Down The Chimney

Preface

This play is intended, not only for acting, but also for reading.It is so arranged that boys and girls can read it to themselves,just as they would read any other story. Even the stage directions andthe descriptions of scenery are presented as a part of the narrative.At the same time, by the use of different styles of type, the speechesof the characters are clearly distinguished from the rest of the text,an arrangement which will be found convenient when parts are beingmemorized for acting.

The play has been acted more than once, and by different groups ofpeople; sometimes on a stage equipped with footlights, curtain, andscenery; sometimes with barely any of these aids. Practical suggestionsas to costumes, scenery, and some simple scenic effects will be foundat the end of the play.

What sort of a Christmas play do the boys and girls like, and in whatsort do we like to see them take part? It should be a play, surely, inwhich the dialogue is simple and natural, not stilted and artificial;one that seems like a bit of real life, and yet has plenty of fancy andimagination in it; one that suggests and helps to perpetuate some ofthe happy and wholesome customs of Christmas; above all, one that ispervaded by the Christmas spirit. I hope that this play does notentirely fail to meet these requirements.

Worcester, Mass.

SHEPHERD KNAPP.

Down the Chimney

The First Scene

Now the curtain opens, and you see the Roof of a House, just asMother Goose promised. Keep your eyes open to see what will happen next,for here comes JACK FROST, who is dressed all in white. He walkswith a quick and nimble step, and this is what he says:

Would you believe from the look of things, that to-morrow is Christmas?There is not a flake of snow anywhere. This roof is as clear as it isin summer. These pine trees, whose boughs hang over the roof, are allgreen. The chimney has not even an icicle on it. I hear people sayingthat we have no old-fashioned winters any more. Even old Mother Carysaid to me the other day, "Jack Frost," said she, "when are you goingto give them a real snow-storm?" But I told her not to be impatient:I would attend to it all in good time. And when I do begin, it doesn'ttake me long to get up a fine old storm, I can tell you. Now he walksup to the Chimney, and knocks on the side of it. Say, old fellow.He waits a moment; then knocks again. Wake up there. He waitsa moment; then knocks again. Wake up, I say.

And now—would you believe it?—the Chimney opens, first, one of hiseyes, then the other; and then his mouth and nose appear together. Eachof his eyes is exactly the shape and size of one brick. So is his nose.And his mouth is as long as two bricks side by side. They all turn avery bright red, when they appear, as thoug