Newport News High School - Anchor Yearbook (Newport News, VA)

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98 THE BEACON old Santy what you want, like good little children. (The two go forward slowly) Second Charge (holding out her hand and curtseying) — Good afternoon, Santy Claus. Santa Claus — How are you, sister? What must I put in my pack for you ? Second Charge — I — I’d like a big doll. Santa Claus — Um-um. With yellow hair, and blue eyes ? Second Charge — No, sir. If you please, I believe I’d rather have her hair and eyes both brown. You know, you brought me one with yellow hair last year, and I don’t want two alike. Santa Claus — I see. We’ll give her brown hair this time. What else little lady ? Second Charge — Oh, I want a bed for my dolly and a sled and a dolly carriage and — oh, I want a little writing desk, for my- self, you know, not my doll — and a gold wrist watch and some candy, of course, and lots of things, but I can’t think of them all now. Santa Claus — Don’t you want to go look in the window, too ? Second Charge — Yes, thank you, sir. Santa Claus — And now, what does this great big man want Santy to bring him ? Third Charge — I wants a Injun suit an’ a veloci- pede, an’ some sojers, an’ a tent, an’ a choo-choo train an’ some candy! Santa Claus — All right, sir. Third Charge — Can I look in the window, too ? Santa Claus — Yes, indeed, and tell me if you see anything else you want. Nurse (aside to Santa Claus) — Mr. Ligget says to have everything the children ask for sent to him at the Ritz apartments. Santa Claus (draws out pad and pencil) —

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THE BEACON 97 He had been traveling around in the rain all day and the illness which had been coming on for weeks finally overpowered him. It was feared that pneumonia had set in. For many days Marie sat up by his bedside soothing him. The crisis had not passed and she was frantic, until at last she realized what would save him. Christmas morning dawned with Marie sitting by his bedside. The crisis had passed and Jim was weak but recovering. “Peace on earth, good will toward men,” sang - the choir in the big church. Jim opened his eyes to his own world and said: “Then you are the angel who has been drawing me back when I wanted so much to be still forever. It seemed such a — ” He stopped not so much from weak- ness, but because a door was opened silently. There was no laugh this time, only a childish gurgle, as two soft arms encircled his neck and an equally soft voice exclaimed, “my new Daddy!” Cucky Children (A Play in One Act) Frances Gray June, ’22 PERSONS The Toy Store Santa Claus. The Nurse. Her Three Charges. The Little Girl. The Little Boy. Time: Christmas Eve. Scene: In front of a toy shop. The Store Santa Claus paces up and down to keep warm. (Enter the Nurse with three charges.) Santa Claus — Well, well, good afternoon to you all! You’ve come down to tell me what to put in your stockings, haven’t you ? First Charge (stepping forward, and extending his hand) — Howd’y do, Mr. Santy Claus. Santa Claus — Hello, Son, what do you want for Christmas ? First Charge — I don’t know yet. I want a soldier suit and an air rifle and a ’leetrie train a whole lot of candy an’ nuts an’ things and — I don’t know what else! Santa Claus — I’ll tell you what, little man! You first go and look in that window and tell me when you see what you want! First Charge — All right. (The other two children hang back shyly) Santa Claus — Come, my dears, aren’t you going to tell me what to bring you ? (Nurse, pushing them.) Go on and tell him what you want, now. Go on and tell him! (They still hang back.) Santa Claus — What? You’re not going to tell me howdy? Why, my feelings will be hurt if you don’t shake hands with me! Nurse — Go on! Don’t be naughty! Tell

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THE BEACON 99 Let’s see, the boy wants electric cars and soldier suit, and — what was it? Oh, I remember (he writes on the pad) and the girl wants a doll with brown hair and a sled and a desk and — and, oh, yes, a bed for her doll and a gold wrist watch (writes them down). And th e little one — I remember about him (he writes on pad). To C. R. Ligget at the Ritz apartments ? Nurse — Yes, that’s it. Santa Claus — It’s cold, isn’t it? Nurse — Bitter cold! And the wind comes ’round this corner like a knife. Santa Claus — I’ll say it does! I’ve been out here all day and I’m nearly froze. Nurse — I should think you would be! I don’t see how you stand it out here! Your business is about the only one that doesn’t have holiday today. Santa Claus — Oh, I get holiday from my regular work. I keep books in one of Mr. Ligget’s offices. But I need some extra money, so I got this job for to- day. Nurse — I see! Santa Claus — The cost of livin’ is so high, you know. And I’ve been having some doctors’ bills, and the landlord’s put the rent up again, so you see I need the money. Nurse — My sister, she keeps house, and she tells me it’s perfectly awful, the prices things are, nowadays! Santa Claus — It is — and then — there are two lit- tle children — a girl and a boy — the sweetest kids in the world — in my house, who won’t have any stocking or tree or anything if I don’t get something extra. So you see it’s just a case of having to make some money. First Charge — Come here and look at this steam- boat! (Santa Claus and Nurse walk over to show window and look in.) First Charge — Look at the guns on it. It’s just what I want! (Enter from the side of a poorly clad little boy and girl.) Little Girl (whispering) — There he is! Looking in that win- dow. Little Boy (whispering) — OOOh, look at the things in that window. Don’t you wish we had a sled like that, and a ’lectric train ? Little Girl- Yes, and look on the other window! Don’t I wish Santa Claus would bring be that great, big, doll! Little Boy — Oh, but hadn’t you rather have a tool chest? Little Girl — No, I don’t think so! But if you had a tool chest you could build me a doll house, couldn’t you Little Boy — Sure! Do you want to go up an’ speak to Santy ? Little Girl — Let’s wait till those other people go! Little Boy — All right. I’m not scared though! Little Girl — I know you’re not, but it would be sort of rude to butt in, wouldn’t it? Little Boy — Maybe so! I guess we’d better wait! Santa Claus (to the Nurse’s Charges) — So you want the boat and the foot ball and the doll’s house ? The Three Charges — Yes, sir!