For now ’tis the beautiful May.
Girl (rushing in). Oh, come! do come and see the show! ’Tis the funniest show!
All together. Where? where? (Pressing about her.)
Girl (pointing). Over yonder by the wood. Only a penny. Come!
All together (or nearly so). Yes: let’s go! Come! Only a penny? We’ll all go!
(All rush out, Elsie leading Flora. Curtain falls.)
Scene IV.—Tomkins, in flashy costume, preparing for the show. There should be several objects, supposed to be statues or animals, covered with white cloth. The animals may be boys in various positions. The coverings will not be removed, as the show is to be interrupted. Tomkins moves about, peeping under the coverings, dusting the statues, patting and quieting, and perhaps feeding, the animals. He holds in one hand a string which is attached to one of them. Enter Tom Thumb and his Bride, arm in arm, followed by his aged parents and maiden aunt. (Five little children must be dressed up to represent these.) Tomkins helps them to a high platform at the back part. Old lady is knitting a doll’s stocking. Enter crowd of May-dancers, Peg among them. She tries several times to separate Flora from Elsie while they are listening to Tomkins, and finally succeeds. (This scene may easily be lengthened by adding other figures to the show, such as a giant, or curious animals, &c.)
Tomkins (arranging the spectators, speaks rapidly). Stan’ reg’lar, ladies and gentlemen, stan’ reg’lar, and let the tall ones look over the short ones; for if the tall ones don’t git behind the short ones, and the short ones gits behind the tall ones, then how’s the short ones a-goin’ to look over the tall ones? Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to show you the only ’xhibition of the kind on record. On this ’casion ’tis not a talkin’ ’xhibition. Six talkin’ ’xhibitions they’ve done to-day. Do I want ’em to die on my ’ands? Do I want to close their ’xpiring eyes, an’ say—an’ say—farewell, my dears? No. Let ’em live to d’light the world, an’ to ’dorn—to ’dorn—my ’xhibition. (The animal gets uneasy. Tomkins jerks the string.) Sh—sh—! your time’ll come when the Thumbs is all done. Ladies and gentlemen, you see before you the descendants of the real Tom Thumb, who lived in story-books a thousand years ago. Their grandfather far removed was carried in his master’s waistcoat-pocket, and swallowed by a cow. (Animal steps. He pulls the string.) Sh—sh! They would speak to the audyence: but six talkin’ ’xhibitions they’ve done to-day; an’ their healths must be looked to, as their constitootions compares with their sizes, and ’tis very nat’ral they’d be short-breath’d. The old lady, as you see, is knittin’ a stockin’ for her grandchild that lives in Siam. The old gentleman takes his pinch of snuff, an’ would smoke his pipe, but—ladies present. The maiden aunt is neat about her dress; and that’s why she’s smoothin’ out the wrinkles, and rubbin’ off mud-spots. Tom Thumb is very fond of his bride; an’ you won’t think strange of his strokin’ her curls, an’ lookin’ at her face in admiration. (Animals move a little.) But my an’mals is uneasy, and I must also proceed to uncover the statuarys. Thumb family may march round and take their leave. (They march round and go out, each turning at the door to salute the audience.) I will now proceed to uncover the famous, unheard-of, wonderful animal called—(Deep groans heard outside. “Help! thieves! murder!”) Don’t be uneasy! (All rush out. Peg runs off with Flora.)
[Curtain falls.
Scene V.—Lady Caroline reclining in her chair. She rings a bell. Enter Margery.