y, he's gone.

JACK FROST (_sticking his head out of the curtains_). The sun has set,
it's out of sight, so little Jack Frost will say good-night!
(_Disappears back of curtains._)

ANITA. Good-night, Jolly Jack Frost, good-night. Oh, it's the most
wonderful secret in all the world. And won't the leetla children be
glad to know that old Santa Claus has not forgotten them. He said that
Santa Claus was coming tonight in the air ship, and it's got to be
true, it's just got to be true.

_Enter_ TOMASSO _from R., carrying violin._

TOMASSO. Anita, if you don't hurry you'll not get any supper at all.
It's most eight o'clock.

ANITA. Oh, I don't care for supper, Tomasso. I could-a not eat. I'm
too much excited to eat.

TOMASSO. What make-a you so excited, Anita?

ANITA. Why, tonight--(pauses as she remembers her promise) Oh, that I
cannot tell; it's a secret.

TOMASSO. What is the secret?

ANITA. If I told-a you, Tomasso, then it would no longer be a secret.

TOMASSO. You should-a not have the secrets from me, Anita. I am your
cousin, also--I am the head of the family.

ANITA. But I made the promise not to tell.

TOMASSO. Who you make-a the promise to?

ANITA. I promised Jack--(_hesitates_) I mean, I make-a de promise to
someone.

TOMASSO. To Jack! Who is this-a Jack, Anita?

ANITA. That is part of the secret. Listen, Tomasso, tomorrow morning
you shall know everything. Early in the morning shall I tell-a you my
secret. That will be my Christmas present to you.

TOMASSO. All right. I'll wait. Oh, see, Anita, the moon is coming up.
(_Points to L._) Just like-a big, round-a silver ball.

ANITA. Let us stay here and watch the moon, Tomasso.

TOMASSO. You'd better go and get your supper. Those leetla Dutch twins
are eating everything on the table. I think they'd eat the table
itself if it was-a not nailed to the deck. Hurry, Anita!

ANITA. I go. (_Crosses to door at R., then turns toward him_). It's a
awful good-a secret, Tomasso. (_Laughs and runs out at R._)

TOMASSO (_looks off L._). Ah, the great, grand-a lady moon. She looks
at me, I look at her. Maybe she'll like a leetla serenade.

(_Simple violin solo by_ TOMASSO, _accompanied by hidden organ or
piano. After he has been playing sometime, the other children come
softly in from the R. and group around the stage. Note: If possible,
get a boy for_ TOMASSO'S _part who can play the violin; if not,
introduce a song at this point. "Santa Lucia," found in