Milford chronicle., 1925-12-18
AN OLD FASHIONED
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
By Marjorie Howe Dixon
wM n Y Y y 4 Y x &*E

%xMw**@*** - ***%%@
A simple fireplace arrange9mIe5nI
will make a pleasant and suitabl
back ground for the Christmas Pr
gram herein suggested tor III
school room. The selections 10 D
read. or acted, group themselves ma
urallv about the hearth. Chlldrel
love to dress up and may do so 10
the singing of the carols as well d
for the acting.
The Christmas carols suggeste'
are old favorites. others may o
substituted or added where tn
teacher finds it advisable. The pr
gram will be briefly as follows:
1. Christmas Music. ut cam
upon the midnight clear"
2. Selection from SnoW-Boun'
by Whitaker. o., :,
Dickens, the scene, Bob Cratchlt
Christmas. -.
4. Twas the Night Before Christ
mas.
s. Christmas Music. Holy Night
Silent Night.
Costumes for the Christmas music
can be similar to those used for the
Dickens sketch. The first verse ol
the old hymn ct came upon the
midnight clear" is as follows:
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
The angels bending near the eartt
Their wondrOus story told;
Peace on the earth, giood will tc
men,
For heavens all gracious King;
The world is solemn stiffness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Other Christmas songs may be
added here or instrumental music.
"Snow-Bound" a Winter Idyl by
John Greenleaf Whittier, should be
appropriately announced. Two small
pages or heralds might do this, OF
one of the members of the cast
might come before the curtain and
give the title.
The copy of Snow-Bound at hand
shows an excellent picture of the
fireplace in Whittier's home, which
would assist in constructing the
stage setting already. suggested.
OF course the poem is too long
to be given in full. 1t would need
to be cut. The boys would probably
like the first parts, and the girls
could take up the part starting with
"Shut in from all the world without
We sat the clean-winged hearth
about"
Different actions for the group are
suggested in the lines:
We sped the time with stories old
Wrought puzzles out, and riddles
told
Or stammered from our school
book lore, etc.
The aunt and uncle could be given
but perhaps not in full, and the
master of the district school.
ANOTHER guest could be omitted
to advantage and the poem taken
up at this point:
AT last the great logs crumbling
low
Sent out a dull and duller glow.
and finish with the description of
the Doctor.
If any slight changes are neces-
sary for the stage instrumental
music could come next, before the
youthful pages announce: A Christ
mas Carol by Charles Dickens,
Stave Three.
A reader for the descriptive parts
will be necessary and he can sit at
one side of the stage in front of the
curtain. For it would never do to
omit, Then up Rose Mrs. Cratchit.
Bob Cratchit's wife, dressed out but
poorly in a twice-turned gown, but
brave in ribbons which are cheap
and make a goodly show for six
pence, etc.
The first action will be shown in
pantomine, while the reader gives
the first long paragraph. Mrs.
first line starts, What
has ever got your precious father,
then?
The dialogue continues in lively
until the reader takes up
The tale with Bob's voice was trem-
ulous as he told them this, and
continues with the Christmas din
1er, the actors performing in panto-
mine.
The dialogues starts again with A
Merry Christmas to us all, my dears
God bless us.
The parts of Scrooge and the
spiri6 seem necessary to the story
md can be acted by two children
,r read 5y Tie reader. A last para
graph seems to close the pretty lit
lie episode nicely with Scrooge had
his eye upon them and especially |
IN Tiny Tim, until the last. /
The next selection on the pro-
gram can be omitted especially If |
n the school room giving this pro- |
,ram, this old favorite has been \
lone to death. If it hasn't been
siven for some time a very small
,hild might try it and win his share
# applause.
More music might be added t =
he last part Of the program. TheSl
ong suggested, Holy Night, Silent
Night, would be a happy finish as