MRS. MULLIGAN. My, my, I've been that excited about the misdeeds of that rascal Shamus O'Brien that I had forgotten the Christmas entertainment entirely. MRS. O'TOOLE. Sure, your family looks as though they were going out in society, Mollie Mulligan. MRS. MULLIGAN. They are that. They're on their way to the fine church entertainment at the Sunday School down the strate. NORA (_at door L._). Maw, here comes Matsy with the goat. (_Looks out of door._) MRS. MULLIGAN (_goes to door and speaks off L._). Matsy Mulligan, tie that goat in the back yard and tie all his four fate together. I'll tach him a lesson, if it's the last thing I ever do. Patsy, go out and help your brother tie up Shamus O'Brien. (_Exit_ PATSY _at L._) MRS. O'TOOLE. Nora Eudora, darlin', have ye got a sofy pillow handy. I think if I had a couple of sofy pillows I could set down and enjoy me tay. NORA. Yis, mum. Here's two of 'em. (_Arranges them in the chair._) _Enter_ PATSY _and_ MATSY _from L._ MATSY. Come on, all of yeez, or we'll be late for the show. And I don't want to miss nothin'. MRS. MULLIGAN (_standing at R._). I think yeez are all ready now. Let me see if there's anyone missing. (_Counting and pointing to each in turn._) There's Patsy and Matsy and Teddy Magee, Nora Eudora and Micky Machree, Bridget Honora and sweet Mary Ann, Melissa, Clarissa and wee Peter Pan. PATSY. We are all here, maw. MRS. MULLIGAN. Now, yer all ready. Throw out yer heads. Forward, march! CHILDREN. Good-bye, maw. MRS. MULLIGAN. Good-bye, and the Lord love yeez all. Have a good time. Good-bye. (_The children march out at L._) MRS. O'TOOLE. Ten of 'em. I don't see how ye ever manage to make both ends meet, Mollie Mulligan, with ten big, healthy children--to say nothing of the goat, Shamus O'Brien. MRS. MULLIGAN (_in door waving hand to children_). Good-bye. Have a good time. (_Yells._) Mary Ann, don't let yer sash bust in two! (_Crosses to R. and sinks in chair._) MRS. O'TOOLE. Ye have a fine family, Mrs. Mulligan. Ye have a fine bunch of boys, and ye have a bunch of girls, and ye have a fine bunch of babies; but ye have an awful goat. MRS. MULLIGAN. Shamus O'Brien is the pest of me heart, Kathleen O'Toole; so he is; but he's all that's left of me late husband's property. Michael Mulligan thought the world of that goat, he did. MRS. O'TOOLE. I'm a peaceful woman, Mollie Mulligan, and a calm, neighborly woman; but I don't like goats. MRS. MULLIGAN. I don't blame ye at all, at all, Kathleen. But poor Shamus O'Brien was probably only nosing around fer a bit of Christmas Eve dinner. I'll kape him tied in the future. MRS. O'TOOLE. Sure and it is Christmas Eve, isn't it? MRS. MULLIGAN. Indade it is, and for the sake of the holy eve, I think ye'd best be after forgiving the poor goat and not harbor any ill feeling agin him on Christmas Day.