HOLLYBERRY DRILL.For Ten or Twelve Little Girls.
For Ten or Twelve Little Girls.
A prettier drill for small children can scarcely be prepared. Costumes are of simple white, with red ribbons and stockings, and hollyberry wreaths in the hair.
Each carries a wreath of holly and its red berries and a fancy basket filled with bits of paper cut fine to represent snow. The girls enter in time to a lively march, in couples, each carrying her wreath lifted high in the hand toward her mate, and the basket held in the free hand. Enter at left rear.
1. Couples advance to rear center of stage, set baskets down.
2. By couples, down center to front.
3. Couples separate, march round on either side to rear.
4. Lines meet at rear center, pass, march down opposite sides to front, meet and pass, back to rear.
5. Lines meet again at rear center, front face, advance to front in a single line across the stage with curtsey step.
In this step the right foot is advanced a step forward and to the right on first count, right knee bent in a curtsey on second count, left foot advanced a step forward and a little to the left on third beat, and the left knee bent in a curtsey on fourth beat, etc.
The wreath is held up a little above the face and swayed to the right or left in unison with the foot which is advanced.
6. When the line reaches the front of the stage, the wreath is held over the head with both hands, and the children retreat to the rear by skipping.
7. Down center in couples to front; wreaths held high to touch mate’s wreath.
8. Couples separate; march either side to rear.
9. Lines meet. Then each line or side forms in a group by itself, the free hands clasped and crossed in the center, the wreaths held above the head.
10. Both groups then skip around, like a wheel turning.
11. Groups form in line again at rear, forward to front with curtsey steps as at No. 5.
12. Repeat No. 6.
13. Groups form again, one-half being in each group, and form circles, the wreaths hung on their arms while they join hands and skip in a circle.
14. Repeat Nos. 11 and 12.
15. Repeat Nos. 7 and 8. Put wreaths down at the back and take up baskets.
16. Couples down center to front.
17. Mates face each other. The two facing lines retreat to the sides, skipping backward.
18. Lines skip to center, throwing “paper snow” from the baskets at each other, then skip back to sides, throwing the paper continuously, so as to keep the air full of the white snow. Repeat this advance and retreat twice more. When the lines meet the third time the throwing ceases, the couples march together down center to front, holding hands together high, and carrying the empty baskets in the other hands.
March around the stage and off.