(Tune--"Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.")
_The children then form a semi-circle on the stage, and each one steps to the front as she gives her recitation, and then back to her place again_.
_First Child_:
This is my Christmas dolly; Her name is French--Celeste; And of my many children, She is the very best.
This dress, you see, is finest silk, Her shoes are dainty kid, And underneath this cunning hat Her pretty curls are hid.
And do I love my precious doll?
Well, I just guess I do _(hugging it_)!
I"ll love her even when she"s old As well as while she"s new.
_Second Child_:
When I awoke on Christmas morn I jumped right out of bed, And ran into the nursery, And not a word I said, Until I saw my Christmas tree, And then I laughed in glee; For on it hung this pretty doll; I knew it was for me, And so I took it in my arms And kissed its lovely face.
And then I said, "Now, dolly dear, I"m going to call you Grace."
_Third Child (Black doll_):
This is Miss Lucindy Ann-- And though she"s black as jet She"s just as good as any doll To love, and hug, and pet.
I found her in my stocking, dressed In this gay calico, With bright bandanna on her head, And orange ribbon bow.
I think she"s very pretty, And I guess that you do, too; And don"t you wish that I would give Lucindy Ann to you?
_Fourth Child (j.a.panese doll_):
I wrote a note to Santa Claus, And this is what I said: "Please bring to me a brand-new doll; The last you brought is dead."
And so on Christmas morning I found this j.a.ppy here, It made me laugh to see her, She looked so very queer.
But I said to her politely, "Good morning, Miss Yum-Yum.
This, you know, is Christmas day; I"m very glad you"ve come."
_Fifth Child (Rag doll_):
My dolly did not come from France, Nor faraway j.a.pan; She"s neither Spanish, Dutch nor Swiss, She"s just A-mer-i-can.
I know she is not beautiful, Nor very finely dressed, But I don"t care for that--I think American dolls are best.
_Sixth Child (Eskimo):_
My dolly is an Eskimo From near the Arctic Sea; Kris Kringle brought her in his sleigh On Christmas eve for me.
She always wears this dress of fur, Because where she was born It is so very, very cold, No light clothes can be worn.
But when she"s been with me awhile I think I"ll make a change And dress my doll in colors bright; Then she"ll not look so strange.
_Seventh Child (Holding a Teddy bear behind her_):
Now you all think your dolls are fine.
Of that I"m well aware; But I have one to beat them all-- For mine"s a Teddy bear _(holding it up_).
He doesn"t wear a fancy dress, He likes his coat of brown, And he is just as handsome As any doll in town.
I like to hold him in my arms, And rock him in my chair, Because he looks so cunning-- My little baby bear.
_Eighth Child (Doll dressed as infant_):
My doll"s so very sleepy She can"t hold up her head; She"s just a wee, small infant, And it"s time she was in bed.
Your dollies all look sleepy, too, And so I"m going to say, "Let"s sing our little lullaby And carry them away."
SONG.
(Tune--"There is a Happy Land.")
_(To be sung very slowly and softly_.)
Here comes the old Sand Man, Close, close your eyes; He"ll catch you if he can, So now be wise.
Then while you sweetly sleep, Angels their watch will keep, Bright stars will o"er you peep Down from the skies.
_(Tiptoe softly off the stage, holding the dolls as though asleep, and humming the tune very faintly_.)
Red Pepper.
BY A. CONSTANCE SMEDLEY.
CHARACTERS.
_Princess Fadeaway_.
_Greening, Sweeting_, Ladies to the Princess.
_The Kitchenmaid._
_The Cooklet_.
_Red Pepper_, the scullion _(Prince Fairasday)_.
_Head Cook_.
_Frip, Tip, Snip, Pip_, Brownies.
Chorus of Cooks and Brownies, if desired.
TIME. Christmas Eve.
SCENE: The Kitchen in the Castle of Princess Fadeaway. Open fireplace down R. in which the fire burns, and casts a red light on the scene. Dresser against wall L. on which stands a pile of dirty plates, tin basin and soap, various culinary utensils, and a huge pepper-pot. Door up back L. Table centre, which is spread with white cloth, bordered with a quaint design. An old-fashioned wooden armchair R. of fireplace. Door up R. Stool by dresser. Chair behind table. As the curtain rises, the stage is quite dark, lit by a faint gleam from fireplace. Mysterious music, which resolves itself into the air of "Whist, whist, whist. Here Comes the Bogie Man." The _Brownies_ heard singing behind the scenes. They dance in one by one mysteriously round stage, in follow-my-leader fashion, over chair and stool, and crawl under table, round and round room as they sing.
OPENING CHORUS. (Air: "Whist, whist, whist! Here Comes the Bogie Man!")
_Brownies_:
Whist, whist, whist!