CHARACTERS.
The Old Woman who lived in a Shoe.
Santa Claus, disguised as a Beggar.
Ten or twelve Children, Boys and Girls of various ages.
Scene.—The exterior of "Copper Toe Shoe House,"
which is set at back of platform.
Chorus (invisible); air, "Revolutionary Tea" (p. [194],
"Golden Wreath").
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe;
Of children she had a score:
So many had she, to know what to do
Was a question which puzzled her sore.
(Head of Child appears at 1.)
To some she gave broth without any bread;
But never contented were they,
Till she whipped them all soundly, and put them to bed,
And then very happy were they,
And then very happy were they.
(Head appears at 2.)
"Now, mother, dear mother," the young ones would cry,
As they dropped off with a nod,
"To train up a child in the way to go,
O mother, dear, ne'er spare the rod.
(Child's head appears at 3.)
For broth without bread is a watery waste;
And never contented are we,
Till with your good stick it is thickened to taste;
(Three heads appear at 4.)
And then, oh, how happy are we!
And then, oh, how happy are we!"
Enter Old Woman, R. Her costume, bodice, quilted petticoat, sugar-loaf hat, high-heeled shoes, and cane.
O. W. Aha! (Heads disappear quick.)
Good gracious! can't I leave the house a minute,
But what a head's at every window in it?
Don't let me see the tip of a single nose;
For, if you do, we'll surely come to blows.
Poor dears! they want the air. Well, that is cheap
And strengthening; for they live on air and sleep.
Food is so high, and work is so unstiddy,
Life's really wearing on this poor old widdy.
FRONT VIEW OF COPPER TOE SHOE HOUSE.
1. Split in the Heel.
2. Patch on the best Corn.
3. Copper Toe.
4. Lookout, or Observatory at top of House.
(Heads appear, one after the other, as before.)
Song: Old Woman; air, "Comin' through the Rye."
If a widdy's with her biddies,
Living in a shoe,
If a widdy's work unstiddies,
What'll widdy do?
(Heads appear as before.)
Every mother loves her biddies;
Many a one have I;
But where get gifts to fill their fists,
When I've no gold to buy?
Aha! (Heads disappear quick.)
There is a sprite oft comes this night,
Whom children love full well;
But what's his name, and where's his hame,
He does not always tell.
(Heads appear as before.)
Lads and lassies know good Santa,
With presents not a few;
Would he were here, my chicks to cheer,
Living in a shoe!
(Disappears behind shoe.)
Song: Santa Claus; air, "Them blessed Roomatics."
(Heads appear as before.)
(Heads disappear.)
Song: Children, outside; air, "Oh, dear, what can
the matter be?"
Oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Dear, dear, what can the matter be?
Oh, dear, what can the matter be?
Somebody's groaning out there!
A hungry old beggar has come here to tease us,
By grinding an organ he knows will not please us.
He hopes it may bring him a handful of pennies,
To buy him a loaf of brown bread.
(Children scamper behind shoe.)
Oh, you sha'n't be hungry now,
Oh, you sha'n't be hungry now,
Oh, you sha'n't be hungry now,
Down at Copper Toe Shoe.
Cold potato—tato,
Cold potato—tato,
Cold pota—to,
Down at Copper Toe Shoe.
(No interlude.)
Oh, you sha'n't be hungry now,
Oh, you sha'n't be hungry now,
Oh, you sha'n't be hungry now,
Down at Copper Toe Shoe.
Crusts for breakfast—breakfast,
Crusts for breakfast—breakfast,
Crusts for break—fast,
Down at Copper Toe Shoe.
Oh, you sha'n't be hungry now,
Oh, you sha'n't be hungry now,
Oh, you sha'n't be hungry now,
Down at Copper Toe Shoe.
Broth for supper—supper,
Broth for supper—supper,
Broth for sup—per,
Down at Copper Toe Shoe.
Oh, you sha'n't, &c.
(Takes off kitchen.)
(Throws off disguise, and appears as Santa Claus.)
(Shoe divides, and disappears R. and L. Curtains at
back open, disclosing tree.)
Song: "We'll gather round the Christmas Tree." Santa Claus and Old Woman distribute presents to the company. Curtain falls.
REAR VIEW OF COPPER TOE SHOE HOUSE.
Note.—This entertainment was prepared for a Sunday school's Christmas Eve, and was arranged as follows: A stage, fourteen feet square, was fitted with a "roll-up" curtain in front. Drapery was hung at the sides and back; a Christmas tree, filled with presents, was placed well back on the stage, and hidden by curtains arranged to separate in the middle. In front of these was placed "Copper Toe Shoe House." The rear view represents the frame made of wood, in two pieces, to separate in the middle, of the following dimensions: ten feet from toe to heel, five feet and one half from heel to top, four feet and one half across top, heel about twenty inches long, eight inches high. Cover front, in two separate sections, with black cambric; for toe, copper tinsel paper; for sole and patch, brown cambric; for buckle, silver tinsel paper; the patch fastened only at bottom. A curtain, of same material or color as back stage, should be hung in rear of shank, that children standing behind may not be seen. A settee is placed behind it, on which the children in the dwelling stand. 1, 2, and 3 lie upon the stage, and stick their heads out when required. The characters can pass between the curtains at back, to their places. When the tree is disclosed, all the characters are in front, the settee is removed, the braces unfastened, and, at a signal, two boys run off the shoe, and others draw the curtains.
THE TOURNAMENT OF IDYLCOURT.
THE
TOURNAMENT OF IDYLCOURT.
AN ALLEGORY.