"A fairy wishing-cap am I;
So put me on, and away you fly.
Wherever you wish, 'tis there you'll be,
And quicker than saying three-times-three."
_Polly puts the cap on her head. Then_ JACK _reads_:
"Fairy spectacles are we;
Put us on, and you shall see
Things you never saw before,
Easy as saying four-times-four."
_Jack puts the spectacles on his nose, and begins to go about the room
looking at everything through them_.
Oh, Polly, _he exclaims_, I can see all sorts of queer things. I
can see what is in the table drawer without opening it, and I can see
the pictures in the books right through the covers. And oh, Polly, look
here. _He is looking into the fire-place, when he says this_. I can
see now how the little green man went up the chimney, for there are
steps in the side, all the way up. Look at them.
POLLY _looks. Then she says_, I don't see any steps, Jack.
It's the fairy spectacles, Polly, _cries_ JACK. Isn't it wonderful?
Jack! _says_ POLLY _suddenly_, do you know what we must do?
We must go to Santa Claus, and carry him the medicine that cured Nurse
Mary's back and joints. You will go first up the chimney, and I will go
after, stepping just where I see you step, and then at the top I will
take tight hold of your hand, and with my wishing cap on I will wish to
be at Santa Claus' house at the North Pole.
Splendid! Let's start this minute, _cries_ JACK.
_Polly takes the spoon, and Jack takes the medicine bottle, and one
after the other they go up the chimney._
_A moment later_ MOTHER _comes in._ Children, _she begins,
looking about; but then she continues_, Oh, I see: they have gone to
bed. _She goes across to the other door and listens. Then she
says_: Not a sound! They are fast asleep already.
_So she takes the lamp from the table, and carries it out with her,
leaving the room all in black darkness._
_And that is the end of the First Scene._
* * * * *