[Listen]
[Listen]
[They steal toward him, then suddenly dart forward and join hands in a circle around him, singing softly and persuasively. The child looks up at them and smiles or laughs with surprise and pleasure.]
[They steal toward him, then suddenly dart forward and join hands in a circle around him, singing softly and persuasively. The child looks up at them and smiles or laughs with surprise and pleasure.]
Little mortal clad in green,Have you ever fairies seen?Come and join us in our play!Come, we’ll take you far away!Over hill and over dale,Riding lightly on the gale,Over water, over land,Come and join the fairy band!Come, come, come, come!Little mortal, take our hand,Come and join the fairy band!
Little mortal clad in green,Have you ever fairies seen?Come and join us in our play!Come, we’ll take you far away!Over hill and over dale,Riding lightly on the gale,Over water, over land,Come and join the fairy band!Come, come, come, come!Little mortal, take our hand,Come and join the fairy band!
Little mortal clad in green,Have you ever fairies seen?Come and join us in our play!Come, we’ll take you far away!Over hill and over dale,Riding lightly on the gale,Over water, over land,Come and join the fairy band!Come, come, come, come!Little mortal, take our hand,Come and join the fairy band!
Little mortal clad in green,
Have you ever fairies seen?
Come and join us in our play!
Come, we’ll take you far away!
Over hill and over dale,
Riding lightly on the gale,
Over water, over land,
Come and join the fairy band!
Come, come, come, come!
Little mortal, take our hand,
Come and join the fairy band!
[They take his hands, and draw him to his feet. One of them sets a wreath of flowers on his head, and another throws one over his shoulders. They draw him slowly back through the trees, singing “We are the fairy folk” until they are out of sight.]
[They take his hands, and draw him to his feet. One of them sets a wreath of flowers on his head, and another throws one over his shoulders. They draw him slowly back through the trees, singing “We are the fairy folk” until they are out of sight.]
[TheMotherappears, gazing back among the trees, and calling.]
[TheMotherappears, gazing back among the trees, and calling.]
Ho, little boy!Ho! Mother’s joy!Where is he?Where can he be?
Ho, little boy!Ho! Mother’s joy!Where is he?Where can he be?
Ho, little boy!Ho! Mother’s joy!Where is he?Where can he be?
Ho, little boy!
Ho! Mother’s joy!
Where is he?
Where can he be?
[OldWitchhobbles in from the other side, and mumbles.]
[OldWitchhobbles in from the other side, and mumbles.]
Clad in green,No more seenClad in green,No more seen!Mother.Tell me, Witch, and make me glad,Tell me, where’s my little lad?Hair of gold and jacket green,Eyes as blue as sky serene,Blue and gold and green, I say,Like this very summer day.Tell me, Witch, and make me glad,Where’s my little summer lad?Witch.Clad in green,No more seen!Mother.What do you say?Tell me, I pray!Witch.Light of sun and light of moon,Find him late or find him soon—Light of moon and light of sun—Fairies’ trail is never won.
Clad in green,No more seenClad in green,No more seen!Mother.Tell me, Witch, and make me glad,Tell me, where’s my little lad?Hair of gold and jacket green,Eyes as blue as sky serene,Blue and gold and green, I say,Like this very summer day.Tell me, Witch, and make me glad,Where’s my little summer lad?Witch.Clad in green,No more seen!Mother.What do you say?Tell me, I pray!Witch.Light of sun and light of moon,Find him late or find him soon—Light of moon and light of sun—Fairies’ trail is never won.
Clad in green,No more seenClad in green,No more seen!
Clad in green,
No more seen
Clad in green,
No more seen!
Mother.Tell me, Witch, and make me glad,Tell me, where’s my little lad?Hair of gold and jacket green,Eyes as blue as sky serene,Blue and gold and green, I say,Like this very summer day.Tell me, Witch, and make me glad,Where’s my little summer lad?
Mother.Tell me, Witch, and make me glad,
Tell me, where’s my little lad?
Hair of gold and jacket green,
Eyes as blue as sky serene,
Blue and gold and green, I say,
Like this very summer day.
Tell me, Witch, and make me glad,
Where’s my little summer lad?
Witch.Clad in green,No more seen!
Witch.Clad in green,
No more seen!
Mother.What do you say?Tell me, I pray!
Mother.What do you say?
Tell me, I pray!
Witch.Light of sun and light of moon,Find him late or find him soon—Light of moon and light of sun—Fairies’ trail is never won.
Witch.Light of sun and light of moon,
Find him late or find him soon—
Light of moon and light of sun—
Fairies’ trail is never won.
[Witchstarts to go off, theMothercatches her gown.]
[Witchstarts to go off, theMothercatches her gown.]
Mother.Nay, I will not let you goTill you tell me all you know!Witch.Fairies thieving—Mothers grieving!Mother.Fairies! They have stol’n my pet!Ah, but I will find him yet!Wise old witch, you know the way!Help me! Help me now, I pray!Witch.At the edge of nightFairies are in sight.Would ye have your right,Steal a fairy wight.Fairy wight—Hold it tight!Have no frightOf fairy might.It will bring delight.Fairy wight—Hold it tight![ExitWitch.]Mother.Does the wise old woman meanFairy folk can now be seen?I will lurk in hiding here,Watching if they do appear.
Mother.Nay, I will not let you goTill you tell me all you know!Witch.Fairies thieving—Mothers grieving!Mother.Fairies! They have stol’n my pet!Ah, but I will find him yet!Wise old witch, you know the way!Help me! Help me now, I pray!Witch.At the edge of nightFairies are in sight.Would ye have your right,Steal a fairy wight.Fairy wight—Hold it tight!Have no frightOf fairy might.It will bring delight.Fairy wight—Hold it tight![ExitWitch.]Mother.Does the wise old woman meanFairy folk can now be seen?I will lurk in hiding here,Watching if they do appear.
Mother.Nay, I will not let you goTill you tell me all you know!
Mother.Nay, I will not let you go
Till you tell me all you know!
Witch.Fairies thieving—Mothers grieving!
Witch.Fairies thieving—
Mothers grieving!
Mother.Fairies! They have stol’n my pet!Ah, but I will find him yet!Wise old witch, you know the way!Help me! Help me now, I pray!
Mother.Fairies! They have stol’n my pet!
Ah, but I will find him yet!
Wise old witch, you know the way!
Help me! Help me now, I pray!
Witch.At the edge of nightFairies are in sight.Would ye have your right,Steal a fairy wight.Fairy wight—Hold it tight!Have no frightOf fairy might.It will bring delight.Fairy wight—Hold it tight!
Witch.At the edge of night
Fairies are in sight.
Would ye have your right,
Steal a fairy wight.
Fairy wight—
Hold it tight!
Have no fright
Of fairy might.
It will bring delight.
Fairy wight—
Hold it tight!
[ExitWitch.]
[ExitWitch.]
Mother.Does the wise old woman meanFairy folk can now be seen?I will lurk in hiding here,Watching if they do appear.
Mother.Does the wise old woman mean
Fairy folk can now be seen?
I will lurk in hiding here,
Watching if they do appear.
[She crouches down behind a tree or bush. There is a long pause. At last, while they are still out of sight, the fairy song is heard again, very faintly, “We are the fairy folk,” etc. As they come in sight they cease singing and tiptoe forward silently, until they are on the edge of the grassy open. There they hover, uncertainly, as if afraid, and sing softly.]
[She crouches down behind a tree or bush. There is a long pause. At last, while they are still out of sight, the fairy song is heard again, very faintly, “We are the fairy folk,” etc. As they come in sight they cease singing and tiptoe forward silently, until they are on the edge of the grassy open. There they hover, uncertainly, as if afraid, and sing softly.]
This is the hourWhen mortals have power.This is the time when their vision is clear.Fairies, go shyly!Fairies, go slily!Watching your paths, lest a mortal appear.
This is the hourWhen mortals have power.This is the time when their vision is clear.Fairies, go shyly!Fairies, go slily!Watching your paths, lest a mortal appear.
This is the hourWhen mortals have power.This is the time when their vision is clear.Fairies, go shyly!Fairies, go slily!Watching your paths, lest a mortal appear.
This is the hour
When mortals have power.
This is the time when their vision is clear.
Fairies, go shyly!
Fairies, go slily!
Watching your paths, lest a mortal appear.
[Listen]
[Listen]
[They come forward, cautiously, and pass near the tree where theMotheris crouching. She springs up and seizes the tiniest of the fairies.]
[They come forward, cautiously, and pass near the tree where theMotheris crouching. She springs up and seizes the tiniest of the fairies.]
Mother.Fairy wight,I have you tight!Fairies.Fly! Fly!A mortal is by!
Mother.Fairy wight,I have you tight!Fairies.Fly! Fly!A mortal is by!
Mother.Fairy wight,I have you tight!
Mother.Fairy wight,
I have you tight!
Fairies.Fly! Fly!A mortal is by!
Fairies.Fly! Fly!
A mortal is by!
[They run, then missing one of their number, they turn, and crowd together at a little distance.]
[They run, then missing one of their number, they turn, and crowd together at a little distance.]
Fairies.Stay! Stay!She has our fay[Coaxingly.]Mortal, we pray,Give us our fay!Mother.Nay, I’ll keep your fairy hereTill my little lad appear.She shall work from night till morn,Heavy-hearted, all forlorn,Wings bedraggled, spirits sad,Till you give me back my lad.Fairies.[7]Say not so! Say not so!’Tis a fearsome way you go!Fairies.Mortal, mortal, have a care!Mortal’s lives run all awryWho the fairy band defy.Quickly our command obey,Give us back our little fay!Mother.You’ll not scare me, fairy band,Now I have you in my hand.Fairies’ spite is hard to bear.Monkshood.’Twill pursue you night and day,In your work and in your play.Butter spoilt before it’s churned,Biscuits sour, porridge burned—Lily.Cows that sicken in the stall,Fruit that rots upon the wall,Bluebell.Thornies pricking in your bed,Nightmares grinning overhead—All.Foolish mortal, have a care!Fairy spite is hard to bear.Mother.Foolish fairies! Do you thinkYou can make a mother shrink?Do your worst with fairy spiteI defy your fairy might!Fairies.Welladay!Give us our fay!Welladay!We will obey!Mother.First the lad and then the fay!I’ll not trust you, spirits, nay!
Fairies.Stay! Stay!She has our fay[Coaxingly.]Mortal, we pray,Give us our fay!Mother.Nay, I’ll keep your fairy hereTill my little lad appear.She shall work from night till morn,Heavy-hearted, all forlorn,Wings bedraggled, spirits sad,Till you give me back my lad.Fairies.[7]Say not so! Say not so!’Tis a fearsome way you go!Fairies.Mortal, mortal, have a care!Mortal’s lives run all awryWho the fairy band defy.Quickly our command obey,Give us back our little fay!Mother.You’ll not scare me, fairy band,Now I have you in my hand.Fairies’ spite is hard to bear.Monkshood.’Twill pursue you night and day,In your work and in your play.Butter spoilt before it’s churned,Biscuits sour, porridge burned—Lily.Cows that sicken in the stall,Fruit that rots upon the wall,Bluebell.Thornies pricking in your bed,Nightmares grinning overhead—All.Foolish mortal, have a care!Fairy spite is hard to bear.Mother.Foolish fairies! Do you thinkYou can make a mother shrink?Do your worst with fairy spiteI defy your fairy might!Fairies.Welladay!Give us our fay!Welladay!We will obey!Mother.First the lad and then the fay!I’ll not trust you, spirits, nay!
Fairies.Stay! Stay!She has our fay
Fairies.Stay! Stay!
She has our fay
[Coaxingly.]
[Coaxingly.]
Mortal, we pray,Give us our fay!
Mortal, we pray,
Give us our fay!
Mother.Nay, I’ll keep your fairy hereTill my little lad appear.She shall work from night till morn,Heavy-hearted, all forlorn,Wings bedraggled, spirits sad,Till you give me back my lad.
Mother.Nay, I’ll keep your fairy here
Till my little lad appear.
She shall work from night till morn,
Heavy-hearted, all forlorn,
Wings bedraggled, spirits sad,
Till you give me back my lad.
Fairies.[7]Say not so! Say not so!’Tis a fearsome way you go!
Fairies.[7]
Say not so! Say not so!
’Tis a fearsome way you go!
Fairies.Mortal, mortal, have a care!Mortal’s lives run all awryWho the fairy band defy.Quickly our command obey,Give us back our little fay!
Fairies.Mortal, mortal, have a care!
Mortal’s lives run all awry
Who the fairy band defy.
Quickly our command obey,
Give us back our little fay!
Mother.You’ll not scare me, fairy band,Now I have you in my hand.Fairies’ spite is hard to bear.
Mother.You’ll not scare me, fairy band,
Now I have you in my hand.
Fairies’ spite is hard to bear.
Monkshood.’Twill pursue you night and day,In your work and in your play.Butter spoilt before it’s churned,Biscuits sour, porridge burned—
Monkshood.
’Twill pursue you night and day,
In your work and in your play.
Butter spoilt before it’s churned,
Biscuits sour, porridge burned—
Lily.Cows that sicken in the stall,Fruit that rots upon the wall,
Lily.Cows that sicken in the stall,
Fruit that rots upon the wall,
Bluebell.Thornies pricking in your bed,Nightmares grinning overhead—
Bluebell.Thornies pricking in your bed,
Nightmares grinning overhead—
All.Foolish mortal, have a care!Fairy spite is hard to bear.
All.Foolish mortal, have a care!
Fairy spite is hard to bear.
Mother.Foolish fairies! Do you thinkYou can make a mother shrink?Do your worst with fairy spiteI defy your fairy might!
Mother.
Foolish fairies! Do you think
You can make a mother shrink?
Do your worst with fairy spite
I defy your fairy might!
Fairies.Welladay!Give us our fay!Welladay!We will obey!
Fairies.Welladay!
Give us our fay!
Welladay!
We will obey!
Mother.First the lad and then the fay!I’ll not trust you, spirits, nay!
Mother.First the lad and then the fay!
I’ll not trust you, spirits, nay!
[Some of the fairies run off, during the next speech, and are seen returning with the boy.]
[Some of the fairies run off, during the next speech, and are seen returning with the boy.]
Monkshood.Mortal, you shall have your will,Only this you must fulfilSince your lad has with us been,Since he’s worn the fairy green,Whether now you win or lose,You must leave him free to chooseYou must let him freely sayIf he’ll mortal be, or fay.Mother.Be it so, I have no fear,Only bring my laddie here.
Monkshood.Mortal, you shall have your will,Only this you must fulfilSince your lad has with us been,Since he’s worn the fairy green,Whether now you win or lose,You must leave him free to chooseYou must let him freely sayIf he’ll mortal be, or fay.Mother.Be it so, I have no fear,Only bring my laddie here.
Monkshood.Mortal, you shall have your will,Only this you must fulfilSince your lad has with us been,Since he’s worn the fairy green,Whether now you win or lose,You must leave him free to chooseYou must let him freely sayIf he’ll mortal be, or fay.
Monkshood.
Mortal, you shall have your will,
Only this you must fulfil
Since your lad has with us been,
Since he’s worn the fairy green,
Whether now you win or lose,
You must leave him free to choose
You must let him freely say
If he’ll mortal be, or fay.
Mother.Be it so, I have no fear,Only bring my laddie here.
Mother.Be it so, I have no fear,
Only bring my laddie here.
[TheFairiesreturn, with the boy. As they come out on the grass they make a circle about him, and repeat, with one change, their earlier song:]
[TheFairiesreturn, with the boy. As they come out on the grass they make a circle about him, and repeat, with one change, their earlier song:]
Little mortal, clad in green,You who have the fairies seen,Come and join us in our play!Come! We’ll take you far away!Over hill and over dale,Riding lightly on the gale,Over water, over land,Come and join the fairy hand!Come! Come! Come! Come!Little mortal, take our hand!Come and join the fairy band!
Little mortal, clad in green,You who have the fairies seen,Come and join us in our play!Come! We’ll take you far away!Over hill and over dale,Riding lightly on the gale,Over water, over land,Come and join the fairy hand!Come! Come! Come! Come!Little mortal, take our hand!Come and join the fairy band!
Little mortal, clad in green,You who have the fairies seen,Come and join us in our play!Come! We’ll take you far away!Over hill and over dale,Riding lightly on the gale,Over water, over land,Come and join the fairy hand!Come! Come! Come! Come!Little mortal, take our hand!Come and join the fairy band!
Little mortal, clad in green,
You who have the fairies seen,
Come and join us in our play!
Come! We’ll take you far away!
Over hill and over dale,
Riding lightly on the gale,
Over water, over land,
Come and join the fairy hand!
Come! Come! Come! Come!
Little mortal, take our hand!
Come and join the fairy band!
[They pause, break their circle, so that the boy can see hisMother.]
[They pause, break their circle, so that the boy can see hisMother.]
Mother.Laddie, you must choose your wayMother’s arms, or fairy play.Will you now a fairy beOr just a little boy—with me?
Mother.Laddie, you must choose your wayMother’s arms, or fairy play.Will you now a fairy beOr just a little boy—with me?
Mother.Laddie, you must choose your wayMother’s arms, or fairy play.Will you now a fairy beOr just a little boy—with me?
Mother.Laddie, you must choose your way
Mother’s arms, or fairy play.
Will you now a fairy be
Or just a little boy—with me?
[She holds out her arms and he runs into them. The captiveFairy,released, runs back to her companions.]
[She holds out her arms and he runs into them. The captiveFairy,released, runs back to her companions.]
Fairies.Welladay! Welladay!We have lost our new-made fay!Mother.Shame upon you, naughty band!Thieving up and down the land!Stealing little lads away,Luring them to join your play!Have you nothing else to do?There is better work for you!Make the flowers sweeter grow!Make the rivers clearer flow!Ride the clouds and bring the rain!Lure the sunshine back again!There’s your work, and there’s your play!Let alone our laddies gay!Run! Run! Scamper! Run!Or I’ll catch you, every one!Fairies.Run! Run! Fairies run!Farewell, Mortal! She has won!
Fairies.Welladay! Welladay!We have lost our new-made fay!Mother.Shame upon you, naughty band!Thieving up and down the land!Stealing little lads away,Luring them to join your play!Have you nothing else to do?There is better work for you!Make the flowers sweeter grow!Make the rivers clearer flow!Ride the clouds and bring the rain!Lure the sunshine back again!There’s your work, and there’s your play!Let alone our laddies gay!Run! Run! Scamper! Run!Or I’ll catch you, every one!Fairies.Run! Run! Fairies run!Farewell, Mortal! She has won!
Fairies.Welladay! Welladay!We have lost our new-made fay!
Fairies.Welladay! Welladay!
We have lost our new-made fay!
Mother.Shame upon you, naughty band!Thieving up and down the land!Stealing little lads away,Luring them to join your play!Have you nothing else to do?There is better work for you!Make the flowers sweeter grow!Make the rivers clearer flow!Ride the clouds and bring the rain!Lure the sunshine back again!There’s your work, and there’s your play!Let alone our laddies gay!Run! Run! Scamper! Run!Or I’ll catch you, every one!
Mother.Shame upon you, naughty band!
Thieving up and down the land!
Stealing little lads away,
Luring them to join your play!
Have you nothing else to do?
There is better work for you!
Make the flowers sweeter grow!
Make the rivers clearer flow!
Ride the clouds and bring the rain!
Lure the sunshine back again!
There’s your work, and there’s your play!
Let alone our laddies gay!
Run! Run! Scamper! Run!
Or I’ll catch you, every one!
Fairies.Run! Run! Fairies run!Farewell, Mortal! She has won!
Fairies.Run! Run! Fairies run!
Farewell, Mortal! She has won!
[Fairiesrun off, while theMotherleads out the little Boy. After theFairieshave disappeared, their song, “We are the fairy folk” is heard once more, very distant.]
[Fairiesrun off, while theMotherleads out the little Boy. After theFairieshave disappeared, their song, “We are the fairy folk” is heard once more, very distant.]
COSTUMES
The costumes for this play are simple, but very effective. The fairies should all wear white—ordinary summer dresses do very well. Over these are worn slips made of green cheese cloth. Each slip is made of one piece, doubled and stitched together at the sides and to form the wide kimono sleeves. The neck is cut out low for the girls and left high for the boys, the bottom is slashed up to form points or scallops that show the white dress underneath. The back is slit to allow room for the fastening of the wings.
The wings are made by bending a piece of wire—one continuous piece for each pair of wings—and covering this with pink tarlatan, doubled. They were fastened between the shoulders by tapes that passed around the chest and over the shoulders. Note the point of attachment for the tapes, on the beginning of each wing and not on the wire connecting them. When the tape is fastened only to the connecting wire the wings droop too much. A little experimenting will ensure success. Sometimes, if the adjustment is exactly right, the wings move a little with the motion of the child’s shoulders, and look very real indeed. After the wings are on, a bit of green cheese cloth is pinned across at their base to conceal the attachment.
The little boy was dressed in a green tunic, belted in. The flower wreaths may be made and left on the grass until they are needed, or the fairies may bring them in with them. All the fairies wore flower hats, made of crêpe paper of different colors, slashed in points so that they looked like double tulips. Each cap was of two layers of paper, of contrasting color—blue over white, white over pink, red over yellow, etc.
The mother’s costume need not be made especially for the play, but it should be inconspicuous in color and simple in its lines. The witch has the conventional peaked cap, hair hanging straight about her face, old shawl, and big cane.
The part of the boy should be taken by a very little child—not more than five years old, and preferably not over four.
Wire for Wings.Cap.Green Slip.
Wire for Wings.Cap.Green Slip.
The fairy songs do not necessarily have to be sung, but they are prettier if the children have true enough voices. They should not be sung loud. If they are not sung they may be half intoned in a more or less musical sing-song. The music as written is furnished with very simple accompaniments, such as could be rendered out of doors by guitars or mandolins, or two violins playing pizzicato. As given last year a violin and harp were used, and the result was very beautiful.