(Dorothy dusts room, while Mrs. Brown is seated at table mending.)
Dorothy. (mournfully). Well, mother, it don’t look much like Christmas with father and Rob away. I suppose you are going to celebrate by mending, so I’ll get out that old blue waist and see if I can patch it up to look more respectable. (Searches in mending basket and brings out waist ... Holds it up to view.) It’s pretty hopeless though! (satirically). What a merry lively Christmas it will be!
Mrs. B. (cheerfully). Things might be lots and lots worse, daughter. Since your father had to be away, I’m glad that Rob could keep him company, and we’ll have a postponed Christmas when they come back. Thread this needle for me, please. Your eyes are better than mine. (Dorothy threads needle.)
Dorothy. (handing needle to her mother). A postponed Christmas is as cheerful as a warmed over pancake! But let’s open the box instead of waiting for father. He won’t care.
Mrs. B. (hesitatingly). I had planned to wait till he came back but there may be something perishable in the box.
Dorothy. Perishable! Everything perished long before it reached us! Wait till I get the hammer and chisel to open it.
(Exit Dorothy.)
Mrs. B. (sadly). Poor Dorothy! How I would love to have pretty, dainty clothes for her and how she would enjoy them.
(Enter Dorothy with child’s shabby hat on head.)
Dorothy. (smiling). This is the hat that was sent last year, so do you wonder I am pessimistic about this year’s box? (Tosses hat into corner). Well, now for the opening, and I’ll be hopeful anyway.