Part 8

WISHING MAN. Yes. In order to make you grow and grow and grow, you'll have to stand on marble.

TOOTSY. We have a marble-top table in the front hall.

DUMPLING. Oh, yes. And we can all stand on top of the table.

WISHING MAN. But I have to stand here by the open window.

TOOTSY. Well, we can go in there and leave the door open. You can stay here and make our wish come true. Come on, Dumpling.

WISHING MAN. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Are you all of you sure you want to be made into great big, big little children?

CHILDREN. Yes, all of us.

WISHING MAN. All right. If that's your wish, it's no business of mine. Go out in the front hall and climb on the marble-top table and I'll see what I can do for you.

TOOTSY. Oh, come on, quick, Dumpling, before he changes his mind. (_Runs out R. with_ DUMPLING _and_ SNOOKUMS, _the latter taking very long strides._)

WISHING MAN. It's a very foolish wish, but maybe they'll be satisfied if I make them the biggest children on earth. (_Throws back curtains at the window._) I'll see what I can do.

DUMPLING (_outside_). I'm standing up on the table now.

WISHING MAN.

Hickety, kickety, setting sun, (_Making mysterious passes._) Thunder, lightning, flash of a gun! Let him grow bigger, it won't be much fun; Hickety, kickety, number one!

(_Lights flash out, then on again, then out. Low rumbles of thunder heard. Lights on again, then off. Loud crash outside._)

TOOTSY. Now it's my turn. I'm on the table.

WISHING MAN.

Witchery, twitchery, kangaroo, Thunder and lightning, Kalamazoo! Lengthen her, strengthen her, rip, bazoo, Make her a giantess, number two!

(_Lightning and thunder as before._)

SNOOKUMS (_outside_). Now, Mr. Wishing Man, I'm on the table.

WISHING MAN. That's the Baby Snookums. Very well, little Snookie Ookums! I'll change you into the biggest baby on earth.

Rumpety, thumpety, Kankakee, Lengthen him out to six foot three! The biggest baby we ever did see, Rumpety, thumpety, number three!

(_Same noises as before, only louder._)

_Enter_ NURSE MAID _from L._

NURSE MAID. Goodness, gracious! Is it a tornado or an earthquake? (_Sees_ WISHING MAN.) Oh! (_Screams loudly._) And who are you? Murder! Thieves! Robbers! Where's me children? Where's little Dumpling and Tootsy and Baby Snookums? (_Fast, loud music._)

WISHING MAN (_yells_). Where are your children?

_Enter_ BIG DUMPLING, BIG TOOTSY _and_ BIG SNOOKUMS. _They join hands and dance around at R._

WISHING MAN. There they are. There are little Dumpling and Tootsy and Baby Snookums.

(NURSE MAID _looks at children, screams loudly, throws up her arms and faints in a chair at L. of stage._ WISHING MAN _stands at C. with arms akimbo, laughing at her. The three big children dance in a circle at R._)

CURTAIN.

ACT II.

SCENE: _No scene at all. The action takes place in front of the closed curtains. Note: During this act the managers should be arranging the stage for the next act._

_The children who are present in the audience should be given seats down in front. At this point they rise and go upon the stage in front of the curtain and sing, accompanied by a chorus of older children behind the scenes. An adult leader may appear with the children. All sing, marching around platform and acting out the song:_

FOLLOW ME, FULL OF GLEE.

Movement Song.

[Music illustration:

1. Chil-dren go, to and fro, In a mer-ry, pret-ty row: Foot-steps light, fa-ces bright, 'Tis a hap-py, hap-py sight; Swift-ly turn-ing round and round.[A] Do not look up-on the ground,

2. Birds are free, so are we, And we live as hap-pi-ly; Work we do, stud-y, too, Learn-ing dai-ly some-thing new; Then we laugh, and dance, and sing, Gay as birds or an-y-thing:

3. Work is done, play's be-gun, Now we have our laugh and fun: Hap-py days, pret-ty plays, And no naught-y, naught-y ways. Hold-ing fast each oth-er's hand, We're a hap-py, cheer-ful band;

CHORUS.

Fol-low me, full of glee, Sing-ing mer-ri-ly. Sing-ing mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, Sing-ing mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, Fol-low me, full of glee, Sing-ing mer-ri-ly.]

[Footnote A: They all twirl around.]

(_The music continues softly as they resume their seats in the audience. After a pause the_ WISHING MAN _sticks his head out from the curtains. He takes one step in front, bows, then skips down to front and bows again._)

WISHING MAN. Hello, little boys and girls, how do you do this fine winter night? I know what each of you has been thinking. You've been wishing that _you_ could meet the Wishing Man and that he would make _your_ wishes come true. Now, haven't you? Well, I've made that wish come true. You wished to meet me, and here I am. I've been watching you all the year in Sunday School. I know how you have worked over your lessons, how you have helped your teachers and how punctual you have been. To be sure, I know some of you haven't helped your teachers as much as you could have done, but I'll forget all that at Christmas time. Now tell me what you wish for most.

CHILDREN (_in audience who have previously rehearsed this scene_). A Christmas tree. A look at old Santa Claus. Some nice Christmas presents, etc.

WISHING MAN. Stop, stop. I can't attend to so many wishes at once.

LITTLE GIRL (_rising_). Please, Mr. Wishing Man, couldn't you tell us what we'd better wish for?

WISHING MAN. Have you ever had a great, big Christmas tree?

CHILDREN. Oh, yes, lots of times.

WISHING MAN. Have you ever seen my old friend, Mr. Santa Claus?

CHILDREN. Oh, yes.

LITTLE BOY. We see him every year at Christmas.

WISHING MAN. How would like to go with me to Wishing Land.

CHILDREN. Oh, goody! (_Clapping hands._) That would be fine. Can you take us there?

WISHING MAN. Of course I can. And that's just what we'll do. We'll all of us go to the Wishing Land. First, I'll call little Dumpling. Dumpling, little Dumpling, where are you?

BIG DUMPLING _comes in from behind the curtains._

BIG D. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. I was playing with my little horse and wagon. (_He plays with tiny horse and wagon._)

WISHING MAN. And how do you like being a great, big Dumpling?

BIG D. Well, not very well. I'm always bumping my head on the doors and things. And all my toys are so very little I'm always breaking them.

WISHING MAN. Where is your sister? Where is little Tootsy?

BIG TOOTSY _enters._

BIG T. Here, Mr. Wishing Man. I'm here. Me and my little dolly.

WISHING MAN. Well, little Tootsy, how do you like being a great, big Tootsy?

BIG T. I don't like it very well. My clothes don't seem to fit, and I know I look awfully funny. (_To audience._) Don't I? Everybody laughs at me and it always makes me cry. (_Cries._)

WISHING MAN. And where is little Snookie Ookums?

BIG SNOOKUMS _enters._

BIG S. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. Here's 'ittie Snookie Ookums.

WISHING MAN. You look like a 'ittie baby elephant, Snookie Ookums. Well, are you children satisfied with your wish?

THE THREE. Not very much. We wish we were little again.

BIG S. (_crying_). I tried to ride my little horsie and I bweaked him all to pieces.

BIG D. And I can't get enough to eat. My little knife and fork and spoon are too little, and when I eat I swallow dishes and all. (_Cries._)

BIG T. And all my clothes are too little for me, and I look so funny that everybody laughs at me. And I don't like it at all. (_Cries._)

WISHING MAN. I'm just going to start on a journey to the Wishing Land. The toys there are awfully big. They'd be just the right size for you. Would you like to go with me?

BIG S. Is it very far?

BIG D. Could we get back by bedtime?

BIG T. Wouldn't it be awfully cold flying through the air?

WISHING MAN. Oh, no. We'd fly so fast you'd only have time to shiver once and then we'd be right there.

THE THREE. Oh, yes; let's go.

WISHING MAN. All right. Now all of you part your hair right in the middle, so you won't be heavier on one side than on the other. (_They do so._) That's good. Now give me your hands and hold on tight and we're off to the Wishing Land. Follow me, full of glee.

(_All sing the first verse and chorus of "Follow Me, Full of Glee," accompanied by the children in the audience. At the end all dance off the stage at R._)

ACT III.

SCENE: _The Wishing Land. Green or dark colored curtains at rear and at sides. Use all the large palms and potted trees available. A trumpet vine is attached to curtains at the rear. This is made of branches pinned on curtain to simulate a vine. Several tin trumpets are tied to the branches and many trumpets of various sizes made of paper. These stick out of the vines like blossoms._

[Illustration: Fig. 1]

_At rear right is a large tree with buds made of tissue paper and toy drums showing in the buds. See diagram. The leaves forming these buds should be pointed oval in shape and vary in size as they represent buds or open flowers. The drums hang down from the branches and the petals, when open, hang open and partly cover them. Another tree stands at rear L. This is hung with candy or bits of colored paper simulating candy. Candy canes are on this tree and_ JIM DANDY _is sleeping at bottom of tree._

_At R. about half-way back are branches arranged to look as if growing, and about three feet high, hung with balls of various sizes and colors._

_At L. about half-way back are three little girls dressed as French dolls. They stand in a row facing the audience. At either end of the row is a frame to support the cheesecloth curtain that hides them from the audience. They must stand stiffly with arms held out straight in front of them._

_At L. front are several rows of flower pots or boxes containing growing plants with dolls fastened among the leaves. These are branches about eighteen inches high, with green paper buds partly enveloping the dolls._

_At R. front is a large square box (a pasteboard cracker box or breakfast food box covered with red tissue paper will answer) in which is_ KA-ZIN-SKI _concealed by the lid._

_At R. half-way back just in front of the ball-trees stand three little boys dressed as toy soldiers. They stand erect and do not move._

_Curtain rises to mysterious music played by piano. This continues some little time until the audience "takes in" the scene._

_After a pause, enter the_ WISHING MAN, _followed by the three_ BIG CHILDREN.

WISHING MAN. Well, here we are in the Wishing Land. My kingdom and not a soul to welcome me!

BIG D. Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful place.

BIG S. See 'ittie bitsy teeny weeny trumpets gwowing in twees.

BIG T. And the dolls. The lovely, lovely dolls.

WISHING MAN (_clapping his hands_). What, ho! Is there none to welcome me?

_Enter_ TEDDY BEAR _from L._

TEDDY BEAR (_comes to_ WISHING MAN _and bows low_).

BIG D. Oh, see the Teddy Bear.

BIG T. And he's the biggest one I ever saw.

BIG S. Nice pussy, nice, nice pussy! (_Strokes_ TEDDY BEAR.)

TEDDY BEAR (_growls_).

BIG S. (_much frightened_). Oh, naughty, naughty, naughty!

WISHING MAN. Hello, Teddy Bear. Where's your brother?

TEDDY BEAR (_shakes head as if he does not know_).

WISHING MAN. Go out and find him for me. Have you been a very, very good Teddy Bear while I was away?

TEDDY BEAR (_nods his head_).

WISHING MAN. That's good. Now go out and find Jimmy Bear.

TEDDY BEAR (_nods head and ambles out at R._).

WISHING MAN (_looking around_). Everything is growing fine. I think the bicycle trees need a little more water. Well, children, what do you think of the Wishing Land?

BIG D. It's awfully pretty.

BIG T. It's perfectly gorgeous.

BIG S. Wunnerful, simply wunnerful.

WISHING MAN. Here's where I grow my toys. See, there is the trumpet vine, and the candy tree and the dolly flowers. Whenever a little child makes a wish for anything like that, all I have to do is to come in here and pick a toy. See?

BIG D. Oh, lookee at the tin soldiers. They're awful big. Can I have one, Mr. Wishing Man?

WISHING MAN. I don't think they're quite ripe yet.

BIG S. Me want a twumpet. Want a nice, big twumpet to blow.

WISHING MAN (_picks a trumpet_). There you are, my little man.

BIG T. I want one, too. A nice loud one.

WISHING MAN (_picks one_). And there's one for you, Tootsy.

BIG D. Believe I'll take a drum.

WISHING MAN (_picks a drum_). There you are. Right off the tree.

BIG D. Now we'll have a parade. (_They march around stage playing trumpets and drums._)

WISHING MAN. Here, here, wait a minute. You're making enough noise to wake the dead. Hold on, there. Quiet, quiet!

BIG T. Oh, dear! Just as we were having such a lovely time.

BIG S. Oh, whee! See the funny box. (_Goes to_ KA-ZIN-SKI'S _box._) What is in it, Mr. Wishing Man?

WISHING MAN. You'd better let it alone. That's Ka-zin-ski, and Ka-zin-ski doesn't like babies.

BIG S. But I wish to see him.

WISHING MAN. Is it a wish?

BIG S. Yes, sir; it's a wish.

WISHING MAN. Then pull the string.

(BIG S. _leans over the box, pulls a spring, the lid flies up and_ KA-ZIN-SKI _pops out almost in the baby's face._ BIG S. _screams and falls flat down on the stage._)

BIG S. Oh, whee! Take him away! I'm fwightened, I am. Vill he come after me?

WISHING MAN. No, no. Get up, 'ittie Snookie Ookums, he won't hurt you.

BIG D. Say, Mr. Wishing Man?

WISHING MAN. What is it, my little boy?

BIG D. Can we have anything we wish for here in the Wishing Land?

WISHING MAN. Of course you can. That's what the Wishing Land is for.

BIG D. Then I wish I was a little boy again. I'm too big to enjoy myself.

BIG T. And I wish I was a little girl again. Everybody laughs at me, 'cause I'm so big.

BIG S. And I wish I was a 'ittie, teeny, weeny baby again. Being so big fwightens me so.

WISHING MAN. Oh, ho! So you all want to be little again?

THE THREE. Yes, sir, if you please.

BIG T. Why, I'm so big that I can't get all of me into bed. I'll have to let my feet hang outside.

BIG S. And if I get in my baby buggy, I'll bweak it all down.

BIG D. And my mamma won't recognize me at all, 'cause I'm grown so big.

WISHING MAN. That's all very well, but it will be quite a job to make you all little again. It will take three magic fern seeds, and I don't think I have any ripe yet.

(_Music, a march._ TEDDY BEAR _dances in in time to the music. He goes up to the_ WISHING MAN, _pulls his head down and whispers something in his ear. Then hands him a little box._)

BIG D. Oh, what is it, Mr. Wishing Man? Is it the fern seed?

WISHING MAN (_looks in the little pill box_). Yes, but it's only one fern seed. Only one of you can be made little again.

BIG D. Give it to my sister, Tootsy. She's a girl.

BIG T. No, give it to Dumpling. He's the oldest.

WISHING MAN. I think I'll give it to 'ittie Snookie Ookums. Here, Snookums, take that little seed and go down by the pump and get a drink of water. Put the seed in the water and swallow it and you'll be the original 'ittie Snookums again.

BIG S. Oh, goody, goody, goody! (_Takes box and skips out at R._)

(_Music again, a march._ JIMMY BEAR _dances in, whispers to the_ WISHING MAN _and gives him a pill box._)

WISHING MAN. Here's another fern seed. Ladies first, Dumpling. I'll give it to Tootsy.

BIG T. Oh, you dear, good Wishing Man. I'll give you a nice hug and kiss for that. (_Does so, takes box, skips out at R._)

(_Music again. Enter_ BABY JUMBO, _dancing in time to the music._ WISHING MAN _bends down and whispers to the elephant._ JUMBO _raises one foot, a front one, and gives him a pill box._)

WISHING MAN. And here's the third magical fern seed. Here you are, Master Dumpling. Hurry along and grow little again.

BIG D. Oh, thank you, sir. (_Takes box and skips out at R._)

JUMBO _and the_ TWO BEARS _dance out at L. in time to the music._

WISHING MAN (_goes to the doll bushes_). The dolly plants don't seem to be doing very well. (_Picks a doll._) Here's a ripe one. I'm going to give that to (_insert some little girl's name_) for a Christmas present. And here's another for ----. I wonder how my big French dolls are doing. They're dreadfully hard to raise. They require so much attention. I have to keep them under cover to protect them from the sun. The wax melts so easily and the pretty red cheeks are apt to run down over their pretty French dresses. (_Removes cover._) How nice they look. There's Annette, Olivette and Babette. Three as pretty little French ladies as ever came out of Paris. I think they're just about ready to pick. They're such pretty dollies that I think I'll give them to little boys instead of little girls. I'll give Annette to (_insert little boy's name_) and I'll give Olivette to ----, and little Babette I'll give to ----. My, my, I was forgetting all about the children and the mysterious fern seed. I wonder if it has changed them back into real little children again. (_Looks out at R._) Yes, here they come.

_Enter from R._ DUMPLING, TOOTSY _and_ SNOOKUMS.

DUMPLING. Oh, thank you, Mr. Wishing Man. I feel ever so much better now.

TOOTSY. Yes, indeed. My clothes are a perfect fit and nobody will laugh at me now.

SNOOKUMS. I feel perfectly fan-tas-a-ma-gor-ious.

TOOTSY. Oh, see the pretty French dollies. I wish they would talk to me.

WISHING MAN. If that's your wish, they can.

TOOTSY (_presses_ ANNETTE). Can you talk?

ANNETTE (_imitates talking doll_). Pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa!

TOOTSY (_presses_ OLIVETTE). And what can you say?

OLIVETTE. Ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma!

SNOOKUMS (_presses_ BABETTE). Go on and talk to me.

BABETTE. Mer-ry Christ-mas! Mer-ry Christ-mas!

TOOTSY. I wish you could wind them up so they could walk around and play with us.

WISHING MAN. Is that your wish?

TOOTSY. Oh, yes. Do you think you can do it?

WISHING MAN. I can try. (_Takes large clock key and winds each doll. The sound of winding should be imitated by a rattle behind the scenes._)

ANNETTE. Pa-pa, pa-pa, pa-pa! (_Walks forward without bending knees._)

DUMPLING. Here, stop her. She'll fall down. (_Grabs her._) Here, turn around. Walk this way. (_Walks with her._)

OLIVETTE. Ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma; (_Starts to walk._)

TOOTSY (_catches her_). Oh, I think you are a darling. (_Walks with her._)

BABETTE. Mer-ry Christ-mas! Mer-ry Christmas. (_Starts to walk._)

WISHING MAN. Here, wait for me. (_Takes her arm and they walk together._)

DUMPLING. Wind up the soldiers. Then each dolly can have a partner.

WISHING MAN. Just a minute. (_Winds up the soldiers._)

(_The dolls continue walking around with jerky steps._)

PRIVATE BLACK (_as_ BABETTE _passes him_). Allow me. (_Offers her his arm._)

PRIVATE JACK (_as_ ANNETTE _passes him_). Allow me. (_They promenade._)

PRIVATE MACK (_as_ OLIVETTE _passes him_). Allow me. (_They promenade._)

TOOTSY (_very much excited, runs to_ WISHING MAN.) Oh, I wish they were all alive.

WISHING MAN. You do? Is that your wish? (_She nods._) Then I'll make them all alive.

Hickety, kickety, bees in a hive, Witchery, twichery, you're alive.

(_The dolls and soldiers twirl around and chatter merrily in pantomime. Their actions from now on are as natural as possible._)

SNOOKUMS (_suddenly sees the candy tree_). Oh, lookee! Candy!

WISHING MAN. That's alive, too. (JIM DANDY _marches down._) Mr. Snookie Ookums, let me introduce you to Mr. Jim Dandy, a stick of candy.

SNOOKUMS. Would he mind if I'd take a bite out of his leg?

JIM DANDY. You bet he would. I'm alive now.

WISHING MAN (_looks off at L._). And here comes Teddy Bear and Jimmy Bear. They're alive, too. And look at the Baby Elephant.

_Enter_ TEDDY BEAR, JIMMY BEAR and BABY JUMBO. _The piano plays a march. All march around the stage, first the_ WISHING MAN, _then_ BLACK _and_ BABETTE, JACK _and_ ANNETTE, MACK _and_ OLIVETTE, JIM DANDY _and_ TOOTSIE, TEDDY BEAR _and_ DUMPLING, _then_ BABY JUMBO _with_ SNOOKUMS _riding on his back, then_ JIMMY BEAR _capering in the rear. March around several times. A simple folk dance may be introduced at this point. All sing two verses of "Follow Me, Full of Glee."_

CURTAIN.

REMARKS ON THE PRODUCTION.

The room was all in shimmering white with a background of small pine trees in large wooden pots. The floor was covered with white muslin and scattered with leaves, pine needles and cones.

In one corner was a giant snow pile, made of a frame covered with cotton. This was presided over by the Snow Queen and her Maids and white-wrapped bundles were on sale for five cents.

Jack Frost and his boys presided over a large tree in another corner. Small toys wrapped in white tissue paper were attached to this tree and sold for five cents. Or Santa Claus may preside at the sale.

Snowballs of white popcorn and snowballs filled with candy were on sale at another booth, presided over by red and white Striped Candy Girls. Candy canes were also sold here.

In the fourth corner a snow scene in the woods was depicted. A local acrobat, dressed as a Snow-man, did stunts, assisted by several boys dressed as clowns. They pelted the Snow-man with snowballs and then sold bags of white confetti. The Snow-man also ran a game where snowballs were thrown at a target. The target was a circle of black cambric, the snowballs were rubber balls covered with raw cotton and rolled in flour. Balls sold three for five cents.

A postoffice in charge of Mrs. Santa Claus is recommended, where each pays five cents postage due for packages and postcards.

If snowballing the target is too "mussy," a large holly wreath with a cluster of sleighbells in the center may be suspended from the ceiling with red and green streamers. Three balls of soft rubber are provided and the contestants try to throw the balls through the wreath and ring the bells.

Stuffed stockings on a clothesline may be offered for sale. This should be presided over by Moll Pitcher and her colonial wash-maids.

A rummage sale of toys added quite a large sum to the general fund. There was a 5-cent table, a 10-cent table and a 25-cent table.

THE SCENERY FOR THE PLAY.

The rear of the stage should be hung with dark curtains. Arrange the trumpet vine and the trees in place before the play begins. Then hide them with screens, these screens serving as the "scenery" for Act I.

During the progress of Act II, in front of the front curtain, remove the screens and furniture of Act I and arrange the stage for Act III as described in the text.