Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-12-13


shipped proving that animals some
time know more than man.
An angel now appears and announ-
ces that the time has come for the
prophecy to be fulfilled, that Christ
will be born in Bethlehem in a man.
ger. Letra calls to his companion Je.
tuan and together they arrange to 60
to "Belem" to worship. Jetuan says
when / was a child / heard 1t said
that divine redeemer would some
day be born. 1t may be that this is
the appointed time. am going to
find out what is that great light l see
over there because l really believe
this is the night of the feast. will
hasten to my flocks to get an offer
ing"
Tubero is then informed of the
light in the sky and the contemplated
trip to Bethlehem, then Rotin and TIL
bal Each in turn VOWS a gift to the
Savior and, well nigh overcome with
joy, they dance and sing a lullaby to
very soft pretty melody.
20, sleep, sweet Child of heaven,
In the tender arms of love, :
That Thy Mother may caress Thee,
Singing a la ru,
A la ru, la me,
A la ru, a la me,
A la ru, a la me, a la ru.'
80, have no fear Of. Herod,
There is none to do thee harm;
In the arms of Thy loving mother
No evil can come nigh.
A la ru, a la me-" etc.
| Opuias then awakens and starts in
the direction of the light in the sky,
Eras and Afron soon join him, then
Sercias, Martin and Martinico. They
turn their faces toward Bethlehem
and with singing and dancing follow
the star in the sky.
OuuHcSS VI otdyc oCItIHYo.
Meanwhile from the opposite end of
the room, amid blaze of red light,
the changing of bells and the clashing
Of swords, Lucifer appears from the
internal regions. He sinks about the
room as quietly as the many bells and
kjangling ornaments about his person
will allow. He sneaks up to the altar
which represents the manger at Be
lem" to see if the Christ child is there,
then he mlngles with the audience
writing their names in book he car
ries, whistling in their ears, and maxi
ing all manner Of coarse jokes. The
little children fear him greatly and
make the sign of the cross when he
approaches, believing that no harm
can come to them when they call up.
on the cross Lucifer is represented
this year by clever young man, who
seems natural comedian and fur
nished the comedy parts for the little
drama in admirable, even though
| bOisterOuS fashion.
From now till the end of the play,
Lucifer acts an important part several
times. He leaves the scene OF action
only to reappear in new guise Now
he is black man, now be-whiskered
Englishman; next he appears with the
helmet of a Spanish conquistador on
his head, and then with the hat of an
admiral; now he is in the likeness OF
4 sheep, and at last he appears in his
true form with horns rising from his
forehead.
He comes to the shepherds while
they are journeying onward, to ask II
the strange prophecy has been full
filed, if 1t is possible that the Son OF
God has appeared on earth to save
mankind from destruction. When he
learns that the shepherds are on their
way to worship this very Child, he is
beside himself with rage and uses all
his powers to dssuade them from
their purpose. An angel appears and
with drawn sword warns Lucifer that
his evil intent is known in heaven but
that the Most High will not permit
any harm to come to the iPastores.
Then follows the closing song OF the
first act with its melodious chorus:
20, bread of life!
O, bread of life!
| O. Lamb of God, the Messiah!
0, Lamb of God, the Messiah"
In the interval between the two
parts the rosy waxen figure of the
Christ Child which all this time has
lain quietly on the altar is passee
around to the people in its tiny cradle
to receive their homage and their OF
fefings.
Shepherds En- Route to Bethlehem
The second part opens with tn
shepherds still on their way to Bethle
hem. They have been joined by Gila
the hermit, and lazy Bartolo, and Ito
gether they march up and down il
the vacant space between the benches
singing the following song:
From the real Jerusalem
There rose brilliant star,
: To lead the shepherds onward
To Bethlehem afar."
! Lazy Bartolo lends his voice to th'
singing but he is always measure be
hind the others and SO perverts tn
words Of the song that he causes
much merriment among his hearers