The White Christmas and other Merry Christmas Plays | Page 5

town this day, Is born of David's line, The Saviour,
who is Christ, the Lord, And this shall be the sign, And this shall be the
sign."
"The heav'nly babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All
meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid, And in a
manger laid."
Thus spake the seraph--and forthwith Appeared a shining throng Of
angels, praising God, who thus Addressed their joyful song, Addressed
their joyful song:--
"All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace; Good will
henceforth, from heav'n to men, Begin and never cease, Begin and
never cease."
The PROLOGUE appears before the curtains and speaks.
PROLOGUE.
There's scarlet holly on the streets, and silver mistletoe; The surging,
jeweled, ragged crowds forever come and go. And here a silken woman
laughs, and there a beggar asks-- And, oh, the faces, tense of lip, like
mad and mocking masks. Who thinks of Bethlehem today, and one
lone winter night? Who knows that in a manger-bed there breathed a
Child of Light?

There's fragrant scent of evergreen upon the chilling air; There's tinsel
tawdriness revealed beneath the sunlight's glare; There's Want and
Plenty, Greed and Pride--a hundred thousand souls, And, oh, the weary
eyes of them, like dull and sullen coals. Who knows the town of
Bethlehem, once gleamed beneath the star, Whose wondrous light the
shepherds saw watching their flocks afar?
And yet above the city streets, above the noise and whir, There seems
to come a fragrant breath of frankincense and myrrh. I saw a woman,
bent and wan, and on her face a light The look that Mary might have
worn that other Christmas night. And as the little children passed, and
one lad turned and smiled, I saw within his wistful eyes the spirit of the
Child.
--Caroline Reynolds.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them;
and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born
this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord
hath made known to us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe

lying in a manger. (Exit PROLOGUE at L.)
(Soft chimes are heard. The SHEPHERDS, accompanied by the
concealed choir, are heard singing:)
LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT
Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on! The
night is dark and I am far from home; Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou
my feet, I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me.
As the SHEPHERDS begin on the second stanza of the hymn, the
curtains rise disclosing the same scene as before. SIMEON,
TIMOTHY and ISAAC discovered seated in a group at rear center,
singing. THOMAS stands by his father.
So long Thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on O'er moor
and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone, And with the morn
those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since, and lost
a-while.
SIMEON. Methought I heard a whir of wings on high.
TIMOTHY. I see naught save the snow and starry sky.
ISAAC. We've come a long and mighty step today, From o'er the frosty
hills and far away.
THOMAS (pointing over the manger). Look, father, dost thou see that
shining star That seems to stand above the town so far? 'Tis like a
wondrous blossom on a stem, And see, it ever shines o'er Bethlehem!
TIMOTHY. A brighter star, I'm sure I never saw-- And perfect form,
without a speck or flaw.
SIMEON. A stranger star! It never shone before, It standeth still above
that stable door.
Enter ANNA and RUTH from rear left. ANNA carries a little lamb.

ANNA (joining the group). Look ye, I've found a little lamb new-born.
TIMOTHY. Poor little beastie! Wrap him well and warm.
SIMEON. An ill night to be born in, frost