Make time and meantime; take-your-time between time!

Some time and no time; coming time and go time!

Zig time and zag time; jigging time and rag-time!

Prime time and high time; Time-to-say-good-by time!

[Stops; wipes brow; speaks.] Not so bad for an ancient eh?... And that is the way I shall dance to the End of Time! [Goes to centre of stage.] And now let me present to you my twelve beautiful children! [Begins to call through megaphone.] What, ho! [Just then an unseen clock strikes twelve. Time counts the strokes. As the last dies away he summons January. Instantly there is a great to-do behind the scenes: bells, horns, whistles, people cheering, etc. January appears.]

January.

When the old year dies at midnight’s chime

Behold, I appear!

The eldest and youngest child of Time,

The Happy New Year!