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Christmas in the Deep Woods '

BYCLARE

PATCH. ' '

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It was a sparkling. happy day.” During the night a soft white blank- ; et had been spread over Mother c. Earth. Real Christmas weather.

The mistress of the little log cabin knelt upon the; long bench. which stood beneath the casement window. She was watching s. cheerful little white-breasted uuthatch. greedily eating suet. He peeked lndustriously with his slender bill. which was about as long as his head. Itlwas ifiiite amusing to see him come head fiast down the tree trunk, or cling tothe underside o; s limb, with his nefl hanging outward like a true acrobat. The suet ind been pounded into one bark of a big maple tree, scveralieet from the ground.

It was a treat ior_ Mr. Nuthatch to have h\§_ mmls set before him. Usually hc-hsd i0 seek everywhere in the crevbcs oi’ the bark. for the insects which constituted his princ- ipal food.

Now he was joined by his cousin Mr. Downy Woodpecker and they cniiped gaiiy over their luscious re-

But the eyes oi the silent figure at the window rwere no longer upon them. They e day-dreaming" looking upon rd pictures of the mind. What did she see there.

The iirst pidsure she saw was of a beautiiul green island. lying like a green jewel upon the crystal blue water oi a largie lake. nestling in the bosom oi the hills, > ,

The sewnd picture had changed it for now the snow lay in feathery softness over the winter-killed ver- dure. ‘Those gentle white ladies. the birch trees, were silent in sleep-their whispering foliage had perished with the change oi’ the seasons. ‘The children of the evergreen family- ihe spruce. the hamlock. the Dine. the balsam. the cedar, were also in their du‘l- green sleep. How gener- ous oi them to retain their garments as shelter for the forest creatures.

The picture contained also a little

loo-cabin. made oi cedar logs stood ‘upright. one beside the other. The

mow law upon the rooi’ and hung dripping over its edge. like the de- licic-iis white icing on the Christmas cake. It clung in the crevices be- tween the logs and lay upon the window ledge like the cotton debs. which were put on the branches oi’ the Loonetttwefs Christmas tree. Now the pictures faded and move- ing figures without. running joyous- iy through the snow, reminded the mistress that the Inonettes were re- turning from school ior their lunch-

cons.

A Willi/s Ohristlnss-isryt it just "sniffy" called the biggest Inonetw. She was attending high-school and lmew alithe latest slang! “Where are my skis?"

"Mine too. choc-used the others.

"Children dear, I have been think- ing how lovely it would be to mend Christmas at the lake." dreainily spoke the mistress. ,

The children gazed at her open- mouthed. for they had as yet never spent a Christmas away from home.

"But-then we'll have no Christ- mas tree." suggested the M81118 unmet-is.

“would Santa Claus find us there?" Inquired the littlest Loon- ette.

"Who can be a good sport and will take a chance at leaving home?" asked the istress. The biggest Loon- ette saw e twinkle in the mistress eyes and was the first w, answer. “count on me!"

The week end came and into the dunnage bags. wrapped within the heavy blankets. the Mistress tucked many mysterious parcels. Skis were strapped to the top oi’ the motm‘. bags and youngsters piled with!!! and they were oii. ‘rhere would be

Just time enough ‘to catch‘ the daily train into the hill country.

Old Alec, the French liabitant, met the train at the ‘snow enshroud- ed little station. He was wraPPfld to his nose in a wooly scarf and cap and dressed like a her-jack in high boots and warm plaid jacket and leather mitts. _

Landing them at the wharf in the ice-rimmed little bay. he wished them a “Joyeaux Nopl."

Soon the naturemsn had a fire roaring in the wood -stcve and a hurried lunch was sewed. The Loon- ette's were eager wliie on the crys- tal-covered white trails‘.

The mistress and lthe natureman unpacked the bags and made up the cotspointlng to theanysterious par- cels; the natureman inquired the meaning of them. 0w would you like to play Santa us?" she in- quired? The natu an grinned while she enthusiast.‘ lly explained

something to him. with many lallsh- _

ing gestures.

When early evenin approached. the Looneties trustfu. y hung each woolen stocking on thelmantle shell. They were soon snu. gled deeply within the warm dc oi their blankets. l *

The mistress and the natureman now strapped on snowshi and with bags over their should s. Slipped out in the brilliance of‘. the crisp whiter night. Old man oon looked down brightly upon th and his eyes seemed to twinkle m 57111981111!’- " How peaceful, how fender the night is." breathed the mistress. She began in sing softly the sweet old

words or that exquisite melody: “Silent 1118M. Hull! lllfim"

The lantern beamswere not need- ed. tor the moon's sort iradiance made plenty. \

q see some “f, your friends are still about." “id fihe mill-Mn“- as he pointed his ilashlamp-wward the ground. The mimress saw the cries-cross tracks o! many little loot- pnms markink the snowy trell- Whiiefooted mouse. Red-backed mouse. link, Snowshoe rabbit.‘ Red squirrel, foxntheir slg- tures were printed plainly ior all to see.

Going on a little farther. the circle from the lilashbrnl) disclosed a, gruesome sight. A trampled patch of reddened snow and asmall bean oi feathers. told the stnrynf a forest.

tragedy. "A fox has made e. feast oi '

an ow ." said the naturqnsih- . "The owl preys on theanouse. they fox 0n the sadly mulled the

She called‘ to the mum... who had stepped of the trail to look at a crackinanoidplsie treemadeby

the sharp frost. n ma! suddenly -‘ ‘ '

startled them with sJcud explosive boom. "Wait ior a few minutes Diel- ac."

Alone. with eyes following the gleam oi nel- light cast upon the

ground. the mistress uttered an ex»

clamaticn. Now she passed into H little glen. "Dear. mossy 819113’ Bile whispered and then stood still and gazed at the old tree stump. will?!“ over with its snow quilt. “Little wood folk. little Inchtmps, are you asleep?’ As ii in answer a little breem rust- eled the silent branches above. You have been carrying owl feathers for your beds. ior I have traced those you dropped. to your very door! Sleep Sweet."

Wrapped in her blankets later. the mistress listened sleepily. and oh so happily. to the church bells, which chimed to the remembrance of the birth of the Christ Child. The sounds drifted through the clear air from the far away village church.

Morning so soon! The mistrem ex- pelled her frosty breath. then poked her reddened nose under the covers. soon. however she looked about on hearing suppressed 8188105! "Child- ren. 'you'l1 catch your death of colds" But a ‘chorus of Merry Christ- mas" greeted her and bulging stock- ings were held up for i-IIBPNUW;

The naturman now appeared clothed in his outdoor garments and soon he had a roaring fire charted, which waruned'up the little log cab-

in.

"I suggest a walk into the wood’s after breakfast." said the mistress. A smile hovered around herlips and she glanced with amusement at the natureman. For upon the faces of the Ioonettes. gloomy expressions had settled.

As breakfast was finished, a loud knock sounded at the -door. There stood old Alec his frost bitten face wrcathed in smiles. as he shouted

kkkak-‘A-an vvvvwvwvvv*

as‘ v-v

AliYuletidel;

Characters: Little Girl. Father Christmas The Red X Nurse

Tom y m Sunshine

Fairy

The Silver Fairy Mr. Bracken Brown Green Goblin

The Fairy ‘Postman

The Little New Year Little GirL-In scenes l and 8. should wear e. pair oi gay striped

Dylfi-mss; in scene 2. little frock.

any dainty

father Christmas. 4 Wears the

_ usual long red coat. tall red pointed

hat and a white beard. The Red XiNui-se-Wears whlic dress. apron with a redgx and a

nurse's cap. \

a Timl-Iainade up to look as fun- IIY 38 lléssible with a green baize SDXOIL/yery big boots. and a very large cap. " .

i;

SUNSHINE FAIRY. The Sunshine Fairy-Has a frock of yel- low or gold. and wings. (A piece oi chif- fon or tulle

die oi her back and then round each wrist. ,is the simplest and prettiest way t o in a k e

wings. . The Silver Fairy-Wears frock of white or silver. and wings oi silver

gause.‘ ' MR. BBACKEN BROWN

Mr. Bracken Brown-has an overall suit. oi brown ~ oase- ment cloth. a peaked brown- cap and tiny brown wings oi the same mat- erial over card- board. The elv- es and goblins can wear masks. or else paint» t h e i1 faces fantasti- wily

Green Goblin-Esme as’ Bracken

Brown, only

mas andTom can be same Person ii’

N may be more fairies and- if more children wish to

take part.

flTbo RcdXNurseinsceneZcanY

also. take the part oi

green. . - The Little New Year-is all in white. with while wings. The characters oi Father Chrlst-‘

taken by the

one oil the

fairies in scenes 1 and 8.

If there are too many characters, The Silver Fairy, and the Green Goblin may be left out with very

little hrouble.

M55173 VAX!!- AND RISTLIS!

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red or blue. wltha post- man's cap. and wings on his heels.

Scene 1".—For.

When the "curtain goes. up, the SW89 is in darkness. It is Little Girl's bedroom. In a corner of the room she lies fast ssleepinher little bed. There is a tiny "nisht-iisht burningon a table by her side. In the centre o! the room..stands a Christmas tree —not n " ' very largeone-Aiali d tinsel and other gay ts.

There are three tapssiptbs door, As no one answers thempit i8. very slowly pushed open. andiin walks Father Christmas with a sack oi Drcschts on his back. He advances towards the .bed. ’

Father Christmas. —' "An, 1m;

. asleep. bless her little heart! A pity

to disturb her. I'll Just leave my contribution towards her tree ior the little sick Children and proceed with my Journey as quickly g3 p05- slble. 'I‘o tliink that Christmas Eve is here again! How the years fly by. to be sure! Weill Well! Well! A Merry Christmas l0 everyone! Levsseewhatlcanilndinmysaek to make it merrier ior Little Girl and her friends. Ah! here's a nice nobbly parcell", '

(KB Proceeds t0 Pile up a dozen or more Parcels from his sack around the tree.)

- Children never open a nice, flat, “d? Pa"! m! they've discovered what is in all the ‘queer-shaped GWWB-IIDI are just the

‘(Hetiptoes over,to the bed.) ‘And new to flll her stocking. Buser and spice and all that! nice,

. f". .1 little sirl- 1 suppose. But when

it comes m "little jboys~l wonder

WW1 Wellld happens 1 filled u. ir stockings with snipe and snails stead

PFIPPY (1083 tails? Knowing little‘

boys-for once on a day‘ l was one "WWII-I expect they would get even with me somehow!" (He waves his wand over the sleeping child.) "' Llttlébz/Jll Kiri. Uri/our little white

Tin Waving y Wm"... your 8.... I - den he , Everylhins htnpy and Joyous and

b BEY- Shali a??? to you on this Christmas K999 Y0!!!‘ eyes closed. for you must not yet see. l The Fairy folk dance in a ring round - the tree. . I'm Old Father Christmas - and tho‘ I'm so old-

. I 10W! ygls. because your heart is oi

8°

g t sec-lunar)! y r 1.117115 "GIRL. AND THE FAIRIESII

P-O-O-O-OQ-fi-O-OO-Oifi-QO-f

wo-M-rwkooe-cuwwioweeaoeo-o-oomvovetoc ' And I kneel and I kissfyoul- ' little

white hand. ‘ And I leave you dreaminginFail-y- land!" '

(Son. gay music is played ‘on a gramophone, or a piano. or even a musical box. Sunshine Fairy. Brac- ken Brown. and any number of girls dressed as Phil-lee, and boys dressed as Brown or Green Goblins

' with comic masks, come dancing

into the room and‘ circle hand in hand round the tree. ‘Suddenly they stop.) The Sunshine Fairy:—- “I am the Sunshine Fairy! The Sunshine Fairy Ii Where ever I pass The Sun shines out. And the clouds . Go rolling by." - _ (They dance on again. As they stop the second time. Mr. Bracken Brown speaks.) 1' . Mr. Bracken Brown:- “I am the friend Oi all little children, From Fairyland » I have just flown down! If Little Girlwoke- Why! 0i course she'd know me, I'm Mr. Bracken Brown!" (They dance on.‘ As they-stop-the

third time the Iairywith Silver‘

wings speaks.) ' The Silver Fairy:-

"I am the Fairy

With Silver Wings.

I bring all

The Beautiful things. . Presents for girls ~

And presents ior boys-

Books and chocolates, _ Bweets and toys." .

(Theydance round again. As they stop the fourth time, Green Goblin speaks.) ' y I .

Green Goblin (very dramatically) "I am Green Goblin! Green Goblin! And I love the children of Earth.- Whether they're rich or poor. HBPPY or lonely. ill or well,

Good or bad. . I bring them mirth!"

(They danced round again. As they stop for the ilith time. a very tiny person speaks. She breaks away from the ring and runs over in the

‘ sleeping Little Girl.)

The Tiny may. , (yer? softly, bending over her-bed.)- “I am the littlest Falmdear.

In iact.‘Little Girl. I verymuch (ear, Itsaweek toosooniormetobe here, - ‘ ' Because. N011 see. I'm the Little New

. Year!" .

(As she fnishes spcakin g, she‘ kisses Little Girl's hand! and tip- toes out oi the room. All the other; fellow her. and Fathei“; Christmas steals after them. The music isstill

. Playing as he switches oi! the light

and the curtain goes down-pg ii», rose--on Little Girl still asleep in her little white bed.) q

Scene 2.—Ward.

It is Christmas morning. Little Girl is discovered in the centre of the Stage. putting the finishing touches to the tree.)

Little Girl (Surveying her work)‘

“Yes. it does look pretty! And so

_ 4 _.-.. .._._ __.__ ____ ____j

.

SAYLOF COWS! Hi8 WATCH sron. eousrs IF "mu o rr m m: ‘nus. vows

i cnmsmn Adam. - \

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CHRISTMAS POULTRY BIG BARGAINS

7.

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= Murnas. ‘mas: ccurounusu CLOCKS usvm AORII. new wmcu is

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Discuss‘

(With lines and s

EKG Santa Claus makes ready

For his Joy-ride round the earth.

And plays his most important part

In all the Chrlstmasmirth. '

He gets to work in earnest.

And he sits up very late. - . - " _, new and novel gifts ' P And toys right up-w-date. -

He's well aware that fashions change 1» From dolls to golliwogm‘ From curly. cuddy Teddy-bears.

To dismal-Desmond dogs.

And stacked sky-high in Reindeer Land Arc memory-jogging notes.

Relating to the motor craze. ~ . In cycles, cars, and boats. i .

lie knew at once how hard it was _ ' To chmse-twixt railw y-trains

And swift toy-aeroplanes. g " And deep down in his snowy beard, He smiled as he recalled The distant days when donkey-carts The nurseries enthralled.

.

But though these changes. year by year, In playrooms still take place,

And round the world ior novel toys. Old Santa Claus will chase; v And though he watches, twinkling-eyed, The autos and the ’pisnes,

He sinks the deeper in his sleigh,

And flnner grips the reins.

For “Safety First." says Santa Claus, "My motto o'er must be; . " "No speeding risks for me!" , "I guess I'll get there all the ENG-r ~~ "No speeding risks ior me." = - So up and down the‘ hills and vaies, The jingling chariot glides, _ As thus it has been travelling on. For countless Christmsstides. The same old sleigh, the same old way.

. ' the same old story tell-l; - ' ~ And Santa Claus still joy-rides to» "'

the tune oi rein deer bells. i -

hristmas JoylRide

(By Helen Sevret) . V -

-." ' , w.

-box complete

kind oi Father Christmas to bring me all those lovely nobbly parcels. They do look exciting. I can hardly wait ior the moment when "Tom carries the tree into the sick chil- dren's ward. when Grannie told me I could have a Christians party and arrange it all myself, she never ex- pectedthatlshouldhavetogoto the house of my little guests, be- cause my little guests are too ill to get out oi their beds and come to

a...

(A car is heard honking impati- entlysoutslde.) -

Little Girlz-Jt must be Tom!"

(Into the room runs a Red x Nurse, followed by a comic porter wearing s green apron and boots many sizes too large for him.)

The Red X-Nursez-“Little Girli Little Girli I'm so excited about your party. I could hardly sleep a wink last night. In the ward the children are all sitting up in bed, eagerly waiting ior the surprise I've promised them. The taxi is outside. and I've brought Tom along to help us. Have you wished Little Girl a Happy Christmas, 1pm?" ,~

(She looks round for Tom. who, meanwhile. has thrown himself on to Little Girl's bed and is snoring loudly. The Nurse shakes him.)

The Red X Nursez-"Why, Tom, whatever are you thinking of? Get up at once. I never heard o! such behaviour."

Tom (Sitting up very wearily.)— "I iound a very comfle nest!

I thought fdsnatch a little rest. No one can work the whole day long You know I'm very far from strong."

The Red X Nursm-"What non- sense. Thomas! Get up at once! I brought you here to work, ‘not to rest!”

Tomz-"Ivs very kind of you. I'm

. T. _

(He runrup to mu tree in a sprightly manner.)

‘lbma-"Heave Bu! My Heartiesi Heavldjioi Now. than. all together.

(He staggers out with the tree. The car. is heardimpaiiently honk- ing awsy-below) i v ‘

__'I‘om:-¢ ~ . 'v ._

“Foor old ‘Thomas will grow much

ml. magic-mums a i... a , an xmudinnsi-r»

(Little Girl eatahetlm her hat and runs from the room after Tom closely) Vfollcwed by the Red x

Scene Spionvard

It is New Year's Eve. Little Girl lies once more asleep-in her bed, In one ‘corner of. the room. almost hlddenfrom view. the Tiny Fairy crouohss‘ fast». asleep.’ Music is heard. and .in. steal all the other Fairies and seat themselves cross- icgged on the floor in-front of the stage. .~ -

Sunshinsw-"Littie Girli"

Mr. Bracken Brown: -- "Little Girli"

The Sliver sail-y (Very softly and '

quioklwz-“Iuittls Girli“

Green "Little Girl!"

(One after-the other.)

(Little Girl stirs in her bed.)

Little Girlz-"Wllo oalh? 0h. dear! How very sleepy psepy I icel. Iwonder. . .I-wonder.. .li thcFairies...wili...oomeio me . . . again . . ginmyndealncrs." (She d9“! ofl.) ‘ Sunshine. Mr. Bracken Brown, The Silver Fairy. Orkn Goblin. (Aiwletheht-Littls Girli"

.(She sits up in bed with puzzled

eyes.) _ _ , _ » umeouir-"somssouly called m3.