shrink
these two.

_So Polly opens the doors, and at a signal from Santa Claus the doll
and the soldier walk in; but they move in a funny stiff way, because
they haven't any joints at their knees or elbows._

_Then_ SANTA CLAUS _shuts the doors_. Jack, _say he,_ you
may turn the crank, if you want. _So Jack turns the crank._

_After a little_ SANTA CLAUS _says_: Stop! _Then he opens
the door and out walk, in the same funny stiff way, the doll and the
soldier, only now they are about half as big as they were before. They
walk down to the front._ SANTA CLAUS _looks at them, shakes his
head, and says,_ No, you must be much smaller than that. Go back into
the machine.

_So back the doll and soldier go; and Jack again turns the crank and
this time, when_ SANTA CLAUS _cries,_ Stop, _and the doors are
opened, the toys have grown very small indeed, as you can see, when
Santa Claus holds them up. He puts the soldier into a box, and then puts
the box and the doll into his bag._

_And now Mrs. Santa Claus comes in with the cap and gloves; and Santa
Claus puts them on. At the same time sleighbells are heard outside, and
a stamping of hoofs._

We're off! _cries_ SANTA CLAUS, _taking up his pack._ Come,
Polly! Come, Jack! I'll stow you away as warm as toast down under the
buffalo robe.

Good-bye, _cries_ MRS. SANTA CLAUS as _they go out at the door._

Good-bye, good-bye, _they_ ALL _call back._

_Then there is more stamping of hoofs outside, and a great jingling of
sleighbells, which grow fainter and fainter, as they drive away._

_And that is the end of the Second Scene._

* * * * *

Interlude

_Again while the curtain is closed_ MOTHER GOOSE _comes out, and
this is what she says:_

My dears, we must hurry back to the house where Jack and Polly live, for
Santa Claus's sleigh is going so fast through the sky, that it will be
there before us, unless we are quick about it. It is still dark night
there, and nothing has happened since we were there before, except that
Dr. John has come home from seeing sick old Mrs. Cavendish, and he has
let himself in with his key, and has felt his way in the dark to his own
door, and has gone to bed. He and Mother are both fast asleep, and they
haven't an idea but that Jack and Polly are fast asleep in their beds
too. But you and I know that they are in the reindeer sleigh with Santa
Claus. And all the time they are coming nearer and nearer. Lis