Why, what were half so sweet As the old, old way of keeping The day our glad hearts greet?
The old, old chimes are dearest; The old, old songs are best; It"s the old, old gladness welling Within each joyous breast.
Then my little lad said slyly, "Remember, if that"s true, That your old, old way, mamma dear, Was to give _me_ something new."
_Alice W. Rollins._
=Christmas Time.=
By M.N.B.
(An introductory recitation for a Christmas program.)
Christmas time for boys and girls Is a happy day, For we go to grandmamma"s And eat and sing and play.
Grandma does not say to us-- "Stop that horrid noise,"
"Cause she understands we can"t, When we"re _"only boys."_
And she lets the girls play house, In the garret old, And when they strew things around, Grandma doesn"t scold.
But we ought to pick them up, Even on Christmas day, For we shouldn"t make kind friends Trouble with our play.
Yes, we love the Christmas time Best of all the year, We have waited for it long, Now, at last, it"s here.
=Christmas Wishes.=
By C. PHILLIPS.
(These couplets may be given by three primary children to open Christmas program.)
_First child:_ Dear teachers and friends, allow me to say That we wish you a very glad Christmas day.
_Second child:_ That our darling old "Santa," as sly as a fox, May leave at your door both bundle and box.
_Third child:_ And that beautiful gifts for one and for all From the evergreen boughs may happily fall!
=Christmas Morn.=
By M.N.B.
(Recitation and chorus. A semi-circle of primary children is formed on the stage. They sing first verse of the familiar church tune, "Joy to the World.")
_Chorus.--_ Joy to the world, the Lord has come, Let earth receive her King, Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing.
_Recitation (one child steps forward).--_ In Bethlehem, the story goes, A little Child was born, Low in a manger He was laid The first glad Christmas morn.
That Child is now our Saviour King, Of Him we sing to-day; And may glad bells o"er all the earth Ring out a gladsome lay.
_Chorus.--_ Joy to the world, a Saviour reigns, Let men their tongues employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and vales Repeat the sounding joy.
=My Christmas Secrets.=
By S.C. PEABODY.
Hurry Christmas! How you creep, I"ve some presents I can"t keep, Just this morning I forgot, And told baby what I"d bought.
All he answered was, "Goo goo!"
So I don"t think that he knew, I told mamma hers was white, And she"d wear it every night.
That she"d need it getting tea.
Then my mamma smiled at me, And she whispered, "Isn"t May Letting secrets fly away?"
=Kriss Kringle.=
By SUSIE M. BEST.
If there"s any one here who ever has seen The face of Kriss Kringle, I"ll think he is mean If he is not willing at once to arise And tell the real color and shape of his eyes!
Somehow I much doubt if the gentleman looks Like the pictures we see in the shops and the books.
I"ve a sort of a notion we"d all be surprised If we suddenly saw him, by day, undisguised!
Is he big, is he little, is he young, is he old?
There are some things, I know, that can"t always be told, But I"d much like to know why it is he must keep Himself hidden securely till we are asleep?
I"ve made up my mind that I"m going to watch, And see if I cannot by any means catch One glimpse of his face as he comes down the flue, And if I succeed I"ll describe him to you!
=A Message.=
By ELLA M. POWERS.
(For three primary children to recite.)