Tommy (gleefully). That's me.
Santa Claus. And here's a box of chess-men, and a— Why, upon my word! upon my word! when has this happened before? (Santa Claus pauses in his work, showing every evidence of great astonishment, for as he undertakes to put the gifts into Tommy's stocking, they behave in a most contrary and unaccountable way. They drop to the floor, and the stocking seems to refuse to take them. Santa Claus makes several efforts to insert the gifts in the stocking, but without success.) Well, well, I haven't had an experience like this for many a long year. What will Mrs. Santa Claus say, when I go back to the North Pole and tell her I found a contrary stocking. A contrary stocking, which means but one thing—that the child who hung it does not believe in Santa Claus. (Sadly.) Oh dear, what a pity! what a pity! Well, if I must, I must. (Searches his pack.) It is many a year since I have had any use for these things. I did hope I should never have to take them out again. (Draws from the depth of his pack a broad leather strap, a large slipper, and other articles mentioned later. He meets with no difficulty as he drops them one by one into Tommy's big stocking.) There! (Thrusting in the strap.) If he don't know the use of that, I suppose his father will have to teach him, and this (holding up the slipper before putting it into the stocking), no doubt his mother will know what it is for. Oh dear! oh dear! (Shaking his head sorrowfully.) This is too bad! too bad! It will spoil my Christmas completely. No box of goodies for this stocking— It wouldn't do—no, it wouldn't do at all. I'll have to put in this package of smarty pepper candy, to make the boy's tongue tingle that says Santa Claus is a Humbug.
Nan. What did I tell you?
Lucy. Poor Tommy.
Santa Claus. And here is a tin horn (tries it) without any blow in it. My good horns are for good boys to toot in my honor on Christmas day. Now a book—here is one—a nice Spelling Book, full of all the hard words that were ever invented, and not a picture in it. And here is another—a book on Good Manners—it is for the boy to study who says that Santa Claus is a Fraud.
Tommy. Boo-hoo! boo-hoo! boo-hoo! boo-hoo! I didn't mean it! Oh, I didn't mean it at all! I was just a-fooling. Boo-hoo! Oh, dear! Boo-hoo-o-o-o!
Lucy (putting her arms around his neck). Oh, poor, poor Tommy! I'll give you my nice candy. Don't cry, Tommy.
Tommy. Boo-hoo! I didn't mean it. I won't do so again. I'll stand by you forever. Indeed I will, Mr. Santa Claus, if you'll only forgive my badness. (Tommy kneels and clasps the knees of Santa Claus imploringly.) Oh, please forgive me, and I'll never, never doubt you again, dear, good Santa Claus!
Mary (entreatingly). Dear Santa Claus, please forgive him.
Nan. He don't deserve it, but please try him.