SCENE III

[_Same as Scene I. Many children are seen hurrying along through the woods with dinner pails, the four who were kept after school coming in last, and finally left alone on the stage. They sing or recite._]

Tune: “Lightly Row.”

1.

Autumn time, autumn time, All the leaves are falling down; Autumn time, autumn time, Leaves of red and brown. Trip it lightly as you go, Hallowe’en has come you know; Autumn time, autumn time, Witches are in town.

2.

Hallowe’en, Hallowe’en, Comes but once in every year; Hallowe’en, Hallowe’en, Fairies will appear. Little elves in wood and glen, Are the little fairy men; Hallowe’en, Hallowe’en, Spooks are drawing near.

OWL [_behind scenes_]:

How do you do? How do you do? Tu-whit, tu-whoo, tu-whit, to-whoo.

CHILDREN:

If we were good, yes, very, very good, We never would be lost in the woods.

CAT [_behind scenes_]:

Would you like to get out? I could tell you how If you learned my language, Meow—meow.

CHILDREN:

Ghostly shadows linger near, We are lost it doth appear.

[_Witches come in, circle round the children._]

WITCHES:

Spell of air and spell of water, For each little son and daughter; Turn them into dolls today, Or wooden statues as we say. You’ll need some manners it is seen, Even now, on Hallowe’en.

[_They lead a boy and a girl right, a boy and a girl left, where they stand still as statues while the play continues._]

WITCHES [_rapping_]:

Rap-a-tap, rap-a-tap, Take a little winter nap; Little Owls, little Cats, where have you been, Come, join our revels on Hallowe’en!

[_Enter Cats and Owls._]

Dance and play, dance and play, Summer days are over; Dance away, dance away, Last night of October.

CATS:

We are the Cats, we bow and sing, And we can do most anything.

OWLS:

We are the Owls, with eyes so bright, We’re always “seein’ things at night.”

FIRST CAT:

What’s yonder there? [_Points to children._]

SECOND CAT:

Just see him stare!

THIRD CAT:

And here, and here.

FOURTH CAT:

Some spell, ’tis clear.

FIRST OWL:

A paper doll’s worth lots of money.

SECOND OWL:

This one holds a basket, it is funny.

THIRD OWL:

A wooden statue now I see.

FOURTH OWL:

His dinner pail appeals to me!

[_Cats circle round boy and girl at right, Owls round boy and girl at left. The curtain falls._]