Nor I, echoes GRANDFATHER. Even now, although I've got my old body
back again, I declare I feel as young as a boy inside.
Oh, Santa Claus, cries GERTRUDE, you were the dearest, funniest
little boy I ever saw. It just made me laugh to look at you.
Hush! says SANTA CLAUS, looking cautiously over his shoulder, I
hope you won't let any one know how foolish I looked and acted. What
would people say, if they heard that a man hundreds of years old like
me, has been romping around that way?
Why, Santa Claus, says WALTER, everybody would think it was fine.
Do you think so? asks SANTA CLAUS, looking around from one to the
other.
Of course, they would, answers FATHER. The fact is they'd love you
all the more for it, if that's possible.
Dear Santa Claus, you don't mind my laughing at you, do you? says
GERTRUDE; because you were funny, you know.
Well--no--I guess I don't mind much, SANTA CLAUS answers. In fact,
the more I think of it, the more I think myself that it was funny. Ho!
Ho! Ho! Only so high (he measures the height with his hand) and as
fat as butter. Ho! Ho! Ho! He goes off into a roar of laughter, and
everybody else begins laughing, and they laugh more and more, until
they have to lean up against the wall and the table, and wipe their
eyes.
When the laughing has stopped, SANTA CLAUS says, There's only one
person I don't believe I can quite forgive, and that's the sly puss of
a fairy, who gave me the plum pudding. She knew what would happen well
enough. Where is she? He looks around for her. Why, she's gone.
So she has, says GERTRUDE, looking around. They've both gone.
And the brownies, too, says WALTER.
And I must be going this very minute, exclaims SANTA CLAUS. Goodness
knows how late it is. He goes toward the door. Good-bye, everybody.
Good-bye till next Christmas. Just at the door he turns, and says,
By the way, I've got some more of those hazel nuts at home. What do
you think I'd better do with them?
Santa Claus, says GRANDMOTHER, bring them with you next Christmas,
and let's do it all over again.
Shall I? asks SANTA CLAUS, looking around at them all.
Yes, yes, they ALL cry.
It's a bargain, says SANTA CLAUS. Don't forget. Next Christmas.
Good-bye. He opens the door to go out.
Good-bye till next Christmas, they ALL call after him, and they
wave their hands to him as the Curtain closes.
And this is the end of the Play.