(They place chaplet upon the head of 1897.)

1897:  Here’s thanks, my little people,
For this your posy sweet;
Your loving thought has surely
Made my happiness complete.

(Enter Kriss Kringle, Santa Claus, Prince Rupert, and Babousca.)

Why here is old Kriss Kringle;
And Santa’s coming, too;
Knight Rupert and Babousca,
I welcome both of you. 
And from the frozen Northland,
I see a-riding down
The cheery old St. Nicholas,
Clad in his friar’s gown.

[Illustration]

(Enter St. Nicholas.)

(Enter children, singing.  They march around the stage, and finally stop in front of 1897 and the others.)

See how the children, so happy and gay,
Come marching together this glad Christmas day.

Children:  With hands on our heads, while the bells sweetly chime, All blithely we’re keeping the glad Christmas time.  Marching and singing, so gayly we go, Turning and winding in lines to and fro.  Clap all together, and sing, sing away, So merrily keeping this glad Christmas day.

1897:  Oh, children, little children,
You’re welcome here alway;
I’m glad to see you coming
To keep our Christmas day.
(Bells outside.)
Oh, children, little children,
Why do the joy-bells chime?

(Singing heard outside.  The following words, to the tune of “Ring, Ye Happy Christmas Bells.")

Carol, O ye children all,
With no thought of sadness;
Welcome in the Christmas time
With your songs of gladness.

Chorus—­Sing, O sing,
Bells all ring,
Let us now be merry,
Let us welcome Christmas day
With our songs so cheery.

1897:  Hark, how the winds are blowing,
What music do they bring.

Children:  You hear the little children
Their Christmas carols sing.

1897:  O children, little children,
What light is that afar?

Children:  ’Tis shining from the heavens,
A glorious Christmas star.

1897:  O children, little children,
What means its glorious rays? 
And why is Christmas better
Than many other days?

Children:  Oh, don’t you know the story
Of the first Christmas time? 
Then listen, we will tell it,
While the bells so sweetly chime.

First child:  We count the years by hundreds
Since that first Christmas day. 
When in a lowly manger
The little Christ-child lay.

Second child:  That night some shepherds tending
Their flocks upon the hill,
Heard heavenly voices singing,
“Peace, peace!  On earth, good will.”

Third child:  All bright as noon-tide splendor. 
A light about them shone,
While louder sang the angels,
“A Saviour hath been born!”

Fourth child:  And then a sudden darkness—­
The voices died away,
The wondering shepherds hurried
To where the young Child lay.