A CHRISTMAS BARGAIN.For Two Characters,MotherandChild.Stage setting: The furnishings of a modern room. Costumes modern and simple.
For Two Characters,MotherandChild.
Stage setting: The furnishings of a modern room. Costumes modern and simple.
Mother(drawsChildto her side, kisses her,Childstands withMother’sarm around her). It is almost Christmas time, little girl. What would you like to have Santa Claus bring you?
Child.I only want one thing, mother dear, and Santa Claus can’t give me that, nor anyone else.
Mother.Are you very sure, dear? Santa Claus can do wonderful things, you know.
Child.I’m very sure, motherkin. And if I can’t have that, I don’t care about Christmas.
Mother.Why, my little Mary? Tell me about it, dear. Possibly I can arrange it, for I want to have you happy more than anything else in the world, especially at Christmas time. Tell me.
Child.You won’t laugh at me?
Mother.No, dear; I won’t even think a laugh.
Child.Well, then, I want to be grown-up and have you a little girl.
Mother.Why, Mary, Mary!
Child.Now you are laughing at me.
Mother.Mydear! I’m just as sober as I can be.
Child(pouting). Your eyes laugh, anyhow.
Mother(takesChildby the shoulders and holds theChildin front of her at arm’s length). Look in my face, Mary; straight in my eyes, and tell me why you want such a strange thing.
Child(hesitatingly). I—don’t—just like to, mamma. You might not like it.
Mother.I shall like it if you tell me the true reason, dear.
Child.And you won’t cry?
Mother.Not a tear.
Child(slowly). It’s because I’m so tired of being told I can’t do things, and of having to do things I don’t like. Oh, mamma! You don’t know how tired I am of being somebody else. I want to bejust me.
Mother(drawingChildto her side again). Are you some other mamma’s little girl?
Child.Not another mamma’s little girl, but I can’t be the me I want to be. The me inside of me wants to be a very different me indeed.
Mother(They sit silent a moment). Would you like to try it just for one day?
Child(standing up suddenly) Mamma, dear! What do you mean?
Mother.I mean this, Mary. Suppose that just for one day we pretend that you are mamma, and I am Mary. I shall have to say that we must both stay at home, just us two. If there were more time I wouldn’t say even that. But if you’ll agree to that we’ll try.
Child(eagerly). To do just as I want to?
Mother.Yes, dear.
Child.And you will do what I tell you?
Mother.If I possibly can.
Child(jumps up and down). Oh, goody, goody! And I can have what I want for dinner? And wearthe dress I want? And I needn’t go to school? Nor practice? And I can sit up as late as I want to? Really?
Mother.All of that.
Child.All right. When will we begin?
Mother.Right now, if you like. It’s morning, and it isn’t school time yet. But I’d like to ask one question. Is this to be the Christmas present you want more than anything? And are there to be no other gifts?
Child.Why, mamma, if I could be really the mamma, and not just pretend, and if it could be all the time, and not just one day, I wouldn’t want another single thing. I truly wouldn’t. But I think—I wish—I could have a few other things, little ones.
Mother.Very well, then. You are mamma now, and I am Mary.
Child.First thing, then, I’ll have chicken for lunch and cream puffs. (Goes toward the door.) And some of that raspberry jam—and—coffee. (Turns toMother.)Yes, I’m going to havecoffee.Youcan’t have any, Mary. It isn’t good for little girls. ButIcan have it. Mammas always do. (Turns to door again.)
Mother.Are you going to cook them, mamma?
Child.No; ’course not. Bridget’ll cook ’em. (Turns suddenly toMother.) Oh, mamma! Will you tell Bridget to mind me? ’Cause she don’t know I’m mamma, you know.
Mother.Very well. I’ll do it now. (Goes out.)
Child.And hurry back, please, ’cause I want you to be Mary.
CURTAIN.
Scene II—Mothersewing.Childcomes in dressed fancifully.
Child.Mary, have you finished that hemming? ’Cause I want you to practice.
Mother.Not quite, mamma. But can I play when this is done?
Child(severely). No, Mary, you can’t. You’ve played enough; and if you don’t go to school, why, you’ve got to study at home—just lots. (Sits down, adjusts dress, folds hands.) You’ve got to do lots of sums, and most fifty words in spelling. And you’ve got to practice—two—hours. Just scales and finger exercises,nothingelse. (Apologetically, aside.) I’m not doing this to be mean, mamma, I truly ain’t. But I want you to see how it feels tohaveto do things you don’t like. (Continues with dignity.) You see Mary, mothers know lots more than little girls. I mean theythinkthey do—andIknow you must do that way.
Mother.But I’m hungry, and it’s long past lunch time.
Child.I know it, Mary, but you finish that before you can have any lunch. (In a little girl’s tone.) Really and truly Bridget is horrid. She said it would take her too long to fix all the things I told her to, and when I in-sis-ted—I had to stamp my foot at her—she just said all right, but I’d have to wait for ’em then. Does she do that way when you are the mamma?
Mother.She is rather trying sometimes.
Child.Mercy! I should think so! (Resumes grown-up air.) Now, after lunch—when it comes—if it ever does—I’m going to playallthe afternoon. Oh! I forgot. Don’t mothers ever play? Don’t you play sometimes, when you are the mamma?
Mother.Oh, yes.
Child.But how?
Mother.I read (Childmakes a face) or do fancy work.
Child.I hate sewing.
Mother.Or I have a friend to lunch.
Child.Yes, but you only sit and talk.
Mother.Or I write letters.
Child.That’s worse than sewing.
Mother.Or I play the piano. Oh, I enjoy myself very much.
Child.Well, I don’t think mammas have a bit good time if that is all they do. (Jumps up, skips across the floor.) Oh, I know! (Stops, sits down in another chair, is dignified again.) I forgot. (Apologetically.) You see, I’ve been Mary so long. Well, Mary, you go and bring me my jewelry. (Motherhesitates.) Go right along, child. You must obey me at once. (Mothergoes out,Childsmiles.) I guess she finds that isn’t very easy. (Bounces up and down on her chair.) My! But it’s horrid to sit still so long! I’d like to go swing, only mammas never do. (Squirms about.Motherenters, hands her two jewel boxes.)
Mother.Shall I practice now?
Child.No; do your sums. All those on the four pages I showed you—allof them. (Opens boxes.) Now I’m going to put all of these on—all the rings and all the bracelets. (Tries them on.)
CURTAIN.
Scene III—Evening.Motherreading,Childsitting upright and nodding, trying to keep awake. After three or four hard nods she yawns and says:
Child.Mary, it’s time you went to bed. I’d have sent you long ago, only papa was away and I was lone—I mean—I missed him.
Mother.Shall I go to bed now?
Child.No. My head aches.
Mother.Shall I smooth it? Little girls can’t help much when folks don’t feel well, can they?
Child(snappishly). Don’t talk like that to me. I’m feeling real mizzable. (Sighs, leans back in chair.) Read to me. Quick.
Mother.What shall I read?
Child.Oh, for goodness sake! You ask foolish questions. Read what mammas like, of course.
Mother.Not Cinderella?—nor the Fairy Prince—or—
Child(wistfully). If I was Mary I would say, “Yes.” But I’m mamma. (Then suddenly runs to her mother and leans against her.) Oh, I don’t want to be Mother any more. It’s hard and tiresome. I want you to cuddle me—my head aches—and I haven’t played all—day—lo—o—ng. And Bridget has been horrid—and I never want to taste cream puffs again—nor fruit cake—nor lots of sugar in my tea. Bridget said I ate enough of ’em to sink a ship. And I feel awful here. (Hand on stomach.) Oh, mamma, mamma! (Motherholds her close and kisses her.) And, mamma, it’s almost Christmas, and I promised to take this for a present. And it’s all—just—wasted! Oh, dear me!
Mother.Little Mary, listen to me. Some day you will be as happy to be a really mother, I hope, as I am; but just now you are a little girl, and I don’t want you to be anything else.
Child.I don’t want to any more.
Mother.AndIthink the nicest present you can have will be to forget all about yourself, and have a lovely, happy time with some other children. Shall we ask Santa Claus for that?
Child.Yes, oh yes! But, mamma, I know there isn’t any really Santa Claus, but I like to think there is.
Mother.So do I, dear. There really is a Santa Claus spirit, though, which every one can have.
Child.Sing to me, mamma. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without it.
Mother(takingChildin her lap). You are rather a big little girl to be rocked, but I’ll try it. (Sings Christmas carol.)
CURTAIN.
In the foregoing it is well to have the one personating “Mother” a large woman in order to make asmuch contrast as possible between her and “Mary.” As Mary has a good many lines to learn, her part must be taken by one not too young; but with proper dressing the effect of a little girl can be attained. If Mary is too large to be held in the lap in the last scene, let her sit on a footstool and lay her head on Mother’s lap.