Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-24
Santa s Ma.
II Christmas Play in One Acs.
BY ESTHER E. OLSON.

BY ES1HEl
CHARACTERS
Johnny Moffat. age IL.
Sarah Moffat age 9.
Jennie Moffat age o.
Frankie Moffat, aga 6.
Mr.. Moffat, their father.
Mrs Wentworth, wealthy woman from the
city.
Jason, her chauffeur.
.
Scene: The tiny Mofat shanty in an out-of-
the-way section of the North.
Time: Christmas Eve.
The curtain rises on q very humble room
combined kitchen dining room and parlor. At
the left is a wood stove. dining table is at
the right, covered with a worn oilcloth.
few straight chairs complete the household
furnishings.
The four Mofat children. poorly dressed. are
holding a conversation. Johnny the eldest,
speaks with a wise air.
JOhnny-'Tain't no use to hang EN- UP,
say. Santa won't come here.
Sarah-But he might, Johnny.
Jennie-He uSt to come before we moved up
here.
Johnny-Yeh, but he amt never come since,
has he? It's so far away from every place.
don't speck he even knows we're here.
Jennie-Well, let's hang stockings any
way. He might know it by this time, cause
we've been hare more'n two years now.
Johnny-Weil, how's he going to get here?
There isn't any fireplace
Sarah-He can come through the door. like
other people.
Frankie want to see Sanity
Jennie-Frankie amt ever seen him have
you Frankie? Or, anyway, you don't remem-
Der him.
Sarah-Here! Let's hang our stockings onto
. chair and put it by the stove.
(She pulls up a STRAIGHTFORWARD chairl
Frankie-Hang mine, too.
Johnny-Howre they going to stay there?
Jennie-We can tack 'em-like you do pic
lures.
sarah-In go in where pas sleeping and get
our Sunday stockings. Pa won't care If it's
for tonight
(She exits on tiptoe left)
Johnny-Wen. I'm not expecting he'll come.
Jennie-Johnny. do-do you think it's ac-
count o. mother?
JOHNNY don't know But since she amt
mere any more, he don't come
Frankie-Does he have a red coat like the
pictures of him?
Jennie-YeS. Frankie an white u,htSkar.
an he's always jolly.
FTankte-I want TO see him
tSarah comes back with stockings)
=. SaTah-Here. I got four. Wen tack EN- to
the chair, like Jennie said, and santa can see
'erp jst as plain when he comes In.
Johnny-IS Pa stfl sleeping?
Sarah-Uh-huh-bu he was talking to him
sen wish we could get a doctor for him.
Johnny-There's amt no doctor'd come vav
out here ON Christmas eve. Nobody ever comes
here-not even Santa
sarah Quitting UP stockings)-Now, Johnny.
cent you say that again. / bet he will come
even II Mother isn't here any more and even
to come wan"
Johnny-Yes but with all the nice places to
go where there's freplaces and Christmas trees.
he won't want to come out to this old place
He's too busy.
Jennie-He could send somebody in his stead,
couldn't he? '
Johnny-Who?
Jennie-Oh, don't know who-but he must
nave Ma or somebody who helps him when
he's so busy.
Sarah-Maybe-maybe If we had a tree it'd
help to bring him. It sure don't look very
Christmas-y here now.
Jennie-Lets go out and get one! There's lots
right out back of the barnI
Johnny-The snow Is awful deep
frankie want tree!
Johnny-An it's awful dark outside
Sarah-FTankie amt never even seen q
Christmas tree.
Jennie-We could put it in that box with the
hole in it so it'd stand up. You know the one
you made when we played circus.
Johnny-Wel, don't know
tree!
Johnny = Well 'twould be nice, all right.
Inere amt nothing else that's like Christmas
m here this year.
Sarah-Please, Johnny, 1et's Pad like it,
too. Mayke he'd get up to see it-and him so
sick an all. know he'd like it!
Johnny-Wen, get on your coats then. CThe
children run for their coats) IN go to the
lantern.
(Johnny goes out to the shed, Sarah lights
Sarah Gas she works)-Last year we didn't
have Christmas at all-no toys or ANYTHING
But this year we will, bet.
Jennie-I bet when Santa sees the tree hen
come
Frankie-win ne bring presents, too?
Sarah-Of course, Santa brings presentS-iu