in,
Tra la la la, tra la la la;
We welcome it with glad refrain,
Tra la la la la la.

Of all the happy holidays this year
There's none so joyous, none so dear,
Then sing we all our song of festive glee,
Of Santa Claus and Christmas tree.

_Chorus_.--Oh, ring the bells, the merry Christmas bells, Their music
all our pleasure tells. _(Repeat, singing tra la la whenever necessary
to give the rhythm. They pause in groups in center, right, and
left; some sit, others stand, and change their positions during the
dialogue)_

_Harry_: Oh dear, the same old thing again this year, I suppose! "Hang
up the baby's stocking, be sure you don't forget."

_Charlie_: _This_ baby's stocking is the biggest bicycle hose I could
buy. (_Pins it at one side of the chimney_.) I don't think old Santa
could miss it if he tried.

_Dora_: I made mine to suit the occasion, for I hope Santa Claus
will fit a zither into it. (_Displays a large, fantastically shaped
stocking of striking color, and fastens it beside Charlie's_.)

_Harry_: You ought to take a prize, Dora, for designing the
most--ahem!--unexpected-looking stocking. Generous sized, too! Here
goes my contribution to the chimney. (_Hangs up a sock_.) It's big
enough to hold a coin of gold that will buy me a new bicycle. I don't
care for any knick-knacks.

_Katie_: I must confess that I'm rather tired of this old custom of
hanging up our stockings on Christmas eve and crawling out of bed in
the cold dawn to see what is in them. I wish some one would invent a
new way.

_Maggie_: Just what I thought, Katie, last winter, though I never
spoke of it. But if you've hung your stocking up, I must have mine
there too. (_Goes to chimney_.)

_John_: Well, I refuse to fall in line this year. I'm tired of the
whole plan. It seems absurd for an old chap to come tumbling down the
fireplace and load up our stockings.

_Tom_: I agree with you, John! What we want is a new-fashioned
Christmas. A real, up-to-date Santa Claus, and no more of this
children's nonsense.

_Bess_: Not have Santa Claus any more? Isn't he coming to-night?
(_Cries_.)

_John_: Oh yes, he'll remember you if you're a good little girl and
stop crying. Dora, help Bess to fasten up her stocking.

(_After the stocking is fixed, Bess faces the audience and recites_.)

_Bess_: I do hope dear old Santa
Will come this way to-night,
And come here to my stocking,