  Characters First Mouse Second Mouse French Doll Tin Soldier Lion Elephant Tiger Jack-in-the-box Woolly Dog Mrs. Santa Claus First Mouse. Christmas is here again. The air is full of the smell of good things to eat! Second Mouse. It’s a gay time for us. I know there’ll be plenty of crumbs around now. First Mouse. I wish Christmas came every night. But look at those old toys in the corner. I wonder why they look so sad. French Doll. Look sad, do we? No wonder. It’s Christmas Eve and we Christmas Eve in an Attic Tin Soldier. First Mouse. It must have been a long time ago. Tin Soldier. It was, indeed! But the children do not care to play with us now that we are so old. French Doll. Old, sir? How can you say that? Just look at me! If my hair were combed and I had a new dress on, I’d still be a very nice doll! Old, indeed! Second Mouse. Yes, I’m quite sure you would be very pretty. Tin Soldier. And I’d be as good as First Mouse. Oh, I believe that, sir. Lion. [Proudly.] Only my mane’s gone. [To Elephant.] But I see you have lost your trunk! Elephant. Yes, some one broke it off. Now if I had a new trunk, I’d be all right. But look at the tiger! He has cracked his paint, and his stripes are all gone. It would be hard to make him look new again. Tiger. Do you mean me? Oh, a few stripes of new paint, and I’d be as fine a tiger as you ever saw. Listen! Woolly Dog is trying to speak. Woolly Dog. [In a whisper.] My voice is almost gone. Some one punched me too hard once and broke the spring. If I had a new spring, I’d bark louder than ever. We’d never even hear your squeak then, little mice. Jack-in-the-box. I never could get back after my lid came off. A hinge and a few screws, and I’d be as good as new. It’s a shame to leave me like this. Mice. Hush! Some one is coming up the stairs. [Mrs. Santa Claus enters.] French Doll. Who are you? Mrs. Santa Claus. I am Mrs. Santa First Mouse. She does look fine! Mrs. Santa Claus. Now, Tin Soldier, what can I do for you? Tin Soldier. Give me a new red coat, Mrs. Santa Claus. Here you are, sir. Now, Jack, down in your box while I mend the lid. There, now you can bob up as well as ever. Lion. If you please, I want a new mane. A little boy pulled mine off. I haven’t had one for a long time. Woolly Dog. Please don’t forget me. I can’t bark till I get a new spring. Mrs. Santa Claus. Come, Elephant and Tiger. I’ll do you next. There, I’ve seen you all. You are now as good as toys can be. French Doll. Are we to stay in this old attic? Tin Soldier. Can’t we be put on a Christmas tree again? Mrs. Santa Claus. No. Listen to me. You are all to go out into the world to-night. Each one of you must make one little child happy. Go the way you wish, but be sure to find the child that needs you most. I must hurry to another old attic over the way. Good night, toys. [Toys go away.] First Mouse. Will each toy try to make some child glad on Christmas morning? Second Mouse. I hope so. How happy they all looked as they went out! |
|
