ACT I. SCENE: _A room in_ FATHER FRITZ'S _house. Doors at R. and L. Small table down L. with three chairs around it. Sofa down R. Easy chair down C. Lighted lamp on table. Window at rear._ DUMPLING _is seated on a rocking-horse at rear C._ GRANDPA _stands by him helping him rock it._ TOOTSY _is on a rocking-horse at L. front, with_ FATHER _and_ MOTHER _helping her rock it._ SNOOKUMS _is on a baby rocking-horse at R. front, with_ GRANDMA _and_ NURSE MAID _in attendance. Very little furniture on stage. If the rocking-horses are not easy to get,_ DUMPLING _and_ TOOTSY _may be astride of sticks with horses' heads._ _Curtain rises to bright music._ ALL (_sing_). HOP, HOP, HOP! [Music illustration: 1. Hop, hop, hop! Nim-ble as a top, Where 'tis smooth and where 'tis sto-ny, Trudge a-long, my lit-tle po-ny, Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop! Nim-ble as a top. 2. Whoa, whoa, whoa! How like fun you go! Ver-y well, my lit-tle po-ny, Safe's our jaunt tho' rough and sto-ny, Spare, spare, spare, spare, spare! Sure e-nough we're there. 3. Here, here, here! Yes, my po-ny dear; Now with oats and hay I'll treat you, And with smiles will ev-er greet you, Po-ny, po-ny dear! Yes, my po-ny dear.] DUMPLING (_dismounting_). Whoa, there, Jimmie! Oh, Grandpa, I do love my pony. It's the best of all my presents. GRANDPA. Well, it's time you put him in his stall. TOOTSY (_dismounting_). I'm going to call my pony after Mr. ----. (_Insert the name of some well known man._) 'Cause he looks just like him. GRANDMA (_helping_ SNOOKUMS _from pony_). And what are you going to call your pony, Snookums? SNOOKUMS. Going to call him Elizabeth, after you, Grandma. GRANDMA (_kisses her_). That's my baby! MOTHER. Grandma, we'd better get our hats and coats. It's nearly time for the car to be after us. FATHER. Come, Grandpa. It's nearly eight o'clock. GRANDPA. But I don't like to leave the children. DUMPLING. And we don't like to have you leave us, either. My, this has been the grandest Christmas day I've ever seen. MOTHER. Come, Grandma. (_Exits L. with_ GRANDMA.) GRANDPA. Come, children. (_They gather around him._) I'm glad you've had such a happy Christmas. You got everything you wanted, didn't you? TOOTSY. Yes, everything. My, I wish Christmas would come every day. DUMPLING. Tell us the story about old Saint Nick, Grandpa. GRANDPA. Do you want to hear that old chestnut again? CHILDREN. Oh, yes, yes! GRANDPA (_takes_ SNOOKUMS _on his lap, the other children stand by his knee._)