closed so tight


       *       *       *       *       *

=Charity.=

By JAY BEE.

    (Seven little girls daintily dressed carry a bell in the right
    hand, with the initial on it which begins her line. The bells
    are rung lightly during the speaking)

    _First child_: Cheerily ring the Christmas bells!
   _Second child_: How joyfully their jingling tells
    _Third child_: All peace and kindness on the earth,
   _Fourth child_: Ringing out, singing out, laughing with mirth!
    _Fifth child_: In every home is joy profound,
    _Sixth child_: The echo of this merry sound.
  _Seventh child_: Yet Charity must remembered be,
                        And that is why we have this tree.


       *       *       *       *       *

=Merry Christmas.=

By M.D. STERLING.

    (Seven boys and seven girls with good voices and some
    sprightliness of manner are required. Each carries a wand,
    to the upper end of which is fastened an evergreen wreath
    surrounding a large, gilt letter. Ranged in order the letters
    will spell the word "Merry Christmas." The verse for each is
    sung to the air, "Buy a Broom." The children enter only one at
    a time, using a polka step, boys and girls alternately. While
    singing they take steps and wave wand in time to music. At
    third line of each stanza the boys bow and the girls make a
    courtesy, right and left. The chorus at the end of each verse
    is sung by the entire school. The boy with letter M comes in
    first, sings, and takes position on platform. He is followed
    by the girl with E. So continue until the line of children is
    complete.)

  _First boy_:
  M stands for merry--oh' let us be merry;
    M stands for merry--right merry am I.
  _(Bowing.)_ With a bow to the right, sir, and a bow to the left, sir,
    Come, now, and be merry, all sadness defy.

  _Chorus (by school, to the refrain of "Buy a Broom_").--

  Christmas dear now draws near,
  With song and with evergreen welcome it here.

  _First girl_:
  E stands for evergreen, beautiful evergreen,
    E stands for evergreen, never to fade.
  (_Courtesying.)_ With a courtesy to right, sir, and a courtesy to left, sir,
    Bring evergreen garlands for Christmas time made.--_Cho_.

  _Second boy_:
  R stands for rollicking--come, then, be rollicking;
    R stands for rollicking--fun's in the air!
  With a bow to the right, sir, and a bow to the left, sir,
    In Christmas-day rollicking take now a share.--_Cho_.

  _Second girl_:
  R stands for rally, a grand Christmas rally,
    R stands for rally, where Christmas trees grow!
  With a courtesy to right, sir, and a courtesy to left, sir,
    We rally where Santa is likely to go.--_Cho_.

  _Third boy_:
  Y stands for youthful--rejoice, now, all youthful;
    Y stands for youthful--quite youthful am I.
  With a bow to the right, sir, and a bow to the left, sir,
    The youthful make merry when Christmas is nigh.--_Cho_.

    (Leave a space in the line of children between the last letter
    of "Merry" and the first of "Christmas.")

  _Third girl_:
  C stands for Christmas--bright Christmas, merry Christmas;
    C stands for Christmas--the best of the year.
  With a courtesy to right, sir, and a courtesy to left, sir,
    Make merry at Christmas with good Christmas cheer.--_Cho_.

  _Fourth boy_:
  H stands for happy--at Christmas be happy!
    H stands for happy--right happy am I.
  With a bow to the right sir, and a bow to the left, sir,
    If you would be happy some Christmas gifts buy--_Cho_.

  _Fourth girl_:
  R stands for ready--for Christmas be ready;
    R stands for ready--are _you_ ready yet?
  With a courtesy to right, sir, and a courtesy to left, sir.
    To make ready for Christmas, oh! never forget.--_Cho_.