SCENE II

The characters now are wax-like figures, very still, sitting in a row. As Folly touches one with a wand he rises and goes through the stunt suggested by the Witches spell in the last scene. One dances, one sings a nonsense song, one may give a dumb-bell or Indian-club drill, one skates, one comes forward on a Kiddy-cart to represent the wild rider. Bring in all talent possible to make this part of the program funny. A Clown Dance would be appropriate. The children of various nations recite.

CHINAMAN:

I am Ching-Lo, Chinaman, Also known as funny man.

ESKIMO:

I am Eskimo, and if you please, I enter doors on hands and knees.

JAPANESE:

Across the sea to fair Japan, I carry parasol and fan.

HOLLAND:

Clump, clump, go my wooden shoes, As I travel to carry news.

INDIAN:

Indian in Indian summer weather, Carries war-paint, carries feathers.

NEGRO:

Plunkety-plunk goes the old banjo, Down in the cotton field you know.

[_All taking attitude of playing banjo, say_]:

Plunkety-plunk is a merry tune, Plunkety-plunk, ’neath the harvest moon; Plunkety-plunk with songs between, We’ll entertain on Hallowe’en.

[_Girls enter with mirrors, turn heads to look in mirror held over shoulder and Folly peeps in each, so he is seen._]

ALL:

Minor, mirror, what do you see? On Hallowe’en reveal to me.

FIRST:

Mirror, mirror, that I hold, Many a fortune by you is told. Folly, Folly, Folly.

SECOND:

Mirror, mirror, what do you mean, The hour strikes, ’tis Hallowe’en. Folly, Folly, Folly.

THIRD:

Mirror, mirror, tell me true, If I meet my love, what shall I do? Folly, Folly, Folly.

FOURTH:

Mirror, mirror, in my hand, Your charm I can not understand. Folly, Folly, Folly.

FOLLY:

Merry lads and lassies too, Folly makes much fun for you; Can wax-work figures sing I wonder? Will they whisper? will they blunder? Can they keep a tune? I’ll see, I’ll wind them with my little key.

[_He winds them up one at a time, they rise, to his apparent surprise, dance around, come forward, line up and sing._]

Tune: “Yankee Doodle.”

WAX-WORK SONG

1.

We’re Wax-Work Figures in the show, We’re very fond of singing; We’re talented as you must know, You’ll hear our voices ringing.

CHORUS.

Ha, ha, ha, we’re wound up well, You will soon discover; Why we’re singing, we can’t tell, In the late October

[_Hum the chorus._]

2.

We’re Wax-Work Figures it is true, Let’s keep on humming, humming; We’ll do our very best for you, As Hallowe’en is coming.

[_Whistle chorus. Repeat words of chorus and go off right and left as stiff figures would._]

The Play of Pomona

NOTE—The ancients believed that Pomona, the goddess of fruits, attracted many lovers. She was finally won by Vertumnus, the god of the changing year. To win her, he had to take on many forms. Offerings were made to those gods in Rome at festival time.

CHARACTERS

OCTOBER—A tall girl. WITCH—A tall girl or boy. TRUMPETER—A small boy. APPLES—Four girls. PEARS—Four girls. BANANAS—Four girls. GRAPES—Four girls. CHILD—A small boy. POMONA—A young lady. SUITORS—Any number of boys. VERTUMNUS—A young man.

COSTUME SUGGESTIONS

While no special costumes are necessary, they will add to the program. The fruits especially should be made to represent what they speak of, and the Horn of Plenty may be made of pasteboard, decorated with colored fruits and flowers, or a large waste basket filled with fruits would do for this purpose. October will be pretty crowned with autumn leaves. There will be no difficulty in getting a long, black cape for the Witch, and a pointed black hat. She carries a cane and raps on the floor when ready to recite. Consult any ancient history for costumes for Pomona and her suitors.