We children shoot and fish and hunt Just as our fathers do, The whole wide forest is our home: It feeds and clothes us, too.
(Steps aside. Enter Chinese girl.)
_Chinese girl_:
I"m a little Chinese girl, They say I"ve almond eyes, I live in a boat, on a river we float, And often eat rice and rat pies.
And here is a bamboo basket, Filled with choicest tea, I picked and dried it all myself It comes from Ken See Lee. (_Bows low_.)
With us we have no Christmas, No presents nor a tree; But there in the boat, I made this toy, This, too, comes from Ken See Lee.
(Chinese girl bows low and takes a seat on low stool in front of American girl. Enter African girl.)
_African girl_:
I"m a dark little African girl, I live in a forest land, With kinky curls and jet black eyes, I watch the elephant band.
My father hunts these animals, From one of them I bring An elephant"s tusk to you, my friend, "Twill make you a pretty ring.
And here is ebony wood for you, A cocoanut from the palm, And dates to eat, so very sweet, All from our African farm.
(Offers presents, which American girl hangs on the boughs.
African girl steps to her left. Enter Arabian girl.)
_Arabian girl_:
I"m a little Arabian girl, I live in a desert land, In tents on the plain so hot and dry, And I play on the burning sand;
Here is a pretty pearl I"ve brought, And an ostrich"s egg so rare; An Arab pony you should have And a cloak of camel"s hair.
I never hear about Christmas, And don"t know what you mean, But hope you will accept these gifts, And this ostrich feather green.
(Offers gifts. American girl accepts them, rises, places them on tree; then turns and repeats.)
_American girl_:
And I"m a happy American girl, How thankful I should be, That Christmas is so bright a day And means so much to me.
I thank you, friends, for all these gifts, Of presents I"ve my share; And _you_ show _your_ good-will to men With generous gifts so rare.
(All stand in line and repeat together)
_All_: Our countries all are glorious lands, So great, so rich, so rare; Our people all are glorious bands; So true, so good, so fair.
Whatever country we are from, Whatever life we lead, We"ll do our best; be good and true.
And do some n.o.ble deed.
=A Christmas Reunion.=
By M.D. STERLING.
(CHARACTERS REPRESENTED. _Father Christmas_, a large boy dressed in long belted robe; he carries a staff, and wears a white wig and beard. _Mother Goose_, a tall girl wearing a peaked soft hat tied over an old lady"s frilled cap; also neck-kerchief and ap.r.o.n, spectacles on nose, and a broom of twigs, such as street-cleaners use, complete her costume.
_Mother Goose"s_ son _Jack_ and her _Children_ may be costumed according to the pictures in any good ill.u.s.trated copy of "Mother Goose." The _Children of the Nations_ are sufficiently represented by boys and girls each carrying one of the flags of all nations, but elaborate costumes in keeping with the national character may be used, if desired. _Thanksgiving_ and _Happy New Year_, large girls in white Grecian dresses, flowing sleeves; their children, _Peace_ and _Plenty_, _Good Resolutions_ and _Hope_ are represented by smaller girls in white, _Peace_ carrying an olive branch. _Plenty_ a cornucopia, _Good Resolutions_ a diary and pen, and _Hope_ wearing a wreath of golden stars and carrying a gilt anchor (cut from heavy cardboard); _Santa Claus_, a stout, roly-poly boy, if possible, wearing a long overcoat flaked with cotton (to represent snow) and a round fur cap and mittens; an empty pack should hang carelessly from one shoulder.)
(Enter _Father Christmas_ and _Mother Goose_, arm in arm.
While conversing, they walk up and down the platform. At the end of Mother Goose"s second speech, they seat themselves in two large arm-chairs, which should be ready in middle of platform.)
_Mother Goose_:
Well, well, Father Christmas, I"ll do as you say, And put off my trip for the frolic to-day.
Your thought of a Christmas reunion is fine For all of our relatives--yours, sir, and mine;-- So, though greatly disposed at this season to wander Afloat in the air on my very fine gander, Instead of such exercise, wholesome and hearty, I"ve come with great pleasure to your Christmas party.
_Father Christmas (bowing):_
Thanks, thanks, Mother Goose, for the honor you pay To me your old friend now this many a day; Tho" we may not, of course, on all questions agree, We"re alike in our love for the children, you see: To give them delight is our greatest of pleasures, And freely we share with them best of our treasures; Our energies each of us constantly bends To keep our loved t.i.tle "The Children"s Two Friends."
_Mother Goose_:
Ah, yes, Father Christmas, my jingles and rhymes, The boys and girls know in far separate climes, And sometimes I think that your son Santa Claus Earns me more than my share of the children"s applause; For wherever he goes with his wonderful pack Santa always has some of my books on his back; When from Christmas-eve dreams children"s eyelids unloose Oft they find in their stockings my book, "Mother Goose."
_Father Christmas_:
Tis true, my dear madam, that I and my son Respect most profoundly the work you have done.
The boys from our store-rooms in Christmas-tree Land, Get the bonbons we make on the Sugar-loaf Strand; The children enjoy them,--I cannot deny it,-- But still need your writings as part of their diet; Your rhymes, wise and witty, their minds will retain When their toys and their candy are done,--that is plain.
(Enter Jack, the son of Mother Goose. He carries a large golden egg.)
_Jack_: Oh, there you are, Mother Goose, hobn.o.bbing with Father Christmas! My goose must have known there was going to be a reunion of the Goose and Christmas families! She was so obliging as to lay another egg in honor of the occasion. You shall have it, Father Christmas, and may good luck go with it. (_Hands egg._)
_Father Christmas_: Thank you, Jack. That"s a present worth having! I wish my son Santa Claus had as fine a gift to put in every poor body"s stocking. He is out on his rounds now, but expects to be back, as he said, "before the fun begins."
_Jack_: Santa"s always ready for fun!
_Mother Goose (taking Jack"s hand, as he stands beside her_):
"This, my son Jack, Is a smart-looking lad; He is not very good, Nor yet very bad."
_(Sound of voices outside_.)
_Jack_: Dear me, mother! I can"t stir without those young ones following me! _(Sound of voices and knocking.)_
_Children (outside):_ Jack! Jack!
_Jack (calling):_ All right. Come in. I"m here, and Mother Goose and Father Christmas, too. Surprise us all by being good, won"t you?
(Enter, two by two, Little Bo-Peep with a bundle of lamb"s wool suspended from a shepherdess crook; Little Jack Horner, carrying carefully a deep pan covered with paper pie crust; Little Miss m.u.f.fett, carrying a bowl and spoon; Peter Pumpkin Eater, with a pumpkin under his arm; Curly Locks, with a piece of needlework; Little Boy Blue, with a Christmas horn; Contrary Mary, with a string of bells for bracelets, and carrying sh.e.l.ls; Little Tommy Tucker, with a sheet of music; Jack and Jill, carrying a pail; Simple Simon, finger in mouth, looking as idiotic as possible; Polly Flinders, in a torn dress, sprinkled with ashes. The children march and countermarch to music around Mother Goose and Father Christmas, bowing as they pa.s.s them. When Mother Goose claps her hands the children group themselves on her side of platform, not in a stiff row, but as naturally as possible.
As one after another comes forward for his or her speech, the others appear to be conversing among themselves, making the by-play in keeping with their characters.)