CAST: Two Sister "Witches" of the Past
Fairies, Elves, Characters and Creatures of the Forest
Townspeople

SETTING: In the forest beyond the city

PROPS: A large caldron with pumpkins and trees around it

ACTION: The Creatures are gathered in the forest. The two Witches hurry in from different sides bumping into each others backsides. They are wearing dark capes with moons and stars on them. They look very nervous. They are holding "special books" under their arms, and baskets of food in their hands.

WITCH 1: (Looks at the children) Shh! We must be quiet so no one knows our hiding place. I see all ye Fairies, Elves, Characters and Creatures of the Forest are here already. (Looks at Witch 2) It's time, sister. It's time to make ready for the celebration of All Souls Eve, here in the forest, in this year of 1793. We gather. I hope ye are all ready with your food. We must hide it, you know. And if you do not believe me, my sister will read to you from the "special book."

WITCH 2: It says right here, that on this the harvest day, ye must gather up and protect all ye food for the winter ahead lest ye wish to starve. And it says (she points) very clearly, that we must all bless the food in a certain way lest it rot in the storage, like this. Say after me:

Oh Great Spirit Of the sun
Of the moon
Of the earth
Of the sea
Bless this food
Keep it good

"That's good."

(The Witches look at each other and nod approvingly.)

ELF: (Stands up) But what if we wish to share this food with others who have not enough?

WITCH 2: 1 am afraid of this. Might ye then not have enough?

CREATURE: I am afraid, too.

FAIRY: I am not afraid to share my food. I can spare a bit for the pot. (Points at thecaldron; then comes forward and puts in imaginary food). This can be for a soup--a soup for the hungry ones in the forest this winter.

WITCH 1: Let us go forth this night to make sure we will have enough to share. Let us go out and beg of the townspeople. Ye may knock on all the doors of the town in the village beyond the forest begging for a treat -- a morsel for the pot -- and if the people be stingy and give ye nothing, let thee play a trick on them so as to teach them a lesson -- just a wee trick.<

ELF: But the townspeople have never seen us. They won't believe their eyes!

WITCH 2: Yea and that is the trickery! They will be so stunned they will be caught off guard and give ye treats so great, ye will surely have enough for the pot and for yeselves. My sister and I will lead ye down to the city now and ye will see

(The two Witches stand and take the children down the hall to the adult sanctuary to the side doors. They signal the Presider and wait for his/her cue to enter. She/he will play music as they enter down the aisles and come together in front of the congregation.)

CREATURE: (Speaks to the congregation)
We ask you people of the town
To share your bounty with those who are down
In our forest we have a pot
To feed those creatures who have not
The winter is long and cold and scary
To little Creatures, Elves and Fairies.
So now good people
Help fill the pot full
And no Halloween tricks will we pull.

TOWNSPERSON: We will help your worthy cause
The pot will fill by our applause.

(The congregation claps.)

CREATURE: We thank ye.

(The children march out as they came in down both aisles.)

WITCH 1: (Before re-entering the forest) And now good folk
Our story's done
The pot is full
The classes begun.

(As the children file into class, they can see that the caldron has been "magically" filled with bags of treats--to be taken after classes.)