A Letter from Santa Claus

A Letter from Santa Claus.

By William Howard.

(A little girl is seated with her notebook and pencil. A postman's whistle is heard, and she exclaims, " There is the postman!" She runs to the door and returns with a large envelope, made of white wrapping-paper sealed with red wax, which she tears open, announces it is written by Santa Claus to the pupils of the school, and then reads it aloud. In the last verse the names of the children present are to be substituted for the printed ones.)

Merry Christmas! little children,

From my home so far away

Send I loving Christmas greetings

To you on your holiday.

You may watch and wait till midnight,

Looking at the falling snow,

But be sure you won't discover

When I come or when I go.

For I come when all is silent,

Not a breath will then be heard,

And I softly through the chimney

Enter, saying not a word.

Quickly to the stockings step I,

And I place in every one

Something for the Christmas frolic,

Something for the Christmas fun.

Hark ! my reindeer out the window,

Prance and shake a warning note;

Santa Claus will speed away then,

Wrapping close his cap and coat.

Your surprise, when comes the morning,

Gladness which your bright eyes tell,

Grateful, merry, happy children,

Pleases Santa Claus full well.

Willie, Alice, Harry, Mary,

Christmas greetings now I send.

Cora, Freddie, Sadie, Johnnie,

Don't forget Santa Claus, your friend.

The Mousie

The Mousie.

By M. N. B.

(A very small primary boy may recite these lines.)

A mousie got into a great Christmas pie,

Two little boys heard him, and then they did cry,

" O mousie ! O mousie ! come quickly away!

That pie is not for you, 'tis for our Christmas day. 

 

A Message

A Message.

By Ella M. Powers.

(For three primary children to recite.)

First pupil: One true thing I have to say,

Clap your hands now, for you may,

It's very happy, very dear,

This Christmas day will soon be here

But children learn to understand,

That loyal heart and loving hand,

Can pray, " Oh, Saviour, so divine,

Make our lives so much like thine.'

Second pupil: Yes, far away that Christmas night,

A star above the Christ shone bright,

And led the shepherds from afar

To seek that bright and glorious star.

Third pupil: The shepherds came with presents rare

And knelt with tender love and care,

Before that child so sweet and true,

And loved Him as we all should do;

And that grand song we hear again,

"Peace on earth -- good will to men."

Kriss Kringle

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!

My Christmas Secrets

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"

Christmas Morn

Christmas Morn.

By M. N. B.

(Recitation and chorus. A semi-circle of primary children is formed on he 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 Savior 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 Savior reigns,

Let men their tongues employ,

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and vales

Repeat the sounding joy.

Christmas Wishes

Christmas Wishes.

By C. Phillips.

(These couplets may be given by three primary children to open a 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 Time

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.

What I Should Like

What I Should Like.

By Jennie D. Moore.

(Recitation for a little girl.)

On Christmas eve I'd like to lie

Awake, when stars are in the sky,

And listen to the sound that swells

From Santa Claus's jingling Dells.

I'd like to hear upon the roof

The patter of each tiny hoof

Of Santa's reindeer overhead,

When I am snug and warm in bed.

But mamma says I must not lie

Awake, or he will pass me by ;

He does not like the girls or boys

To watch him when he brings the toys.

I think I'd better go to sleep.

I guess the presents all will keep,

Then in the morning I shall be -

Glad to think I did not see.

A Gentle Reminder

A Gentle Reminder. 

Alice W. Rollins

Something new about Christmas?
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 vie something new.''

To Santa Claus

To Santa Claus.

By Jennie D. Moore.

(Recitation for a little boy.)

Dear Santa Claus, I'll let you know

The few things that I need,

And if you'll bring them to me

I'll be much obliged indeed.

I want a horse and wagon,

And a boat that's painted red,

An elephant, a jumping-jack --

You need not bring a sled,

For I have one very pretty;

But I want a trotting-horse,

A man who wheels a wheel-barrow,

And candy, too, of course.

Now, Santa dear, you'll not forget.

I wish you'd write them down,

And leave them all at my house

When you journey through the town.

Santa Claus's Visit

Santa Claus's Visit.

By Susie M. Best.

With a click and a clack

And a great big pack,

Down through the chimney,

Pretty nimbly

Somebody comes on Christmas eve!

If we are real nice

And as still as mice,

If we never peep,

And are sound asleep,

He'll fill our stockings, I do believe!

And when we arise

Next day our eyes

Will grow big to see

How perfectly

He knew what we all wished to receive!