Effa E. Preston

“ Hiawatha’s braves are we, Hiawatha’s braves are we,
Our tents like lilies in the valley glow.
Hiawatha’s braves are we, Hiawatha’s braves are we,
We’ll follow him wherever he may go.
Mother Goose [to Boy Blue] : I’m glad they left their tomahawks at home. You are welcome Braves. Hiawatha, I am glad to see you.
Boy Blue: Captain Kidd and his Pirates.
Kidd:
I’m Captain Kidd and these my Pirates bold.
Pirates:
And a Captain fine is he.
Kidd:
We have sailed the seas and captured tons of gold.
[16]
Pirates:
We’re as rich as rich can be. ”

“ They say they will not leave Santa-land and go to earth.
Santa: Well! Well! Well! What do you think of that, Mother?
Mrs. Santa: Santa, be firm. You’re entirely too easy with them. They’ll all be wanting to stay next year if you don’t make these toys go.
Santa: Of course, there are toys enough without these.
Brownie: You always find some extra children you didn’t know about.
[4]
Mrs. Santa: Certainly you do, Brownie, send the naughty toys in one at a time and we will hear what they have to say. Now, Santa, be firm. You are so kind hearted if a doll cries you’ll let her have her way. ”

“ Don’t be like Jack o’er the Gobble-uns and pies
And turkeys, too, will soon appear before your eyes. [8]
Chorus:
Be careful—be careful—
Listen well to what we say
And guard your appetite this glad Thanksgiving Day.
2.
We are but dreams, alas, ’tis all too true,
When you awake we must vanish far from view.
But aches and pains we will bring you while we may
If you are greedy and devour our friends today. ”

“ If I have to be put on a Christmas tree and be played with all day tomorrow I shall spin myself to death. I expect to stay right here, Santa.
Mrs. Santa: But it isn’t hard work to spin.
Top: You just try it for a day, dear Mrs. Santa.
Brownie brings in beautiful doll.
Doll: I suppose you’re cross, Santa, but I can’t help it. I have heard the most terrible stories about the way dolls are treated by careless little girls. They have their lovely curls torn off and their eyes are poked in by little girl’s fingers. They are left outdoors in the sun and rain and that spoils the complexion. ”

“ And men must be training all the time
For the work is not yet done.
So teach the little children, too,
A patriotic zeal
And they will be ready, if ever there’s need,
To answer a world’s appeal.
Enter 12 small boys in soldier suits. They advance to front of stage, Uncle Sam standing at one side. At conclusion of speeches soldiers step to back of stage. Each group take same positions before and after speaking and singing. ”

“ Come back to us with the flowers of the springtime.
[14] Then once again we’ll be happy and gay.
When, by the embers, we sit in the gloaming,
Watching the hearth fire you tended so well,
Sad are our tho’ts for each moment we miss you,
Miss you far more than our cold words can tell. ”

“ Enter Pumpkins.
All:
We’re the pumpkins your family made into pies
And we really must say that a boy of your size
Ought to be so ashamed of himself—for you ate
Till there wasn’t a piece of pie left on the plate.
We hope you have a stomach ache—an awful stomach ache.
Enter Turkeys.
All:
Gobble, gobble, gobble,
Turkeys sad are we.
This glad Thanksgiving season
Does not with us agree.
First:
Boys talk about Thanksgiving and make an awful fuss—
The feast that is so fine for them is always death for us.
Second:
This boy looks nice and tender, friends—he’s plump as plump can be. ”

“ Rag Dolls:
We are such very useful dolls
I’m sure you must agree
That for the children everyday
No dolls are good as we.
We’re washable, we never break,
We bend quite anyway.
Just try us for a year or two,
We are the best you’ll say. French Doll:
I am an aristocrat,
A doll of high degree.
I came to you from far away
In France across the sea.
My name is Isabella,
I’m a most expensive doll
So you must treat me gently
[5] And never let me fall.
I shut my eyes so nicely
Just tilt me back and see. [Shop Woman tilts her and her eyes close.] ”

“ At Mother Goose’s feet.
Fairy leaves while soft music is played and returns at once, bearing roses, which she gives to Aladdin. It is very effective if at Fairy’s entrances and exits the stage may be darkened for a moment, switching lights off and on, and the sound of thunder heard. ”

“ Times are hard and Christmas isn’t what it used to be.
[He goes out, locking door. A light is left burning for the night. A voice calls from back of counter which should be high to make toys seem small.]
Voice: Has he really gone?
Second Voice, from large box in corner. [It is the Teddy Bear.] Yes, I heard the door slam.
First Voice: Come on out, friends, he’s gone.
From behind counter come Tin Soldiers, marching in single file to tune of John Brown’s Body. They sing.
First Tin Soldier:
We’re brave toy soldiers dressed in uniforms so bright and new. ”

“ You chicken-hearted turkeys, you’ll be sorry by and by.
Enter Goblins.
All:
We are the Thanksgiving Goblins.
We’ll get you unless you take care.
We’re after such greedy young people
So youngster you’d better beware.
We’ll give you such pains in your tummy
You’ll wriggle from sunset till morn,
We’ll pinch you and poke you and pound you—
You’ll wish you had never been born.
Jack:
Please don’t hurt me. ”

“ I’m busy all the day. Paper Doll:
I’m only made of paper
And cheap as cheap can be.
I don’t belong in this parade,
But still, you might like me.
My dresses, colored paper,
You’d find it fun to make.
In fact, unless you take me home
You’ll make a sad mistake. Baby Doll:
Cunning baby doll am I
Pinch me and I cry
Loudly for my parents,
Don’t you want to try? [Shop Woman pinches her and she cries.] ”

“ If I got put in the box with a General I wouldn’t like it any more than he would. Children are very careless. Something unpleasant might easily happen. I think it best for me to stay right here. The Brownies can use me as a pattern next Christmas.
Santa: This is very strange. I never dreamed that you toys didn’t get on perfectly well. After this I’ll put all the officers in one box and all the common soldiers in another.
Brownie brings in five girls who represent books. They sing—
Song—Air: MY BONNIE
[5]
First Book:
We’re Books filled with stories and pictures. ”

“ Ho—ho—ho—ho—ho—ho—ho—ho,
We turn and twirl and twist and whirl,
Ho—ho—ho—ho—ho—ho. 7 [They spin round and round making a humming sound until exhausted. They fall back opposite blocks, in front of books. Jumping Jacks come out walking jerkily.]
All Jumping Jacks:
We are the jolly Jumping Jacks,
And pointed sticks run up our backs.
A trifle awkward we admit,
But everywhere we make a hit.
We’ll do some stunts to please you now.
Come—all together we will bow. [They bow.] [They do the following drill to music of any lively march holding each number four beats.] ”

“ Send us o’er the sea. Chorus.
Uncle Sam:
If you can’t fight your money can—
Don’t own a slacker dollar,
But send it straightway “Over There”
’Twill make the kaiser holler!
Buy bonds, buy bonds for Liberty
And loan the U S A
Each cent that you can live without,
’Twill surely save the day.
Enter 12 girls in white with red, white and blue sashes and gilt paper crowns, to represent Liberty. They carry red letters spelling Liberty Bonds.
Uncle Sam:
I view with pride my bold marines
Who sail the raging sea.
As fighters they are wonderful,
So fierce and brave they be. ”

“ Mother Goose: I’ve been so glad to see you all.
Before you go we’ll sing one song and part with right good cheer.
I hope we all shall meet again before another year.
[All stand and sing.]
[All stand and sing] :
Air: WHEN THE SWALLOWS HOMEWARD FLY.
SONG.
In the Land of Story Books,
Where are quaint, familiar nooks,
Old friends greet us every day—
Cheering words to us they say.
All our woes end happily,
Troubles never last you see
In the Land of Story Books,
Pleasant Land of Story Books,
In the Land of Story Books.
CURTAIN
NOTE: Music for songs may be found in almost any song book. ”

“ Doll: Does the little girl have clean hands?
Pen: I suppose the parents might appreciate my poetry.
Top: Nights are long in Alaska. They would spin me only in the daytime I suppose.
Jumping-Jack: One reason why I wanted to stay here was because of the climate. It’s cold in Alaska, too, isn’t it Santa?
Santa: Yes, my child, yes.
Books [together] : You think we ought to go, don’t you, Santa?
[10]
Santa: My dear Toys, I leave it to your consciences. Do you like to think of those two little children way up in Alaska doing without any Christmas gifts because you were selfish? ”

“ LOCH LOMOND.
We roam, free from care, o’er the world everywhere.
In the forest watch we are keeping.
Many brave wrongs we right,
Beneath the pale moonlight,
While the silent world around us is sleeping.
[15]
Chorus:
Our roof is the sky and our home the good greenwood,
We wander from dawn until gloaming,
For bold Robin Hood and his Merry, Merry Men
Must be ever thru the dark forest roaming.
Mother Goose: Many a good deed is done by you and your merry men I am sure, Robin.
Boy Blue: Hiawatha and his Braves.
[Braves sing] :
Air: THE MOCKING BIRD.
SONG.
[Hiawatha stands with folded arms.] ”

“ Collapsible Dolls:
Push down our heads,—
When we arise
We’ll loudly squawk
To your surprise.
We all collapse
And squawk, each one.
The children think us
Lots of fun. [Shop Woman pushes down head of each one and it squawks as it rises.] ”

“ Oh, we watch while others sleep.
2—When the toy shop is silent and dark shadows fall
Then out from the counter we stealthily crawl
Our boxes are tiresome as tiresome can be,
We yearn for the darkness that brings liberty. To soft music of Home, Sweet Home they disappear behind counter, dolls, first and soldiers last. Teddy Bear climbs in his box and pulls down lid.
All: Good night. Good night.
Entertainments for All Occasions
Entertainments for Christmas PAINE PUBLISHING CO. ”

“ Teachers are discovering that no matter how much novelty there is in their entertainment, how well it is arranged, how thoroughly drilled, if they want to hold the active interest of the audience they must use the best of songs. ”

“ Some lovely dolls quite new.
I hope they all are home today
And every one I’ll see.
I’ll choose the very nicest
And take her home with me. Shop Woman:
My dear, I’ll show you many dolls
All in their best arrayed,
Because today, you lucky girl,
They have a dress parade.
[4]
Child:
A dress parade—how lovely!
Shop Woman:
I hear their tiny shoes.
This soldier doll announces them.
You’ll find it hard to choose. [Soldier Doll sticks head in door off stage.]
Soldier Doll:
All ready. ”

“ H is a happy letter, it stands for Ho, Ho, Ho,
For hop and hope and helping, for health and home you know. E Block:
E is an eccentric letter, it stands for ear and eye,
For enter and for exit, and it is the end of pie. N Block:
N is a needed letter, it stands for nosegay bright,
It stands for nice and naughty, for nonsense, noon and night. All Blocks:
We can spell Christmas and Santa Claus ”

“ All have knives and pistols in belts.
Alice, little girl in white.
White Rabbit, small boy in white canton flannel suit, rabbit face, or white hood with long ears. He carries white kid gloves in his hands.
Kings and Queens, are in white robes covered, respectively, with hearts and diamonds of red paper, and spades and clubs of black paper. They wear gilt crowns.
Suits for animals may be made over pattern for one piece pajamas with feet cut on them.
Characters should be grouped to form a pretty tableau for closing song. Mother Goose in center. ”

“ Aladdin, boy in white suit, white plumed cap.
Fairy, small girl in white ruffled mosquito net dress with wings of same.
Red Riding Hood, small girl in long red cloak and hood.
Woodcutters are four boys in brown overalls and jackets, small brown caps, carrying hatchets.
Owl, boy in brown Canton flannel, wings of same. If owl face can not be obtained make brown hood with small pointed ears.
Pussy Cat, little girl in gray cat suit and cat face. Tail of same.
Blue Beard, boy in long gray robe with bright blue beard made of crepe paper.
Wives, girls in Empire dresses of bright colors. ”

“ After first part of drill is finished have first row bend knees low through four beats, then rise and second row bend knees for four beats and repeat till tired, when all march to rear of stage in front of blocks. ”

“ Which shall never cease to bless us
’Neath the banner of the free.
Enter Uncle Sam, a boy dressed in usual costume. He stands in center of stage while girls who sang group themselves at back of stage. ”