Setting: 1st. Snow-scene in forest.
2nd. Interior,—a poor hovel.
Time of playing: 40 minutes.
This play makes use of the old German belief that the Christ-Child returns to earth each Christmas Eve to seek shelter among men. A little waif, lost in the snow, is refused help by the selfishness of happiness, of ill-temper, of poverty, of riches, and is at last received by two little children who take him for the Holy Child indeed.
| II. [Toinette and the Elves.] In Two Acts | [31] |
Ten characters: Mother's part taken by an adult; three girls and two boys from six to fifteen; four very little boys for elves.
Setting: Quaint cottage interior.
Time of playing: 30 minutes.
Toinette, pretty, dreamy, and self-absorbed, tries the Elves' Christmas-Eve gift of fern seed, to make her invisible, and learns that the little brothers and sisters do not love an impatient and unkind older one. Much grieved, she tries through the year to correct her faults, but is almost afraid to repeat the experiment when the Elves again bring their gift. The friendly Elves urge her, and the result is so happy that Toinette and the Elves have a gay little celebration all by themselves.
| III. [Tom’s Plan.] In Two Acts | [53] |
Nine characters: One adult, for Santa Claus; four boys and four girls from six to fifteen years. Chief part by a boy of eight or nine.
Setting: One simple interior.
Time of playing: 25 minutes.
Tom, hearing that Santa Claus will bring sticks or ashes to children who are bad, can think of no way to test the disturbing statement, except to be as naughty as he knows how. But Santa Claus explains matters.