Fred. Well, dear mother, I agree with your estimate of Uncle Scrooge. This is the sixth Christmas Day of our married life, and each Christmas Eve I have invited him to come and dine with us, but he has never yet honored us with his presence, and I suppose he never will.
Scro. (Gently opening the door and putting in his head. ) Fred! may I come in? (All start and rise, and Fred rushes toward the door with both hands extended. )
Fred. Why, bless my soul! who's that?
Scro. It's I, your Uncle Scrooge. I have accepted your invitation. Will you let me in?
Fred. Let you in! (Shaking him heartily by both hands. ) Dear heart alive! Why not! Welcome! welcome! My wife, your niece Yes, you may. (Scrooge kisses her. ) Our mother.
Scro. Belle! Heavens! What shall I do? (Aside. )
Mrs. K. I fear that our meeting will be painful. I beg your permission, my son, to retire.
Fred. No, no, no. This is Christmas Day. Everybody can be happy on this day that desires to be, and I know that your meeting can be made a pleasant and agreeable one if you both so will it. "Peace on earth and good will to man," is the day's golden maxim.
Scro. Although somewhat embarrassed, I concur most heartily in the wise and good-natured counsel of my dear nephew. Never before have I experienced the joys common to this day, and never hereafter, while I am permitted to live, shall I miss them. In the past twenty-four hours I have undergone a complete revolution of ideas and desires, and have awakened unto a new life. Instead of
a sordid, avaricious old man, I trust you will find a cheerful, liberal Christian, ever ready to extend to his fellow creatures a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
Fred. Why! uncle, I wonder you don't go into Parliament. I could dance for joy. (Embracing him. ) You dear old man! You shall ever find a hearty welcome here.
Mrs. M. I join with my husband in his earnest congratulations.
Mrs. K. I confess, Mr. Scrooge, that I am rejoiced to find your nephew's assertions so quickly verified, and that an opportunity is offered to renew an acquaintance which I hope will end in uninterrupted friendship. (They shake hands. )
Fred. Ah, here comes Topper and the girls.
Julia and Sarah. Oh, you bad man.
Fred. Come, let us lose no time. What do you say to a game? Shall it be blind man's buff?
All. Agreed.
Fred. Come, Uncle Scrooge, the oldest, first.
Scro. Do with me as you please; it is Christmas Day.
(They play a lively game, falling over chairs, etc. Scrooge catches each lady, and guesses wrong, until he gets Mrs. Merry, who, in turn, catches Topper, who pulls the bandage down and goes for Julia, and pretends that he tells who she is by the way the hair is fixed, etc. Scrooge and Mrs. Kemper retire up stage, and converse. )
Julia. Ah, that's not fair, you peeped. I won't play any more. (Goes up stage with Topper. )
Fred. Well, I could have guessed that catch, and it's nothing more than fair that he should peep before making it. It seems, my dear, that our company have divided into couples. Ought we not demand an explanation?
Mrs. M. As master of the house, it is your duty.
Fred. Mr. Thomas Topper and others, we have long suspected you of some horrible design against the peace and happiness of this family. What say you to the charge?
Julia. On behalf our clients, we plead guilty.
Sarah. And urge extenuating circumstances.
Fred. Then nothing more remains, but for the Court to pronounce sentence, which is, that you be placed under the bonds of matrimony, at such time and place as may suit your convenience. But, Madam Belle Kemper and Ebenezer Scrooge, what have you to say in your defense.
Mrs. K. Only this, that Christmas works wonders.
Scro. In other words, Mrs. Kemper finds that Christmas has restored me to a primitive condition, and leaves it to time to test the merits of the happy change. (To audience. ) We all have cause to bless Christmas, and it shall always be my delight to wish you A Merry Christmas, and A Happy New Year, with Tiny Tim's addition of "God bless us every one."