ACT II

TIME: _Before dawn of December 25th._

SCENE: _Same as before. Stage quite dark except for firelight. Window covered with a blanket. Lights high on one side at back to represent moonlight when door is opened. Enter_ MOTHER _[L.] with a lighted candle. Goes to door [R.]._

MOTHER [_calling_]. Roger! Myles! Make haste. [_Looks at clock, arranges fire, examines blanket hurriedly._]

MYLES [_softly_]. We're coming, Mother. [_Enter_ MYLES _and_ ROGER _(R.)._]

ROGER. Are the others waked yet, Mother?

MOTHER. Yes, they are dressing. Quickly now, bring in the tree whilst I see if they need help. [_Exit (L.), leaving candle on mantel. Boys open outer door._]

ROGER. How cold it is. See, Myles, the moon hath not yet set.

MYLES. Yes, yes. Come, Roger. [_Disappear (L.)._]

[REUBEN TURNER _and_ GERSHOM PORTER _at door, look cautiously in, then peer around after the boys._

REUBEN [_softly_]. I see naught of any Christmas bough.

GERSHOM. Yet we surely heard them planning---- How angry the parson would be. I believe he would even drive them away like the Quakers.

REUBEN. My father bade me look and bring him word if what they said was true.

GERSHOM. Beshrew me, if they haven't covered the window so that none may see them.

[MYLES _and_ ROGER _heard returning with exclamations "Have a care!" "Gently now!" etc._ REUBEN _and_ GERSHOM _hide themselves without. Enter_ ROGER _and_ MYLES _with the tree already decked and fastened in a small wooden box, which they place in center of stage. Their backs turned_, REUBEN _and_ GERSHOM _appear again at door, hold up their hands in horror, whisper together, and make signs of caution. Watch until_ MOTHER _appears, then they vanish._

MYLES. There: we got it in quite safely, Roger. Dost think the Christmas boughs in England could have been prettier?

ROGER [_at door_]. Mother, we're ready now.

[_Enter_ MOTHER, _taking candle again._

MOTHER. Roger, Roger! shut the door at once, careless boy! Art mad? [ROGER _fastens door._] The children are nearly ready and grow impatient. Make torches, both of you, and help me to light the candles.

[_Boys take splinters of wood from the fireplace and all go about the tree, lighting candles, arranging gifts more firmly, etc., while_ PATIENCE _and_ PRUDENCE, _without, sing "Waken, Christian Children."_

WAKEN, CHRISTIAN CHILDREN[24]

[Footnote 24: See note on Carols, p. 315.]

(From "Christmas Carols New and Old," Novello & Company.)

Waken, Christian children, Up, and let us sing, With glad voice, the praises Of our new-born King.

Come, nor fear to seek Him, Children though we be; Once He said of children, "Let them come to Me."

In a manger lowly, Sleeps the Heavenly Child; O'er Him fondly bendeth Mary, Mother mild.

Haste we then to welcome, With a joyous lay, Christ, the King of Glory, Born for us to-day.

(There are additional verses, and this hymn is to be found in various collections. A slightly different version is in Eleanor Smith's "Songs for Little Children," Part I.)

NATHAN [_without_]. Can't we come now, Mother?

MOTHER. One moment, children!

PATIENCE. It grows light, Mother. I'm afeared. Mustn't we hasten?

MOTHER. Presently, presently! Is all ready, Roger?

MYLES. Yes, every candle.

MOTHER [_going to door (L.)_]. Come, now!

[_Enter_ NATHAN, PATIENCE, _and_ PRUDENCE _(L.), the girls singing first verse of their song._

PATIENCE [_breaking off_]. _Oh_, Mother!

NATHAN. How beautiful!

PRUDENCE. Oh, Mother, it feels like a dream!

MOTHER [_bending over her and leading her near_]. It is no dream, little daughter. Come near and see.

[PRUDENCE _timidly touches one branch with her finger._

PRUDENCE [_turning quickly and looking up to her_ MOTHER]. Oh! it _is_ real!

MYLES. Of course it is real. A real Christmas Tree.

ROGER [_folding his arms_]. Now I feel like a real Englishman!

NATHAN. Is this like the boughs thee remembers when thee was a little girl, Mother?

MOTHER. As much like as I could make it, Nathan. Except that I like this one even better.

PATIENCE. Oh, see the pretty presents! Oh, did Eaglefeather make these lovely baskets for us?

MYLES. Yes, and that's why he wouldn't let thee see what he was working on.

NATHAN. But where _is_ Eaglefeather, Myles?

ROGER. We can't think where he is. He didn't come back last night.

PATIENCE. Oh, I don't want him to miss it!

MYLES. Hark! [_A bob-white is heard without._] That's his whistle now.

MOTHER. Open cautiously, Myles.

[MYLES _and_ ROGER _open door a little and close it as soon as the Indian has slipped through._ PATIENCE _and_ PRUDENCE _run to draw him to the tree._

PATIENCE. See, Eaglefeather! Just see our Christmas Tree!

PRUDENCE. Isn't it _beautiful_, Eaglefeather?

INDIAN. Beautiful! Eaglefeather think like many stars! [_Points to candles, then touches something shining._] Like sun shining on snow fields.

MYLES. Now, Mother, can't we sing our carol?

MOTHER. Yes, Myles, and then it will be more than ever like Old England.

[_All sing "Come Ye Lofty." At the end of second verse a sound of great knocking, shouting, and calls of "Open! Open! Mistress Goodspeede."_ PATIENCE _and_ PRUDENCE _hide behind their_ MOTHER, NATHAN _stands at her side_, MYLES _and_ ROGER _seize sticks, and_ EAGLEFEATHER _draws a small tomahawk._

PATIENCE _and_ PRUDENCE. 'Tis Indians!

ROGER. 'Tis no Indians, 'tis the colonists!

MYLES. They've found us out!

[_Noise continues._

TURNER _and_ PORTER. Open! open there!

MISTRESS WELLS. I see the light----

DESIRE PORTER. It shines through the cracks here----

DOMINIE COBB. Verily none need hope to conceal evil!

TURNER [_knocking louder_]. Open! open!

MISTRESS PORTER. Shut in like wolves----

GERSHOM. Yea--like wolves in a cage----

REUBEN. I told thee the window was covered.

JARED. Mayhap the house is afire!

ELDER HOPKINS. Hold, friends! [_Silence without._] Mistress Goodspeede, in the name of the _Governor_ I command you to open for us!

ROGER [_looking to his_ MOTHER]. _Must_ I, Mother?

MOTHER [_huskily_]. Open for them, Roger.

[ROGER _opens the door and all but_ GILBERT APPLETON _press in. Chorus of scandalized exclamations, "Oh, oh!"_

PORTER. What is the meaning of this, woman?

DOMINIE COBB. Do not attempt to deceive us!

TURNER. Answer.

MISTRESS WELLS. She hath not a word to say for herself.

MISTRESS PORTER. Ah! we always knew she was not one of the elect!

REUBEN. And they have even one of the hateful savages with them!

GERSHOM. Who would harbor the wretches?

DESIRE [_pulling her mother's sleeve_]. But, Mother, see how pretty it all is!

PRISCILLA. Oh, the beautiful tree! And gifts, too!

JANE. I would it were my little tree. Doesn't thee wish so, Desire?

DOMINIE COBB. Dost see, woman, how swiftly thy ungodly example doth work to corrupt these wenches?

MISTRESS PORTER. Silence, Desire! [_She and_ MISTRESS WELLS _try to hustle the children out of sight of the tree._]

ELDER HOPKINS. Speak, woman, and tell us the meaning of this.

PATIENCE [_timidly_]. Please, sir, 'tis--'tis--'tis a Christmas Tree!

PORTER. We knew it!

TURNER. Aye, my son Reuben hath told us. He heard them speaking of it not a week since.

PORTER. And Gershom, too--they have kept good watch upon these evil-doers.

MYLES [_angrily, to_ REUBEN]. So thou wast listening at the window. _Sneak!_

REUBEN [_blustering_]. And may not the King's subject walk upon the King's highway, Sir Cocksparrow?

ROGER [_shaking his fist at boys_]. Methinks 'twill take the King's soldiers to protect thee when once we catch thee----

GERSHOM. We'll show thee, thou blusterer, if we be not as free as thou!

[TURNER _and_ PORTER _seize_ REUBEN _and_ GERSHOM _and draw them back._

MOTHER [_sternly, touching_ ROGER'S _shoulder_]. Peace, Roger and Myles. Is this the Christmas spirit we talked of but now?

ELDER HOPKINS [_severely_]. Woman, dost thou forget that we fled from England for this very cause, that we might escape and save our children from just such sinful folly as this? How darest thou, with these baubles and fripperies, bring temptation into our very midst? I know of no punishment too severe for such evil examples! Not the ducking-stool, nor the stocks, nor even banishment itself---- [_Shakes his finger threateningly, at the same time going a step nearer to her. Enter_ GILBERT APPLETON, _remaining in background._]

EAGLEFEATHER [_springing before_ MISTRESS DELIGHT _with lifted tomahawk_]. Stop! stop! No hurt good Squaw. Listen! Me tell. Me Eaglefeather. Father big chief--Bald Eagle. She good, kind squaw. Take Eaglefeather in, feed, make warm, make hurt foot well. Teach Eaglefeather be good Indian. Eaglefeather go home camp. All braves say "This night go burn village." Eaglefeather find Bald Eagle. Say, "Not burn village. Good people. Indian's friend. Good squaw. Kind to Eaglefeather." Bald Eagle listen. Eaglefeather tell about Tree. Say this Christmas Day. Good Day. Nobody hurt nobody. Bald Eagle listen. Say tell braves. Not let braves burn village. Now, now! Not hurt kind squaw! [_Folds his arms proudly._]

GILBERT APPLETON [_coming forward_]. Every word the lad says is true, sir!

ALL. Gilbert Appleton! What does he mean! How does thee know?

GILBERT. Because I was there. Good friends and neighbors, you all know that I, Gilbert Appleton, have been much among the savages. I know their speech, and their ways. Bald Eagle's tribe have always seemed friendly, but two days ago, when I was hunting with my match-lock near their camp, they made a prisoner of me and kept me there until just now. What Eaglefeather here hath told you is true. They would have burned the village if he had not begged the chief for the sake of Mistress Delight's great kindness to spare it. Good neighbors, 'tis my belief that this little Christmas tree hath saved us all! [_During his story all hang upon his words, drawing close and shuddering at the thought of a massacre, and sighing with relief at the end._]

ALL. Strange! Wonderful! Did'st ever hear the like!

GILBERT. And, furthermore, the savages, who meant to make me guide them by the quickest way into our village, were moved to set me free at midnight and I have but now made my way back to you!

TURNER. Unheard-of forbearance!

DOMINIE COBB. Can we credit our ears!

MISTRESS WELLS. 'Tis like a miracle!

MISTRESS DELIGHT. 'Tis not so strange, either. We do not, we cannot know how much power even a very little good will and friendliness may have. I but thought to make my children happy, and because I loved my dear home in Old England I told them of customs there.

PRUDENCE. Mother, I would like to tell the good Elder something.

PATIENCE [_aside_]. He will only say thou art a forward wench, Prudence.

PRUDENCE. Will he, Mother? Will he frown and say, "Children should be seen and not heard"?

ELDER HOPKINS. Nay, my little maid. I will listen gladly.

[PRUDENCE _goes to him and puts her hands in his._

PRUDENCE [_earnestly_]. We didn't think it could be wrong, good Elder. Mother said it was the Lord's birthday, and we couldn't help being glad about that, could we? And Mother taught us a song about it.

ELDER HOPKINS. Then will you sing it for us, little maids?

[PRUDENCE _and_ PATIENCE, _hand in hand, sing their carol once more, while_ MYLES _and_ ROGER _go to_ REUBEN TURNER _and_ GERSHOM PORTER _and in pantomime apologize and shake hands with them._

MISTRESS PORTER. Good friends, these little maids and their song do touch my heart.

TURNER. Truly, when we sought to bring truth and righteousness to the new land, I fear we were forgetting charity.

JARED. Was Christmas like this in Old England?

JANE. My Mother would never tell me of it.

PRISCILLA. I would it were so here!

PATIENCE. Mother made the tree for us, but we'd like to give you all something from it. May we, Mother?

MOTHER. We will gladly share it if the good Elder will forgive any harm we may have done.

ELDER HOPKINS. Mistress Delight, I have been thinking that perhaps we have grown over hard and stern.

[_Unhindered now, the children draw close to the little tree._

DEACON PORTER. There was much that was good in the old ways, after all.

ELDER HOPKINS. I will take a sprig in memory of the happy Christmases in Old England.

MISTRESS WELLS. Perhaps we may e'en keep what was good in the old ways here in this New England. I'll take a bit of green, too.

ALL THE OTHERS. And I, too. And I!

MISTRESS DELIGHT. For the sake of the happy Christmases of old, and the homes we left, and more than all for the sake of the very first Christmas Day of all, let us sing one of the dear old carols we have loved so long.

ELDER HOPKINS. Willingly, Mistress Delight.

[_All sing "Come Ye Lofty,"[25] and while singing come forward and take bits of green from the Tree, which_ GILBERT APPLETON, REUBEN TURNER, _and_ ROGER _cut for them._

[Footnote 25: See note on Carols, p. 316.]

CURTAIN

NOTES ON COSTUME AND STAGING

Grown people, whose parts are taken by boys and girls from seventeen to twenty, and children, are dressed alike--men and boys in knee-trousers, coats with square white collars and cuffs, large belt- and shoe-buckles, broad-brimmed felt hats, with crowns high and flat. If the costumes are to be fully carried out, all should wear wigs, cropped round. Or they may be worn by the Elders only.

Women and girls wear plain dark-colored dresses, with rather full skirts, the children's as long as their mothers'. White kerchiefs, capes, and hoods, of dark colors with bright scarlet or gray-blue linings. The hoods are large and loose, with the edge turned back, giving color about the face. Mistress Delight, Patience, and Prudence wear white caps instead of the hoods.

Pictures of Puritan costumes are easily found in the Perry or Brown collections.

These costumes are best made of canton or outing flannel. Buckles can be made of cardboard and covered with silver paper, or cut from tin.

INDIAN. Suit made of tan canton flannel, fringed at edge of coat, sleeves, and trousers, with a band of fringe up and down arms and legs. He wears moccasins, beads, and a feather head-dress on his black wig. He carries bow and arrows, and a wooden tomahawk. A quiver can be made of a good-sized mailing-tube. He must have Indian make-up.

HUNTER'S dress is more like the Indian's than like the colonist's, but he does not wear his hair long, and his suit should be trimmed with furs, not fringe. Fur cap with tail hanging down at back. He carries an old gun, not a bow.

Mistress Delight's children range from Roger, twelve years old, down to little Prudence, five. The Indian is a boy of Roger's age. The hunter, sixteen or seventeen.

The little Christmas tree should be a very "homemade" one. Strings of popcorn and cranberries, spools and balls covered with bright paper, may be used for decorations, Indian baskets, and such toys as the little Puritans might have made, or any little quaint and old-fashioned trinkets to carry out this idea. Only white candles should be used, and these fastened on in the simplest and most unobtrusive manner.

The singing of the old psalm should be made as doleful and droning, even nasal, as possible. It can be sung to the Scotch tune of "Windsor," which is to be found in most hymn-books. The number of verses used may be determined by the amusement and applause of the audience. The boys who sing it must on no account allow themselves to laugh.

The charm and picturesqueness of the stage will be greatly enhanced if quaint old-time household articles can be borrowed or manufactured for properties--bellows, lantern, candlesticks, andirons, an old foot-stove--above all, a warming-pan, which the mother fills at the fire and carries out when she takes the younger children to bed. The dishes and platter so much admired by Patience should be rather conspicuously ugly.

Finally, a word in regard to the old-time English. When the play was first given it was feared that the children would find it a stumbling-block, and that it would have to be dropped. Quite the reverse proved to be the case, however, and the children all gave their lines with delightful naturalness and evident enjoyment. This has been equally true of other groups of children by whom the play has since been given. They show no awkwardness in the use of the old forms, but seem to feel that it carries them out of the everyday, and makes danger and adventure real to them.

THE CHRISTMAS MONKS

IN THREE ACTS

CHARACTERS

THE ABBOT } FATHER ANSELMUS } FATHER GREGORY } FATHER AMBROSE, the Leech } The Brethren of FATHER SEBASTIAN } the Convent. FATHER FELIX } FATHER HILARION, in charge of the comic toys } THE PRINCE. COURTIER. COURT LADY. GEOFFREY, 1st Page. HUMPHREY, 2nd Page. PETER } ROSALIA, Peter's Little Sister } GILBERT, the Carpenter's Apprentice } ROBIN, the Forester's son } Village children. WALTER, the Miller's boy } ANNETTA } MARIANNA } MISTRESS SPINNING } PEGGY SPINNING } Village mother and child. MISTRESS LONGLANE } DOLLY LONGLANE } From a distant village. PETER'S FATHER. PETER'S MOTHER.

THE CHRISTMAS MONKS

From a story by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman.[26]

[Footnote 26: By permission of Mrs. Freeman and of Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Company.]