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!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve. 

by Eugene Field

(This must be spoken as if singing; a lullaby to a baby, with motions indicating the sleeping child near.)

Oh, hush thee, little dear, my soul,

The evening shades are falling ;

Hush thee, my dear, dost thou not hear

The voice of the Master calling ?

Deep lies the snow upon the earth,

But all the sky is ringing

With joyous song, and all night long

The stars shall dance with singing.

Oh, hush thee, little dear, my soul,

And close thine eyes in dreaming,

And angels fair shall lead thee where

The singing stars are beaming.

A shepherd calls his little lambs,

And he longeth to caress them ;

He bids them rest upon his breast,

That his tender love may bless them.

So, hush thee, little dear, my soul,

Whilst evening shades are falling,

And above the song of the heavenly throng

Thou shalt hear the Master calling.

Santa's Helpers

Santa's Helpers.

By M. Nora Boylan.

The fairies and brownies on last Christmas-tide

Decided to open their hearts very wide,

And spend extra time, throughout the whole year,

In helping their grandfather -- Santa Claus dear.

" Our fingers are nimble. We'll quickly make toys

Enough to supply all the girls and the boys,

And Santa may watch us to see if it's right,

So all will be ready before Christmas night."

Then bravely they all went to work with a will,

And soon all was quiet in workshop and mill;

For .old Santa said, " Enough, and well done,

We've toys enough now to make all kinds of fun."

We thank you, old Santa, and your helpers, too,

For all of the many kind things that you do;

And should you need more help in making your toy,

Just call on your small friends, the girls and the boys.

Christmas Waits

Christmas Waits.

By Katherine West.

       Dress four boys, or six, in a quaint costume, -- full knee-breeches, low shoes with bright buckles, tunic or doublet with white frills at the throat and wrist; a short full cape hanging from the shoulders, and soft caps with plumes. Old garments may be re-arranged to give a picturesque effect, or some new, inexpensive material bought. Each boy should have a voice of pleasing quality, and be taught the Christmas song perfectly.

       Arrange a frame like a window casement at the back of the platform a little to one side. Behind this let a light burn dimly until a signal is given for full illumination. If practicable, leave the rest of the stage and audience-room in darkness.

       The boys begin to sing behind closed doors, and are heard coming nearer singing the first verse of " On this Happy Birthday." They enter and approach the center of the platform. The casement is thrown open and half a dozen children's heads appear. There is a clapping of hands till the second verse is begun by the waits. At the last line the children throw out pennies and candies wrapped in paper. The singers scramble for them, and then give the third verse of the carol. The fourth verse may be sung as the boys move away and disappear in the distance. As a preliminary to this little performance a few words may be said about the old English custom of the waits coming to sing under the windows on Christmas eve.

On This Happy Birthday by Mrs. Charlotte B. Merritt and Mrs. Sarah L. Warner sheet music.

Mr. St. Nicholas

Mr. St. Nicholas.

By Alice M. Kellogg.
edited and updated version

(The characters are Old-fashioned Santa Claus, dressed in the traditional costume of fur, white beard, and a Christmas pack ; Mr. St. Nicholas, in evening dress with silk hat ; Dora, Katie, Maggie, and little Bess; Harry, Charlie, Tom, and John in ordinary school clothes. The scene opens with a large fireplace arranged at the center of the platform, a dark curtain drawn before the opening to conceal Santa Claus. The accompaniment to "Nancy Lee" is heard, and the eight children march in, carrying their stockings.)

Oh, Christmas time has come again,
Tra la la la, tra la la la;
We welcome it with glad refrain,
Tra la la la la la.

Of all the happy holidays this year
There's none so joyous, none so dear,
Then sing we all our song of festive glee,
Of Santa Claus and Christmas tree.

Chorus. -- Oh, ring the bells, the merry Christmas bells,
Their music all our pleasure tells.

(Repeat, singing tra la la whenever necessary to give the rhythm. They pause in groups in center --

right, and left ; some sit, others stand, and change their positions during the dialogue)

Harry: Oh dear, the same old thing again this year, I suppose ! " Hang up the baby's stocking, be sure you don't forget."

Charlie: This baby's stocking is the biggest bicycle hose I could buy. (Pins it at one side of the chimney.) I don't think old Santa could miss it if he tried.

Dora: I made mine to suit the occasion, for I hope Santa Claus will fit a zither into it. (Displays a large, fantastically shaped stocking of striking color, and fastens it beside Charlie 's.)

Harry: You ought to take a prize, Dora, for designing the most -- ahem! -- unexpected-looking

stocking. Generous sized, too! Here goes my contribution to the chimney.    (Hangs up a sock.)

It's big enough to hold a coin of gold that will buy me a new bicycle. I don't care for any knick-knacks.

Katie: I must confess that I'm rather tired of this old custom of hanging up our stockings on Christmas eve and crawling out of bed in the cold dawn to see what is in them. I wish some one

would invent a new way.

Maggie: Just what I thought, Katie, last winter, though I never spoke of it. But if you've hung your stocking up, I must have mine there too. (Goes to chimney.)

John: Well, I refuse to fall in line this year. I'm tired of the whole plan. It seems absurd for an old chap to come tumbling down the fireplace and load up our stockings.

Tom: I agree with you, John! What we want is a new-fashioned Christmas. A real, up-to-date Santa Claus, and no more of this children's nonsense.

Bess: Not have Santa Claus any more ? Isn't he coming to-night ? (Cries.)

John: Oh yes, he'll remember you if you're a good little girl and stop crying. Dora, help Bess to fasten up her stocking.

(After the stocking is fixed, Bess faces the audience and recites.)

Bess: I do hope dear old Santa

Will come this way to-night,

And come here to my stocking,

To fill it nice and tight.

I'd like to watch and see him,

But I know I must wait

Till shines the Christmas sunshine --

I hope he won't be late.

Tom: Let Bess have her old-fashioned Santa Claus, but the rest of us vote for something different.

Harry: I used to think Santa a pretty jolly old duffer, who made lots of sport for the infants, but I'm ready for a change myself.

Dora: Don't count me in to help out your majority; Santa Claus seems to me the kindly spirit of Christmas appearing mysteriously to give us greater pleasure.

Katie: Well, I'll side with the boys this time, and see if there is any improvement in holiday matters.

Charlie: You'll think me a baby to stick to the old style. I won't venture an opinion at all.

Tom: Then we are agreed that of Santa Claus we have no need.

John, Katie, Harry and Maggie: "Tis what we all concede." 
(All sing to the tune of ' ' Maryland, My Maryland.")

Old Santa Claus is such a bore,

Of him we've had too much and more ;

Now what we want is something new,

But what is there for us to do ?

A new St. Nick would be the thing,

Who would our Christmas presents bring.

(Electric bell sounds, the door opens, and Mr. St. Nicholas comes on the stage. He bows and takes

off his hat. He's wearing modern clothing)

Mr. St. N.: Good evening, young people! I see you are at your old-time tricks of hanging up your

stockings. This won't do. Don't you know it's gone out of fashion? (Goes toward fireplace; the boys

rush to protect their property.)

John: Who are you, sir? And how dare you interfere with our fun?

Mr. St. N.: I am the new, up-to-the-times Santa Claus. My proper name is Mr. St. Nicholas. I am on my rounds to take the names of all the young people who deserve a remembrance at Christmas time. I haven't a moment to lose. My e-mail is overburdened with messages, my men are distracted with the work to be done between now and daylight. (Pulls out a cell phone and appears to text while he speaks rapidly without waiting for a reply to Tom) Your name, young man? Your age, birthplace, parents' names? Residence? Attendant at what school? What specific tastes? List of last year's presents. Make haste, time is money.

Katie: But Santa -- I mean Mr. St. Nicholas --here are our stockings.

Mr. St. N.: Christmas stockings! trash and nonsense. They belong to the dark ages.

Harry: Pray, how do you bestow your gifts?

Mr. St. N.: By district messenger service, of course! Next boy (to Charlie), give me your name,

age, birthplace, parents' names, residence, school, specific tastes, last year's presents.

Charlie: How did you come here, Mr. St. Nicholas? I heard no sleigh-bells at the door.

Mr. St. N. (scornfully): More nonsense to explain. I came down from the north pole in an airplane. Come, now, here are these girls waiting to be classified. (To Dora.) Name, age

Dora: I won't be put in statistics, even if it is Christmas and you are the patron saint.

Charlie: Nor I. I didn't vote for any improvements. Take them away.

John: You seem a trifle ahead of the age, Mr. St. Nicholas, or else we made a great mistake in

being discontented with our old-fashioned Christmas.

Tom: Allow me to book you another flight.

(Mr. St. Nicholas is ushered to the door. The others turn back at the sound of sleigh-bells. Santa

Claus appears at the fireplace. He is dressed in the traditional red suit, trimmed with white fur.)

Children: (greeting him with enthusiasm): Jolly old Saint Nicholas!

Santa Claus: Oh ! ho ! ha ! ha ! Are you really glad to see such an old-fashioned specimen as I am?

John: Indeed we are! We have just shown your usurper the door.

Bess (clasping S. C.'s hand): You are the real Santa Claus.

Santa Clans: Yes, I am the real Santa Claus, and I cannot get to work until you children are fast

asleep. So scurry away as fast as you can, and a merry, merry Christmas when you awake!

(Santa Claus unpacks his goods, and as he fills the stockings he performs various antics, holds up the objects, and dances about, Any local expressions that will create amusement he can bring in with running commentaries. The piano is heard softly till he is through, and then bursts out loudly as the curtain is drawn.)