Page:A Study of Fairy Tales.djvu/176

152 can tell by this time. All this can be utilized in a Christmas tree play.—For the play use the original story, not a weakened version.—A pleasant Christmas play could end most happily with the story-telling under the tree. For the play an actual small fir tree may be in the room placed so that it may be moved easily. A child standing closely behind it may represent it and speak for it through its branches. The air and the sun, ordinarily not to be represented, in this case may be, as they come up to the Tree and talk to it. Much freedom of originality may be displayed through the children's entering into the character of the Fir Tree and improvising speeches.

Act I, Scene i. A Fir Tree in the forest.

Sun and Air talk to it.

Children sit under its branches.

A Hare comes and jumps over it.

Woodcutters come.

A Swallow comes and talks to it.

A Stork comes and talks to it.

Sparrows talk to it.

(Have the Tree removed. Apparently from a cart outside the door, a larger Christmas Tree may be brought in and planted in a sand-box by two servants, students from grammar grades. The same child now grown older, represents the Tree.)

Act II, Scene i. The Fir Tree brought into the room.

The decorating of the Tree by the Children and Teacher.

Talk of the Children about the Tree when decorating it.