ALL THE CHILDREN. Oh, oh! What a goose! What a fine, large goose! Was there ever such a goose before? [Fanny and Dick hurry to set the chairs about the table.] MRS. CRATCHIT. Dinner is ready, children. Sit down, everyone. Peter, lift Tiny Tim into his little chair. [Bob Cratchit stands up, with carving knife in hand, ready to carve the goose. Tiny Tim and Fanny and Dick beat upon the table with the handles of their knives.] TINY TIM. [Waving his arms.] Hurrah! Hurrah! BOB CRATCHIT. Before we begin, let us all wish a Merry Christmas to Mr. Scrooge. He gives me work and so I can pay for this good dinner. If it were not for him, we should not have this fat goose steaming here on the table. MRS. CRATCHIT. [Looking up scornfully.] Mr. Scrooge, indeed! I wish I had him here! I'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he'd have a good appetite for it! BOB CRATCHIT. My dear! Think of the children! And this is Christmas Day! MRS. CRATCHIT. It should be Christmas Day indeed! On what other day could we give good wishes to such a stingy, selfish man? [Shaking her finger gently at her husband.] You know he is, Bob! Nobody knows it better than you do, poor fellow. Don't you work hard all day for poor pay? Does he ever give you a pleasant word? Look at poor Tiny Tim! If you were paid what you earn we could get help for him. Then he might walk again. BOB CRATCHIT. [Shaking his head reprovingly.] My dear! Just to please me! Christmas Day! MRS. CRATCHIT. Well, then! I'll wish him a Merry Christmas for your sake, and for the sake of Christmas. [She turns to the children as if to suggest that they all join in the wish.] A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Mr. Scrooge! ALL. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Mr. Scrooge! BOB CRATCHIT. A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us. TINY TIM. God bless us, every one! Аст ІІІ Time-CHRISTMAS EVE Scene-SCROOGE'S SITTING-ROOM Persons: CHRISTMAS FAIRY SCROOGE [Scrooge stands looking eagerly into the far end of the room; but it is no longer a little kitchen. The noisy, happy Cratchits are no longer there. He turns and looks at the Christmas Fairy, who stands at his side. His face looks sad and softened by what he has seen, and when he speaks, his voice is gentle and kind.] SCROOGE. [Eagerly.] Tell me, was it all a dream? CHRISTMAS FAIRY. That depends on you, Ebenezer Scrooge. SCROOGE. I have been wrong, I see it! I have been sour, and selfish, and even cruel. FAIRY. [Smiling with pleasure at the change in Scrooge's manner.] Did you see anything better than sixpences? SCROOGE. Yes; love is better than sixpences. A kind heart is better than sixpences. It is better than all the riches in the world. Tell me! Will Tiny Tim live? FAIRY. Tell me! Will you take my Christmas gift? Will you change your hard heart for a kind and loving one? SCROOGE. [Earnestly.] I will try! I will try! FAIRY. Then Tiny Tim will live, because you will help him. SCROOGE. [Quickly and eagerly.] I will raise Bob Cratchit's wages! I'll pay him every sixpence he earns! I'll send him the biggest turkey in London for his Christmas dinner. I saw one today. It was twice as big as Tiny Tim. I'll send that one! [He laughs and waves his spoon joyfully.] And I'll send Tiny Tim to the country for better air. He shall have fresh milk and cream and eggs! Yes, and Martha shall go with him to take care of him, and to have a rest! Hurrah! Hurrah! [Waves spoon.] Oh, I have been foolish, but I have learned a lesson. [He turns to the Fairy.] Merry Christmas! A Merry Christmas to you! [He waves his bowl and spoon and laughs aloud.] A Merry Christmas to everybody! A Happy New Year to all the world! -Adapted from Dickens's "A Christmas Carol." What do we plant, when we plant the tree? What do we plant, when we plant the tree? |