SCENE II.
(McCarthy’s “fore room,” with “the tree” in the corner. To make the tree, take three old umbrellas—the skeletons only. They should be open. Plant the handle of the first one in a tub of earth, strengthening it, and making it firmer, by four pieces of wire fastened to the ribs, coming down, obliquely, and anchoring firmly to the tub. A second umbrella is fastened to the first, the handle of this one running down by the central wire of the first, and the two wired firmly together. A third one—and this should be one with a “crookhandle,” hangs downward from the ceiling, just above the second. Wire till all is firm and strong, but have the work crude. This “tree” is draped with green tissue paper, cut into leaves of every size and shape. Flowers and ornaments of bright tissue paper adorn it, and to every point is firmly fastened a piece of candle. The ornaments should be very simple—cut-out hearts, stars, etc., paper chains, lanterns, and Jacob’s ladders, etc. At the top is fastened a large star, covered with the silver foil that comes around compressed yeast cakes. This should have rays of broomstraws, also covered with the foil. There should be a great deal of ornament. Here and there are a few pieces of the gay-colored glass balls used for decorating Christmas trees. Strings of popcorn and cranberries also adorn the tree. Hovering over the top is a paper angel, and at the bottom is a penny picture of the nativity. There should be a good many penny sticks of candy on the tree, and a few “oranges” of crepe or tissue paper. A large basket of apples stands near the tree, while another basket and the floor around are heaped with “the prisints,” in all sorts of rude bundles. Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy are alone in the room, giving the last touches to “the tree.”)
Bridget—Sure, and it’s one grand evint for Murphy’s tinemint! Look at thot tree now, will yez? Who but Jimmy wood iver have thought av it! Sure the Baby’s eyes were full av tears, and she shtamped the little fut av her, and she says, says she, “Khristhmas is the twinty-fifth av Dacimber, not the twinty-sixth,” says she. Ivery buddy do be a saying so, and I won’t have a second hand Christmas, Jimmy, I won’t. And little cud she know av the high cost of living. She wud have a big tree, and she would have it to-night. Bedad, if’t had bin one av me own little spalpeens, I’d have given her a taste av me hand, where it wud do the most good, but ye can’t spank an orphin, and I was that distracted I didn’t know what to do, but Jimmy, he says, says he, pert as an eyster, “We’ll have it the roight night, Ilsie, if it’ll bitter suit yez. And we won’t have no second hand tree, nuther,” says he. “We’ll have a brand new, original kind’t nobuddy niver had before.” And Ilsie she stopped a wapin’, and began to look interested. “And ye must promise me that ye’re goin’ ter loike it,” he says, ’cause Jimmy’s plannin’ it all for his little sister, to make her happy.
Sure and ivery one in the tinemint has brought a prisint for Ilsie, It’s rich she’ll be whin it’s over, I do be a-thinkin’.
Pat—She will that same. And begorry, it is a foine tree, and ivery choild in the tinemint will injye it, I do be a-thinkin’. Arrah! here they come! (Voices outside. Jimmy speaks up loudly.)
Jimmy—No, no, now. No breakin’ ranks. Kape in yer places, now, and no crowdin’. It’s two and two ye’re afther goin’ in, as Noah’s beasties wint inter the Ark. And Ilsie’s a comin’ first, cause if’t hadn’t bin fer Ilsie there wudn’t a one of ye had a spick av a Christmas, no more than ye iver did afore.
Elsie—I want to go in now, Jimmy, I do.
Jimmy—Thin knock thray toimes on the dure wit’ yer fairy wand, and if the little payple have all shcampered out av soight, the dure’ll open. (Three knocks are heard, Pat swings open the door, and all march in.)