(All the Fairies recite in concert:)
"Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night.
Christmas in lands of the fir tree and pine,
Christmas in lands of the palm tree and vine,
Christmas where snow-peaks stand solemn and white,
Christmas where corn fields lie sunny and bright!
Christmas where children are hopeful and gay,
Christmas where old men are patient and gray,
Christmas where peace, like a dove in his flight,
Broods o'er brave men in the thick of the fight.
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night!
For the Christ-child who comes is the master of all,—
No palace too great and no cottage too small."
(Enter last Fairy as if in great hurry. He rushes to his place without stopping to bow to the Queen as the others have done. He says:)
I know I'm late, but have been working very hard.
Queen—Where have you been?
Last Fairy—Helping Santa Claus. Oh, how we have worked! There were the dolls and drums and skates and books and dolls' carriages and toy engines and boats and wagons and candy and oranges and nuts and warm mittens and pop-corn and toy furniture and—and—Oh, so many things all to be packed in that little sleigh; and the reindeer to harness and—Oh, there will be some happy children tomorrow!
All—Welcome to dear old Christmas.
(All sing with school any suitable Christmas song. At end of song Queen leaves throne and, followed by Maids, Pages, and Fairies in procession, walks from room )
THE TRUE HOME OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
Germany is the children's paradise through the Christmas season, for this is the true home of the Christmas tree. So many of these are required that the raising of the trees is an extensive industry, and many train loads are carried to the cities in anticipation of the day. The market places appear almost like forests of evergreens that spring up at Christmas time. The tree is usually brought home and concealed in some cool place till the evening of the twenty-third, when it is placed in the most favorable position in the best room and the doors are closed. The next day the decoration begins. As the mother-hurries in and out of the room, the excitement of the children grows more and more intense, and the air of mystery pervading the whole house is one of the enjoyable features of the holiday season.
Christmas is the occasion of family reunions. Grandmother always has the place of honor. As the time approaches for enjoying the tree, she gathers her grandchildren about her to tell them the story of the Christ-child, with the meaning of the Christmas tree; how the evergreen is meant to represent the life everlasting, the candle lights to recall the light of the world, and the star at the top of the tree is to remind them of the Star of Bethlehem.
Meanwhile the father has been lighting the candles on the tree; and, as the story is finished, parents and children gather about the still closed door and sing a Christmas hymn. Then the doors are opened, and again all sing a hymn. Beneath the tree are little baskets of apples, candies, and nuts, each marked with the name of its owner. As the hymn is finished, the children rush for the tree, each selecting the basket marked with his name. The presents are then distributed, and after being duly admired are put away until the morning. The little ones give to parents and each other the gifts over which they have toiled so long, and the evening is finished with singing and games.
Here in America the children are apt to scorn a present that is strictly useful, but it is not so in Germany. Although each child is remembered with some little toy, the gifts are most of them practical. One child will receive a much needed
