Christmas Speakin’ at Skaggs’s Skule

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENTS

These songs can be used in all manner of entertainments. The music is easy and both music and words are especially catchy. Children like them. Everybody likes them. Sheet music. Price, 35 cents each.

HERE’S TO THE LAND OF THE STARS AND THE STRIPES. (Bugbee-Worrell.) A patriotic song which every child should know and love. The sentiment is elevating. The music is martial and inspiring. May be effectively sung by the entire school. Suitable for any occasion and may be sung by children or grown-ups. Be the first to use this song in your community.

I’LL NEVER PLAY WITH YOU AGAIN. (Guptill-Weaver.) A quarrel between a small boy and girl. The words are defiant and pert. The boy and his dog have been in mischief, and the small maiden poutingly declares that she will never play with him again, but changes her mind in the last verse. A taking little duet for any occasion, with full directions for motions.

JOLLY FARMER LADS AND LASSIES. (Irish-Lyman.) A decidedly humorous action song prepared especially for district schools. It will make a hit wherever produced.

JOLLY PICKANINNIES. (Worrell.) Introduce this coon song into your next entertainment. If you use the directions for the motions which accompany the music, the pickaninnies will bring down the house. Their black faces and shining eyes will guarantee a “hit.” The words are great and the music just right.

LULLABY LANE. (Worrell.) This song is one which the children, once having learned, will never forget. The words have the charm of the verses written by Robert Louis Stevenson. The music is equally sweet and is perfectly suited to the beautiful words. It may be sung as a solo by a little girl with a chorus of other little girls with dolls, or as a closing song by the whole school.

MY OWN AMERICA, I LOVE BUT THEE. (Worrell.) Here is a song that will arouse patriotism in the heart of every one who hears it. The music is so catchy that the children and grown-ups, too, just can’t resist it. It makes a capital marching song.

NOW, AREN’T YOU GLAD YOU CAME? (Guptill-Weaver.) This is a closing song which is quite out of the ordinary. There is humor in every line. The music is lively. Your audience will not soon forget this spicy song for it will get many an unexpected laugh. The motions which accompany this song make it doubly effective. For any occasion and for any number of children.

WE ARE CREEPY LITTLE SCARECROWS. (Guptill-Weaver.) A weird, fascinating action song. You can’t go wrong with this song. There are four verses and chorus. Complete directions accompany this song so that it may be featured as a song and drill, if desired. For any occasion and for any number of children.

WE’VE JUST ARRIVED FROM BASHFUL TOWN. (Worrell.) This song will bring memories to the listeners of their own bashful school days. They will recall just how “scared” they were when asked to sing or play or speak. The words are unusually clever. The music is decidedly melodious. It makes a capital welcome song or it may be sung at any time on any program with assured success.

WE HOPE YOU’VE BROUGHT YOUR SMILES ALONG. (Worrell.) A welcome song that will at once put the audience in a joyous frame of mind and create a happy impression that will mean half the success of your entire program. Words, bright and inspiring. Music, catchy. A sure hit for your entertainment.

WE’LL NOW HAVE TO SAY GOOD-BYE. (Worrell.) This beautiful song has snap and go that will appeal alike to visitors and singers. It is just the song to send your audience home with happy memories of the occasion.

Paine Publishing Company Dayton, Ohio

Christmas Speakin’
at Skaggs’s Skule

By
MARIE IRISH
PAINE PUBLISHING COMPANY
DAYTON, OHIO

Christmas Speakin’ at Skaggs’s Skule

CHARACTERS

Miss Emmeline Elkins—Teacher.
Josiah Judd—Clerk of Skule Board.
Mrs. Skaggs		—Visitors.
Mrs. Hill
Billy Skaggs—Very Bashful.
Ole Swanson—A Swede.
Florildy		—The Twins.
Matildy
Rastus—A Negro Boy.
Sam Shaw—Who Stutters.
Virgil Vane—Very Studious.
Tiny Tilly—Small for Age.
Corabell—Her Fat Sister.
Sarah Jane—Who’s Not Scared.

Time of Playing—Thirty Minutes
Scene, An Old-time District School room

COSTUMES

Miss Elkins, Old-maid costume, much fussed up with bright colors; spectacles, hair in corkscrew curls each side of face.

Josiah Judd, Chin whiskers, colored shirt, bright tie, suit that is too large, boots, large red bandanna handkerchief.

Mrs. Skaggs and Mrs. Hill, Hair done up old style, old-fashioned wool dresses, small old-time bonnets that tie under chin, shawls.

Billy Skaggs, good-sized boy with clothes too small, waist with large ruffled collar, bright bow tie, short trousers, bright stockings.

Ole Swanson, colored shirt, overalls, colored handkerchief tied around neck.

Matildy and Florildy, Old-fashioned wool dresses, much too long, hair flowing, ribbon tied around head with bow at the top.

Rastus, Bright calico waist, trousers that do not fit, patched with bright color, face blackened.

Virgil Vane, hair parted in middle, spectacles, coat much too small, long trousers, stand-up collar.

Sam Shaw, Short trousers, a coat much too large and long.

Tilly, A small slender girl with rather long, tight-fitting dress, hair hanging in two braids.

Corabell, Good-sized girl, well padded to be fat, very short skirt, hair with big bow at each side of face.

Sarah Jane, Rather small size, dressed much too old for age, hair crimped, old-style gown.

Stage arrangement—Pupils sit on benches along back of stage; small table for teacher at one side with books, bell and long ruler. Stand with water pail and dipper, dinner pails hanging on wall, also children’s wraps; some decorations of evergreen and Merry Christmas pinned on wall in letters of various sizes and colors. Visitors sit in chairs at sides of room.

[Christmas Speakin’ at Skaggs’s Skule]

Teacher (tapping bell loudly)—Now, children dear, I hope you will all be very, very good and very, very quiet while we have our entertainment. What kind of an entertainment is it to be, children? (a pause) W’y, children, don’t you know what kind of an entertainment it is going to be?

Virgil—Wal, I think it’ll be a fust-rate good ’un if none of ’em don’t fergit their pieces.

Sam—W-w-w-w-w-wal, I w-w-w-w-w-won’t f-f-f-f-fergit mine if I d-d-d-d-don’t git b-b-b-b-b-bashful.

Sarah Jane—Huh, you bet you I won’t git skeered—I haint fraid o’ nothin’. I wouldn’t be skeered to speak if they was a grizzly bear here.

Tilly—Oh, teacher, she would, too, wouldn’t she, teacher?

Sarah Jane—I wouldn’t neither, so there!

Teacher (tapping bell)—Children, be still. That is not a nice way to act on entertainment day. I meant what kind of an entertainment are we going to have according to the season (a pause). W’y, can’t you tell, children?

Corabell—Teacher, what’s season?

Matildy—Huh, don’t you know that? W’y, it’s salt an’ pepper an’ spice an’ stuff they put in things to season ’em.

Virgil—Aw, that haint what it means—it’s spring an’ fall an’ winter—that’s what season means, haint it, teacher?

Teacher (tapping bell)—Children, be still. I mean what kind of pieces are we going to have in our entertainment?

All (loudly)—Chris’mus pieces.

Teacher—Yes, children, that is right—Christmas pieces, children. Why are we going to have Christmas pieces, children? (pause).

Rastus—I reckon so’s we-all’ll git a Chris’mus present ef we does our pieces good. Mammy says as how she’s gwine gimme a mighty nice present ef I does my part good.

Sam—I t-t-t-t-think we’re s-s-s-s-s-sayin’ K-k-k-k-k-k-k-kris’mus pieces k-k-k-k-k-kawase K-k-k-k-k-k-kris’mus is the time to s-s-s-s-s-say K-k-k-k-k-k-k-kris’mus pieces.

Teacher—Yes, children, we’re going to have a nice Christmas entertainment because Christmas day is coming and we all love Christmas day, don’t we, children?

All—Yes, ma’am.

Teacher—And so, children, I hope we shall have a nice entertainment, an’ that you will be very, very good an’ speak up nice an’ loud an’ do your parts the very, very best you can (children nudge each other and point off stage as if looking out of window).

Florildy (waving hand)—Teacher, somebody’s comin’ (knock is heard).

Teacher—S-s-sh! Be quiet, children (goes over and admits Mrs. Hill).

Enter Mrs. Hill

Mrs. Hill—Good afternoon, teacher. I heard as how you’re goin’ to have Chris’mus speakin’ here this afternoon an’ I says to Jeremiah, I says, I’m jes’ goin’ over to the skule house an’ hear that speakin’ ’cause as I says to ’im, says I, I do jes’ love to hear the childrun speak their pieces. An’ so here I be, teacher, an’ I hope I haint late.

Teacher—No, indeed, you’re not late, Mis’ Hill, an’ we’re very, very glad you came. Have this chair (she seats Mrs. Hill).

Mrs. Hill—My, my, well I remember the time, teacher, that I’ve spoke a piece at Chris’mus time. They did say, as I says to Jeremiah, says I, they used to say that I was an awful good hand at speakin’. Mebbe I’ll speak a piece here today (smiles at children).

Teacher—That will be very, very nice. You’d like to have Mis’ Hill speak, wouldn’t you, children?

All—Yes, ma’am (they nudge and point off stage again).

Sarah Jane—Oh, teacher, Billy Skaggs’s mother, she’s comin’ (a knock is heard. Teacher goes over and admits Mrs. Skaggs).

Enter Mrs. Skaggs

Mrs. Skaggs—How-de-do, teacher. I hope you’re feelin’ real well. I’ve come over to the Chris’mus speakin’, teacher. I’ve got an awful lot o’ work to do to home, bein’ as we’re goin’ to have comp’ny on Chris’mus, an’ I’m tryin’ to make some Chris’mus presents, an’ bake an’ clean up an’ all, but Billy he was so set on my comin’ that I jes’ come an’ here I be (she shakes hands with the teacher and Mrs. Hill).

Teacher—We are very, very glad you came. I should have been very, very disappointed if no one came to visit (she seats Mrs. Skaggs by Mrs. Hill).

Mrs. Skaggs—I hope you haint had none the speakin’ yet. I’d hate dreadful bad to miss any of it. As I was sayin’ to Hen—that’s my husban’—I says, Hen, there aint a single thing I like to hear better’n children speakin’ pieces. I think it’s dreadful nice, even when they make mistakes. As I says to Hen, we can’t expect ’em to do too good.

Ole (pointing off stage)—Oh, teacher, yust look who’s ban comin’!

Teacher (tapping bell)—Be quiet, children (knock is heard. She goes over and admits Josiah Judd).

Enter Josiah Judd

Mr. Judd—How-de-do, teacher, how-de-do? I came over to be present at—that is, to attend, and injoy—that is, to participate in the Chris’mus entertainment (shakes hands awkwardly with teacher and the two visitors). As a member of the skule board I feel that I should incourage the childern of the deestrict with my presence here an’ see how they’re gittin’ on. Be they doin’ purty good, teacher? (looks children over).

Teacher—We’re very, very glad you came, Mr. Judd. Yes, they’re doin’ real well (she seats him). Now, children dear, we will begin to commence our Christmas entertainment (Billy sobs softly).

Sarah Jane (waving hand)—Teacher, teacher, Billy’s bawlin’.

Teacher—W’y, Billy, what is the matter? (goes to him).

Billy (sobbing)—I—I—I—

Mrs. Skaggs—Lan’ sakes, teacher, what’s the matter with ’im? Billy, is your stummick botherin’ you?

Billy—I—I want to set longside o’ maw.

Mrs. Skaggs—Now, Billy, you set right where you be an’ stop your fussin’.

Billy (boo-hooing out loud)—I—want—to set—by—maw.

Mrs. Skaggs—Wal, lan’ sakes, teacher, I spose he’ll cry himself sick ef he can’t set by me. Can he come set here? He’s an awful hand fer his maw, Billy is (the children giggle).

Teacher (taking Billy by hand and leading him)—Yes, he may sit up here (she fixes a chair beside his mother for Billy). Now, children dear, we will sing our nice welcome song (she beats time with long ruler, Mr. Judd beats time with his hand and keeps time with his head; the two visitors beat time with foot. The children sing with a great deal of spirit).

Tune: Just Before the Battle, Mother