Santa: Now, Mother, you’re as bad as I am.
Brownie goes out and two tin soldiers enter, walking stiffly and moving exactly together. They salute as they come to a standstill.
Santa: What’s this I hear? Why aren’t you packed?
First Soldier: I don’t want to be given to any child. Suppose I should not be properly treated. A careless boy might not treat me according to my rank. I am a general—suppose a private soldier was placed in front of me. Suppose he was given the best place in our box. I never could stand that. What a fate for a General.
Second Soldier: Santa Claus, I am a private soldier and I am proud of it. The Brownie who made me did a fine job. Just see how well my uniform fits. I’m just as proud as the General. I will not associate with soldiers I have to salute all the time and wait on. If I got put in the box with a General I wouldn’t like it any more than he would. Children are very careless. Something unpleasant might easily happen. I think it best for me to stay right here. The Brownies can use me as a pattern next Christmas.
Santa: This is very strange. I never dreamed that you toys didn’t get on perfectly well. After this I’ll put all the officers in one box and all the common soldiers in another.
Brownie brings in five girls who represent books. They sing—
Song—Air: MY BONNIE
First Book: