Contents
| Advertising-Carnival | [118] |
| Barrel Brigade | [91] |
| Bells of Bonnydingle, The | [155] |
| Bird Social | [101] |
| Boys’ Book Party, A | [113] |
| Card-Pasting | [115] |
| Cinderella Reception | [139] |
| Climbing the Bean-stalk | [116] |
| Evening with “Ads,” An | [42] |
| Fairy Strawberry Festival, A | [104] |
| Flower-Show, A | [41] |
| For the First of April | [75] |
| Good Giant, The | [23] |
| Good-Luck Social, A | [54] |
| Handkerchief Gymnastics | [97] |
| Holly and Mistletoe Drill | [146] |
| House Book | [67] |
| Indian Festival, An | [111] |
| Jack Frost Reception | [150] |
| Jack-Knife and Scissors Party | [62] |
| “Jap” Social, A | [44] |
| Letter Social | [78] |
| Making Valentines | [57] |
| Mistress Mary’s Contrary Reception | [152] |
| Mysterious Basket-Ball | [121] |
| New Kind of Dinner Party, A | [60] |
| Orange Social | [39] |
| Pansy-Hunt, A | [106] |
| Parlor Athletic Meet, A | [69] |
| Parlor Golf Party | [119] |
| Parlor Mountain-Climb | [93] |
| Pastery Party, A | [49] |
| Pillow-Fight, A | [52] |
| “Polly Pitcher” Social | [66] |
| Puritan Thanksgiving Dinner, A | [126] |
| Rainbow Social | [96] |
| Rainy Fourth, A | [108] |
| Reception at Curlycue Castle | [63] |
| Red-Line Jubilee | [16] |
| Rope Social, A | [20] |
| Santa Claus Drill | [11] |
| Sky-Parlor Reception, No. 1 | [47] |
| Sky-Parlor Reception, No. 2 | [48] |
| Star Social | [141] |
| Teddy and the Goblin | [130] |
| Tropical Fair, A | [71] |
| Tuffet and the Web, The | [81] |
| Washington’s Birthday | [72] |
Good Times With the Juniors.
Santa Claus Drill.
By Imogen A. Storey.
What would “good times” amount to in any well-regulated Junior society if they did not begin and end with the Christmas holidays? We begin, then, with a particularly jolly little drill for Christmas; and, as the girls so often have these matters all their own way, we will try for a change letting the boys be foremost this time. They will enjoy the fun of playing Santa. The Sunday-school primary class, too, must be drawn upon.—L. M. H.
An equal number of tiny boys and girls are to be used for the first part of the drill. They should be dressed in their nightclothes, and each little one should carry a pillow under his or her arm, and a stocking hung across the shoulder.
The stage must be decorated with holly, mistletoe, and other Christmas greens. A large fireplace should occupy the centre rear, shown in [Diagram B]. A decorated motto, “A Merry Christmas” may be placed above the mantel. The fireplace can easily be constructed of brick-colored fireproof paper, which can be purchased at any hardware store for a trifle, and with a piece of chalk from the blackboard the bricks can be imitated.
On each side, as shown in [Diagram A], should stand a small Christmas tree trimmed up in the conventional way, with the exception of candles, which it is better to omit unless great precaution is used to prevent an accident. On each tree the lower limbs should be supplied with hooks corresponding with a buttonhole in each stocking, which will enable the little ones to hang their stockings quickly and securely on the trees.
The floor should be laid off for the first part as shown in [Diagram A]. A different color used in laying off the diagrams for the two parts will be found a great help, especially to the smaller children.
Diagram A.
The children enter from the rear, girls from the right and boys from the left, or vice versa, carrying pillows under their outside arms and stockings across the same shoulder, and follow lines R and L in [A]. When they reach the dots shown on these lines, all extend their inside arms diagonally up at the side, and grasp the partner’s hand.
When they reach the diagonal lines, they let go hands, and turn on these lines, as shown by arrows, turning again on the front line. When the leaders reach lines R and L, a signal from the piano is given to halt. In halting, each should keep a distance of fifteen inches from the one in front, the same as in marching. This distance should be kept throughout the drill. Another signal is now given to face front, all turning in the direction of the inside arm. They now recite with gestures:
“We are going to hang up our stockings” (holding stockings out toward the audience)
“On the Christmas tree” (turning the body just a little and pointing to the trees),
“And we know old Santa will fill them,
“For we’ve been good” (girls, pointing to themselves)
“And we’ve been good” (boys, pointing to themselves)
“As good as we could be” (all together).
“Then we are going up to bed” (pointing up),
“And go fa-a-a-st asle-e-e-p” (recited very slowly, dropping heads on the pillows).
“So, when old Santa comes” (heads raised),
“We won’t be awake to peep” (peep through fingers). The music is now resumed, the leaders turn to the rear, and follow lines R and L, turning on the rear line, and again on the side lines shown in [A]. From the side lines they turn on the dotted lines, which circle the trees. After circling the trees a few times, with the common skip step familiar to all children, a signal is given to halt. The stockings are now hung up, after which the signal is given to get back into line.
After circling the trees a few times more, they continue skipping, following the dotted lines to the side lines, then to the front line. When the leaders reach the front line, they turn on the diagonal lines, resuming the march very softly and slowly, marching on their toes. When the leaders reach lines R and L, all turn and throw a kiss to the audience, then make their exit on the same lines as on entering, still on their toes.
Diagram B.
The same number of larger children, all boys dressed like old Santa Claus, now enter the fireplace from each side, as shown in [B], running in double time on their toes. Each boy except the last in each line should wear a rein with sleigh-bells on its full length. All should be supplied with whips. On their backs old Santa’s knapsack should be strapped, filled with all sorts of things for the stockings. To increase the merriment, some of the articles should be grotesque and funny.
They enter, each driving the one in front, following lines R and L, turning right and left on reaching the front line, as shown by the arrows in B, then turning again at the next corner as indicated by the arrows. On reaching the rear they come down the diagonal lines curving around the trees, shown by arrows, and then to the front line again. They then run to the rear on lines R and L, and come down the diagonal lines, circling the trees on the dotted and curved lines, making a complete circle. After circling the trees a signal is given to halt and drop reins.
They now proceed to fill the stockings, first unstrapping their knapsacks and laying them on the floor. Signal. While the stockings are being filled, the soft, slow music should not cease, but continue the same as when the little ones are hanging them up. Each Santa should stick his whip in the top of a stocking.
A signal is now given, and the Santas all fall into line, and the running is resumed. They circle the trees, and follow the diagonal lines to the front line, then turn on lines R and L, and make their exit the same as on entering.
For a Sunday-school entertainment the small Santas can be used to distribute the presents to the children in the audience after the drill is over.