(Soft chimes. As these chimes die away in the distance a concealed choir is heard singing.)
O COME, COME, AWAY.
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O come, come away From labor now reposing, Let busy care a while forbear; O come, come away. |
(The front curtains are drawn, showing a winter street in Bethlehem. No one appears on the stage, but the choir continues singing outside at right front.)
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Come, come, our social joys renew, And thus where trust and friendship grew, Let true hearts welcome you, O come, come away. |
Rachel and Priscilla enter from the inn at right front, arm in arm. They go to the center, then to the rear of the stage, turn and face the inn, pause a moment or two, listening to the choir, and then go out at rear left. The choir continues:
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From toils and the cares On which the day is closing, The hour of eve brings sweet reprieve, O come, come away. O come where love will smile on thee, And round its hearth will gladness be, And time fly merrily, O come, come away. |
While the choir is singing the last three lines of the song, Simeon and Isaac enter from rear left, leaning on their shepherd's crooks. They pause at rear center and listen to the singing. When the song is finished the organ continues the same music softly.
Simeon.
Make haste, my son, the hour is waxing late,
The night is cold, methinks our sheep await.
Isaac.
Nay gran'ther, I would liefer tarry here.
The town is gay, the inns are full of cheer.
Simeon (points to rear right).
But there our duty lies, the wind grows cold!
Come, let's away and put the sheep in fold.
(Starts off right.)