, tipping their heads far back and making grotesque motions. Music grows fainter. Elves rise and bow to Toinette.]
Elves. Thank you, Toinette! Thank you!
Evergreen. ”

“ Sally. It's to make you pale. It ain't fashionable to be red. [Picks up powder-puff, and gives Tibbie, who draws back startled and coughing, a dusty dab on each cheek, then applies it to her own. The two stand gazing in silent interest at themselves in the mirror, gradually breaking into smiles. Sally suddenly hitches first one shoulder, then the other, and brushes her face clean, Tibbie faithfully aping her movements. Then they look at themselves again.] ”

“ They will share the spirit of adventure in the matter of obtaining or contriving the most difficult things in the way of costumes, scenery, and properties. Their inventiveness will be quickened, their hands will grow skillful, and their triumphant enjoyment of success in these preliminary labors will stimulate them to greater success in the acting of the story. In this, they will be quick to appreciate hints—frequently to offer them—as to the best ways of expressing the meaning and spirit of the play, and work with them becomes an inspiration to all alike. ”

“ Mistletoe. And fairies are never ungrateful.
Icicle. When you need us, you'll find us ready.
[Evergreen, Mistletoe, and Icicle go out-49-side
and stand about door. Hollyberry
remains within.
Toinette. But I haven't thanked you at all!
Hollyberry. No need of that, Toinette. [He brushes door-post with his holly wand.] Be lucky, house! We are the luck-bringers, and we have feasted here! [Touches Toinette on the head and hands.] Be lucky, Toinette! Good temper, and kindness, and unselfishness are the very best good luck, after all. Now, good-by!
Elves. Good-by, good-by! Merry Christmas to all! ”

“ Marie. We'll go in Mother's room, Toinette. [Takes Jeannette by the hand. Exeunt.]
Toinette [covering table and slapping bowls and spoons pettishly down upon it] . Work quickly! Don't I work and work all the time? And I'm never done. The work seems hard because it is hard, that's why. Oh, if we weren't so poor, and didn't have to work so hard! [Relaxes her efforts and stands before the fire, dish in hand.] And if we could have beautiful Christmas presents to-morrow, instead of just—anything. [A very gentle knock at the door.] ”

“ We're so little and light, we might be blown in and burned up.
Toinette. But how shall I make it?
Hollyberry. It's very easy. We'll show you how. And now, good-by. We'll come in by and by when the children are in bed. [Exit with a bow.]
Toinette [looking gravely at cloak and bag] . Oh, do I dare use them? I have tried to be kinder—I know the children love me more—— Yes, I will. [Runs out. Boys singing carol in the distance. Enter boys singing, with pitcher and wood. Enter Mother, Marie, and Jeannette.]
Mother. Why, the supper is all ready, but where is that busy bee of ours, Toinette? ”