Lady K. Never heed them—'twas just a sleep-heavy fancy. A beautiful Christmas-tide dream.
Rafe. Nay, lady Mother, it was no dream. It was the spell of Christmas brought it all to pass.
Sir G. Now doth the lad speak truth, good friends! Verily it is the spell of Christmas which hath saved us all from sin and much sorrow this night. The spell of "Peace upon earth, good will to men." Hark, the waits are singing still—as angels sing, and ever shall sing the world around, on Christmas Eve.
[All stand listening for a moment to distant
singing, then join in carol.
CURTAIN
NOTES ON COSTUME, MUSIC, AND SETTING
Adult parts in this play taken by boys and girls of fifteen or sixteen. In contrast to these, the smaller the children playing Rafe, Cicely, and Allison, the better—Rafe not over eight, Cicely and Allison six and five years.
Costumes follow the Van Dyke pictures of Charles I and those of his children. Very helpful illustrations may also be found in "Merrylips," by Beulah Marie Dix. (The Macmillan Company.)