FIG. 1.—Leaders meet, hold flags high, while others march under, and
around, in two circles, twice. When they come the third time, they form
in line behind others and raise flags, forming long arch. Back couple
march down through it, and then up, outside it, to place, but do not
raise flags this time. Next couple repeat this, till all have done so,
and are in place once more.
FIG. 2.—March backward till two lines are as far apart as space will
permit, then march forward, flags waving, through opposite lines to
other side, turn and repeat.
FIG. 3.—March to form two circles, girls inside. Boys march completely
around them, then wind in and out around circle, then pass in and form
circle inside.
FIG. 4.—Girls repeat Fig. 3.
FIG. 5.—Girls, now in inner circle, march around one way, boys the
other. When they have gone around once this way, they wind the “grand
right and left,” crossing flags with each one met; passing to the right
of the first one met, and to the left of the next one met. Continue
thus around circle.
FIG. 6.—Boys step back, making larger circle, girls step in between
boys, making one large circle. March around once, flags waving, then
all face centre. All march in toward centre, flags held high and
forward. When near enough to centre so that flags nearly touch in a
high point, march around in a wheel, then back to places again.
FIG. 7.—Boys form line, girls form line in front: of them. Boys march
around end of this line, and form line in front of girls. Girls do
same. Continue as many times as space allows.
FIG. 8.—Girls pass one way, boys the other, meet at back and march to
centre in spiral, first a girl, then a boy. At centre, turn and unwind
spiral.
FIG. 9.—Come down to front, all abreast, flags waving, and bow, waving
flags with a wide sweep.
FIG. 10.—March up in pairs, separate, pass to sides.
KATIE—Sure and we can’t lade thim to their seats, for they haven’t any,
bedad, so we’ll call the drill inded, and hope ye loiked it.
PAT—Thot we did, Katie darlint. ’Twas foine.
BRIDGET—Illigant!
MR. OPPERMAN—It vos von britty zight, aretty.
CHLOE—And to tink dey-all larn dat in de school!
CARLOTTA—It is da poetry and da music and da rhythm, all in one-a.
LARS—And zey bane (_points as he counts_) one, two, tree, four, fife
nations. And all bane learning und singing like one. (_It would be nice
to have Lars count in Swedish, if he can—the author cannot._)
POMPEY—But dey-all all like heah in de Nof. Black or white, all same as
one.
BRIDGET—They are that same, in this blissid counthry. Here’s your
little pickaninnies, and the little Swades, the Eyetalian childher and
the Germans, and me own little Irish colleens, all aloike good frinds,
and singing all togither the Christmas songs.
CONNIE—We aren’t Irish and Naygurs and Swades and sich, mither, we’re
Americans, ivery wan av us. Tacher says so.
PAT—And so yez are, God bliss yez, ivery one. Sing thot song ye larned
in school—“My Own America, I Love but Thee.”[B]
MICKEY—That ain’t a Christmas song, feyther.
PAT—It’s good enough fer Christmas or any other day in the year. Sing
it. Pipe up, Katy gurl. (_Katy does so, and they sing._)
MR. OPPERMAN—(_at close of song_) Dot vos von goot song, for certain.
KATIE—Nixt is a recitation by James Terence O’Neal.
(_Plenty of material for the children’s recitations can be found in
any Christmas collection. The ones referred to are in the little book,
“Original Christmas Recitations,” by the author of this play, and will
be sent for fifteen cents to any address, by the publishers of this
play. Each child should deliver his recitation in the same brogue,
or accent, he uses in the rest of the play. Of course, if any of the
“pieces” are changed, the comments immediately after must be changed,
also._)
(_Jimmy recites “Vice Versa.”_)
PAT—No danger av yez iver goin’ there, Jimsy bye, if turrkey’s the only
thing that takes yez. If it was porrk and praties, now—
JIMMY—You and I’d both go, wouldn’t we, Uncle Pat?
KATIE—Nixt is a ricitation by Master Antonio Ferarri, Junior.