(The band groups itself at the end of the street, and the children stand round.  After tuning up, the band begins to play.)

Second Child.—­Now, Mary Jane, we can dance.  I’ll dance with you.

Third Child.—­No, I want to dance with Mary Jane.

First Child.—­I don’t want to dance at all.

Second Child.—­You must.

Third Child.—­Yes, you must.

(Band ceases playing and one of the bandsmen comes round for money.)

First Child.—­I haven’t any money.

Second Child.—­But we haven’t begun to dance yet.

Bandsman.—­You shouldn’t have been so long arguing then.  Surely you’ll give the band a nickel, after all the pretty music it has played?

First Child.—­I won’t.

Second Child.—­I won’t.

Third Child.—­And I won’t.

Bandsman.—­Well, you are mean.  Come along. (Beckoning to the rest of the band.) We’ll go, and it will be a long time before we come down this street again.

(Curtain falls.)

BOX

SCENE 2:  A ROOM

Tommy (hopping about the room, waving a letter in his hand.)—­Hurrah! hurrah!  Uncle Dick is coming.  Hurrah! hurrah!

(Enter Tommy’s brother and sister and papa and mamma.)

Papa.—­What’s the matter, Tommy?

Tommy.—­Uncle Dick has written to say he is coming to spend Christmas with us, and he is bringing me a Christmas box.

Mamma.—­How kind of him!  But be sure you are careful not to offend him, Tommy.  He is rather a touchy old gentleman.

Sister.—­I wonder what it will be, Tommy.

Brother.—­I hope it will be a set of cricket things, and then we can play cricket in the summer.

Tommy.—­Oh! yes, I hope it will be, but whatever it is, it is sure to be something nice.

(Begins hopping about again.  Enter Uncle Dick, a very old gentleman with a gouty foot.  Tommy does not see him and goes banging into him, treading on his gouty foot.)

Uncle Dick.—­Oh! oh! oh! oh, my toe!

Tommy.—­Oh!  Never mind your toe!  Where’s my Christmas box?

Uncle Dick.—­Your Christmas box, you young scamp!  Think of my toe.

Tommy.—­Please, uncle, I’m very sorry, but I do so want to know what you have brought me for a Christmas box.

Uncle Dick (roaring).—­Here’s your Christmas box, and may it teach you to be more careful in future. (Boxes Tommy’s ears.)

(Curtain falls.)

Here is a list of words which will divide easily into charade words: 

  Brides-maids.  Sea-side.  Car-pen-try. 
  Cur-tail.  Nose-gay.  In-do-lent. 
  Hand-i(I)-craft.  Turn-key.  Hand-some. 
  Key-hole.  Rail-way.  Sweet-heart. 
  Port-man-teau(toe).  Mad-cap.  A-bun-dance. 
  In-no-cent.  Fox-glove.  Pat-riot.

To make your charades a real success, you will, of course, require a curtain.  A very effective one can be made with a little trouble and at a small cost; indeed, the materials may be already in the house.