A Christmas Tree For Sixpence

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Christmas Tree For Sixpence

Peter and Prue: Where are we ... ? Peter: Your turn, Prue. Prue: All Tight. Where are we going to put the mistletoe? Knte: Well, it is such a little piece that perhaps we had .better hang it over the door. Peter and Prue: I wish we had . . Priie: Your turn. Peter. Right you are. I wish We h.id .1 I hri.itmas tree. Kate: Vtell, mother says we can't afford one this year. Time e are hard ,md if we hang up our stockings it will hrive to be enough. Peter and Prue: We would love a Christmas tree, though! Peter: I hope I get some soldiers in my stocking. Prue: And I do hope I get a torch. Kate: And I want the "Red Fairy Book." I saw it in Mrs. Pringle'a window weeks ago. But mother says that Father Christmas is hard up, too, this vc.ir. so we must not wish for too much. (In comes Andrew with a tiny Christmas tree in his arms.) Andrew: Look here! There is a man outside who says we oan have this for sixpence. It is the last tree he has. Now, what can we find? I have twopence. Kate: And so have I! Peter and Prue: And we each have a penny. (Andrew collects pennies.) Andrew: I'll go and give it to him. (Exit.) Peter: What a dear— Prue: little tree! Kate: 1 am glad we've a Christmas tree after all! (Andrew comes back.) Andrew: 5t is very tiny, but it is better than nothing, isn't it? AH: I should think so! Rather! (There comes a knock at the door.) Voice: May 1 come in? Kate: Oh, do, Mr. Mitten. (In comes Mr. Mitten, who is the man from next door.) Mr. Mitten: I have come to the end of my string and I have so many parcels to tie up still. I wondered if you would lend me some of yours? Kate: Yes, of course, Mr. Mitten. Mr. Mittens That is very kind of you. Dear me! How busy you have been. And how very pretty it all looks. Peter: Look at ojr— Prue: Look at our— (They stop and glare at each other.) Peter and Prtie: My turn! Mr. Mitten: Now, now, now! Take a deep breath and count ten. It does not do to quarrel on Christmas Eve.

Peter and Prue: —our Christmas tree. Andrew! It is a very little tree, but we cannot afford a big one. Mr. Mitten: It is a very nice tree. Dress it up in tinsel with a star on top and it won't know itself. Kate: Here is the string, Mr. Mitten. Mr. Mitten: Thank you, Miss Katie. Andrew: I do wish we had a little bit more money. There is a model fire engine in Mrs. Pringle's that 1 want really badly. Kate: But now that we have bought the Christmas tree we have no money left, and mother says that Father Christmas is poor too, this year. Mr. Mitten: Tut, tut I What good is a tree with nothing on it? We might make some snowballs with cotton wool. (He bends over the tree.) Mr. Mitten: But, goodness me I Good gracious me! What have we here? Well, I declare! Kate: What is it, Mr. Mitten? Mr. Mitten: Well, after all these years! How very lucky for you. Do you know what sort of a tree this is? All: No. Mr. Mitten: It s a money tree, and a very fine one. All: But what is a money tree? Mr. Mitten: Do you mean to say you don t know? To be sure, though, one doesn't them. They're very ra f C * * "PP OI6 tlle man who sold you-itnSs one know what it really ™ aB <*r never have let you. boy it*fm«3aqw.«wn.

Thing. W..UJ, Sm.ll fi, ,™. p „ t . „, th S.r. *bS? S o( b T Ch - «d book mi.Ttaoe cL, j ß ' b ° Ul0 ' Prnnic. holly, misnetoe, Christmas decorations. The Kone i. the sitting roo m on Christmas Eve. Kate i, han«ing up holly and Christmas decorations, and the twins are helping her.

Andrew: It doesn't look very special Mr Mitten: Aha! You must put ii the sunshine and water it with Kat^ at R r 'f u" 5Ce What ha PPens. Kate But we haven t any tear water Mr. Mitten: What? None in the house? Well, that is a good thing i„ one way. but a little awkward too. Money trees must have tear water. And you must dust the leaves with a clean handkerchief to keep away the money grubs. Peter "and Prue: The sun isn't shining very brightly, either. , Mr. Mitten: Well, put it out on the window sill, anyway. J know. I believe I have a little tear water on the ton 8 of my store cupboard. • I'll EO and see. (Exit.) Andrew: Have you a clean hankie, Good, let's dust the tree. (Kate dusts tree.) Kate: It looks quite ordinary. Peter: I wonder why it is called— Prue: a money tree? (Mr. Mitten returns with little bottle.) Mr. Mitten: Here you are. I'll pour some over. (Does so.) Now watch. (Tiicy all gather round.) Kate: Oh, look, it s sending out little buds! Andrew: No, they're not buds. They'ro tiny round fruit. Peter and Prue: Like—likeKate: Sixpences! Mr. Mitten: did I tell you ? A really fine little money tree it is, too. If the fruit had sprouted in bright sunshine they would have been gold. But silver will do, won't it? Andrew: Oh, yes! How many will I need for the fire engine? Kate: Two sixpences make a shilling, so eight will buy the "Red Fairy Book." ■

Mr. Mitten: What presents are you giving to your mother and father? Kate: Oh. 1 made mother a pin cushion qnd dad a pen wiper. Andrew: And 1 painted bookmarkers for both of them. Mr. Mitten: How very nice! (In come twins.) And have you got what you wanted, too? Patar: Oh, yes, thank you. Prue: Three cheers for the money tree I All: H'P> hip, hurrah! , (In come Mrs. Pringle and P.C. Dobson.) P.C. Dobson: Excuse me, young ladies and gents., but Mrs. Pringle has a complaint. Andrew: Oh, dear, what is the matter ? Mrs. Pringle: You give me back that book and the fire engine at once I Making game of me like that! Kate: Whatever do you mean? Mrs. Pringle: Why, I give you beautiful presents out of my shop and you give me little pieces of silver paper that crumple up and blow away like leaves! Andrew: But we picked it off the money tree. P.C, Dobson: I don't know nothing about any money tree, but it is quite true what this lady says, and it won't do. You must hand those things back. Andrew: Oh, what a shame! (They hand things sadly back.) Mrs. Pringle: And don't play any more of your tricks on me! Mrs. Pringle and P.C. Dobton. J

Mr. Mitten: Well, well, well! Kate: That horrid little tree! I'll throw it in the dustbin. Mr. Mitten: Wait a minute. Let's look into the matter. After all, you did buy presents for yourself and that is no way to spend fairy silver. It always shrivels up if you spend it on yourself. What about you, twins? You'll be in trouble next. Kate: Yes, that's rather odd that Mrs. Pringle did not mention the twins. You have your torch, Prue, and Peter has the soldiers he wanted. Peter: Well, you see, Prue bought the soldiers for me. Prue: Well, you see, Peter bought the torch for me. Mr. Mitten: Ah, there is all the difference! If you spend it on someone else it shines bright and rings true for ever. That is the secret of fairy silver. Kate (sadly)": Oh, 1 know mother wants new gloves. Andrew: And dad would like a new pipe. Mr. Mitten: Ah, that is better. Much, much better. Kate: But we have picked all the fruit! Mr. Mitten: You must wait till next year now. Save up your tear water and you will be able to gather as much fairy gold and silver as you wish. (Everyone joins hands and dances round the money tree singing: "Here we go round the money tree . . . all on a Christmas evening!")