"Sh--h!" The chatter suddenly ceased. Barbara pressed a button that shut off all the lights excepting the twinkling bulbs on the tree. In another room the children sang "Silent Night." As the last sweet note died away, Peggy, in gauzy white with tinsel crown and wings, came slowly into the room. She sank down upon the rock. The play had begun. _Spirit_ (yawns): Goodness me, how tired I am! (Yawns again.) It seems as if there are more children every Christmas. I think after to-night I'll go to bed for a whole year! (Lifts her head suddenly and looks at the tree.) Why, there are no presents on the tree! It must be a party of grownfolks! (Sighs.) I do feel so sorry for grownfolks! They always have to pretend they're having a Christmas. (Springs to her feet.) Perhaps they're here now. (Looks intently at audience.) Yes--they are! I can always tell when grownfolks are around, because I have to work so much harder with them. I must call my fairies. (Spirit steps toward door, puts her hand cup-shape to her mouth.) Come, oh Christmas fairies all, Answer to the Spirit's call! (As she calls the fairies Happyheart, Merrylips, Goodwill, and Peace dance into the room, curtsey low to the Spirit and group themselves about her.) _Spirit_(holds out welcoming hands): Ah, fairies, what a wonderful day this has been! Did you fill the stockings, Happyheart? _Happyheart:_ I've filled a million stockings! _Spirit:_ Splendid! And you, Merrylips? _Merrylips_: I've trimmed a million trees--small ones and big ones! _Spirit:_ Didn't you love it? They smell so good! How went the day with you, Goodwill? _Goodwill:_ Oh, I've carried baskets of food until I am sure there was not a hungry person in the whole wide world! _Spirit:_ Tell us, Peace, of your work to-day! _Peace:_ I have gone about since early morning putting songs in people's hearts! _Spirit:_ You worked well! I have heard the music all day long! _Merrylips_ (yawns): We're terribly tired! _Spirit_ (sternly): Hush! Fairies must never be tired when there is work to do! See, I have found a tree! It has these pretty lights but there are no presents! _Happyheart:_ Who's tree can it be? _Spirit_: It is a tree for some grownfolks! You see the children all over the land must have been put to bed a long time ago. _Peace_ (nods her head): Grownfolks generally do stay up late Christmas night! _Happyheart:_ They get very sad wishing they were children again! _Merrylips:_ Christmas is very hard on them, poor things! _Spirit:_ The men talk about spending so much money and the women sit up late nights stitching and stitching and complaining that they will not give anything but cards another Christmas. _Merrylips:_ How foolish they are! _Peace:_ They forget that we will help them! _Happyheart:_ You see they don't believe in fairies! It's because they are so old! Why, they say that some are over thirty! _Goodwill:_ As if that mattered!