I trust, my portion, also!... But, how now? [_Blowing bubbles._]
Red, buff and blue ... the colours mingle, clash!
The smoke of battle! What! a soldier I! [_Horrified._]
Why, I can’t spur a horse or whip a dog!
How then my fellow-creatures could I kill?
Oh, sir, my lot pray change?
SANTA CLAUS.
[_Kindly._] So may I not!
Wear as becomes a gallant gentleman
Your sword!
PATSY.
[_To GEORGE._] I’ll belt it on for you!
THE ROSE-GIRL.
[_Blowing bubbles._] A storm
Passes across my bubble!
SANTA CLAUS.
What of that?
Your rainbow, Rose, will overcome the storm!
PETER SCHLEMIHL.
[_Mournfully, blowing bubbles._]
All bright ... all rainbow-bright my bubbles! Not
The ghostly semblance of a shadow there!
Oh, Santa Claus, is there no place to buy
A shadow misfit, second-hand? Or just
The raw material from which are spun
New shadows like umbrellas, parasols,
For well-dressed children?
SANTA CLAUS.
Face the sun
All fearlessly, good Peter! You will find
A proper escort shadow in its place ...
Behind you! Mind you keep it there!
BABS.
[_Blowing bubbles._] How bright
My world! All full of happy smiles!
BEESWAX.
[_Blowing bubbles._] And mine ...
Just like a song at morning!
DICK.
[_Blowing bubbles._] As for mine,
It is just the finest ... [_breaks off, sleepily_] ... finest....
SANTA CLAUS.
[_Rising as if to end the game._]
Come, press your glowing bubbles not too far,
Lest they should break before their time! And now
I leave you for another year, to build
A rounded world and keep it rainbow bright!
SEVERAL CHILDREN.
[_Cry out._] O Santa Claus, our bubbles break unread!
Like butterflies we chase them, but in vain!
O tell us what the future holds for us!
SANTA CLAUS.
I’ll tell you fifty years ... a hundred ... hence!
[_He goes toward the curtains, then turns
to say a parting word._]
The world’s my Christmas present to each child,
Each child’s my Christmas present to the world!
Farewell!
[_He disappears, the CHILDREN crying after
him, “Farewell, O Santa Claus! Next
Christmas Eve, good Santa Claus, come
next Christmas Eve, good Santa Claus!”
Then there is another rush of breeze
through the nursery, followed by the
fanfare of elfin horns, and the jingle
of departing sleigh-bells._]
THE LOBS.
[_Who have been clearing away the pipes and
bowl, now take up their brooms and address
the VISITING CHILDREN._]
Come, come. ’Tis nearly time for cock to crow!
So vanish! Not a word! be off with you!
[_They sweep the VISITING CHILDREN back
into the shadows whence they came._]
THE VISITING CHILDREN.
Good-bye, O Children of the present-day!
THE PRESENT-DAY CHILDREN.
Good-bye! O Children! Come again and soon!
[_They become more and more sleepy, and
finally fall down in heavy slumber._]
THE LOBS.
[_Looking down on them._] Well, on the floor! Untidy, lumpy things!
SOME VISITING CHILDREN.
[_Peering forth._] Good-bye! Until next Christmas Eve!
THE LOBS.
[_Chasing these with brooms._] Clear out!
Get back to history where you belong!
DICK.
[_In his sleep._] I thought I heard voices ... visitors ...
children ... Santa Claus.
THE LOBS.
[_Severely._] Nothing of the sort! Here, back with you to bed!
[_They take the CHILDREN in hand, dragging
them across the floor, and then are heard
behind the screen, breathing heavily as
they heave them into bed. Just as they
have done this the door is opened, and
the FATHER and MOTHER enter stealthily,
their arms full of Christmas packages._]
THE FATHER.
Hush! Don’t wake them!
THE MOTHER.
Do not wake them! Hush!
Tread lightly!
THE FATHER.
Careful, lest you wake them!
BOTH.
HUSH!
THE LOBS.
[_Come from behind the screen._] Hush! Do not wake them!
THE MOTHER.
[_Turns._] What was that? I thought
Someone said Hush! [_THE LOBS conceal themselves._]
THE FATHER.
’Twas you yourself said Hush!
THE MOTHER.
Oh, hush! You’ll wake them!
THE FATHER.
[_Tiptoes toward the beds._] Sound asleep as when
I kissed them all good-night!
THE MOTHER.
[_Tiptoes toward beds._] All sound asleep
As when I sang them off to sleep! And, see!
Their precious little stockings all a-row!
THE FATHER.
[_Proudly._] And not so little either! Children grow
Like weeds! God bless them!
THE MOTHER.
Aye, God bless them!
BOTH.
Hush!
[_They put some gifts into the stockings,
and lay the others in three piles on the
hearthrug. THE LOBS stealing forth, assist
them, though without being discovered.
This done, the FATHER and MOTHER give a
parting glance toward the beds._]
THE MOTHER.
The pretty dears!
THE FATHER.
Of course our geese are swans!
BOTH.
SH!
[_An arm about her THE FATHER leads the
MOTHER softly from the room._]
THE LOBS.
[_Laughing, imitate them._] SH! [_Then, sweeping up the room, they
sing softly_:]
Lob here, Lob there, Lob everywhere!
Lob sweep the hearth, Lob mend the toys,
Lob do the tasks of girls and boys!
Who would not be a lob like me,
A merry Lob-lie-by-the-fire like me!
[_A streak of daylight makes its way
between the window-curtains, and a
distant cock-crow is heard, whereupon
the LOBS hastily shoulder brooms, salute
us as we sit in the audience, and vanish
as the play is ended and the curtains
close upon the scene._]
THE END