coming around the corner.

_The others all go toward the window, and_ JACK _says
delightedly._ One of them has a fiddle. Oh, I do hope they will stop
here.

_Then outside the window the Christmas Waits can be seen, all in warm
caps and mittens and mufflers. They stop just in front of the window,
hold up their music before them, and begin to sing the dear old carol,
called_:

THE CAROL OF CHRISTMAS MORNING

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day.

_When the carol is finished_, POLLY _and_ JACK _and_
MOTHER _and_ FATHER _wave to the Waits, and cry,_ Merry
Christmas! Merry Christmas!

_And the_ WAITS _wave back and cry_: Merry Christmas! Merry
Christmas! Merry Christmas!

_And this is the end of the Play._

* * * * *

Characters and Costumes

MOTHER GOOSE--The conventional costume; full skirt, peaked hat, cane,
spectacles, mits. It is effective for her to draw her lips tight over
her teeth so that her speech is that of a toothless old woman.

POLLY--A little girl } first in ordinary indoor clothes;
}
JACK--a little boy } afterwards in wrappers.

DOCTOR JOHN--Their father; indoor clothes; also overcoat and hat;
medicine case; afterwards in a dressing gown.

MOTHER--Doctor John's wife; indoor clothes; afterwards in kimono or
wrapper.

NURSE MARY--A little old woman; first dressed for outdoors, in cloak and
hood; simple dark dress underneath.

AN ELF--Acted by a very little boy, dressed all in green; he does not
speak.

SANTA CLAUS--At first in heavy wrapper, preferably white; underneath
this his conventional costume; later he puts on fur cap and gloves.

MRS. SANTA CLAUS--Indoor clothes of red and white, corresponding to the
conventional costume of Santa Claus.

DOLL--Acted by two girls, one much smaller than the other, but both
exactly alike as to dress, stockings, sash, hair ribbons, and color and
arrangement of hair.

SOLDIER--Acted by two boys, one much smaller than the other, but
corresponding as closely as possible in uniform and appearance, except
that the small one has bright red cheeks from the beginning.

CHRISTMAS WAITS--Boys in outdoor clothes; warm caps, mufflers, gloves or
mittens; one carries and plays a violin; others hold copies of the carols.

* * * * *

Scenery and Scenic Effects

SCENES I AND