The White Christmas and other Merry Christmas Plays

SCENE: _No scene at all. The action takes place in front of the closed curtains. Note: During this act the managers should be arranging the stage for the next act._

_The children who are present in the audience should be given seats down in front. At this point they rise and go upon the stage in front of the curtain and sing, accompanied by a chorus of older children behind the scenes. An adult leader may appear with the children. All sing, marching around platform and acting out the song:_

FOLLOW ME, FULL OF GLEE.

Movement Song.

[Music illustration:

1. Chil-dren go, to and fro, In a mer-ry, pret-ty row: Foot-steps light, fa-ces bright, 'Tis a hap-py, hap-py sight; Swift-ly turn-ing round and round.[A] Do not look up-on the ground,

2. Birds are free, so are we, And we live as hap-pi-ly; Work we do, stud-y, too, Learn-ing dai-ly some-thing new; Then we laugh, and dance, and sing, Gay as birds or an-y-thing:

3. Work is done, play's be-gun, Now we have our laugh and fun: Hap-py days, pret-ty plays, And no naught-y, naught-y ways. Hold-ing fast each oth-er's hand, We're a hap-py, cheer-ful band;

CHORUS.

Fol-low me, full of glee, Sing-ing mer-ri-ly. Sing-ing mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, Sing-ing mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, mer-ri-ly, Fol-low me, full of glee, Sing-ing mer-ri-ly.]

[Footnote A: They all twirl around.]

(_The music continues softly as they resume their seats in the audience. After a pause the_ WISHING MAN _sticks his head out from the curtains. He takes one step in front, bows, then skips down to front and bows again._)

Wishing Man. Hello, little boys and girls, how do you do this fine winter night? I know what each of you has been thinking. You've been wishing that _you_ could meet the Wishing Man and that he would make _your_ wishes come true. Now, haven't you? Well, I've made that wish come true. You wished to meet me, and here I am. I've been watching you all the year in Sunday School. I know how you have worked over your lessons, how you have helped your teachers and how punctual you have been. To be sure, I know some of you haven't helped your teachers as much as you could have done, but I'll forget all that at Christmas time. Now tell me what you wish for most.

Children. (_in audience who have previously rehearsed this scene_) A Christmas tree. A look at old Santa Claus. Some nice Christmas presents, etc.

Wishing Man. Stop, stop. I can't attend to so many wishes at once.

LITTLE GIRL (_rising_). Please, Mr. Wishing Man, couldn't you tell us what we'd better wish for?

Wishing Man. Have you ever had a great, big Christmas tree?

Children. Oh, yes, lots of times.

Wishing Man. Have you ever seen my old friend, Mr. Santa Claus?

Children. Oh, yes.

LITTLE BOY. We see him every year at Christmas.

Wishing Man. How would like to go with me to Wishing Land.

Children. Oh, goody! (_Clapping hands._) That would be fine. Can you take us there?

Wishing Man. Of course I can. And that's just what we'll do. We'll all of us go to the Wishing Land. First, I'll call little Dumpling. Dumpling, little Dumpling, where are you?

BIG DUMPLING _comes in from behind the curtains._

Big D. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. I was playing with my little horse and wagon. (_He plays with tiny horse and wagon._)

Wishing Man. And how do you like being a great, big Dumpling?

Big D. Well, not very well. I'm always bumping my head on the doors and things. And all my toys are so very little I'm always breaking them.

Wishing Man. Where is your sister? Where is little Tootsy?

BIG TOOTSY _enters._

Big T. Here, Mr. Wishing Man. I'm here. Me and my little dolly.

Wishing Man. Well, little Tootsy, how do you like being a great, big Tootsy?

Big T. I don't like it very well. My clothes don't seem to fit, and I know I look awfully funny. (_To audience._) Don't I? Everybody laughs at me and it always makes me cry. (_Cries._)

Wishing Man. And where is little Snookie Ookums?

BIG SNOOKUMS _enters._

Big S. Here I am, Mr. Wishing Man. Here's 'ittie Snookie Ookums.

Wishing Man. You look like a 'ittie baby elephant, Snookie Ookums. Well, are you children satisfied with your wish?

The Three. Not very much. We wish we were little again.

Big S. (_crying_). I tried to ride my little horsie and I bweaked him all to pieces.

Big D. And I can't get enough to eat. My little knife and fork and spoon are too little, and when I eat I swallow dishes and all. (_Cries._)

Big T. And all my clothes are too little for me, and I look so funny that everybody laughs at me. And I don't like it at all. (_Cries._)

Wishing Man. I'm just going to start on a journey to the Wishing Land. The toys there are awfully big. They'd be just the right size for you. Would you like to go with me?

Big S. Is it very far?

Big D. Could we get back by bedtime?

Big T. Wouldn't it be awfully cold flying through the air?

Wishing Man. Oh, no. We'd fly so fast you'd only have time to shiver once and then we'd be right there.

The Three. Oh, yes; let's go.

Wishing Man. All right. Now all of you part your hair right in the middle, so you won't be heavier on one side than on the other. (_They do so._) That's good. Now give me your hands and hold on tight and we're off to the Wishing Land. Follow me, full of glee.

(_All sing the first verse and chorus of "Follow Me, Full of Glee," accompanied by the children in the audience. At the end all dance off the stage at R._)