Mrs. B.  No, John!  But stand on your own feet, and say:  “Come, neighbor, let us do something better and wiser than hate each other.”

Mr. B.  I’ll not do it.  He has—­

Lucy.  Hark!  What’s that?

[Music outside—­the sound of a harp, or of a concealed piano played very softly.  Then, to its accompaniment, is sung the following carol:]

     “Be merry all, be merry all! 
      With holly dress the festive hall,
      Prepare the song, the feast, the ball,
        To welcome Merry Christmas.

     “And, oh! remember, gentles gay,
      To you who bask in fortune’s ray
      The year is all a holiday:—­
        The poor have only Christmas.

     “When you the costly banquet deal
      To guests who never famine feel,
      Oh spare one morsel from your meal
        To cheer the poor at Christmas.

     “So shall each note of mirth appear
      More sweet to heaven than praise or prayer,
      And angels, in their carols there,
        Shall bless the poor at Christmas.”

Lucy.  Oh, what a beautiful carol!  I’ll call in the minstrel.

Mrs. B.  Yes, run Lucy! [Exit LUCY.]

Mr. B.  Set a chair by the fire, Tommy.

[Enter LUCY, with old minstrel carrying harp.]

Minstrel.  Good even, gentle folks, and a merry Christmas to you all!

Mrs. B.  Come sit by the fire.  Tommy placed the chair for you.  It is cold outside.

Minstrel.  Thank you kindly, ma’am.  So Tommy set the chair for the old man?  Where is Master Tommy?  Ah, there’s my little man!  Come here, Tommy.  That’s right.  So, up, on my knee.  Why, that’s a bright face now!  And it ought to be bright, too; for this is Christmas Eve, merry Christmas Eve, the children’s happy time.  Tommy, I remember when I was as young as you are.  I had a little sister.

Tommy.  I have a little sister, too.

Minstrel.  Oh, you have a little sister, eh!  Where is she, then?

Tommy [pointing]. Over there, in the corner.

Minstrel.  Bless my old eyes, so she is!  Run and bring her, Tommy.

[TOMMY runs, and returns leading and coaxing MAY.]

Minstrel [setting one on each knee].  Now, good folks, if you’ll let me, I’ll tell these little people a story of Jesus when he was a little boy.  It is called “The Holy Well.”

[They group themselves about the minstrel.]