=Christmas Children.=
By M. NORA BOYLAN.
(An acrostic for the primary grade. Each child wears a large gilt star around his neck. As he begins to speak, he turns it over, showing his letter on the reverse side.)
_All_: Happy children here we stand.
Bringing words of love; For on this glad Christmas day Christ came from above.
_First child_: C is for the Christ Who came To this lowly earth.
_Second child_: H is for the harps that rang At our Saviour"s birth.
_Third child_: R is for the ringing bells, Telling Christmas-tide.
_Fourth child_: I is for the crystal ice Where we go to slide.
_Fifth child_: S is for the schoolboy"s sled When he coasting goes.
_Sixth child_: T is for poor Tommy Jones-- Jack Frost bit his nose.
_Seventh child_: M is for the merry part Of this Christmas day,
_Eighth child_: A is for the apple pies Grandma put away.
_Ninth child_: S is for old Santa Claus, Coming here to-night.
Hope he"ll wait till nearly morn, So it will be light.
_All_: Yes, we"re happy children nine, And to each we"re true, Three cheers for jolly Santa Claus, A happy day to you.
=Santa Claus.=
By W.S.C.
(A letter exercise for ten very small children. Let each child present placard bearing the letter as he recites his line. At the close, all shut their eyes and screw them up very tight.)
S stands for stockings we hang up so high.
A is for all we get if we don"t cry.
N is for n.o.body he will pa.s.s by.
T is for to-morrow, the day we eat pie.
A stands for at last old Santa is nigh.
C for the children who love him so well.
L for the little girl, his name she can spell.
A stands for apples so rosy and red.
U is for us as we wait for his sled.
S stands for Santa Claus, who comes in the night when we are tucked up in bed with our eyes closed so tight
=Charity.=
By JAY BEE.
(Seven little girls daintily dressed carry a bell in the right hand, with the initial on it which begins her line. The bells are rung lightly during the speaking)
_First child_: Cheerily ring the Christmas bells!
_Second child_: How joyfully their jingling tells _Third child_: All peace and kindness on the earth, _Fourth child_: Ringing out, singing out, laughing with mirth!
_Fifth child_: In every home is joy profound, _Sixth child_: The echo of this merry sound.
_Seventh child_: Yet Charity must remembered be, And that is why we have this tree.
=Merry Christmas.=
By M.D. STERLING.
(Seven boys and seven girls with good voices and some sprightliness of manner are required. Each carries a wand, to the upper end of which is fastened an evergreen wreath surrounding a large, gilt letter. Ranged in order the letters will spell the word "Merry Christmas." The verse for each is sung to the air, "Buy a Broom." The children enter only one at a time, using a polka step, boys and girls alternately. While singing they take steps and wave wand in time to music. At third line of each stanza the boys bow and the girls make a courtesy, right and left. The chorus at the end of each verse is sung by the entire school. The boy with letter M comes in first, sings, and takes position on platform. He is followed by the girl with E. So continue until the line of children is complete.)
_First boy_: M stands for merry--oh" let us be merry; M stands for merry--right merry am I.
_(Bowing.)_ With a bow to the right, sir, and a bow to the left, sir, Come, now, and be merry, all sadness defy.
_Chorus (by school, to the refrain of "Buy a Broom_").--
Christmas dear now draws near, With song and with evergreen welcome it here.
_First girl_: E stands for evergreen, beautiful evergreen, E stands for evergreen, never to fade.
(_Courtesying.)_ With a courtesy to right, sir, and a courtesy to left, sir, Bring evergreen garlands for Christmas time made.--_Cho_.
_Second boy_: R stands for rollicking--come, then, be rollicking; R stands for rollicking--fun"s in the air!
With a bow to the right, sir, and a bow to the left, sir, In Christmas-day rollicking take now a share.--_Cho_.
_Second girl_: R stands for rally, a grand Christmas rally, R stands for rally, where Christmas trees grow!
With a courtesy to right, sir, and a courtesy to left, sir, We rally where Santa is likely to go.--_Cho_.
_Third boy_: Y stands for youthful--rejoice, now, all youthful; Y stands for youthful--quite youthful am I.
With a bow to the right, sir, and a bow to the left, sir, The youthful make merry when Christmas is nigh.--_Cho_.
(Leave a s.p.a.ce in the line of children between the last letter of "Merry" and the first of "Christmas.")
_Third girl_: C stands for Christmas--bright Christmas, merry Christmas; C stands for Christmas--the best of the year.
With a courtesy to right, sir, and a courtesy to left, sir, Make merry at Christmas with good Christmas cheer.--_Cho_.
_Fourth boy_: H stands for happy--at Christmas be happy!