ACT II

Time: One year later. Christmas Eve.

Scene: Curtain rises showing Toinette and Marie seated, sewing; Jeannette sits upon the floor, leaning against Toinette's knee; Marc leans over the back of her chair; Pierre sits in the big chair rocking and looking on. All are singing a Christmas carol. Enter Mother, pausing a moment in doorway to watch and smile at the group.

Mother. Come, chickabiddies, it is time to stop work.

Marie [going to Mother]. Oh, Mother, must we stop now? Toinette was just going to tell us the Christmas story about the Shepherds and the Star in the East.

Mother. It is supper-time now, and Toinette must set the table. [Exit.]

Pierre. And after supper comes bedtime. Oh, dear.

Toinette [cheerfully folding her work]. Never mind, Pierre, I'll tell it to you to-morrow.

Marc. That'll be Christmas day, Toinette. I wish you could tell it on Christmas Eve.

Toinette. Oh, I think I can tell it better on Christmas day, Marc. Now we all have something to do,—let's get to work. Who will fetch water for me to-night?

Marc and Pierre [springing for the pitcher]. I will, I will.

Marc. It's my turn, Pierre.

Pierre. No, you nearly always get water for Toinette. I'm going to.

Toinette. Let Pierre get the water, Marc, and you go and cut the wood.

Marc and Pierre. All right, Toinette. [Exeunt.]

Marie. What can we do for you, Toinette, dear?

Toinette. Nothing just now, I think. [Toinette is spreading the cloth and setting the bowls and spoons.]

Jeannette. But we want to help, too, dear Toinette. [Clings to her skirt.]

Toinette. I'll tell you what. I'd rather send my two little helpers in to see what they can do for poor busy Mother. She needs them more than I do. [Exit Jeannette.]

Marie [following]. Won't that be helping you too, Toinette?

Toinette. Yes, dear. [Exit Marie.] How good the children are to-night! I do think they are the best brothers and sisters a girl ever had. [Lighting the candle.] And I think they love me more than they ever used to. Oh, I'm so glad! [Tap at the door.] There is someone knocking. [Goes to the door.]

Hollyberry [bowing low]. How do you do, Toinette? A Merry Christmas to you.

Toinette. Oh, how wonderful. It's Hollyberry again, and I was just thinking about you. Won't you come in?

Hollyberry. Just for a moment. [Enter Hollyberry. Toinette closes the door.] I've brought you a Christmas present, Toinette. [Holds out cloak and fern-seed bag.]

Toinette [retreating, hands behind her]. Oh, no, no, no! I know what those are, and I don't want them. Oh! Hollyberry, they made me so unhappy last year.

Hollyberry. You didn't like the elves' gift, then?

Toinette. Oh, it was horrid—I hated it.

Hollyberry [severely]. Do you call that being grateful?

Toinette [confused]. Oh, no—I mean, yes—that is, it was very kind of you—but I didn't like it. Oh, dear!

Hollyberry [kindly]. Never mind, Toinette, I'm only teasing you now. And I advise you to take the fern seed. You will like it better this year, I'm sure.

Toinette [anxiously]. Truly?

Hollyberry. Truly. [Toinette takes bag and cloak.] And if you like it we are going to ask a favor of you. We want you to make us some fern-seed broth.

Toinette. Fern-seed broth?

Hollyberry. Yes, elves are very fond of it, but they don't get any very often, because it has to be made over a fire, and you see we're afraid of fire. We're so little and light, we might be blown in and burned up.

Toinette. But how shall I make it?

Hollyberry. It's very easy. We'll show you how. And now, good-by. We'll come in by and by when the children are in bed. [Exit with a bow.]

Toinette [looking gravely at cloak and bag]. Oh, do I dare use them? I have tried to be kinder—I know the children love me more—— Yes, I will. [Runs out. Boys singing carol in the distance. Enter boys singing, with pitcher and wood. Enter Mother, Marie, and Jeannette.]

Mother. Why, the supper is all ready, but where is that busy bee of ours, Toinette? [Goes to door as if to call.]

Pierre [catches her arm]. Oh, Mother, wait a moment; don't call her yet! You know we've made her some Christmas gifts, and we want to put them on her plate and surprise her.

Mother. Run and get them.

Marc [under his breath]. Hurry, quick, everybody.

[Exit children in haste. Mother takes saucepan from fire and fills bowls. Enter children singing carol, each bearing a homemade gift. They place the presents about Toinette's place, and all take their places at the table, sitting with folded hands until hymn is ended. During the singing Toinette enters, dressed in cloak, and stands near door (R.), her hands clasped in pleasure at the sight.

Marc [looking towards the door]. Oh, I wish Toinette would hurry.

Marie. Won't she be surprised?

Pierre. And won't she look jolly surprised, too? I love to see Toinette when she's surprised. Her eyes get so big and shiny, and she just stares.

Marc. Andrew, the blacksmith's son, thinks his sister is prettier than our Toinette, but I don't.

Pierre [in great scorn]. Aw! I should think not. Our Toinette is just the prettiest girl in the village.

Marie. And the very nicest, too!

Mother [smiling]. And Toinette is Mother's right hand. We all love Toinette! Don't we?

Toinette [softly]. Oh, the dear little things! I can't wait a minute longer. [Exit quickly.]

Children [calling]. Toinette! Toinette! [Enter Toinette without cloak. Shows great surprise.]

Children. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Toinette!

Toinette. Oh, oh! what do I see? [Sits down in her place.] Oh, did you make these lovely things, children?

Pierre. Yes, mademoiselle, we did!

Marc. Every one of them.

Marie. Nobody helped us.

Jeannette. All for you, Toinette, all for you! [Leaves her chair and throws her arms around Toinette.]

Toinette [kissing her]. Oh, thank you, thank you! How beautifully these are made. [Looks them over one at a time.] How good everyone is. I'm so happy I don't know what to do.

Pierre. And to-morrow's Christmas! Hurrah!

Mother. Yes, dear, but if you don't go to bed and to sleep, Christmas won't come. [Takes Jeannette by the hand.] We will leave you to finish, Toinette.

Children. Good-night, Toinette!

Toinette. Good-night, everyone! [Marie and Jeannette throw their arms about Toinette.]

Marie. Good-night again, dear Toinette! [Exeunt all but Toinette, who clears the table, shakes off crumbs, and sets fresh bowls and spoons. The children are heard singing carol. When all is ready and the song is done, Toinette goes to outer door and looks out. After a moment the elves rush in.]

Elves. Here we are, Toinette, here we are!

Hollyberry. Now let's proceed to business. Where is the saucepan, Toinette! Icicle, give me the honey-dew; Mistletoe, you have the fern seed.

[Toinette produces the saucepan and the elves crowd around her and hand her the articles named. The honey-dew is supposed to be in a jar—or pitcher—or anything curious or unusual in appearance; the fern seed in a quaint box.

Hollyberry. Now, Evergreen, give me the holly stick she must stir it with.

[Toinette puts it on the fire, the elves watching with great interest.

Hollyberry. It's very simple, but it must be made with great care.

Mistletoe. You must always stir it the same way!

Evergreen. Or else it will curdle.

Icicle. And you must never let it scorch!

[Toinette bends over fire, stirring broth. A very gay waltz in very quick time is played softly outside, and the four elves dance and tumble about, coming up one at a time to peep over Toinette's shoulder. They show great fear of the fire, however.

Toinette. Now, little Elves, the feast is ready!

Elves. Oh, joy! Oh, joy! [All seat themselves at table, Toinette pours out broth, and they eat. Music continues, Toinette refills bowls, and elves drink from them, tipping their heads far back and making grotesque motions. Music grows fainter. Elves rise and bow to Toinette.]

Elves. Thank you, Toinette! Thank you!

Evergreen. We've had a merry feast.

Mistletoe. And fairies are never ungrateful.

Icicle. When you need us, you'll find us ready.

[Evergreen, Mistletoe, and Icicle go outside and stand about door. Hollyberry remains within.

Toinette. But I haven't thanked you at all!

Hollyberry. No need of that, Toinette. [He brushes door-post with his holly wand.] Be lucky, house! We are the luck-bringers, and we have feasted here! [Touches Toinette on the head and hands.] Be lucky, Toinette! Good temper, and kindness, and unselfishness are the very best good luck, after all. Now, good-by!

Elves. Good-by, good-by! Merry Christmas to all!

[Exeunt. Toinette closes the door and goes slowly to hearth, where she sits down on floor, resting her arm on a chair and her head on her hand.

Toinette [softly]. The fairies have been here, and they have taught me a lesson.... After all, it isn't the fairies who make the children love me, or me love the children.... I think—yes, I'm sure—that it is Christmas that makes us all love each other!

[Her head drops, and she falls asleep. The children's voices are heard, singing, very softly and distinctly, the last verse of the carol:

CURTAIN

NOTES ON COSTUME AND SETTING

The children are dressed in peasant costumes, the girls in bright skirts and stockings, white guimpes, black velvet bodices, and Normandy caps; the boys in full trousers, bright stockings, vests of green or blue, fastening in the back, white shirts with full sleeves, and toboggan caps. Toinette wears shoes with buckles; the others may wear the same, or sabots.

Mother. Plain dark dress, with full skirt; kerchief on her shoulders, and a white cap.

The magic "Cloak of Darkness" brought by the Elves for Toinette, is a long cape, with hood attached, made of light gray canton flannel.

The Fern-seed Bag may be made of a bit of the same material, or of the colors of Hollyberry's costume.

The Elves wear harlequin costumes in two shades of the same color, with tall pointed hoods, and long shoes with toes turned up. Gilt bells on all points of collar, jacket, and hood. See illustration. Sateen is perhaps the best material for these little suits, as it comes in a great variety of rich shades, but cheaper goods may be found.

Hollyberry. Dark red and scarlet. He carries a holly branch in lieu of a wand.

Mistletoe. Brown and yellow. In Act II he carries an odd box supposed to be full of fern seed.

Evergreen. Dark and light green. In Act II he produces the holly stick for stirring the broth.

Icicle. Dark and light blue. In Act II he carries a small jar or pitcher,—something curious or unusual in appearance,—which is supposed to contain the honey-dew.

Instead of the gilt bells, the points of these suits may be trimmed with bits of holly, mistletoe, evergreen, and glass icicles, as indicated by the names.

In setting the stage, it is effective to make small windows, with diamond-shaped panes, and white sash-curtains, placing small pots of scarlet geraniums on the sills.

The song is "Good News on Christmas Morning," from St. Nicholas Songs (Century Company).

Where music is indicated through the play, any part of the carol is sung, except the last verse, which is used only once, just before the last curtain. For the Elves' dance, the Pizzicato from the ballet "Sylvia" by Delibes, Dvorak's "Humoresque," or a waltz, very lightly played, may be used.