The Second Scene

When the Curtain opens, you see the Kitchen again just as before, except that now the six stockings are hanging from the mantel shelf over the fire-place.  Father is sitting beside the table reading the newspaper.  The two Grandparents are still sitting close to the fire, one on each side.  Grandfather has fallen asleep, and Grandmother is drowsy, so that her head nods.  Then she wakes up, and tries to stay awake; but in a minute her head goes nodding again.  Father yawns, puts down his newspaper; yawns once more and stretches; then goes on reading.

Mother comes in and says, The children are sound asleep.

It’s time we all went to bed, says father, putting down the newspaper.  I know I’m ready for it.  He yawns.

Besides, adds mother, the fire is almost out; and indeed it ought soon to be put out entirely, so as to cool the chimney for old Santa Claus, when he comes.

That’s right, too, father agrees.  He gets up and goes to Grandfather, laying his hand on his shoulder.  Father, he says, speaking loud so as to waken him.  It’s time to go to bed.

What? says grandfather, waking up with a start; and then he says, Why, I must have been dozing.  Where are the children?

They went to bed long ago, says mother.  Don’t you remember?  And now it’s bed time for all of us.  Are you ready, mother?

Yes, I’m more than ready, answers grandmother.  She rises and Grandfather, also, and with feeble steps, they go toward the door.  Good-night, grandmother says.

Good-night, father and mother answer her, and father continues, Good-night, father.  Pleasant dreams.

Good-night, answers grandfather, and he and Grandmother go out.

I’ll be off too, James, says mother, if you’ll look after the fire and the light.

Yes, I’ll attend to all that, answers father.

Then Mother goes out, and Father deadens the fire, using the tongs and shovel.  He takes the chair, in which he has been sitting, and sets it against the wall beside the clothes basket.  Then he lights the candle on the mantel shelf, blows out the lamp, leaving the room in a dim light, and goes out.

For a little while everything is quiet.  Then there is a noise from the direction of the wood box.  The cover rises, and the head of a brownie appears, inside the box.  He climbs out, followed by another.  They caper about the room, looking at everything, listening at the doors, looking up the chimney.  Then they go to the clothes basket and raise the lid.  Up come four arms, and then two house-fairies stand up in the basket, and get out with the help of the chair.  They, also, flit about the room, looking at things.  Meanwhile the brownies have taken the broom and dust pan, and begun to sweep, especially over by the outside door and by the wood box.  The fairies take a chair, and climb up by the mantel shelf.  They take down the colored paper, paste and scissors, and, carrying them to the table, set to work, making paper caps.  In a few moments they hold up two, complete.  They leave them on the table.