Christmas Entertainments Part 24

_Kitchen_: Ah, sir, you will be brave and take the place?

_Cooklet_: Oh, yes, dear, brave, kind handsome man! Say, "Yes," and calm our fluttering hearts!

_Kitchen_: For if we saw a Brownie we should only scream!

_Cooklet_: And die!

_Prince_: Why, then, if there's no choice save between myself and you poor maids, why--I must do it. So, sir, I'll guard your pie to-night.

_Cooklet_: O dear, good, kind young man!

_Kitchen_: O n.o.ble, bold young man! (_Both kneel gratefully_.)

_Head Cook_: Get up, I say, get up! You kneel to me--not to zis beggar fellow! And you, sir, get these dishes washed quick, slick, for here ze Princess Fadeaway is coming with her ladies!

_Prince_: The Princess coming! (_He is agitated_.)

_Head Cook_: Yes. Every Christmas night she comes to pat ze crust wiz her own fair fingers!

_Prince_: Then I shall see her!

_Head Cook_: Yes--but you need not let zat discompose you--she vill not notice you. It is only to me she vill spik! Because I am Head Cook! I am like royalty--only more so. She comes--she comes--let each be in your place! Now bow, all bow!

(_A graceful march played. Enter Princess Fadeaway, attended by Greening and Sweeting. The Princess is a sweet-voiced, gentle little girl. Her ladies are gorgeously attired, and walk and talk in a disagreeable, affected manner_.)

_Head Cook_: Welcome, Princess; the pie awaits your pleasure!

_Princess_: Good! (_She comes to the table, sees Prince, who starts, and drops dishes. He stands staring at her; does not pick dishes up_.)

_Princess_: Why--who is this strange gentleman--

_Head Cook (shocked)_: Hush--hush--Your Highness, it is only the new scullion!

_Princess (amazed)_: Scullion!

_Greening_: O Princess, how could you take that ragged creature for a gentleman?

_Sweeting_: I think he looks too fierce for safety. Look how the jackanapes eyes Your Highness!

_Princess_: He is, indeed, in sorry plight.

_Prince_: Sorry, indeed, if my rags offend Your Highness--

_Greening_: Address yourself to us, fellow! 'Tis not for such as you to speak to the Princess!

_Prince_: Nay, I am in her service, ladies, and it is her I answer if she desires to question me!

_Greening_: Insolent! I'd have him put in the stocks.

_Sweeting_: Or whipped at the whipping-post!

_Princess_: Peace, ladies! I would hear him. How is it you are not in my livery, if you are in my service?

_Prince_: I have but just this moment reached the castle. I have been traveling in the forest, where the wolves and brambles alike delayed me.

_Princess_: The wolves? Oh, they have hurt you

_Ladies (trying to stop her)_: Your Highness!

_Princess_: But see--his wrist is bleeding. I am sure it hurts you!

Let me bind it for you (_to Prince_).

_Greening_: Princess! how can you stoop to touch a scullion?

_Sweeting_: Your Highness is strangely forgetting yourself!

_Princess_: Nay, ladies, it is you who forget yourselves!

DUET (_Princess_ and _Prince_).

(Air, "When We Are Married."--_Belle of New York_.)

_Princess_: You should be thinking what you can do To help the people who live to serve you!

Though I'm a princess, plainly I see I must act kindly to those who serve me!

_Prince_: Long was my journey, I'm weary and sore, But such a princess I've ne'er seen before!

Nothing I ask for, save only to be Here in the castle, my Princess to see!

_Princess_: Though I am a princess, plainly I see, I must act kindly to those who serve me!

_Prince_: Nothing I ask for, save only to be Here in the castle, my Princess to see!

(_The Princess binds up his wrist up stage_.)

_Greening (furiously to Head Cook)_: How did you come to engage such a scurvy-looking fellow?

_Head Cook_: Of a truth, madame, I vould not have done so, madame, but my scullions have all gone, and I had none to guard ze Christmas pie to-night!

_Sweeting_: The Christmas pie!

_Head Cook_: Yes, madame, from ze Brownies. He has consent, now I have told him of ze pepper-pot.

_Greening_: The pepper-pot! You may go, fellow!

(_The Cook retires up back, annoyed; bullies Kitchenmaid and Cooklet_, R. _Prince and Princess center, making pie. Prince helps her. Head Cook furious_.)

_Greening_: Listen, I have an idea! That man is no scullion!

_Sweeting_: No scullion?