“Yes, sir; indeed we will,” should come in loud, emphatic tones from the little fairies. Santa should go back to the door of his little hut and receive the gifts from Mrs. Santa Claus, who hands them out to him. Santa must call out the names as he gives them to the fairies, as they file past on lines shown in C, turning on lines R and L, thence down the steps in the centre. After distributing the gifts they return for more by side steps as shown in C. In this way the presents, even for a large audience, can be easily disposed of.
Jack Frost Reception.
The Juniors may wish to give a Christmas tree to the children of some orphan asylum, combining with this plan a merry time for themselves as well. If so, a “Jack Frost reception” would be a good way of doing it.
One of the smaller boys, who is also one of the liveliest in the society, should be chosen to personate Jack. He should be dressed in a close-fitting suit of white Canton flannel, the fleecy side out, with here and there little tufts of cotton batting sprinkled with diamond dust. Long white stockings, with tiny bells sewed on them, and a few sprigs of holly, complete the costume.
Red crape-paper shades should cover all the globes. The tree should be hung with glittering icicles of rock-candy, and trimmed with tufts of sparkling cotton snow. An imitation bird’s nest for each guest is lined with crinkled white tissue-paper, filled with white sugar almonds, and placed among the branches. Then the presents, which might be toys or books that the Juniors have outgrown, in small boxes wrapped around with cotton batting and tied with white thread, make lovely snowballs. Pull the cotton out between the threads till each box is a fluffy, ball-shaped mass; then dip them in diamond-dust; label each with the name of the one for whom it is intended, and hang them with gilt or silver cord to the tree. Snowballs of all sizes may be made thus, and those too large to hang on the tree may be piled around the trunk.
When all have arrived, there may be singing by the Juniors, after which the “snowballs” are distributed. Jack Frost capers gayly about, ringing his bells, and tossing the balls to the children, who in turn toss them lightly about from one to another till each one reaches its owner. The birds’ nests of almonds and the candy icicles are left on the tree until later in the evening.
Refreshments are served at the north pole. On the centre of the dining-table place an uneven block of ice, and extending up from the ice have a long pasteboard mailing-tube covered with the imitation snow. A white toy bear standing on the top of the pole, holding in its mouth a sprig of dusted holly or evergreen, and several other bears grouped around its base, complete your north pole, and, to further the arctic effect, the chandelier may be trimmed with icicles and dusted sprays of green, and for an added touch of elegance, if desired, there may be Jack Frost place-cards made in fancy shapes, spread with a thin coating of mucilage, sprinkled with diamond-dust and the names written in gold or silver lettering. Of course these are not necessary. A substantial but wholesome lunch should be served.
One or two simple games selected from the index in the back of the book may be introduced if wanted, but the presents and the little feast will take up most of the time. Finish unloading the tree; close the evening with the singing of more Christmas songs; and the guests will go away convinced that the Juniors are not only the happiest people in the world, but that they are glad to share their pleasures with those not so fortunate.