Jack and Jill. Dressed as country children and carrying a pail, Jill with sunbonnet.
Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son. Boy about sixteen, tall and slender; short waistcoat, trousers above shoe-tops, little old hat on back of head; a pig made of white Canton flannel under his arm. Or, if a small live pig could be procured, it would add to the merriment.
Jack-be-Nimble. Small boy in short waistcoat and trousers, with candle in candlestick.
Bo-Peep. Shepherdess costume. Long crook with ribbon tied on end.
Simple Simon. Trousers to shoe-tops; straight ragged garment extending almost to knees, and left open at neck; hair tousled. A tin pail and a rod about two feet in length with long string tied to it and piece of bent wire attached to the end of string.
Time. Just before dawn Christmas morning.
SCENE opens on the little bedroom. Teddy asleep on the cot. Keep the front of the stage as dark as possible during this scene, with woods curtain drawn aside, and throw a dim light on the bedroom from behind the scenes.
Teddy (waking, sitting up in bed, and rubbing his eyes). My, but it’s dark! I wonder if Santa Claus has been here yet. Guess I’ll see. (Strikes a match, and lights the candle, holds it above his head, and peers around. Suddenly seeing the stocking fairly bulging with gifts, he puts the candle on the chair, bounds out of bed, and makes a dive for the stocking. When about to take it down, he hesitates.) I know it ain’t time, but I just can’t wait. I’ll just take one thing out. (Reaches up carefully and takes down camera.) My! if it ain’t the camera I wrote to Santa Claus for. I wonder how it works. (Turning it over.) I’ll take Rover’s picture the very first one. (Dances back to bed, camera in hand, and, pulling the covers over him, begins examining it. Yawns several times, and talks in a sleepy voice.) Won’t ma and pa be (yawns) surprised—when—they—see—(yawns again)—it, though?—Wish—I—could—— (Falls asleep.)
(In runs little old goblin, frolics around the room a little, blows out the candle, and perches himself on the foot of the bed.)