Chorus.—­O ring the bells, the merry Christmas bells, Their music all out pleasure tells. (Repeat.)

(Santa Claus unpacks his goods, and as he fills the stockings he performs various antics, holds up the objects, and dances about.  Any local expressions that will create amusement he can bring in with running commentaries.  The piano is heard softly till he is through, and then bursts out loudly as the curtain is drawn.)

* * * * *

=Christmas Offerings by Children from Other Lands.=

By ELLA M. POWERS.

(DIRECTIONS.—­This exercise may be given by six little girls.  The platform may be decorated with evergreen trees or boughs, and flags should be used freely.  The American girl should be dressed in an American flag and wear a cap of red, white, and blue.  The costumes of the others may be as follows: 

    The Eskimo girl should procure a boy’s fur coat, or wrap a fur
    rug about her and wear a fur cap or hood and fur mittens.

The Indian girl can throw about her a gay-colored blanket, and wear strings of beads about her neck, arms, and head.  Her straight dark hair should be parted in the middle, plaited in two braids in the back, and decorated with short pieces of bright ribbons.  Moccasins and dark brown stockings may be worn on the feet.  Bracelets, earrings, chains, beads, quills, and brooches may be used as ornaments.  The hands, arms, and face should be stained.  To color the skin get a stick of Hess Grease Paint No. 17.  Rub a little vaseline into the skin to be tinted.  Then rub a portion of the paint on the palm of the left hand and with the fingers of the right hand transfer it evenly to the skin surface until the required tint is obtained.

The Chinese girl should be dressed brightly with large, square, loose hanging sleeves, a broad sash tied on one side, her hair brushed flat, coiled in the back, with haircomb and pins thrust into the coil.  She may have a Japanese parasol and carry a fan.

    The African girl may be dressed in red and black, with black
    hair and red handkerchief over her head and large rings in her
    ears.  Face and hands blackened with burnt cork.

    The Arabian girl can wear a tunic or bright shawl draped about
    her, a turban of a bright silk handkerchief, and wear feathers
    in her hair.  She should be very dark-complexioned

    The American girl enters, takes her seat in the center of the
    platform, saying:)

American girl: 

    And this again is Christmas day;
      My invitations all
    Have gladly been accepted;
      Let us see who first will call.

    (Eskimo girl enters, bows, comes forward with a fur bag filled
    with presents, which she passes to the American girl as she
    mentions them.)