_Father Time._ Children are so fond of play and the long summer days out-of-doors that I wonder what they think of you, my older daughter, Autumn?
_Autumn._ Children do like to play and I am glad they get so well and strong with the vacation my sister, Summer, gives them. Yet all children like to learn, too. We must not forget that. What joy it is to read the beautiful stories that great men and women have written for them. What delight they have in learning to write, to sing, to draw, and to make pretty objects of paper, clay, and wood.
_Father Time._ Yes, that is true, but have you no pleasures out-of-doors for them?
_Autumn._ Some people say my days are the most pleasant of the year. The gardens have many beautiful flowers, and the fruits are ripening in the orchards and vineyards. The apples hang red on the boughs, and children like to pick them and eat them, too! I have the harvest moon, the time when the farmers bring home the crops ripened by August suns, and the earth seems to gather the results of the year"s work, the riches of field, orchard, and meadow. The squirrels gather their h.o.a.rd of nuts and hide them away for their winter"s food. Gay voices of nutting parties are heard in the woods, and all the air is filled with songs of praise and thanksgiving for the bounty of the year.
_Father Time._ Your work is surely one of worth and I rejoice with you, my daughter, in your happiness. You are a true friend of men, showing them that honest effort and its work will always bring proper reward.
Now, my merry laughing child, what have you to tell us?
_Winter._ Some people think I am your oldest daughter, Father Time, but they forget that two of my months are always in the New Year. Although my hair and garments are white, the cold is only outside; my heart is warm. Have I not jolly St. Nicholas who never grows old? I cover the earth with my warmest blanket of softest snow, softer and whiter than ermine, and all the tender flowers sleep cozily and warm until sweet Spring awakes them. The children get out their sleds and skates, and the merry sleigh bells ring. What fun it is to build the snow man, and even if the hands get cold, the eyes shine brighter than in warm days and the cheeks are rosy as the reddest flower. "Hurrah for Winter!" shout the boys. The merriest holidays I have when all hearts are gay and filled with loving care for others. I would not change, dear Father Time, with any of my sisters. I say good-by to the pa.s.sing year and welcome the new year. If the old year has had troubles and sorrows, all the people turn with hope to the new, and call to one another the wish, "A Happy New Year to all!"
_Father Time._ I am glad you are contented with the work you have to do.
And now, my daughters, I must send you out upon your travels all over the world. May your coming bring peace; joy, and prosperity to all mankind!
THE GINGERBREAD MAN
PERSONS IN THE PLAY--THE LITTLE OLD WOMAN, THE GINGERBREAD MAN, THE BOY, THE FOX, CHILDREN, MEN, THE FARMER
SCENE.--_Home of Little Old Woman_
_Little Old Woman._ Now all my housework is done I think I will make some gingerbread. There is nothing quite so good for lunch as warm gingerbread and a gla.s.s of milk, or a cup of hot tea. I can make pretty good gingerbread, too, all of my friends say. Here is the flour and b.u.t.ter and mola.s.ses and milk. Now it is all ready to put into the pan.
But I made too much this time. What shall I do with it? Nothing must be wasted in a good cook"s kitchen. Oh, I know! I"ll make a cunning gingerbread man for the little boy who lives next door.
Where is my knife? Now roll the dough very thin, cut out the round little head, then the neck, now the two arms, now the little fat body, and last the legs with high heels on the shoes. Well, this certainly is a fine little gingerbread man. I think I"ll make a little hat with a wide brim. Now I"ll put two currants for his eyes, two for his nose, three for his cute little mouth, and six for the b.u.t.tons on his coat.
Then I"ll sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over him and put him in the oven to bake.
Let me look at the clock. It is half past eleven. At twelve the gingerbread man will be baked, ready for the little boy when he comes home from school.
Well, I"ve washed the dishes, and set the table for my lunch, and it is now just twelve o"clock. I"ll open the oven door and see if my gingerbread man is ready.
Oh! what was that! Why, it is the gingerbread man!
_Gingerbread Man._ Yes, it is the gingerbread man, and now I"ll go and see the world.
_Little Old Woman._ Go! you mustn"t go! You belong to me.
_Gingerbread Man._
Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can"t catch me, I"m a gingerbread man!
_Little Old Woman._ There he goes, out of the door, just as if he were really a little boy, and not made of something good to eat! Come back; come back!
_Gingerbread Man._
Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can"t catch me, I"m a gingerbread man!
_Little Old Woman._ I know I can"t run as fast as he can. There he goes out of the gate. There are some men who are working in the street. I"ll ask them to catch him. Help! help me catch the gingerbread man!
_Men._ Yes, ma"am. Where is he? Oh, there he is, the little rascal!
We"ll catch him.
_Gingerbread Man._
Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can"t catch me, I"m a gingerbread man!
_Men._ Well, there he goes and he does run fast! Come, let us run after him!
_Little Old Woman._ Oh, I know the men can"t run as fast as he can, and they will never catch my gingerbread man! Here are the children coming from school. I"ll call them. Children, children!
_Children._ Yes, little old woman, here we are. What did you call us for?
_Little Old Woman._ Oh, my dear children, see the gingerbread man I made for the little boy next door! There he goes running as fast as he can, and I can"t catch him!
_Boy._ And the men are running after him, and they can"t catch him either. Just watch me, little woman, I"ll catch him for you.
_Gingerbread Man._
Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can"t catch me, I"m a gingerbread man.
_Girl._ I have my roller skates on. Perhaps I can catch him!
_Little Old Woman._ I"m sure you can, my child.
_Girl._ I"ll try. Look out, Mr. Gingerbread Man!
_Gingerbread Man._
Ah, ha! ah, ha! catch me, if you can!
You can"t catch me, I"m a gingerbread man!
_Little Old Woman._ There he goes, and none of them can catch him. Now he is near some farmers. I"ll call on them to help me. Farmer, farmer, will you please help me catch the gingerbread man? There he goes over your wheat field.
_Farmer._ Yes, indeed, we"ll help you. Here, you gingerbread man, keep out of my wheat field! Come, men; run after him and catch him.
_Men._ We"ll catch him before he gets to the fence.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
_Gingerbread Man._