In the ghostly light I'm sitting, musing of long dead Decembers,While the fire-clad shapes are flitting in and out among the embersOn my hearthstone in mad races, and I marvel, for in seemingI can dimly see the faces and the scenes of which I'm dreaming.
Clarence H. Pearson in The Ladies' Home Journal.
Christmas Hymn.
(During this recitation let the piano be played very softly in running chords that resolve into the key of a Christmas carol which is taken up and sung by the entire school at the end of the poem.)
—Eugene Field.
Bells Across the Snow.
(This poem may be recited by one pupil, or divided as follows:)
—F.R. Havergal.
Christmas Eve.
—Frank E. Broun in The Outlook.
The Little Christmas Tree.
—Susan Coolidge.
The Russian Santa Claus.
By LIZZIE M. HADLEY.
A Christmas Garden.
(A prose recitation, or suggestion for composition.)
There is a story told of a magician who conjured up a garden in the winter time. The wand of the wizard, however, is not necessary to disclose even in a northern climate in the cold months the beautiful contents of Nature's world. The varieties of evergreen, pine, hemlock, fir, cedar, and larch provide a variety of green foliage through the dreary weather. The rich, clustering berries, besides their ornamental character, furnish food for the snowbirds. The Christmas rose, wax-like in its white purity, will bloom out of doors long after frost if a glass is turned over the plant on cold nights. The ivy remains glossy, its green berry another addition to our winter bouquet.Farther south, but still within our United States, the scarlet holly grows in luxuriance. So full of holiday association is this tree that its branches are carefully transported a thousand miles for use during Christmas week. Its crisp leaves, lively color, and happy sentiment make the holly, pre-eminent as a winter ornament, prince in our Christmas garden.A contrast is furnished by the delicate sprays of the mistletoe growing upon the limbs of the oak, elm, and apple trees. The white berry attaches itself, curiously enough, without roots of any kind, and becomes an enduring plant.
There is a story told of a magician who conjured up a garden in the winter time. The wand of the wizard, however, is not necessary to disclose even in a northern climate in the cold months the beautiful contents of Nature's world. The varieties of evergreen, pine, hemlock, fir, cedar, and larch provide a variety of green foliage through the dreary weather. The rich, clustering berries, besides their ornamental character, furnish food for the snowbirds. The Christmas rose, wax-like in its white purity, will bloom out of doors long after frost if a glass is turned over the plant on cold nights. The ivy remains glossy, its green berry another addition to our winter bouquet.
Farther south, but still within our United States, the scarlet holly grows in luxuriance. So full of holiday association is this tree that its branches are carefully transported a thousand miles for use during Christmas week. Its crisp leaves, lively color, and happy sentiment make the holly, pre-eminent as a winter ornament, prince in our Christmas garden.
A contrast is furnished by the delicate sprays of the mistletoe growing upon the limbs of the oak, elm, and apple trees. The white berry attaches itself, curiously enough, without roots of any kind, and becomes an enduring plant.
A Christmas Carol.
J.R. Lowell
The Power of Christmas.
Even under the pressure of battle the influence of the Christmas season has exerted a powerful effect. In 1428, during the war of the roses, while Orleans was under siege, the English lords, history tells us, requested the French commanders to suspend hostilities, and let the usual celebration of Christmas eve take their place. This was agreed to, and the air was filled with the song of the minstrels and the music of trumpets, instead of the discordant sounds of battle.
Even under the pressure of battle the influence of the Christmas season has exerted a powerful effect. In 1428, during the war of the roses, while Orleans was under siege, the English lords, history tells us, requested the French commanders to suspend hostilities, and let the usual celebration of Christmas eve take their place. This was agreed to, and the air was filled with the song of the minstrels and the music of trumpets, instead of the discordant sounds of battle.
Peace on Earth.
(Recitation for a high-school pupil.)
—S.T. Coleridge.
The Christmas Tree.
(Recitation for a boy to give before a Christmas tree is dismantled.)
Old English Christmases.
The court celebrations of Christmas were observed with great splendor during the reign of King Charles the First. The royal family, with the lords and ladies, often took part themselves in the performances, and the cost to prepare costumes and sceneries for one occasion often amounted to ten thousand dollars. During Charles's reign, and preceding his, Ben Jonson wrote the plays, or masques, for Christmas. The court doings were, of course, copied outside by the people, and up to the twelfth night after Christmas, sports and feastings held high carnival.So important were these Christmas court celebrations held by our ancestors, and of such moment were the preparations, that a special officer was appointed to take them in charge. To him were accorded large privileges, very considerable appointments, and a retinue equal to a prince's, counting in a chancellor, treasurer, comptroller, vice-chamberlain, divine, philosopher, astronomer, poet, physician, master of requests, clown, civilian, ushers, pages, footmen, messengers, jugglers, herald, orator, hunters, tumblers, friar, and fools. Over this mock court the mock monarch presided during the holidays with a reign as absolute as the actual monarch.
The court celebrations of Christmas were observed with great splendor during the reign of King Charles the First. The royal family, with the lords and ladies, often took part themselves in the performances, and the cost to prepare costumes and sceneries for one occasion often amounted to ten thousand dollars. During Charles's reign, and preceding his, Ben Jonson wrote the plays, or masques, for Christmas. The court doings were, of course, copied outside by the people, and up to the twelfth night after Christmas, sports and feastings held high carnival.
So important were these Christmas court celebrations held by our ancestors, and of such moment were the preparations, that a special officer was appointed to take them in charge. To him were accorded large privileges, very considerable appointments, and a retinue equal to a prince's, counting in a chancellor, treasurer, comptroller, vice-chamberlain, divine, philosopher, astronomer, poet, physician, master of requests, clown, civilian, ushers, pages, footmen, messengers, jugglers, herald, orator, hunters, tumblers, friar, and fools. Over this mock court the mock monarch presided during the holidays with a reign as absolute as the actual monarch.
Holly and Ivy.
(Noël is the French word for Christmas.)
—Eugene Field.
Holiday Chimes.
(When it is impossible to prepare a regular Christmas program for the friends of the pupils to enjoy with the school, the entrance to holiday week may be signalled by the impromptu reading and recitation of Christmas sentiments.)
CHRISTMAS DAY.
—Mary B. Dodge.
OLD DECEMBER.
—Benj. F. Leggett.
CHRISTMAS-TIDE.
—L.M. Alcott
CHRISTMAS EVE.
—Alfred Tennyson
FATHER CHRISTMAS.
—Rose Terry Cooke
CHRISTMAS IN ENGLAND.
—Sir Walter Scott.
MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS.
—F.R. Havergal.
A CHRISTMAS WISH.
—F.R. Havergal.
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.
—A.A. Procter.
ONCE A YEAR.
—Tusser.
OLD ENGLISH SONG.
OLD FATHER CHRISTMAS.
EVERGREEN AND HOLLY.
—E.O. Peck
Christmas Dolls.
By ELIZABETH J. ROOK.
Children come skipping in, singing:
Children come skipping in, singing:
(Tune—"Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.")
The children then form a semi-circle on the stage, and each one steps to the front as she gives her recitation, and then back to her place again.
The children then form a semi-circle on the stage, and each one steps to the front as she gives her recitation, and then back to her place again.
First Child:
Second Child:
Third Child (Black doll):
Fourth Child (Japanese doll):
Fifth Child (Rag doll):
Sixth Child (Eskimo):
Seventh Child (Holding a Teddy bear behind her):
Eighth Child (Doll dressed as infant):
SONG.
(Tune—"There is a Happy Land.")
(To be sung very slowly and softly.)
(Tiptoe softly off the stage, holding the dolls as though asleep, and humming the tune very faintly.)
Red Pepper.
BY A. CONSTANCE SMEDLEY.
CHARACTERS.
Princess Fadeaway.
Greening, Sweeting, Ladies to the Princess.
The Kitchenmaid.
The Cooklet.
Red Pepper, the scullion(Prince Fairasday).
Head Cook.
Frip, Tip, Snip, Pip, Brownies.
Chorus of Cooks and Brownies, if desired.
TIME. Christmas Eve.
SCENE: The Kitchen in the Castle of Princess Fadeaway. Open fireplace down R. in which the fire burns, and casts a red light on the scene. Dresser against wall L. on which stands a pile of dirty plates, tin basin and soap, various culinary utensils, and a huge pepper-pot. Door up back L. Table centre, which is spread with white cloth, bordered with a quaint design. An old-fashioned wooden armchair R. of fireplace. Door up R. Stool by dresser. Chair behind table. As the curtain rises, the stage is quite dark, lit by a faint gleam from fireplace. Mysterious music, which resolves itself into the air of "Whist, whist, whist. Here Comes the Bogie Man." TheBrowniesheard singing behind the scenes. They dance in one by one mysteriously round stage, in follow-my-leader fashion, over chair and stool, and crawl under table, round and round room as they sing.
OPENING CHORUS.