SCENE II.

(_Dorothy dusts room, while Mrs. Brown is seated at table mending._)

_Dorothy._ (_mournfully_). Well, mother, it don’t look much like Christmas with father and Rob away. I suppose you are going to celebrate by mending, so I’ll get out that old blue waist and see if I can patch it up to look more respectable. (_Searches in mending basket and brings out waist ... Holds it up to view._) It’s pretty hopeless though! (_satirically_). What a merry lively Christmas it will be!

_Mrs. B._ (_cheerfully_). Things might be lots and lots worse, daughter. Since your father had to be away, I’m glad that Rob could keep him company, and we’ll have a postponed Christmas when they come back. Thread this needle for me, please. Your eyes are better than mine. (_Dorothy threads needle._)

_Dorothy._ (_handing needle to her mother_). A postponed Christmas is as cheerful as a warmed over pancake! But let’s open the box instead of waiting for father. He won’t care.

_Mrs. B._ (_hesitatingly_). I had planned to wait till he came back but there may be something perishable in the box.

_Dorothy._ Perishable! Everything perished long before it reached us! Wait till I get the hammer and chisel to open it.

(_Exit Dorothy._)

_Mrs. B._ (_sadly_). Poor Dorothy! How I would love to have pretty, dainty clothes for her and how she would enjoy them.

(_Enter Dorothy with child’s shabby hat on head._)

_Dorothy._ (_smiling_). This is the hat that was sent last year, so do you wonder I am pessimistic about this year’s box? (_Tosses hat into corner_). Well, now for the opening, and I’ll be hopeful anyway.

_Mrs. B._ Look out for your fingers!

_Dorothy._ (_cheerfully_). O I’m a fine amateur carpenter! This lid was nailed on to stay, though! (_Removes lid from box._)

_Dorothy._ (_surprised_). Well, I never! Mother, mother, put down that old mending and look here! (_Takes mending from her mother._) Did you ever see such a lovely box!

_Mrs. B._ (_also surprised_). What a beautiful box! Is it really meant for us?

_Dorothy._ Here’s the label all right. Mrs. David Brown, and that’s you! Just see the holly! Isn’t it Christmas-y? (_Places sprig of holly in her hair._)

_Mrs. B._ (_hesitating_). Hadn’t we better wait till your father and Rob come?

_Dorothy._ (_reproachfully_). Wait? O mother what outrageous cruelty! Why my fingers just itch to open those packages. There don’t seem to be any labels, but we can guess at them. You take the first.

_Mrs. B._ (_takes parcel, unwraps and displays white embroidered waist_). Isn’t that exquisite?

_Dorothy._ (_enthusiastically_). Why, mother, you’ll look as pretty as a picture in it. Stand up and let’s see how it looks on you. (_Holds up waist upon her mother._)

_Dorothy._ Mother, you just look sweet. And now for my turn. (_Takes parcels, unwraps, and holds up dress with flowered sash._)

_Dorothy._ (_excited_). Why mother I never had any thing like this in my life! It’s the first thing that I’ve ever owned that didn’t look as if some one had worn it till they were sick of it, first. I wish I could see it in the glass. Who’s our fairy godmother?

_Mrs. B._ Why the Ladies’ Aid Society of the Meadowbrooke Church. Don’t you remember that they wrote, saying that they were sending a box?

_Dorothy._ Well, this is surely some box! Now mother, it’s your turn!

_Mrs. B._ (_unwraps sweater_). This must be for Rob! How pleased he will be! I’ll wrap it up again.

_Dorothy._ That may be Rob’s but I know I’m going to borrow it sometimes! (_Tries on sweater._)

_Mrs. B._ Now it’s your turn to take a package.

_Dorothy._ It’s just like Aladdin’s lamp. (_takes package_). Now I wonder what this is? (_Opens box_). O mother what lovely neckwear! It’s almost too dainty to touch. That pale blue will look so pretty with your waist. Did I ever see such a box!

_Mrs. B._ (_taking parcel_). I guess I am as excited as you are about it, Dorothy. (_Opens package_). This scarf must be for your father, and see, here are gloves to go with it.

_Dorothy._ Then I am going to throw away those gloves which you have mended and mended till they are nothing but mends. (_Takes gloves from mending basket and throws them in waste basket._)

_Mrs. B._ (_reprovingly_). It doesn’t take you long to learn to be extravagant!

_Dorothy._ (_taking large package from box_). I wonder what’s in this big one. The best way to find out is to open it. (_Opens package and holds up eiderdown robe._) O mother, won’t this be nice for you, so warm and comfy! You must try it on right away! (_Slips robe over mother’s shoulders._)

_Mrs. B._ I’ll enjoy this I know! Now for my turn. (_Opens box of handkerchiefs._) How dainty and pretty! We’ll divide these, but you mustn’t lose one!

_Dorothy._ My turn for the fairy gift box. (_Opens parcel._) A fur cap for Father! _Won’t_ he be pleased! (_Tries cap on._) This looks nicely on me, but I mustn’t be selfish!

_Mrs. B._ I should hope not, with all the lovely gifts, that you have! (_Takes prettily decorated package._) Candy! Well, this is for everybody! I’ll just keep it till father and Rob come back.

_Dorothy._ (_reaching for it_). Perishable goods!

_Mrs. B._ (_firmly_). I know it will be perishable if I put it where you can get it!

_Dorothy._ (_resigned_). Well, I’ll be patient and wait. Now I’ll put back father’s and Rob’s presents, and then I’ll take some of this holly and decorate with it. Dear me! We won’t recognize ourselves!

_Mrs. B._ (_earnestly_). I am going to write at once to the Meadowbrooke ladies, and tell them what a beautiful Christmas they have made for us.

_Dorothy._ I take back all I said about a blue Christmas, and while you write _I’m_ going to try on my new clothes.

CURTAIN.