Chapter I: Front Matter

Price, 25 Cents

In a Toy Shop

A Christmas Play for Small Children

By
EFFA E. PRESTON

PAINE PUBLISHING CO.
DAYTON, OHIO

Song Specialties for Your Entertainments

Teachers are discovering that no matter how much novelty there is in their entertainment, how well it is arranged, how thoroughly drilled, if they want to hold the active interest of the audience they must use the best of songs. The songs must be real novelties. The words must be interesting as well as decidedly clever. The music must be catchy and abounding in rich melody. With these things in mind we have prepared this list of superior song novelties for our patrons. All are in regular sheet music form.

_Price, 35 cents each; 5 for $1.25_

WELCOME SONGS

We’ve Just Arrived from Bashful Town.
We Hope You’ve Brought Your Smiles Along.
Come and Partake of Our Welcome Cake.
We’re Very Glad to See You Here.
With Quaking Hearts We Welcome You.

CLOSING SONGS

Mr. Sun and Mrs. Moon.
Now, Aren’t You Glad You Came?
We Do Not Like to Say Goodbye.
We’ll Now Have to Say Goodbye.

_Paine Publishing Co., Dayton, Ohio_

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IN A TOY SHOP
_A Christmas Play for Small Children_

_By_ EFFA E. PRESTON

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY L. M. PAINE

PAINE PUBLISHING COMPANY
DAYTON, OHIO

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In a Toy Shop

SCENE

Interior of toy shop—counter at back of stage, stools in front of counter. No toys are in sight as place is closed for the night. When curtain rises the proprietor has on hat and coat ready to leave.

TIME

Late in the evening the week before Christmas.

CHARACTERS AND COSTUMES

SOLDIERS—Boys in blue soldier suits or in scout suits.

BOOKS—Girls in white, book covers of yellow cardboard suspended, front
and back, from shoulders. Names printed on covers in black letters.

BLOCKS—Girls in white, hollow white pasteboard box fastened about
waist. All four sides of box bear same letter in red. There are
letters for CAT, DOG and HEN. Any letters which spell a word may be
used.

TOPS—Any number of girls in bright red dresses, very short, full skirts
that stand out as they spin.

JUMPING JACKS—Boys in bright green suits made like tights, legs cut to
cover feet, pointed green caps, long sticks fastened up their backs.

DOLLS—Girls with blonde curls, half in pink dresses and hats; rest in
blue, white slippers and stockings.

TEDDY BEAR—Boy in bear suit, false face.

STICKS OF CANDY—Girls dressed in long straight gowns of striped
material, stripes running around. May be red and white, black and
white, yellow and white, green and white, and brown and white.

DOMINOES—Represented by three girls in white with dominoes made of
black cardboard with white numbers pinned on dresses. Use double six,
double five and double fours.

PROPRIETOR—Tall boy in cap and long overcoat.

In a Toy Shop

PROPRIETOR: I’m glad it’s closing time for I’m tired. I always work so
hard the week before Christmas and I had a lot of new toys to put
away today. I hope I have no trouble in selling them but times are
hard. [_Shakes head._] Times are hard and Christmas isn’t what it
used to be.

[_He goes out, locking door. A light is left burning for the night. A voice calls from back of counter which should be high to make toys seem small._]

VOICE: Has he really gone?

SECOND VOICE, _from large box in corner_. [_It is the TEDDY BEAR._]
Yes, I heard the door slam.

FIRST VOICE: Come on out, friends, he’s gone.

_From behind counter come TIN SOLDIERS, marching in single file to tune
of John Brown’s Body. They sing._

FIRST TIN SOLDIER:

We’re brave toy soldiers dressed in uniforms so bright and new.
We’ve been packed in horrid boxes till we’re feeling very blue.
You’ll find us sturdy fighters and we’re brave defenders too,
Toy soldiers brave and bold.

_Chorus_:

See the brave toy soldiers marching,
See the brave toy soldiers marching,
See the brave toy soldiers marching,
Toy soldiers brave and bold.

SECOND TIN SOLDIER:

We’ve never been in battle but we’re very sure we’re brave
And in any time of danger we’ll be proud our land to save,
And you’ll always find us marching where our bonny flag shall wave,
Toy soldiers brave and bold.

THIRD TIN SOLDIER:

We’re every one commanders—I give orders just to _me_
And all the others drill themselves as fine as fine can be.
We’re a most delightful army as you all can plainly see,
Toy soldiers brave and bold.

If possible a simple military drill should be performed. They march to one side. From behind counter come books. They go to front of stage. As each one finishes saying her verse she steps to rear of stage across from SOLDIERS.

FIRST BOOK: I’m Grimm’s Fairy Tales—every one likes me.

SECOND BOOK: I’m Peter Rabbit, as cunning as can be.

THIRD BOOK: I’m Anderson’s Fairy Tales, charming and sweet.

FOURTH BOOK: I’m Black Beauty, a horse so fleet.

FIFTH BOOK: I’m Alice in Wonderland—funny and queer.

SIXTH BOOK: I’m the Bluebird—happy and dear.

SEVENTH BOOK: I’m Robinson Crusoe—adventures so wild.

EIGHTH BOOK: I’m Mother Goose, loved by every child.

NINTH BOOK: I’m Hiawatha, the Indian boy.

TENTH BOOK: I’m Peter Pan, the spirit of joy.

ALL:

We’re nice gifts for Christmas,
As nice as can be,
And a child will be lucky
If Santa brings me. [_Pointing to self._]

[BLOCKS _come from behind the counter._]

ALL BLOCKS: We spell words.

[THREE BLOCKS, _C, A, T, step out from rest and say_]: C—A—T— spells
cat.

[_In same way other blocks spell_ DOG _and_ HEN.]