Public-domain ebook
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Subjects
In: Christmas·Children & Young Adult Reading·Plays/Films/Dramas
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #51180.
The opening · free to read
SCENE.--_The interior of_ SANTA CLAUS'S home on Christmas Eve. There is a door on each side of the stage, and a fireplace at the back. SANTA CLAUS'S big easy-chair is near the front of the stage at the left, and near the front at the right is a table.
(As the curtain rises the two IMPS are seated on the floor, each with a section of harness, the bells of which they are industriously polishing.)
FIRST IMP. You must hurry. It's almost seven o'clock, and soon it will be time to harness the reindeer.
SECOND IMP. I am hurrying as fast as I can. I shall get through now before you do, and my bells will be just as bright as yours. It seems to me that the more I shine them the sweeter their tone is.
FIRST IMP. I am polishing mine so bright that when Santa Claus drives through the sky all the people will look up and think they see stars twinkling overhead.
SECOND IMP. And I make my bells so bright that when they chime the children will hear them in their sleep and dream they are listening to birds singing in the springtime.
FIRST IMP (scornfully). What nonsense! How many children to-night do you suppose are dreaming of birds and springtime?
SECOND IMP. Why shouldn't they?
FIRST IMP. Why should they,--when there are so many other things to dream of at Christmas time? If you don't believe me, we'll leave it to Santa Claus. Here he comes now. Hooray!
(As SANTA CLAUS enters from L. of stage the IMPS run to meet him, and holding an end of the harness in each hand form a ring and dance around him in time to the jingling of the bells.)
SANTA CLAUS. Hold on! Hold on there! When a fellow gets to be my age his head isn't steady enough to stand any such merry-go-'round as this. Come on now, let's see if you've done your work properly and polished the bells as I told you.
(He sits down in his big armchair and the IMPS climb upon his lap.)
FIRST IMP. I said I would make my bells so bright that people would think they were twinkling stars.
FIRST IMP (interrupting). Never mind what you said. There wasn't any sense to that. Santa Claus, tell us, what do children dream about at Christmas time?
SANTA CLAUS. What do children dream about? Why, they dream about me, of course.
BOTH IMPS (each shaking a finger at him). O-ho!
SANTA CLAUS. There! I suppose you think I'm a conceited old chap, but if you don't believe me we'll ask the Sand-Man. (The SAND-MAN enters, L. door, carrying a big bag over his shoulder, and a small bag in his hand.) Just starting off on your rounds, I see. Have you a heavy load to-night?
SAND-MAN. The sand-bag is heavy, but the dream-bag is light. There isn't much to a dream, you know;--just a whiff of fairy powder wrapped up in a bit of mist. But they do the trick all the same,--and how the children love them.
SANTA CLAUS. And what are these dreams which the children love? Are any of them about me?
SAND-MAN. Why, no, Santa. Of course they used to be, but times have changed, you see. Children nowadays have so many interests.
SANTA CLAUS. But I thought perhaps just at Christmas time----
SAND-MAN. Yes, I know, I know. Yet, after all, dreams are really a matter of habit. It's the things which the children enjoy all through the year that stay in their minds after they fall asleep.
SANTA CLAUS. Well, what are these things which the children enjoy all the year and dream about every night?
SAND-MAN. Ah! That would be telling. Mustn't give away the secrets of the trade, you know. Well, I'm off. See you later.
[_Exit_, R. door.
SANTA CLAUS (to the IMPS). Run out with him, boys, and help him down the steps with his bags. (Exeunt IMPS.) H'm! I didn't find out what I wanted to, did I? I wish I could, though (Yawning.), I wish I could; but what's the old saying: "If wishes were horses, beggars might ride"? Holloa! Who's this coming? (The WISH-BONE enters, R. door.) How strangely he walks,--must be kind o' stiff in his joints, or else he hasn't any joints at all. Good-evening, friend, who might you be?
WISH-BONE (in a melancholy tone). My name is Wish-Bone. I am all that's left of the Thanksgiving turkey.
SANTA CLAUS (sympathetically). I say, now, that's rather a lonely fate for you; but cheer up, it might be worse.
WISH-BONE (in the same melancholy tone). It will be worse. I expect to be laid up with a broken leg most any day now.
SANTA CLAUS. Broken leg? Why, bless my stars, man, what makes you expect anything like that to happen?
WISH-BONE. It always happens to us wish-bones; runs in the family. Sometimes it's both legs that are broken, and the head flies off; and that's the greatest pity of all, for then there isn't any one gets their wish.
SANTA CLAUS. Is your business something like mine, then; giving people whatever they wish?
WISH-BONE. N-no,-not exactly giving it,--just promising it. But it all amounts to the same thing. Once make people believe they'll get what they wish for, and somehow it always comes in the end.
SANTA CLAUS. Then perhaps you can help me out. My great wish just at present is to know what the children are dreaming about to-night.
WISH-BONE. Sorry to refuse you, but I'm not ready for business yet. Don't feel quite equal to it. Wait until I get a little more snap in me, and then I'll call around again. Good-night.
[_Exit_ WISH-BONE, R. door.
SANTA CLAUS. He's about the gloomiest creature I ever saw; and yet he struck sort of a hopeful note when he said people would get what they wished for if they only believed it. I wonder how that would work out in my case. (The SAND-MAN enters, R. door.) Ah! here comes the Sand-Man back again. Well, how did things go with you to-night? Is your sand-bag empty?
SAND-MAN. Almost. It takes a powerful lot of sand to make the children sleepy the night before Christmas.
SANTA CLAUS. And are the dreams all gone too?
SAND-MAN. Not quite. There was one little girl who refused to go to bed at all, because she is so anxious to see Santa Claus when he comes. I had two nice dreams picked out for her but I couldn't use them. Well, my evening's work is over. (Dropping his bags on the table.) I suppose you'll be starting soon now.
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