wloche PS 3511 .04 s6 1919 HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY TRANSFERRED ΤΟ HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY SNICKERTY NICK Thur Rath DANCE OF SPRING SNICKERTY NICK BY JULIA ELLSWORTH, FORD, 4 That 74 st Rhymes by L ore Gä Witter Bynner Witter Bynneflew Jorre con Illustrations by Arthur Rackham NON-IN FERIOR ENTES New York OFFAT, YARD& CO 1919 Pabo9* R383 * P1883 VARD CULLIGA ... KAKVA c Duterte.1734 118RANY Wittis Rign WID-LC PS 3511 07 56 1919 r COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY MOFFAT, YARD & co. 76*.141 The acting rights are reserved by the author. BY THE SAME AUTHOR PICTURES by GEORGE FREDERICK WATTS. 23 ill astrations. Introduction by Author and THOMAS W. LAMONT. 4to, $3.50. KING SOLOMON AND THE FAIR SHULAMITE with 7 photogravure illus- trations. 12mo, $1.50. “A. E.” A NOTE OF APPRECIATION, with portrait and facsimile. 12mo, $1.00. SIMEON SOLOMON. AN APPRECIATION, with 22 illustrations. 410, $1.50. THE MIST. A Play IN ONE Act. Produced in London at The Little Theatre November, 1913. IMAGINA. A FANCIFUL TALE FOR CHIL- DREN AND GROWN-UPS. With colored illus- trations by ARTHUR RACKHAM and draw- in rs kıy LAUREN FORD. $2.00 Dutton. PAN AND THE SPIRIT OF BEAUTY, with Witter Bynner's "Canticle of •Pan." Suttonhouse . CONSEQUENCES (translated into Chinese), a novel. Dutton. MAGIC INNERLAND, in prepara- tion. FOREWORD The little child had come to take the Giant to play in his garden, “which is Paradise.” My indebtedness to this story is the character of the Selfish Giant. The little play of Snickerty Nick is not a dramatization of The Selfish Giant. The character of Snickerty Nick is an original character and the play centers around him. The little boy is only a loving and beloved child, and Spring and Winter are per- sonified by faeries and gnomes. To Arthur Rackham I tender my most sincere thanks whose magic touch, as in Peter Pan, Grimm's Faery Tales and Undine, making real all faeries and gnomes, endears all child life to grown-ups as well as to children. Julia ELLSWORTH FORD. viii CHARACTERS THE GIANT.........BARON BILL-ARRON BOMBERRUM THE DWARF........SNICKERTY NICK THE LITTLE BOY THE CHILDREN WINTER SPRING WINTER'S GNOMES SNOW HAIL FROST NORTHWIND CHILBLAINS SPRING'S FAERIES—COWSLIP BUTTERCUP O & DANDELION BLUE BELL BUMBLE BEE RAGGED SAILOR The children may choose their names from Mother Goose or any they may fancy. If the children are dressed in national costume 8,- Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, old fashion English, German, French, Russian, American, etc., it is very effective, and helps toward engendering an international spirit. A dog and a donkey can be used in this play. P. 39. The play has been set to music. A little boy came laughing and turned icicles into flowers and won a kingdom with love. SCENE I SNICKERTY NICK But the Giant hates the children And chases them away; : And there can't be any summer here, The sun will never stay, For where no children ever come, It's winter every day. Now I'm the Giant's servant And I never have my way: For I have to tell the children That they mustn't come and play. For I wouldn't want them eaten up And so I have to say, It's not my grass, you can't come in, You've got to go away. [Placing the paint brush in the paint can] Pretty good work, Nicky. One more touch and it will be finished. [While Snickerty Nick is eyeing his work, a small boy creeps through the hedge, tip- 16 He has a quaint kind face ARockbait More spanked against than spanking TRESPASSERS WILL The Giant sticks his head out of the door SNICKERTY NICK DWARF What has that to do with ett? The most exquisite woman I ever met, Etta by name, a love, a pet, Here's what she had to do with ett- She et her egg with etiquette. But once her lovely sleeve got wet And it dripped when she danced the minuet And left a spot on the green carpet. And I made a note of her great regret In this little green book which I carry yet. GIANT Stop your nonsense, talk sense. DWARF Who talks sense anyway? [Counting his buttons] Richman? Poorman? Beggarman? Thief? Doctor? Lawyer? Merchant? Chief? None of them talk sense. 22 SNICKERTY NICK GIANT You irritate me. I'm going to kick you. DWARF [Consulting the green book] You've already kicked me 9,995 times. When you've kicked me 10,000 times, according to your solemn promise as a giant, the kingdom will be mine. Don't say I didn't warn you. Five more! GIANT By Beelzebub, I must kick you. [He kicks the Dwarf.] DWARF [Taking his score book out of his pocket] . Got it in my score book-got it in—9,996 kicks. [Dusts his pants, where the Giant has kicked 23 SNICKERTY NICK him, with a whisk broom hanging on his coat.] GIANT [Giant kicks Dwarf again.] DWARF 9,997 kicks! Only three more! [The Dwarf chuckling, again takes the whisk GIANT Hang the sign on the gate, you snickerty snicker! What were you made for? DWARF Being, not doing, your Highness. GIANT Well, I was made for doing. I am faring away early to-morrow morning before you'll be up, 24 SNICKERTY NICK sleepy head, to see the great Cornish Ogre to ask him why it's always winter in my garden. It's spring now and I want flowers in my gar- den and I don't understand why they won't grow. They bloom everywhere except here. I am the great giant, Baron Bill-Arron Bomberrum. And I will have flowers. Look around and see if you can find me even one bud. [They both look.] DWARF I can't find one. I like my friend Mary's gar- den better than yours, although I don't care for cockle shells and silver bells. Personally, I pre- fer the pretty maids all in a row. GIANT Listen! I shall be gone seven years. Seven is a lucky number. I shall stay only seven years because my conversation is limited. 25 SIN See THE LITTLE BOY SNICKERTY NICK DWARF Kick it quick! [To the audience, behind his hand] There's a brick in it! [The Giant starts to kick the Dwarf again.] DWARF [Standing still] Go on, kick me—999 [The Giant stops his foot in time, shakes his stick at him.] GIANT Not this time! DWARF Nick of time, for all time belongs to Snickerty Nick. No time like the present. [Takes off his hat and bows, then runs swiftly around in a circle.] 27 SNICKERTY NICK GIANT What are you doing? DWARF Killing time. I learned to do that when I was the amanuensis of the Marquise of Magog. GIANT Hang up the sign and lock the gate. Don't let anyone in. Don't let the children play in my. garden. My own garden is my own garden and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself. Do you hear? DWARF Yes, your Stoutness, I hear. Hearing may be better than seeing—sometimes—it depends on what you look at. Personally I prefer seeing, even when- 28 SNICKERTY NICK GIANT Here, Snickerty Nick, pull off my boots. I am going to bed. [Dwarf pulls off one boot.] DWARF [Looking at it quizzically] It has always been a puzzle to me, how that, old woman lived in the shoe with so many chil- dren. Very insanitary. [As he pulls off the other boot, the Giant kicks him. He rolls over, then gets up and makes the entry in his score book.] 9,999! One more kick and the kingdom's mine. Hurrah! GIANT I am going to bed now. See that there is no noise around here. [Giant puts on his night-cap and goes in.] 29 DANCE OF WINTER AND GNOMES SNICKERTY NICK [Northwind dashes in clothed in purple, purple wings floating behind her.] WINTER Blow your horn! Call our friends! This is a delightful spot. We must invite Snow, Hail, Frost, and Chilblains and live here all the year round. NORTHWIND 00-00-00-ooh! [Snow enters all in white carrying a basket filled with snowballs, and with snow to sprinkle on the bushes. Hail, in grey, hops over one of the bushes and as he does so hailstones are heard. Frost, in silver, waves a silver scarf over the flowers. Chilblains, in blue, comically carries an enormous bottle of camphor.] WINTER Let's dance. SNICKERTY NICK DWARF [Waking up] Dear me! What has happened! I'm a bit chilly on the projecting points. [Dwarf rubs his ears and toes.] GIANT [Poking his head out of the window with his night-cap on aud roaring] Get out of my garden. Unlock my door, you winter villains. You and your friends have killed all my flowers and the blossoms on my apple trees and there will be no golden fruit in the autumn. If I catch you I will kill you and gobble you all up. ALL [Mocking him] Fee, fi, fo, fum! Baron Bill-Arron Bomberrum! 33 SNICKERTY NICK ALL [Mocking and clapping their hands with the rhyme] Pease porridge hot, Pease porridge cold, Pease porridge in the pot, The Giant's growing old! CHILBLAINS Give him the cold shoulder. [Winter and gnomes turn left shoulder toward him.] Ha! Ha! Look at your nose now! DWARF You are disturbing my rest with that beastly noise. Go away, I want to sleep. GIANT Get out of my garden. Go to the North Pole, there's where you belong. I wish you would go 35 SNICKERTY NICK DWARF [Howls.] My! My! What has happened to my toes? [Sits on the ground and rubs them.] Something has happened to my feet, one more thing to add to my woes. If I can't walk and have to use crutches, and the Giant kicks me any more, I'll fall down and break my head, and lose my crown. Personally I prefer walking. [Chilblains touches the Giant's nose.] GIANT [His nose is quite white.] My! My! What has happened to my nose? [Giant steps back and stumbles over the Dwarf and starts to kick him but stops.] No, Nicky, I won't kick you any more for the present; I know just when to stop. [Teeth chattering] I have had enough of this old garden. I won't . 38 will Carrara Adul. Rockba The great Cornish Ogre SNICKERTY NICK DWARF I'll give you a whistle and then you can whistle for it. NORTHWIND I am your sister; what will you do for me? DWARF I'll call you Una and give you a dandelion to roar at you. FROST I am your brother; what will you give me? DWARF I will give you the mint of my kingdom—a peppermint. SNOW I am your sweetheart; what will you give me? DWARF A trip to the moon. 40 M The Sandman watches smiling SCENE II SNICKERTY NICK DWARF [In a sleepy voice] Butter? Butter is no good without bread. [He opens his eyes for a moment, then shuts them again.] BUTTERCUP [Shaking him] He doesn't like butter! I can't wake him. SPRING Ragged Sailor, try what you can do. [Ragged Sailor with his shirt sticking out tugs at the Dwarf.] RAGGED SAILOR Ahoy, Nicky! Time you pulled up anchor. Here, shift to Port. [Rolling him over on his side.] DWARF [Sitting up] SNICKERTY NICK · Hello, Dicky Dicky Doubt, with your shirt- tail out! [They all laugh.] [Nicky rubs his eyes and falls asleep again.] RAGGED SAILOR There's no moving him. He's aground, he is. [Sailor fashion he dances a few steps.] SPRING Sweet William, you try. [Sweet William takes the paints that the Dwarf has used for the sign and paints a dot of red on his forehead, his cheeks and then the end of his nose until he is a droll sight.] SWEET WILLIAM See what a funny face he has. He won't know himself when he wakes up. · Wake up! Wake up! I can't wake him. 50 SNICKERTY NICK BLUE BELL Let me try. I will tickle him. Tickely, tickely, on the knee, If you laugh, you don't love me. [She tickles him on the nose and on the knee. He sits up suddenly for a moment, rubs his nose and makes funny faces. Finally he falls back asleep.] It's no use, he doesn't love me and he won't wake up. [The Dwarf snickers in his sleep.] BUMBLE BEE [In a low buzzing voice.] I can wake him. I'll stick my itchy needle in, in, in. [The Dwarf scratches first in one place, then in another, gives a kick and curls up asleep again.] 51 SNICKERTY NICK SPRING I have an idea. Trundle him in the wheelbarrow And dump him on the ground The way you dumped old Winter When you didn't want him round. CHORUS Trundle him in the wheelbarrow And dump him in the brook! We dumped a fat man in last week- Mercy, how he shook! His face was like a cranky stove When the fire all goes out, And you ought to see the fat man now, He isn't half so stout. For we dumped him in the water And he rolled and rolled and rolled, He was harder than a snowball, He was frozen icy cold; SNICKERTY NICK ALL [Rushing forward] Let me do it. [They wheel him round. The wheelbarrow up- sets and the Dwarf rolls out, jumps up and rubs his eyes. Spring and the faeries dis- appear.] DWARF Is it time to get up? I think I must have had a nap. I had a dream just now. What was it? Have I slept seven years? [Proudly] I must see if I am still as beautiful as I was. The Marquise of Magog loved me for my strange beauty. Beauty is a joy forever. [He takes a mirror from his coat and looks at himself. Glances over his shoulder to see if anyone could be looking into the mirror.] Extraordinary! This must be some mistake. Is this a face? Well, well, well! Personally I 55 SNICKERTY NICK think beauty is only skin deep, fit for women and peacocks. But what is this? A dandelion? I must have been picking flowers in my sleep. I love to sleep-walk in a dell, To gather flowers and whistle- But O, I woke up with a yell The night I picked a thistle. I dreamed I kissed a little girl As pretty as my sister- But O, she had long finger-nails And scratched me when I kissed her. Some people are like thistle-tops; They beckon and divert you, And look at you with friendly looks And smile at you—and hurt you. [The garden being now full of flowers, little children peep through the gate and call, pelting the Dwarf with blossoms. 56 D ecobedoo Bethod Little children peep through the gate SNICKERTY NICK SECOND CHILD He is a selfish old Giant and he doesn't like us. There aren't any flowers when he's here. THIRD CHILD [Who is timid] He won't let anyone play in his garden. I'm scared. I want to go home. FIRST CHILD We like it here and we can run when we hear him coming. FOURTH CHILD It is better than playing on the hard road. The road is full of cobble-stones. DWARF Quite true, quite true. Cobble-stones gather no moss. SECOND CHILD It's such a nice garden. 58 SNICKERTY NICK DWARF Yes, geometrically it is very fine. Geometry is very interesting—to those who love it. Some people prefer the encyclopedia. Too many facts, however, stunt the imagination. Person- ally I prefer poetry. THIRD CHILD [Timidly] If he comes back to-day, will he eat us up? DWARF He may not come until to-morrow. But if he does come to-day he will gobble you up. Fee, fi, fo,fum, He'll smell the blood of little Tom Thumb, And yours and yours, and up he'll come And stuff you all in his great big tum! Fee, fi, fo, fum! [Third child looks frightened and hides behind one of the others.] 59 SNICKERTY NICK FOURTH CHILD Aren't you afraid he will eat you up? DWARF No, I am very old and tough. He won't eat me. THIRD CHILD Let's go away. FIRST CHILD No, I want to stay and pick some flowers. THIRD CHILD You'd better not, the Giant won't like it. FIRST CHILD Well, let's have a dance, then. DWARF All right. Dancing is quite the vogue now. I am thinking of taking it up myself. 60 d ) ar UP “Let's play" SNICKERTY NICK CHILDREN Nicky, Nicky, where shall we hide? If the Giant comes in the front gate he'll catch us. DWARF The Giant always comes in the back gate. Run, run. [The children run toward the big front gate but they cannot open it.] CHILDREN The gate won't open, Nicky. He'll catch us, he'll catch us. GIANT [Heard coming nearer and nearer.] Who is in my garden? I am the Baron Bill- Arron Bomberrum. My own garden is my own garden, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself. SNICKERTY NICK [The children tug frantically at the gate but they cannot open it. They hide behind the bushes. The Giant appears with a huge stick. The Dwarf steals quickly toward the gate and opens it. The children finding the gate open rush toward it. The Giant chases them with his stick. The little boy is left, whom the Giant does not see.] GIANT [Looking around astonished] What has happened. Flowers in my garden? The Cornish Ogre said the flowers never bloomed in his garden and they never would in mine. [Discovers the little boy lying under the trees, where he has been knocked down by the children in their flight.] LITTLE BOY [Holding up his hands] 65 SNICKERTY NICK O, Mr. Giant, help me up. I have hurt my- self. [The Giant looks at the child and puts the stick down, then lifts him up; and the little boy throws his arms around the Giant's neck and kisses him.] LITTLE BOY Thank you, Mr. Giant. GIANT [Reflectively] No one ever kissed me before. It feels queer. [Giant puts him down.] LITTLE BOY I'm all right now. [Takes the Giant's hand and looks up into his face.] I think I will run and play with the children now. Good-bye, Mr. Giant. 66 SNICKERTY NICK GIANT Don't you want a flower? You may have one. I'll pick one for you. Here it is. LITTLE BOY Thank you, good Mr. Giant. GIANT [Gradually relenting] Here is another, you may have this. [Aside] No one ever called me “Good Mr. Giant” before. [Looks at the little boy with a smile.] LITTLE BOY Lean down and I will put one in your button- hole and one in mine. GIANT Aren't you a little chap? LITTLE BOY Aren't you a big chap? Little chaps like me like big chaps like you. SNICKERTY NICK DWARF It's awfully funny and yet it's true When the children came the flowers came too. GIANT Go and find him and tell him all the children can come back and play with him. DWARF With me, too. Don't forget, Nicky. GIANT [Taking up the sign.] Nicky, I'm going to burn this sign up. DWARF [Pulling it away from Giant.] No, no. Give it to me. I can fix it so that when they see it, they'll come back. [Dwarf takes the brush and paints letters around the ETT on the sign making it read PETTED.] 74 SNICKERTY NICK [They join hands and dance round the Giant.] Dipsey-wipsey, Snickerty says we may! DWARF [Running in with the jingling keys and skip- ping round the outside of the circle and joining in the chorus which they repeat.] Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Dipsey-wipsey, Tiddledy ipsey, Snickerty says we may. CURTAIN [The Dwarf puts his head out between the cur- tains and smiles. Then he comes through and holds up a bunch of golden keys.]