Page:St. Nicholas - Volume 41, Part 1.djvu/486

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440
“MELILOTTE"—A FAIRY OPERETTA
[Mar.

eas- i-ly you can see. . . ., We are not re-mark-a-bly

reg - u- lar thing to do. . . . We hope you will find we are


nu - mer-ous, In fact we are on - ly three. . . Your

quite cor-rect, Tho’ we are so ve - ry few. . . .. And


Sil - ver Dol - lar stayed be-hind, His busi-ness to ar-

if you have some lit - tle task, An er-rand to be


range. . . . . But sends you word to bear in mind To

run. . . . . Why, here we are—you’ve but to ask,—The


al- ways count the change,. . . To al - ways count the

thing's as good as done,. . . . . The thing’s as good as


change. . .. Hi. o- hil Sing did-dy-o- dil For

done. . . . ..


(Repeat for refrain)

king or sage or schol- ar; Than all of the three I'd

rath - er be a Quar-ter of a Dol - ar!

(The refrain is again repeated, and all
join in a dance. At the conclusion of the
dance, the Silver Quarters seat themselves
on the bench, Melilotte places the fagots
in the fireplace and puts the kettle on the
hob. Meanwhile, the Turtle Woman has
set the food on the table, and they are
about to sit down, when Melilotte looks
at her ragged frock.)

Meliotte. I 'm very shabby, I confess;
I wish I had another dress.

Turtle Woman. These lively little urchins here
Will bring one quickly, never fear.

(She addresses the Silver Quarters.)

Go you at once to yonder town
And buy a linsey-woolsey gown.

And mind you get a good one, too!

Meliotte. I think I ’d like to have it blue.

(The Silver Quarters hop down from the
bench and promptly reply, in unison.)

Silver Quarters. Yours received; we note request;
Always glad to do our best.
Understand the matter clearly.
Kind regards and yours sincerely!

(They bow politely and run out of the
door. Melilotte takes the kettle from the
hob and makes the tea. They are about to
begin their meal, when there is a loud
knock at the door.)

Meliotte. Come in! come in! the door ’s ajar;

You ’re welcome here, whoe’er you are!