Roger [at door]. Mother, we're ready now.
[Enter Mother, taking candle again.
Mother. Roger, Roger! shut the door at once, careless boy! Art mad? [Roger fastens door.] The children are nearly ready and grow impatient. Make torches, both of you, and help me to light the candles.
[Boys take splinters of wood from the fireplace
and all go about the tree, lighting
candles, arranging gifts more firmly, etc.,
while Patience and Prudence, without,
sing "Waken, Christian Children."
WAKEN, CHRISTIAN CHILDREN[24]
(From "Christmas Carols New and Old," Novello & Company.)
Waken, Christian children,
Up, and let us sing,
With glad voice, the praises
Of our new-born King.
Come, nor fear to seek Him,
Children though we be;
Once He said of children,
"Let them come to Me."
In a manger lowly,
Sleeps the Heavenly Child;
O'er Him fondly bendeth
Mary, Mother mild.
Haste we then to welcome,
With a joyous lay,
Christ, the King of Glory,
Born for us to-day.
(There are additional verses, and this hymn is to be found in various collections. A slightly different version is in Eleanor Smith's "Songs for Little Children," Part I.)
Nathan [without]. Can't we come now, Mother?
Mother. One moment, children!