While Constellation No. 1 is thus engaged, No. 2 is in the next room preparing its musical programme with the help of those who have brought something to sing or play; Constellation No. 3 is selecting recitations; No. 4, if this is the authors’ group, is deciding on the order of reading and perhaps the titles, or any other unfinished part, of its original stories; and No. 5 is arranging a museum of natural curiosities in the form of interesting hats, paper-cutters, and other small articles whose origin and method of manufacture and use they think they can at least partially describe.
At the end of the half-hour all the stars gather to listen to the entertainment provided by each constellation. The “star artists” exhibit their works of art; the star musicians play and sing; the star authors read their effusions; the star orators declaim or recite; and the star museum-directors give their exhibition. A vote of thanks, or some more substantial reward, may be given to the constellation furnishing the best entertainment.
Close the evening with refreshments consisting of cheese sandwiches cut star-shaped and filled, presumably, with green cheese from the moon; and glasses of creamy milk fresh from the Milky Way. What star or constellation could fail to be satisfied with such fare?
On leaving, each Junior might be given a star-shaped Christmas card as a memento.
This plan is capable, of course, like most of those given in this book, of endless variation. A “surprise constellation,” or some other preferred, might take the place of any one of those suggested. The stories, recitations, and music might be given without any previous arrangement outside, if a thoroughly impromptu programme is desired; but in most cases a little inkling of what will be expected of them, in the case of those likely to be called upon, makes the result more interesting. Some of the musical numbers and recitations could be humorous, others more serious; but most of them will naturally pertain to Christmas or stars. The following, once contributed by the writer to The New Voice, might be given by one of the more thoughtful Juniors as a recitation:
Star-jewelled was the Night’s dark brow,
As, with a light caress,
Smiling, she saw the wondering Earth
Her promised King confess,
While Hate and Greed shrank back before
God’s Love-thought, born to bless
As the angel choir was singing.
O glorious Christmas yet to dawn,
When men shall understand,
The lowly manger of the heart
Become a temple grand,
Each cruel wrong and strife depart,
Quelled by an infant’s hand,
While the Christmas bells are ringing!
Then, Fear-thought, flee! and Hate-thought, die!
As gleams the Star’s clear ray,
Join, World, the wise men’s holy quest;
Put evil far away;
And give till all the earth is blest;
Let Love-thought rule to-day,
Every heart its incense bringing.