READY FOR SANTA CLAUS.

Illustrated Song for Twenty-seven or More Children.

This is an attractive form of entertainment for the younger grades of school. Just the number indicated may be used, or more of each kind can be added as desired.

Directions at the close.

Candy Bags—Tune: “Rig-a-jig.”(Candy Bagsmarch around the stage, then stand at front, on left side, in double row facing the audience, and sway from right to left in time as they continue the song. They should be singing as they enter.)In stockings by the fireside hung,Wherever wreaths and toys are strung,At Christmas time our praise is sung,Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!What joy we bring at Christmas tide,What pleasure scatter far and wide,We are the Christmas candy bags,Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!CHORUS.We are the Christmas candy bags,The candy bags, the candy bags,We are the Christmas candy bags,Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!Packages—Tune: “Solomon Levi.”(They enter at rear, march across the stage, then turn and march back toward the entrance, but a space forward. This is during the first two lines. When theSkatessing, all halt and front face during the next two lines.)All—We are the various Packages that come at Christmas time,So interesting, so delightful, aren’t we big and prime?(All halt, front face.Skatesstep forward, bow, hold out their hands to audience and sing.)We are the Skates for Joe and Jim, for Nell and Polly Ann,And won’t they shout when we come out?Just beat us if you can.All—(Resume the march as before, turning back to the other side when they reach one side, thus weaving back and forth across the stage, and getting a little nearer the front each time.)Oh, isn’t it jolly, tra-la-la-la-la-la,Green wreaths and holly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la,(Halt,Glovesstep forward and sing.)Gloves—And we are the Gloves for Mary, and for Bess and Sister Sue,We’ll help them dress in tip-top styleAnd that is what we’ll do.(All mark time and continue.)All—Christmas is a-coming soon and everything’s fine and gay,Hurrah, then, for the Christmas time, it is the merriest day!Package—(Steps forward, sings, steps back. Others the same.)I am a silk dress for Mother, I am rich and dainty, too,Another Package—And I’m a shawl for Grandma dear, both warm and bright in hue.Another Package—And I’m some furs for little May, oh won’t she happy be?Another Package—And I’m the book that Helen wants, she’ll gladly welcome me.All(resuming the march)—Oh, isn’t it jolly. Tra-la-la-la-la-la.Green wreaths and holly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.(Halt, front face.)Jewelry—And we are the necklaces and pins, the dainty, sparkling ringsWhich all the girls are longing for, they love such pretty things.All(marking time)—Christmas is a-coming soon, and everything’s fine and gay,Hurrah, then, for the Christmas time, it is the jolliest day.All(repeat and march)—Oh, isn’t it jolly. Tra-la-la-la-la-la.Green wreaths and holly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.For we are the various Packages that come at Christmas time,So interesting, so delightful, aren’t we big and prime?Christmas is a-coming soon, and everything’s fine and gay,Hurrah, then, for the Christmas time, it is the jolliest day.(ThePackagesstand behind theCandy Bags.)Tin Soldiers—Tune: “Co-ca-che-lunk.”(Soldiersare heard behind the scenes marking time. Music soft at first. As it grows louder the marking time grows louder; then they enter, march to the center of the stage and halt in two lines, facing the audience.)We are coming, for ’tis Christmas, and it’s time that we were here,For the little boys are waitingAnd our duty is most clear.(Mark time stiffly and vigorously.)We are tin soldiers, and we’re marching,See how we move so straight and grand.We are tin soldiers, and we’re coming,Heigh-ho! Can’t you just hear the band?(March during the next few lines to front and right of the stage opposite theCandy Bags, halt and front face. At the chorus mark time as before.)See our uniforms so gorgeousAnd our gay tin guns that shine,All the little boys will greet usAs we stand so straight in line.We are tin soldiers, and we’re marching.See how we move so straight and grand,We are tin soldiers, and we’re coming,Heigh-ho! Can’t you just hear the band?Dolls—(Enter, stand in the center in two rows, the rag doll and the baby’s knit doll in front, the others behind in couples. When one or more sing they step to the front,and after singing stand in line in front of theTin Soldiers, who move back to give them room.)Tune: “The Wearing of the Green.”All(sing)—We are the dolls who come to little girls on the Christmas tree.We’re sent by good old Santa, and we’re glad as we can be,Our little mothers love us well, but we’re not quite sureOf the fate we’ll meet from children sweet, or the ills we must endure.Rag Doll—I’m the best loved of the dollies;I’m the old Rag Doll, you see.There’s no other doll who’s everLoved so much as I shall be.All—Oh, we all are the best-loved dollies;Little girls will love us well,And we’ll always be to the Christmas treeWorth more than tongue can tell.Knit Doll—I’m going to live with the darling child,She of the blue, blue eyes.I love her, but I know she’s sureTo give me much surprise.But let her pound me, poke my eyes out,Chew me, pull my hair,I’ll love her, for she’ll love poor me—The darling baby fair.Cheap Doll—I’m the cheapest of the dolls; my home will be both poor and mean,But my owner’s sure to love me true as if I were a queen.All—Oh, we all are the best-loved dollies;Little girls will love us well,And we’ll always be to the Christmas treeWorth more than tongue can tell.French Dolls—We are the most expensive dollsThat can be bought and sold;Yet Santa sends us, just the same,For little girls to hold.All—(Pointing to the broken dolls who are moving slowly toward the front.)Who is it coming? What a sight!It moves us all to tears.Broken Dolls—We are the poor dolls who’re played out;We’ve furnished fun for years.French Dolls—Oh, it surely is most shocking. Shall we all be treated so?Broken Dolls—We are glad we came; we’re loved the sameAs all the rest, you know.All—Oh, we all are the best-loved dollies;Little girls will love us well,But we’ll always be to the Christmas treeWorth more than tongue can tell.(The pianist now plays a lively march, and all the toys parade around the stage and off.)

Candy Bags—

Tune: “Rig-a-jig.”

(Candy Bagsmarch around the stage, then stand at front, on left side, in double row facing the audience, and sway from right to left in time as they continue the song. They should be singing as they enter.)

In stockings by the fireside hung,Wherever wreaths and toys are strung,At Christmas time our praise is sung,Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!What joy we bring at Christmas tide,What pleasure scatter far and wide,We are the Christmas candy bags,Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!

In stockings by the fireside hung,

Wherever wreaths and toys are strung,

At Christmas time our praise is sung,

Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!

What joy we bring at Christmas tide,

What pleasure scatter far and wide,

We are the Christmas candy bags,

Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!

CHORUS.We are the Christmas candy bags,The candy bags, the candy bags,We are the Christmas candy bags,Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!

CHORUS.

We are the Christmas candy bags,

The candy bags, the candy bags,

We are the Christmas candy bags,

Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!

Packages—

Tune: “Solomon Levi.”

(They enter at rear, march across the stage, then turn and march back toward the entrance, but a space forward. This is during the first two lines. When theSkatessing, all halt and front face during the next two lines.)

All—We are the various Packages that come at Christmas time,So interesting, so delightful, aren’t we big and prime?

All—

We are the various Packages that come at Christmas time,

So interesting, so delightful, aren’t we big and prime?

(All halt, front face.Skatesstep forward, bow, hold out their hands to audience and sing.)

We are the Skates for Joe and Jim, for Nell and Polly Ann,And won’t they shout when we come out?Just beat us if you can.

We are the Skates for Joe and Jim, for Nell and Polly Ann,

And won’t they shout when we come out?

Just beat us if you can.

All—

(Resume the march as before, turning back to the other side when they reach one side, thus weaving back and forth across the stage, and getting a little nearer the front each time.)

Oh, isn’t it jolly, tra-la-la-la-la-la,Green wreaths and holly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la,

Oh, isn’t it jolly, tra-la-la-la-la-la,

Green wreaths and holly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la,

(Halt,Glovesstep forward and sing.)

Gloves—And we are the Gloves for Mary, and for Bess and Sister Sue,We’ll help them dress in tip-top styleAnd that is what we’ll do.(All mark time and continue.)

Gloves—

And we are the Gloves for Mary, and for Bess and Sister Sue,

We’ll help them dress in tip-top style

And that is what we’ll do.

(All mark time and continue.)

All—Christmas is a-coming soon and everything’s fine and gay,Hurrah, then, for the Christmas time, it is the merriest day!

All—

Christmas is a-coming soon and everything’s fine and gay,

Hurrah, then, for the Christmas time, it is the merriest day!

Package—(Steps forward, sings, steps back. Others the same.)I am a silk dress for Mother, I am rich and dainty, too,

Package—

(Steps forward, sings, steps back. Others the same.)

I am a silk dress for Mother, I am rich and dainty, too,

Another Package—And I’m a shawl for Grandma dear, both warm and bright in hue.

Another Package—

And I’m a shawl for Grandma dear, both warm and bright in hue.

Another Package—And I’m some furs for little May, oh won’t she happy be?

Another Package—

And I’m some furs for little May, oh won’t she happy be?

Another Package—And I’m the book that Helen wants, she’ll gladly welcome me.

Another Package—

And I’m the book that Helen wants, she’ll gladly welcome me.

All(resuming the march)—Oh, isn’t it jolly. Tra-la-la-la-la-la.Green wreaths and holly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.(Halt, front face.)

All(resuming the march)—

Oh, isn’t it jolly. Tra-la-la-la-la-la.

Green wreaths and holly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.

(Halt, front face.)

Jewelry—And we are the necklaces and pins, the dainty, sparkling ringsWhich all the girls are longing for, they love such pretty things.

Jewelry—

And we are the necklaces and pins, the dainty, sparkling rings

Which all the girls are longing for, they love such pretty things.

All(marking time)—Christmas is a-coming soon, and everything’s fine and gay,Hurrah, then, for the Christmas time, it is the jolliest day.

All(marking time)—

Christmas is a-coming soon, and everything’s fine and gay,

Hurrah, then, for the Christmas time, it is the jolliest day.

All(repeat and march)—Oh, isn’t it jolly. Tra-la-la-la-la-la.Green wreaths and holly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.For we are the various Packages that come at Christmas time,So interesting, so delightful, aren’t we big and prime?Christmas is a-coming soon, and everything’s fine and gay,Hurrah, then, for the Christmas time, it is the jolliest day.

All(repeat and march)—

Oh, isn’t it jolly. Tra-la-la-la-la-la.

Green wreaths and holly, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.

For we are the various Packages that come at Christmas time,

So interesting, so delightful, aren’t we big and prime?

Christmas is a-coming soon, and everything’s fine and gay,

Hurrah, then, for the Christmas time, it is the jolliest day.

(ThePackagesstand behind theCandy Bags.)

Tin Soldiers—

Tune: “Co-ca-che-lunk.”

(Soldiersare heard behind the scenes marking time. Music soft at first. As it grows louder the marking time grows louder; then they enter, march to the center of the stage and halt in two lines, facing the audience.)

We are coming, for ’tis Christmas, and it’s time that we were here,For the little boys are waitingAnd our duty is most clear.(Mark time stiffly and vigorously.)We are tin soldiers, and we’re marching,See how we move so straight and grand.We are tin soldiers, and we’re coming,Heigh-ho! Can’t you just hear the band?

We are coming, for ’tis Christmas, and it’s time that we were here,

For the little boys are waiting

And our duty is most clear.

(Mark time stiffly and vigorously.)

We are tin soldiers, and we’re marching,

See how we move so straight and grand.

We are tin soldiers, and we’re coming,

Heigh-ho! Can’t you just hear the band?

(March during the next few lines to front and right of the stage opposite theCandy Bags, halt and front face. At the chorus mark time as before.)

See our uniforms so gorgeousAnd our gay tin guns that shine,All the little boys will greet usAs we stand so straight in line.We are tin soldiers, and we’re marching.See how we move so straight and grand,We are tin soldiers, and we’re coming,Heigh-ho! Can’t you just hear the band?

See our uniforms so gorgeous

And our gay tin guns that shine,

All the little boys will greet us

As we stand so straight in line.

We are tin soldiers, and we’re marching.

See how we move so straight and grand,

We are tin soldiers, and we’re coming,

Heigh-ho! Can’t you just hear the band?

Dolls—

(Enter, stand in the center in two rows, the rag doll and the baby’s knit doll in front, the others behind in couples. When one or more sing they step to the front,and after singing stand in line in front of theTin Soldiers, who move back to give them room.)

Tune: “The Wearing of the Green.”

All(sing)—We are the dolls who come to little girls on the Christmas tree.We’re sent by good old Santa, and we’re glad as we can be,Our little mothers love us well, but we’re not quite sureOf the fate we’ll meet from children sweet, or the ills we must endure.

All(sing)—

We are the dolls who come to little girls on the Christmas tree.

We’re sent by good old Santa, and we’re glad as we can be,

Our little mothers love us well, but we’re not quite sure

Of the fate we’ll meet from children sweet, or the ills we must endure.

Rag Doll—I’m the best loved of the dollies;I’m the old Rag Doll, you see.There’s no other doll who’s everLoved so much as I shall be.

Rag Doll—

I’m the best loved of the dollies;

I’m the old Rag Doll, you see.

There’s no other doll who’s ever

Loved so much as I shall be.

All—Oh, we all are the best-loved dollies;Little girls will love us well,And we’ll always be to the Christmas treeWorth more than tongue can tell.

All—

Oh, we all are the best-loved dollies;

Little girls will love us well,

And we’ll always be to the Christmas tree

Worth more than tongue can tell.

Knit Doll—I’m going to live with the darling child,She of the blue, blue eyes.I love her, but I know she’s sureTo give me much surprise.But let her pound me, poke my eyes out,Chew me, pull my hair,I’ll love her, for she’ll love poor me—The darling baby fair.

Knit Doll—

I’m going to live with the darling child,

She of the blue, blue eyes.

I love her, but I know she’s sure

To give me much surprise.

But let her pound me, poke my eyes out,

Chew me, pull my hair,

I’ll love her, for she’ll love poor me—

The darling baby fair.

Cheap Doll—I’m the cheapest of the dolls; my home will be both poor and mean,But my owner’s sure to love me true as if I were a queen.

Cheap Doll—

I’m the cheapest of the dolls; my home will be both poor and mean,

But my owner’s sure to love me true as if I were a queen.

All—Oh, we all are the best-loved dollies;Little girls will love us well,And we’ll always be to the Christmas treeWorth more than tongue can tell.

All—

Oh, we all are the best-loved dollies;

Little girls will love us well,

And we’ll always be to the Christmas tree

Worth more than tongue can tell.

French Dolls—We are the most expensive dollsThat can be bought and sold;Yet Santa sends us, just the same,For little girls to hold.

French Dolls—

We are the most expensive dolls

That can be bought and sold;

Yet Santa sends us, just the same,

For little girls to hold.

All—(Pointing to the broken dolls who are moving slowly toward the front.)Who is it coming? What a sight!It moves us all to tears.

All—

(Pointing to the broken dolls who are moving slowly toward the front.)

Who is it coming? What a sight!

It moves us all to tears.

Broken Dolls—We are the poor dolls who’re played out;We’ve furnished fun for years.

Broken Dolls—

We are the poor dolls who’re played out;

We’ve furnished fun for years.

French Dolls—Oh, it surely is most shocking. Shall we all be treated so?

French Dolls—

Oh, it surely is most shocking. Shall we all be treated so?

Broken Dolls—We are glad we came; we’re loved the sameAs all the rest, you know.

Broken Dolls—

We are glad we came; we’re loved the same

As all the rest, you know.

All—Oh, we all are the best-loved dollies;Little girls will love us well,But we’ll always be to the Christmas treeWorth more than tongue can tell.

All—

Oh, we all are the best-loved dollies;

Little girls will love us well,

But we’ll always be to the Christmas tree

Worth more than tongue can tell.

(The pianist now plays a lively march, and all the toys parade around the stage and off.)

TheCandy Bagsare four little girls, two dressed in red and two in white. Their dresses are of tarletan or cheesecloth over slips of the same color. They are just wide enough to go over the ordinary dresses and long enough to reach from the neck to an inch or so below the bottom of their skirts. Let all be the same length. The top of the bags (or dresses) are gathered with a ruffle around the children’s necks. Their arms are kept inside of the dresses.

ThePackagesare ten boys or girls, or both. Their costumes are shaped of cardboard, inside of which the children stand, their legs showing below and their arms coming through at the sides. Holes are cut through the cardboard for them to see and breathe through, and these holes must be located so as to be the inner corners of the eyes, or in the nose of the large faces which must be marked upon the wrappings of the packages. Close fitting sleeves of the same color as the paper wrapping the packages are upon the arms, and the stockings should also match the paper.

The package of skates is covered with brown paper over a cylinder of cardboard, with a twist at the top and tied with a large cord.

TheDress, also of brown paper, but larger, and in an oblong parcel.

Grandma’sshawl, a lighter brown paper, tied with ribbon.

JewelryandGloves, smaller, one flat, one round, covered with white paper and tied with red ribbon.

TheTin Soldiersare six little boys. Trousers long, of shiny blue cambric with yellow stripes at the sides; shiny red jackets, with buttons and bands across the front and on sleeves of yellow. Toy guns. Their cheeks and lips should be very red to imitate the toy soldiers, and they should walk straight and very stiffly, and not turn their head.

TheDollsare seven little girls.

Two are dressed to imitate French dolls.

One for a rag doll.

One for a cheap doll, imitating it as closely as possible.

One for a knit doll for the baby.

Two for broken dolls. Of these latter have one without an arm (held hidden under the dress) and limping on a crutch, and the other dressed so as to seem to have no head. This can be done by making the dress with its neck above the head of the wearer, thus leaving the doll without a head. Have but one arm, and the dress waist and real arms hidden under a “Mother Hubbard” dress. The clothes must be faded and ragged.

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