Good Times With The Juniors - free ebook by Lilian M. Heath

GOOD TIMES WITH THE JUNIORS

Good Times With The Juniors By LILIAN M. HEATH United Society of Christian Endeavor Boston and Chicago Copyright, 1904, By GEORGE B. GRAFF...

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Preface

“Good times” may be either work or play. But work and play—who shall define them truly? Our block houses, toy engines, and dolls once seemed intensely real and important to us. They are not so now. In the same way, as we grow into the still larger consciousness, into the “life more abundant,” much that we now regard as of grave moment will take on a new aspect, and we shall see that it was only play. But play is blessed, and necessary to the very growth that discards it. A dear enthusiast in cer

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Santa Claus Drill. By Imogen A. Storey.

What would “good times” amount to in any well-regulated Junior society if they did not begin and end with the Christmas holidays? We begin, then, with a particularly jolly little drill for Christmas; and, as the girls so often have these matters all their own way, we will try for a change letting the boys be foremost this time. They will enjoy the fun of playing Santa. The Sunday-school primary class, too, must be drawn upon.—L. M. H. An equal number of tiny boys and girls are to be used for the

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Red-Line Jubilee.

It is worth a great deal to have the right kind of memory. Although there are more bright spots than shadows in our lives, we are apt to forget this, and let the wrong kind of memory fasten itself upon us quite unawares. Many would be surprised, if they kept a record, to see how far the days with at least some gleams of gladness outnumbered the “days that are dark and cold and dreary.” Try it. For a “red-line jubilee” you need to begin a year beforehand. At New Year’s, or just before, each Junio

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A Rope Social.

This is best fun when held in a barn, or a large attic, if stairways, etc., are safe; and it will prove a good opportunity to “rope in” new members, or at least to make those who are not members wish that they were. There is no programme, though Christian Endeavor songs at the beginning and close are in order at every Junior social. Girls may bring their skipping-ropes; and, if the place admits of swings, by all means put up several stout ones. Introduce the game of “rope ring-toss,” or “grommet

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People of the Play

Kit Loring , a boy of twelve . Joscelin Stacey , a boy of ten . Maysie Loring , a girl of eleven . Gillian Stacey , a girl of twelve . The Good Giant Greatbig. The Three Happy Little Giants. The Giant’s Baby. Jack the Giant-Lover. The Sand Man. The Kind Bear. The Obliging Ogre. The Dear Dragon. The Honest Robber. The Motherly Giantess. The Friendly Witch. Time: This Very Minute. Scene : Act I.—The Wood. Scene : Act II.—The Castle of Giant Greatbig....

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Costumes

Kit , Joscelin , Maysie , Gillian : Summer clothing, of the present fashion. Giant : A father, uncle, or big brother, tall, deep-voiced. Scarlet shirt, loose, elephant-colored jacket and knickerbockers, scarlet hose, rough shoes. Needless to say, he should be stuffed out as much as possible. A scarlet sash stuck full of swords and daggers. An alarm-clock, with a brass chain, in his breast-pocket. Beard black and full, mustache large and fierce, eyebrows corked heavily, nose and cheeks reddened.

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Scenery

Act. I. Scene 1. The best trees are real ones, saplings and evergreens, cut the morning before the performance. Painted scenery of course should be used to help out. Palms and shrubs can be rented for the evening. A great many pieces of candy—say, molasses drops wrapped in tissue-paper—should be laid in the branches of the sugar-plum tree. The bean-stalk can be made of three good-sized poles, set close together in openings cut through the stage. The tops should go up out of sight of the audience

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ACT I.

— A clearing in a thick wood. Left, the bean-stalk; right, the sugar-plum tree and the telephone tree. The four children , Kit , Joscelin , Maysie , Gillian , are discovered, with their clothes somewhat torn and mussed. The girls are seated on a fallen log. An open and empty lunch-basket lies before them. The boys, armed with sticks, are moving about. At the rise of the curtain Maysie is sobbing . Kit. Cheer up, sis. What’s the use of crying? It isn’t so very late, is it, Jos? We can’t be many m

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ACT II.

— A room in Giant Greatbig’s Castle. Rear, left, window; fireplace, with lighted candle on the mantel, centre; door, right, rear. Bare wooden floor. Left, a big cradle, containing the Giant’s baby. A rocking-chair next the cradle. Right, a rude table, on it a drinking-mug as large as a bucket. Smoke-stained walls. At the rise, a ring-around dance is going on to lively music. Those dancing are the Giant , the Bear , the Dear Dragon , the Obliging Ogre , and the four lost children. The Motherly Gi

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Orange Social.

Have bunches of yellow flowers pinned to draperies and in other places where the romping will not cause breakages. All the other decorations, as far as possible, should be of the same cheerful hue. Some one may give a brief talk describing “The Children that Live where Oranges Grow,” illustrated by stereopticon or by some of the Perry Pictures. This, if carefully prepared, can be made very interesting to children of colder climates than those of sunny Italy and our own South. Missionary features

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A Flower Show.

Each boy or girl represents a flower. Every one jots down the names of the other guests and the names of the flowers which he supposes they are. The reward for the most names might be a dozen roses, and for the least a pair of sunflowers, or a bunch of squash-blossoms, or a geranium growing in a bright-colored tin can. Here are some hints for costumes: 1. Pennyroyal. An English penny hung from the neck by a ribbon. 2. Oxeye. A target painted on a card. An arrow is sticking through the “bull’s-ey

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An Evening with “Ads.”

Set the Juniors to collecting clever pictorial advertisements, omitting, of course, the liquor and tobacco ones. Each might learn what facts he can, of general interest, regarding the trade-mark chosen or the business represented in connection with the pictures he has selected. Then the Juniors invite their friends, young and old, to a social “evening with ads.” The pictures are pinned by the Juniors to a large sheet previously fastened to the wall. After they have been thoroughly examined by th

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A “Jap” Social.

Have you ever seen the pretty little Japanese cottages in Jackson Park, Chicago, with their quaint decorations looking as if they had been transported in some really magical way from the land of the lotus blossom? It was looking at these that gave me the idea of a “Jap social” for the Juniors. Arrange Japanese fans, parasols, and lanterns about the room, lay down strips or rugs of Japanese matting, and partition off various cosey nooks with Japanese screens. Have no chairs, but plenty of cushion

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Sky-Parlor Reception, No. 1.

AN attic is usually a wonderland of delight to any normal child, whether a reader of Sara Crewe’s charming adventures or not; but it is a wonderland too little explored. A large, clean, light, old-fashioned attic may be utilized in turn for a reception-hall, curiosity-shop, library, work-room, dramatic recital, and romping-ground. Its possibilities are great, and would fill several afternoons. One such occasion might be as follows: Let the Juniors be received with more or less ceremony by the co

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Sky-Parlor Reception, No. 2.

This time a corner of the attic is transformed into a representation of Sara Crewe’s odd little room, so cleverly and mysteriously changed from dismal bareness to cosey luxury by the East Indian friend next door. There should be a cot, cushions, rugs, draperies, quaint Oriental ornaments, and last, but not least, the three essentials—Sara herself, her long-suffering doll, and the monkey. A toy monkey will do. The story may be read—and more or less acted, if desired—for the entertainment of the c

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A Pastery Party.

Be very mysterious in your remarks about what is to go on at this party, answering all questions by whispering in the ears of your friends: “Why, don’t you know what a pastery party is like? I’m really surprised!” There is pastry and pastry. A pastery party, to keep the secret no longer, is a scrap-book party, nothing more. O, but it’s fun! Try it. Get hold of a lot of illustrated periodicals; the more guests you have, the more magazines you need. If you can find colored picture cards besides, a

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A Pillow-Fight.

To prepare for this, the Juniors will be busy collecting “ammunition” for some time, from all quarters—woods and fields, garden and lawn, library and sewing-room. When there is enough, they can have their pillow-fight. In fact, they may need to have several of them. First, the various pillows, or cushions, must be made. The girls can first make the plain, square, muslin foundation bags, and then embroider covers for them, or they can make the covers by sewing bright ribbons together in strips, o

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A Good-Luck Social.

For a late October social, perhaps for a Hallowe’en frolic, this will be liked by many; but it is good at any time of the year. A good-luck fairy, or witch, in a long red cloak and high pointed hat, should be mistress of ceremonies. If the time is Hallowe’en, the rooms may be lighted with Jack-o’-lanterns. One doorway may have a portière of apples hung on strings of different lengths. The tallest Juniors are to stoop and “bite” for those hanging on the longest strings; the shorter ones reach for

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Making Valentines.

If some of the Juniors wish to surprise their friends, or the inmates of their pet charitable institutions, with kind thoughts in the form of valentines, those made by themselves are sure to be most acceptable; and then, too, it is such fun to make them! The materials needed are white and colored paper, including gilt and silver paper, also paste and scissors. One has first to cut the colored paper into squares, which may then be folded into quarters and the quarters into triangles; then cut the

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A New Kind of Dinner-Party.

This was one of the invitations: Dear Bertol: I hope you will not think it odd if I ask you to be either a table-furnishing or something to eat at my dinner-party. Will you be kind enough to be served at my house two weeks from to-night; that is, Tuesday, October sixth, nineteen hundred and three, at half-past seven? And, if you accept, will you not please let me know what you choose to be? Hungrily your friend, L. Bettina Arned . 45 Muscovy Street, Tuesday, September twenty-second. About thirty

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Jack-Knife and Scissors Party.

The boys all bring their jack-knives, of course, and the girls their scissors. Other tools and materials, provided by the committee, are a pile of white pine boards knocked from old boxes; a bundle of tissue-paper and crape paper; some cardboard; a pot of glue; some wire, pins, tacks, small nails, and hammers. Rewards are offered to the boy and the girl who at the end of two hours have made the most useful or ingenious articles. There is a wide range. Wooden spoons, plates, toothpicks, paper-cut

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Reception at Curlycue Castle.

Invite the Juniors to a reception at Curlycue Castle, giving date, hour, and street address, but no other particulars. When they arrive, they are introduced to the Queen—or King—of the Curlycues. This important personage is dressed in a more or less fantastic costume, in which the most conspicuous feature is profuse ringlets made of lovely light golden shavings; and carries a sceptre or wand, which in explaining the games, etc., is waved about in a style full of curves and curls, peculiarly its

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“Polly Pitcher” Social.

This is a missionary “jug-breaking” in which the mite-boxes, in the form of tiny gilded jugs or pitchers, are all fastened to various portions of an imposing rag or pillow doll, the size of a grown person, if possible, named “Polly Pitcher.” Polly is fond of jewelry, and wears bracelets, necklace, earrings, and even a nose-ring, all composed of the mite-boxes. As the Juniors know well for what purpose they have been saving, this is a time for rejoicing and merrymaking rather than for set speeche

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House-Book.

When my sister was a little girl, she had one play that always gave her unfailing delight. It was her “house-book” as she called it, and I am sure the Juniors, especially the younger ones, would enjoy the fascinating play-work as much as she did, and the “houses” thus concocted might be given to a children’s hospital, where they would serve as fairy palaces for the tired little sufferers to dwell in. The brown cover of Daisy’s house-book was nothing ornamental; in fact, the book, to begin with,

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A Parlor Athletic Meet.

Send the Juniors an invitation reading somewhat like this: “You are invited to enter one or all of the athletic events of the Parlor Athletic Club, on Wednesday evening, November third, at 65 Sycamore Street. Everybody will break training at the end of the meet. “ Bertrand C. Frost , Field Marshal . “ October twenty-fifth, 1903. ” As each guest enters the front door, the scorer should put down the guest’s name, number it, and pin on his back a plainly numbered card. As he enters the parlor or di

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A Tropical Fair.

For decorations use the graceful Florida moss if it can be procured; if not, tissue-paper orange blossoms are pretty. Palms and similar potted plants may be placed here and there. Have a pond made of a large mirror with the frame covered with foliage, and in or on the pond should be a number of pond-lily needle-books and penwipers; these the Juniors can easily make of white and green cloth for petals and leaves, with bits of yellow wool in the centre. There may also be in the pond some frog-shap

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Washington’s Birthday.

In Miss Alcott’s “Jack and Jill” are described several good tableaux taken from scenes in the life of Washington. The cherry-tree episode is delightful; Washington crossing the Delaware, exciting; and the “Daughters of Liberty,” the “Surrender of Cornwallis,” the pathetic camp scene, “Washington at Trenton,” the Washington family, and the simulated statue of the “Minuteman,” all very effective. The detailed description would take too much space here, but the book is to be found in most libraries

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For the First of April.

Perhaps one of the Juniors has a printing-press; if so, this is a good chance to use it. Print hand bills asking “all the wise people” in town to come to your entertainment to be given the evening of April 1, naming the hall and the price of admission. Tickets should be distributed when asked for; as the hand-bills should announce, the tickets of admission are to be at a certain price, payable at the door as you go out, after the entertainment is over. This plan is in keeping with the rest of th

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Letter Social.

Label each Junior with a letter on his arrival. This may be done by having ready in advance small cards, each with a letter plainly painted on it and with a ribbon loop attached, to be pinned on the dress or hung around the neck. In preparing the letters omit V, X, and Z, and make several copies apiece of the letters in most common use. First, the Juniors may see what words they can form by grouping themselves according to their letters. For instance, a Junior labelled with F goes and finds one

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People of the Play

Little Miss Muffet , Queen of the Meadow . The Black Spider. The Fly. The Cricket. The Wise Mole. Three Field-Mice. Six Little Dairymaids. Three Elves , boys . Three Sprites , girls . Six Rabbits , three boys and three girls . Act I. —The Meadow. Act II. —The Spider’s Web. ( A constant undertone of music throughout the whole play. )...

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Costumes

Little Miss Muffet : A dainty little girl of ten, with long hair and a daisy garland. Short frock of white or sky-blue, bare legs, and socks to match the frock. White slippers. Spider : A stout boy of twelve, in tight-fitting, shiny black from head to foot. Jet ornaments sewed here and there. Black mittens. Swarthy face, black beard, large smoked goggles, top-hat, the worse for wear. Fly : A slim boy of nine, in tight green clothes. A long-tailed coat, with brass buttons, green long hose, green

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Scenery

Act I. Back scene to represent a blue sky. A green carpet should be spread, and over it grass or hay should be scattered. The tuffet is a tiny stool made of rough wood; or the stool may be a handsome gilded one, with a cushion of yellow silk. The Spider should let himself down from a beam which the audience cannot see. Great care should be taken that the beam is strong, and the rope securely fastened to the beam and about the Spider’s waist....

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ACT I.

— The Meadow. Music. A birthday party in honor of Little Miss Muffet , who at the rise of the curtain is discovered on her tuffet, centre . Left, a number of baskets. Dance of the Six Little Dairymaids . Muffet ( when the dance is done ). That was a beautiful dance, dear friends. Thank you ever so much. I notice that the four-o’clocks at my feet are opening, so that it is time for our guests to arrive. First Dairymaid. How fortunate that there are no ugly black clouds in the sky! Muffet. Please,

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ACT II.

— The Spider’s Web. A dark, dungeon-like room. Straw on floor. Small door at left. Swords and spears hanging on rear wall. Spinning-wheel, centre. From it radiate many strands of web (colored string). As the curtain rises, the Spider is spinning at his wheel. Noise of some one coming rapidly up the stairs, left. Spider ( jumping to his feet ). Hark! An enemy! ( Takes down sword from wall. Brandishing the weapon, he retreats into a further corner, right, where he squats down. Door bursts open. En

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A Barrel Brigade.

In a little Ohio farming community the children of Junior age have many bright plans of work, and one of them is a barrel brigade. That is not what they called it, I think; but the name fits so well that we will let it stand, and I know that many Junior societies will like the plan. Probably some of them are already trying it in one form or another, but for those who have not thought of it here is a new field of usefulness of the kind that brings “that comfortable feeling” both to the workers an

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Parlor Mountain-Climb.

Decorate the room with such mountain flowers and foliage as can be procured, and order in advance of a stationer enough favors for all the Juniors, each favor, when pulled, to reveal some article of travelling-costume in crape paper or tissue-paper that will suggest mountain-climbing. They might all be odd mountain hats of various colors and kinds, the Alpine predominating; or some of them might be long travelling-cloaks. For the first half or three-quarters of an hour have a stereopticon talk o

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Rainbow Social.

After a missionary meeting let the Juniors decide what missionary or mission field they would like to help; then give to each a mite-box marked with his own name, to hold missionary pennies. Some months afterward, have your “rainbow social.” Collect the missionary mite-boxes a few days before, and except on the bottom, where the name is written, they may be gilded to suggest still further the pot of gold to be found at the end of the rainbow. The room where the social is to be held should be dec

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Handkerchief Gymnastics.

There are still many girls, even in these hygienic times, who are not fortunate enough to attend schools that have gymnasiums. For these the Junior girls may like to help organize a class for the practice of handkerchief gymnastics. The writer has made a thorough test of every one of these exercises before recommending them, and knows them to be of practical benefit. They are similar to those practised daily at Cornell University. More breath means more life, and some of these exercises are espe

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Bird Social.

Choose a pleasant, sunny room for your bird social, deck it with green boughs and foliage, and provide places for a number of cages. Invite the Juniors all to come, and ask those that have canaries or other pet birds in cages to bring them. Of course this social must be held in the daytime, and in mild if not warm weather. If the moving is done gently, the birds will enjoy the social as much as the Juniors, or even more, and you will have a gay concert. Let some experienced bird-owner give a lit

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A Fairy Strawberry Festival.

A strawberry luncheon given at the summer home of one of my Chicago friends reminded me that the Juniors would delight in a strawberry festival all their own. Where there is a hospitable farm or garden with a large strawberry-patch, whose owner agrees to give the berries for the festival if the Juniors will pick them, the way is open. Usually in our northern latitudes the strawberries ripen just in good time for the beginning of vacation, so that without interference with school preparations the

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A Pansy-Hunt.

From the colored plates in flower catalogues, and from advertising and other picture cards, select those having pansies, the prettier the better. Let the Juniors help collect them. This in itself would seem to be a “pansy-hunt,” but it is only the beginning. When there are several hundred pansies, not as yet cut out, the Juniors may meet for their work. The first thing to be done is to cut out the pansies. This will not take long, and as the fingers fly some one may read aloud an entertaining st

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A Rainy Fourth.

There are bright possibilities in every cloud, and even a rainy Fourth of July is no exception. So the Joyville Juniors discovered. Of course, they were intending to have a picnic, besides enjoying the regulation fireworks; and here was a cold, steady drizzle, for all the world as if it were November. Great were the lamentations; but just as the “Sultan of Sulkydom” was about to have everything his own way he was put to rout by a big covered wagon driven around from one house to another where th

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An Indian Festival.

Chicago’s one hundredth birthday was the occasion of a celebration interesting to many thousands, and not the least interesting feature was the Indian village in Lincoln Park. Picturesque in their typical costumes, the red men appeared much as their ancestors did a century ago. From Chief No-zu-kah, the medicine-man in his coonskin cap and red blanket, who rattled his medicine-bags as he walked, down to six-year-old Hach-si-acha, the braves and squaws were the centre of attraction; and this, tog

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A Boys’ Book Party.

Library parties for grown people are common enough, but the boys should have a costume book party of their own. The more boys present, the better. The following suggestions for costumes may be helpful: 1. “Black Beauty.” A good-looking boy in burnt cork. 2. “Little Men.” Two or more brothers or friends wearing high hats, long-tailed coats, etc. 3. “Pilgrim’s Progress.” A boy wearing a gown and carrying a staff. The word “Mecca” should be printed on a label fastened to his breast. 4. “Tom Saw-yer

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Card-Pasting.

A good variation from making scrap-books for a children’s hospital, especially if the workers happen to be few, is to use large cards, preparing them like the different pages of a picture scrap-book, but leaving them separate. Then they can be easily handed from one bed to another; and, as they can be divided among the different children, they can be seen by many at once without waiting till enough whole scrap-books can be filled. Ten Juniors can easily prepare fifty cards in a single afternoon,

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Climbing the Bean-Stalk.

A barn with a captivating hay-loft, a stout ladder with a vine thickly twined around it, some croquet-balls, four Indian clubs, a pointer, and a supply of apples, oranges, and small bags of nuts or cracker-jack, are all that you will need—except the Juniors, who are most necessary of all. “Climbing the bean-stalk” consists of going up the ladder to the giant’s castle,—the very same castle, in imagination, explored by the immortal Jack,—and finding and taking possession of the treasures. This mea

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Advertising-Carnival.

Having made out a list, for your own convenience, of well-known business firms, local or otherwise, whose names could be represented by costumes, let each Junior come dressed to represent one of the firms. For instance, Marshall Field’s might be portrayed by a boy in a soldier’s uniform, with dried grasses and other field treasures extending from pockets and buttonholes; Macy’s, by a girl named May, or dressed as queen of the May, with a placard attached bearing the letter “C.” The same letter,

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Parlor Golf Party.

Most boys and girls are somewhat familiar with golf, and the Juniors will probably prove no exception. Any kind of “parlor golf” may be introduced, as simple or as elaborate as you please. Here is one kind that must be interesting, called “Quiet Go-lol-uf,” and explained by Vincent Van M. Beede as follows: “This game is meant especially for boys and girls who know something about the royal and ancient game of ‘golf’ sometimes called ‘go-lol-uf’ just for fun. Seat your friends about a table, pass

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Mysterious Basket-Ball.

Collect the materials, either with or without the Juniors’ help, beginning some time in advance. When the time comes to have the “ball,” the more mystery the better. Place a large basket or clothes-hamper in the middle of the room. This is the “mysterious basket” part, and each Junior is then told to help himself to his “ball,” one of the many bundles wrapped up to look as nearly like balls as possible, all the way from the size of a baseball to that of a basket-ball. Have ready plenty of scisso

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A Puritan Thanksgiving Dinner.

This is a combination affair, enlisting Endeavorers of all ages; but the Juniors’ part in it is an important one. The main idea is to make it a pleasant occasion, not only for those who would have a Thanksgiving feast anyway, but for as many as possible who would otherwise go without. The very poorest should be hunted up and included in the invitations. Let me tell you how the plan was once carried out by a lady and her little fourteen-year-old niece, whom we will call Priscilla. The writer says

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Characters.

Teddy , A little boy of ten years . Fun , A little old goblin . Red Ridinghood and Wolf. Old Woman With Broom. Jack the Giant-Killer. The Giant. Jack and Jill. Tom, Tom, the Piper’s Son. Jack-be-Nimble. Bo-Peep. Simple Simon....

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Costumes.

Teddy. Long nightgown reaching to just above the ankles, barefooted, and hair tousled. Fun , the goblin . A boy of twelve or fourteen years, quite small for his age. Long beard, pointed shoes that turn up at the toes, long belted blouse and tight knee pants, stocking cap with tassel. Red Ridinghood. Long red cloak and hood and a basket. A large dog may represent the wolf. Old Woman. Pointed hat with brim. Old shoulder-shawl and dress to ankles, carrying a dilapidated broom. Jack the Giant-Killer

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Cinderella Reception.

The Juniors come, if they wish, in fancy costumes; the smallest girl can be Cinderella, in pretty slippers, and a trained Empire dress of pink cambric, with her hair piled up on top of her head; and the smallest boy should personate the prince, in a light-blue cambric suit with many bows and buckles. Others may be the cruel stepmother, the proud sisters, the fairy godmother, the king, the queen, and various other distinguished people of the times. Among the games which might be played is “my lad

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Star Social.

If you wish decorative features, the following are attractive, though not necessary to the success of the social. Cut from gilt paper as many stars about an inch in diameter as there are Juniors. Then take a large star-shaped wire frame, one of those supplied by florists for Christmas decorations, fill it with evergreen or holly, if the social is to be held near Christmas time, and suspend it from the ceiling or chandelier by ribbons, extending from each point upward and meeting at the centre. F

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Holly and Mistletoe Drill. By Imogen A. Storey.

An even number of small boys of uniform height must be used for this drill. Usually it will be found necessary for the Juniors to call in the aid of children outside the society, which will furnish a fine opportunity to win new members. At the rear of the stage a small hut should be constructed of light framework, and covered with heavy brown paper. The roof and window-sills of this must be spread with cotton to represent snow. On the floor of the stage a heavy white cloth should be stretched, a

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Jack Frost Reception.

The Juniors may wish to give a Christmas tree to the children of some orphan asylum, combining with this plan a merry time for themselves as well. If so, a “Jack Frost reception” would be a good way of doing it. One of the smaller boys, who is also one of the liveliest in the society, should be chosen to personate Jack. He should be dressed in a close-fitting suit of white Canton flannel, the fleecy side out, with here and there little tufts of cotton batting sprinkled with diamond dust. Long wh

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Mistress Mary’s Contrary Reception.

Another name for this entertainment would be “A Midwinter Flower Fête.” It is charming at any time of the year, however, as both the winter and the flowers can be made to consist wholly of costumes and decorations. The guests are received by “Mistress Mary” of Mother Goose fame, with several “pretty maids all in a row.” The members of this reception committee should be dressed as for a garden party, in white or light dresses, large hats, etc. They may be chosen from the Intermediates or older Ju

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Characters.

Dorothy Dot , A dear little girl under a magic spell . Sir Dismal Dumps , The Bugaboo Man , } Two enemies of children . Queen of the Cosey Corner , The children’s fairy friend . Fairy Bright-Thought , Chief counsellor of the Queen . West Wind , Friend to Dorothy . Dorothy Dot , Grown larger, after the spell is broken . Old Woman with Basket. Carol , Avis , Frank , Roy , } Friends and playmates of Dorothy’s . Reallywish , Justnow , I Can , I Will } Brownies . Six, eight, or more S

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Costumes, etc.

Dorothy Dot , while small . Girl of nine or ten, small for her age; dainty modern dress. Sir Dismal Dumps. Boy of fourteen, or older; antique court costume of gray and dark green. The Bugaboo Man. Boy of fourteen, same style of dress as Dismal Dumps, but colors red and dark blue. Wears a mask. Queen of the Cosey Corner. Girl of fourteen; trained white spangled dress, crown, and wand. Fairy Bright-Thought. Girl of ten; short white spangled fairy dress, with wings. West Wind. Girl of fourteen who

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ACT I.

SCENE.— A playground, with Carol , Avis , Roy seated on rocks and stumps, talking. Music as curtain rises. Music stops. Avis. Did you say that she never could grow any larger? Frank ( entering ). What’s that? Who never could grow any larger? Carol. Why, don’t you know? It’s Dorothy Dot. Dear little Dorothy! It’s all because she was enchanted when she was only seven years old, by that dreadful enemy of all Sunshine people—Sir Dismal Dumps! Frank. O yes, I remember. He is a rascal—that Dismal Dump

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ACT II.

SCENE.— Same as before, but larger box in place of the one left at the rear of the stage. ( Enter Carol , Avis , Frank , Roy , and Brownies. The children examine the box, being careful not to lift the lid; the Brownies come forward. ) Reallywish. I really wish I knew why we haven’t found the key. Justnow. Perhaps just now we’ll find it, if we’re good as good can be. I Can. We won’t give up and say it can’t be done; I know it can . I Will. And we’ll conquer Dismal Dumps and the Bugaboo Man! All.

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Variation of “The Bells of Bonnydingle” for Christmas.

To adapt the play to Christmas, where there are gifts to be distributed, omit the final march, and, instead, add the following bit of dialogue after Dorothy speaks for the last time: Bugaboo Man. And to prove that we really wish to be Sunshine people—— Dismal Dumps. We will look into that wonderful treasure-box again just now ,—for it’s Merry Christmas,—and see if we can’t find something to make these good people all the happier. Both. We can , and we will ! ( Going to the box, they reach in and

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