Costumes, etc.

Sir Dismal Dumps,The Bugaboo Man,}Two enemies of children.

Sir Dismal Dumps,The Bugaboo Man,

}Two enemies of children.

Queen of the Cosey Corner,The children’s fairy friend.Fairy Bright-Thought,Chief counsellor of the Queen.West Wind,Friend toDorothy.Dorothy Dot,Grown larger, after the spell is broken.Old Woman with Basket.

Carol,Avis,Frank,Roy,}Friends and playmates ofDorothy’s.

Carol,Avis,Frank,Roy,

}Friends and playmates ofDorothy’s.

Reallywish,Justnow,I Can,I Will}Brownies.

Reallywish,Justnow,I Can,I Will

}Brownies.

Six, eight, or moreSunshine Fairies.

Dorothy Dot,while small. Girl of nine or ten, small for her age; dainty modern dress.

Sir Dismal Dumps.Boy of fourteen, or older; antique court costume of gray and dark green.

The Bugaboo Man.Boy of fourteen, same style of dress as Dismal Dumps, but colors red and dark blue. Wears a mask.

Queen of the Cosey Corner.Girl of fourteen; trained white spangled dress, crown, and wand.

Fairy Bright-Thought.Girl of ten; short white spangled fairy dress, with wings.

West Wind.Girl of fourteen who can sing well; flowing rose-colored robe, long gray mantle.

Old Woman with Basket.Girl of twelve or thirteen; brown or purple skirt to ankles, gingham waist, small red shoulder-shawl, sunbonnet.

Dorothy Dot,grown taller. A well-grown, bright-looking girl of thirteen, closely resembling the small Dorothy. Dress apparently the same, only longer.

Reallywish,Justnow,I Can, andI Will. Boys of ten; Brownie costumes. (“I Will” should have the strongest voice.)

Sunshine Fairies.Girls of eight or nine; flowing hair, short fairy dress of bright orange-yellow, made still brighter by a liberal use of spangles. Wings.

Cosey Corner.Prettily draped and cushioned couch in one corner of rear of stage.

Sunshine Treasure-Box.First act, a box about the size of a small but deep trunk, labelled on the front in plain lettering, “Sunshine.”

Sunshine Treasure-Box.Second act, box of same shape, but very large; if possible, nearly four feet deep; with same label in same position on front, in letters of the same shape but larger. Have blocks of wood nailed inside for steps. The lid should be on hinges, and the whole back of the box, except at the very top, is sawed out, leaving it open. The curtain hangs at the rear of the stage, with a large opening immediately behind the box, so that Sunshine Fairies and others can easily pass into the box from behind the scenes. Foliage, rocks, and stumps for seats, and other playground accessories. Have a stump and a particularly soft rock against the outside of the box, to serve as steps.

Change of Costume.In the second act, near the close, Sir Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man should change quickly while in or back of the Sunshine-Box, from their former costumes to suits of spangled orange-yellow cambric, made in similar style.

SCENE.—A playground, withCarol,Avis,Royseated on rocks and stumps, talking. Music as curtain rises. Music stops.

Avis.Did you say that shenevercould grow any larger?

Frank(entering). What’s that?Whonever could grow any larger?

Carol.Why, don’t you know? It’s Dorothy Dot. Dear little Dorothy! It’s all because she was enchanted when she was only seven years old, by that dreadful enemy of all Sunshine people—Sir Dismal Dumps!

Frank.O yes, I remember. Heisa rascal—that Dismal Dumps. He put one of his magic spells on her—he and his Bugaboo Man together—so she never could grow any larger unless——

Roy.Yes, she never could grow any larger, unless——

Avis.Unless what? Do tell me all about it.

Carol.I thought you knew, Avis. Unless the key is found, the key to Dorothy’s magic treasure-box. The Sunshine Fairies are shut up in the box, and until they are let out we children will all have lots of trouble because of that horrid Dismal Dumps and his Bugaboo Man.

Frank(walking about, his hands in his pockets, looking as if thinking very hard). Thisisa puzzle that gets me! The box that holds the SunshineFairies is locked, and Dismal Dumps stole the key, and keeps it hidden away. But say, wasn’t there something about theboxgrowing, too?

Roy.Why, yes. You see, it’s a magic box, and was meant to grow larger all the time, just as Dorothy was meant to grow larger herself. But, when the key was stolen, it—the box, I mean—stopped growing, andshestopped growing, and now ——

All(coming forward and singing; tune, “The Red, White, and Blue”).

O sad is the plight of our playmate,While under the dark, cruel spell;No peace can she have, night or morning,For foes watch her footsteps too well.When found is the key to her treasure,How gladly our chorus we’ll sing!When forth come the bright Sunshine Fairies,The bells of Bonnydingle will ring.O the bells, bonny bells, how they’ll ring!O the bells, bonny bells, how they’ll ring!When forth come the bright Sunshine Fairies,The bells of Bonnydingle will ring.

(EnterDorothy,running.)

Dorothy.O Carol, Avis,—all of you! I’msoafraid! When I started to come over here, I was sure I heard Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man talking, just around the corner, and I ran as fast as I could, to get away from them. I’m afraid they’ll be here, yet. (Looking around uneasily). But (brightening)I must tell you the good news. I’ve seen the Brownies!

(All crowd around her.FrankandRoygive a surprised whistle.)

Avis.Haveyou, Dorothy?

Carol.And will they help us plan what to do?

Dorothy.Yes, they said they would help. Here they come, now.

(Enter Brownies, running, skipping, and capering in various ways, which lively antics they must keep up at intervals all through the play. Coming forward and facing the audience, they sing, each one in turn; tune, “Yankee Doodle.”)

Reallywish.

Kind friends, my name is Reallywish;I serve the people gladly.Whenever they are true to meThey cease to mourn so sadly;For, don’t you see? they go to workTo make their wish come true, sir!And when they smile instead of shirkThere’s little they can’t do, sir.

Justnow.

And my name, if you’d know it well,Would save you much debating;For it’s Justnow, and when I’m calledI never keep folks waiting.I hasten gladly on my way,As fast as I can run, sir!And when I work, and when I play,’Tis very quickly done, sir.

I Can.

They call me by the name I Can;That name I’ll never alter.I’m bound to do what any manShould try, nor will I falter.Brave thinking helps to bring success;I’m every one’s good friend, sir!Whate’er I try, I’ll carry through,And push it to the end, sir.

I Will.

And I, the last, am called I Will,And never should you doubt me.Some call me stubborn, but I’d likeTo see them do without me!For ships I sail and houses build,And every lesson learn, sir!Make haste and call me to your aid,If you would comfort earn, sir.

Avis(clapping her hands). O what dear Brownies! And so you will help us to get rid of that hateful Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man we’re so afraid of! What shall we do first?

(Brownies, puzzled, look up at the ceiling, down at the floor, and in various corners, as if for an idea.)

Reallywish.I really wish, my friends, O yes, I really wish I knew——

Justnow.Just now, exactly what is best for us to plan and do.

I Can.But, if each one of us will only think and say, “I can——”

I Will(emphatically). We’ll conquer Dismal Dumps and his Bugaboo Man!

Children and Brownies(all together.) We’ll conquer Dismal Dumps and his Bugaboo Man!

Roy.Here they come, now! (Children huddle close together and look frightened, yet resolute. A few strains of very doleful music, from behind scenes. EnterSir Dismal DumpsandBugaboo Man,right.)

Dismal Dumps(scowling fiercely). Well, here’s a pretty howdy-do! Don’t these children know they shouldn’t loiter around like this? They’ll be too late to have any dinner when they get home! Besides, there’s all their next week’s lessons not learned.

Bugaboo Man.Well, the lessons are so hard they won’t be able to learn them anyhow; so what difference does it make?

Dismal Dumps.Then they’ll all grow up without knowing anything. In fact, no matter how hard they try, they’ll never amount to anything.

(Children whisper together during this conversation. Brownies gesticulate as if giving directions. All nod their heads in consent, and approachDismal Dumps.)

Children and Brownies(singing; tune, “Maryland, My Maryland”).

Listen to the children’s plea,Dismal Dumps, O Dismal Dumps!If you’d go and leave us free,—Dismal Dumps, O Dismal Dumps,—We would be so very good,Learn our lessons as we should,We’d surprise you; yes, we would,Dismal Dumps, O Dismal Dumps!But before you leave the land,Dismal Dumps, O Dismal Dumps,If you’d kindly understand,Dismal Dumps, O Dismal Dumps,Please give back the treasure-key;Set the Sunshine Fairies free!We would, O so grateful be,Dismal Dumps, O Dismal Dumps!

But before you leave the land,Dismal Dumps, O Dismal Dumps,If you’d kindly understand,Dismal Dumps, O Dismal Dumps,Please give back the treasure-key;Set the Sunshine Fairies free!We would, O so grateful be,Dismal Dumps, O Dismal Dumps!

Dismal Dumps(haughtily, folding his arms). What impertinent nonsense is this? Actually asking for the key to the Sunshine-Box! I’d laugh at the very idea, if it weren’t against my principles ever to laugh at all, or even smile. Bugaboo, what do you think of this ridiculous idea? They want us to give up the key!

Bugaboo Man(laughing loudly). Ha! ha! ha! ho! ho! ho! As if we would give it up!

Dismal Dumps.There, you young rascals, you have your answer. But youneverwill have the key!

(Dorothybegins to cry, and goes slowly out, left,AvisandCarolwith her, trying to console her.Dismal DumpsandBugabooconverse confidentially,right.Boysand Brownies consult, left).

Brownies(coming forward and then towards left, singing; tune, “Jingle Bells.”)

Come along, come along,Children one and all!Hasten to the Cosey Corner ere the shadows fall!Dorothy, Dorothy,Trouble yet will end.In the Cosey Corner we shall find the children’s friend!

(Repeat, as they go out, left, followed by boys.Dismal DumpsandBugaboo Mancome forward at centre,Dismal Dumpslooking more than usually glum.)

Bugaboo Man(persuasively). Cheer up, old fellow! You certainly got the best of it, as you generally do when you havemeto help you!

Dismal Dumps(shaking his head dolefully). That’s all very well, Bugaboo, but what we should do if those children should ever get ahead of us and manage to open that box, I’m sure I don’t know. I can’t bear the sound of bells, and those Sunshine Fairies would be too much for us both.

Bugaboo Man.That’s so; we never could live in the same country with them. Of course not! But there’s no danger! Nobody can open the box but that insignificant little Dorothy Dot, andshecan’t without the key. Come on, now; let’s find someone else that we can make unhappy. I heard a woman saying she was afraid it was going to rain. Let’s tell her it certainly will. There’s a big black cloud coming up, now.

Dismal Dumps(brightening a little). And I heard a man complaining of hard times. Let’s go and make them all the harder. We can do it.

Bugaboo Man.Of course we can; we always do. Come on. (Links his arm in that ofDismal Dumps,and hurries him along till in the latter’s effort to keep up he stumbles over a rock and drops the key. Neither of them sees it.) Be careful; you might break your bones sometime over these stones. Hurry, or we’ll be too late. (Exit both, right.)

(EnterOld Woman,left, with basket. Sees key. Stops, and picks it up.)

Old Woman.Well, I never! What careless person has dropped a key, I wonder? I’ll just put it in my basket for safe keeping while I look. (Exit right.)

(EnterAvis,Carol,Dorothy,Frank,Roy,and Brownies, left, on their way to the Cosey Corner. The Brownies are carrying the Sunshine Treasure-Box. They place it at the rear of the stage, with the labelled side forward; then all approach the Cosey Corner, singing; tune, “John Brown.”)

Queen of the Cosey Corner, let us in, we plead,We’ve come to ask your counsel, for we’ve dire distress, indeed!We know you help the troubled, and we’ve come to tell our need,O Fairy, hear our call.’Tis the Brownies and the children,’Tis the Brownies and the children,’Tis the Brownies and the children,O Fairy, heed our call.

(Curtains slowly part at the corner of the stage, right, displaying a “cosey corner” where the Queen is seated in state. She rises and comes forward.)

Queen.You poor children! I know your trouble before you tell it. You wish to get rid of Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man; you want the key to this dear little girl’s treasure-box, so you can let the Sunshine Fairies out. Is that it?

Children.Yes, and so Dorothy Dot can grow.

Queen.That is right. Be seated, all. Now, for a few moments keep perfectly still. (Children seat themselves on stumps, etc.) I cannot give you the key at once, but I will call my chief counsellor, Fairy Bright-Thought, and then I shall be able to advise you. Keep very quiet, now, or she cannot come. Brownies, see if you can keep still for two whole minutes. It will be good practice for you. (TheQueenresumes her seat. The Brownies give a final excited caper; then seat themselves on the treasure-box. All are silent. Soft music for three or four minutes;thenFairy Bright-Thoughtemerges from behind the draperies of Cosey Corner, and whispers in the ear of theQueen.The children start up, but seat themselves again. After a moment,Fairy Bright-Thoughtdisappears again behind the draperies. Music stops.) Listen, children and Brownies! I have a secret for you. The spell is already partly broken, for—just think!—Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man have lost the key!Now Dorothy Dot can grow! (The children begin dancing and the Brownies capering with delight.) But wait! (All stop.) It is true, Dorothy Dot can grow, and so can her treasure-box; but until she has the key the Sunshine Fairies must still be prisoners, and you are not yet rid of Dismal Dumps and his Bugaboo Man. Now, this is what you must all do. Search for the key everywhere. As for Dorothy, she can go away for a while with the kind West Wind, to a beautiful home on the prairies, where she will not be troubled by Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man. Then she can grow all the faster, and meanwhile you can all be looking for the key. But, mind you, the key will be found at some moment when you are doing a kind act; and, when you want Dorothy, you must call her. Now away with you! Good-by! (Retires into Cosey Corner, with curtains drawn together.)

Children.Good-by! Thank you! Good-by!

(EnterWest Wind,who approachesDorothyslowly, singing; tune, “Wind of the Western Sea.”)

Breathe and grow, breathe and grow,Child of the Sunshine Land!Grow, grow, breathe and grow;Life is for thee most grand!Over the prairies wide and free,List to the West Wind’s call to thee,Child of the Sunshine Land!Come, my little one; come, my pretty one, come!

(WrapsDorothygently in her mantle, and leads her slowly away,Dorothywaving her hand in farewell. The children and Brownies respond by waving caps and handkerchiefs. ExitDorothyandWest Wind.Music, same tune, continued instrumentally, as curtain falls.)

SCENE.—Same as before, but larger box in place of the one left at the rear of the stage.

(EnterCarol,Avis,Frank,Roy,and Brownies. The children examine the box, being careful not to lift the lid; the Brownies come forward.)

Reallywish.Ireally wishI knew why we haven’t found the key.

Justnow.Perhapsjust nowwe’ll find it, if we’re good as good can be.

I Can.We won’t give up and say it can’t be done; I know itcan.

I Will.And we’ll conquer Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man!

All.Yes, we’ll conquer Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man!

(EnterOld Womanwith basket. Stumbles and drops basket, scattering wares.)

Old Woman.Oh, dear, dear! I didn’t see that stone!

Avis(running up to her). Did you hurt yourself? You didn’tquitefall, did you?

Old Woman(beginning to pick up wares). No, but just look at my spools of thread, and buttons, and all my whole basketful of things—scattered all over the ground.

Carol.Too bad! Never mind, we’ll pick them up for you. (ToRoy.) She looks tired. (ToOld Woman.) Suppose you sit down on this rock and rest, and we’ll —— (Old Womansits down.)

Roy.Yes, we’ll have them all picked up in a jiffy.

(The Brownies,Roy,andCarolpick up the various articles, whileFrankandAvisput them into the basket and arrange them.)

Old Woman.Bless your kind little hearts! There, now they’re all right again, and I must be going. I’m quite a bit rested, too. Thank you, thank you. (Rises, and starts to go.)

Roy(hastening after her with the key). Wait, wait! here’s your key!

Old Woman.Key, is it? But it’s not mine. I picked it up not long ago at this very spot. No telling who dropped it; one can only guess.

Carol(eagerly). Perhaps that’s Dorothy’s key! (The children and Brownies crowd around to look.)

Old Woman(indifferently). Well, keep it and ask Dorothy, whoever she may be. I don’t know anything about it. Only persons in sight when I picked it up were an old curmudgeon dressed in gray,—the crossest-looking fellow you ever set eyes on,—and a queer-looking man with him dressed in red, for all the world like a circus clown. I couldn’t catch up with them, they were going so fast.

Avis(clapping her hands). It is,it is!

Roy.Hurrah!

Frank.Whoop! (The Brownies express their delight in the most fantastic capers yet. TheOld Womansets down the basket, looking interested.)

Carol.Hark! the Bells of Bonnydingle! (Ringing of bells, while all listen.)

(EnterDismal DumpsandBugaboo Man,talking excitedly. Bells stop ringing.)

Dismal Dumps(toBugaboo Man). It was all your fault!

Bugaboo Man(fiercely). Don’t you dare to say it was my fault!Ididn’t lose the key. You dropped it yourself!

Dismal Dumps.You made me drop it, anyhow. And now did you hear those bells? That means thekey is found, and we’re done for if we can’t get it again. (Seeing the children.) Quick, Bugaboo,here’sthe key. Make ’em give it up! (Bugaboo Manstarts towards the children, who retreat slowly.)

Old Woman(toBugaboo Man,stepping between him and the children). It’smyopinion you’re a thief, sir! you and the gentleman in gray, there; and you won’t get that key again, I can tell you!

Bugaboo ManandDismal Dumps(together, advancing nearer). Won’t we?

Old Woman(taking off sunbonnet, and flapping it vigorously atDismal Dumps). Shoo! Shoo! (Dismal Dumpsretreats hastily.Bugaboo Manadvances towards the group.Old Womanstill more vigorously, flapping atBugaboo Man.)Scat!(Bugaboo Manruns backward so fast he almost tumbles down.Dismal DumpsandBugaboo Manconsult, at a safe distance. The children come forward a little.)

Carol.O, I wish Dorothy would come!

All the rest.So do I!

Reallywish.Why, we’re forgetting what the Queen of the Cosey Corner told us. If wereally wishDorothy would come, why don’t we bring her?

Justnow.Why, of course. Let’s call her back just now!

(Bells begin ringing joyfully again.Dismal DumpsandBugaboo Manturn first one way, then the other, confused, and place their hands over their ears as if they could not bear thesound. Bells continue ringing very softly, while the children and Brownies sing; tune, “Bring Back My Bonny.”)

Our playmate is far o’er the prairies,But never a heart was more true;She’ll come on the wings of the morning,O Dorothy, welcome to you!West Wind, West Wind,Bring back our bonny, to-day, to-day,West Wind, West Wind,Bring back our bonny, to-day.

(Bells still ring, as softly as possible. The children listen. Instrumental music behind scenes, very soft at first, but gradually growing louder,—“Home, Sweet Home.” Enter the tallerDorothy,andWest Wind.Children rush to meetDorothy,holding up the key. The music stops, but bells still ring, whileDorothytakes the key, goes to the box, and unlocks it, followed gleefully by Brownies. Sunshine Fairies emerge from the box, assisted, if necessary, byWest Wind,theOld Woman,andDorothy.The fairies skip about delightedly; then, seeingDismal Dumpsand theBugaboo Man,start to chase them both.Dismal DumpsandBugaboo Manrun around in evident terror, trying to escape. At last both jump into the box. Brownies instantly slam down the lid, and sit on it. Bells ring out more loudly for a minute or two, thensubside as music begins. Chorus of Brownies, children, and Sunshine Fairies, all but Brownies dancing aroundDorothyandWest Wind;tune, “Marching through Georgia.”)

Welcome home, our playmate dear, this happy festal day!O, kind the West Wind’s care of you while you were far away.But now we have you with us, and we hope you’ve come to stay,For Sunshine rules Bonnydingle!Hurrah! hurrah! the merry bells do ring,Hurrah! hurrah! our voices gladly sing;Nevermore shall frowns and tears their sorrow to you bringFor Sunshine rules Bonnydingle!

(Bells ring loudly again during the refrain, which is repeated. Throughout the song, Brownies wave caps, arms, and feet as enthusiastically as possible, without leaving their post on the Sunshine-Box.)

(EnterQueenfrom her Cosey Corner. Bells and music cease.)

Queen(kissingDorothy). Welcome home, Dorothy dear! How you have grown! So our plan was a success. But suppose we listen to Fairy Bright-Thought again. She has still another message for us. (All are quiet. Soft music for two or three minutes. EnterFairy Bright-Thought,who whispers in the ear of theQueen,as before. Music stops.) My chief counsellor advises a strange thing. She says, “Open the box.” Will you do it?

(The Brownies get down from their perch, looking puzzled. The children slowly approach the box.)

Roy.But won’t the Bugaboo Man——

Avis.And won’t Dismal Dumps——

Dorothy.Never fear. What harm can they do us now? Poor old Bugaboo Man and poor old Dismal Dumps! I’m sorry for them. It was when I was little that I was so afraid of them. Besides, as we all know, whatever advice comes from the Cosey Corner must be safe to follow. Come, I’m going to open the box!

(FrankandCarolhelp her to raise the lid. Out comeDismal Dumpsand theBugaboo Man,but completely transformed, in new and glittering costumes, and with smiling faces. Both come forward.)

Dismal Dumps.I found, when I once got into the Sunshine Box, that I couldn’t be dismal any longer!

Bugaboo Man.AndIfound that it isn’t half so much fun to frighten children as it is to amuse them!

Both.So we are both going to be sunshine people ourselves, like all good Juniors.

Dorothy(shaking hands with them). I’m so glad! Now we’ll all be happy ever after.

(Bells begin ringing again. Music. March of all the characters, and final tableau.)

CURTAIN.

To adapt the play to Christmas, where there are gifts to be distributed, omit the final march, and, instead, add the following bit of dialogue after Dorothy speaks for the last time:

Bugaboo Man.And to prove that wereally wishto be Sunshine people——

Dismal Dumps.We will look into that wonderful treasure-box againjust now,—for it’s Merry Christmas,—and see if we can’t find something to make these good people all the happier.

Both.Wecan, and wewill! (Going to the box, they reach in and take out present after present, handed up to them by two persons concealed, one behind the box, and one in it. The presents are marked with the names of those for whom they are intended, and as fast as taken out by the transformedDismal DumpsandBugaboo Man,who read the names aloud, they are handed toDorothyand the other children, who in turn pass them to the Brownies,Fairy Bright-Thought,and the Sunshine Fairies, to distribute among the audience.)

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