enient--carrying toy musical instruments.)

First Child.--Hurrah! Here comes a German band. Come along, children;
let's go and listen to it.

(The band groups itself at the end of the street, and the children
stand round. After tuning up, the band begins to play.)

Second Child.--Now, Mary Jane, we can dance. I'll dance with you.

Third Child.--No, I want to dance with Mary Jane.

First Child.--I don't want to dance at all.

Second Child.--You must.

Third Child.--Yes, you must.

(Band ceases playing and one of the bandsmen comes round for money.)

First Child.--I haven't any money.

Second Child.--But we haven't begun to dance yet.

Bandsman.--You shouldn't have been so long arguing then. Surely you'll
give the band a nickel, after all the pretty music it has played?

First Child.--I won't.

Second Child.--I won't.

Third Child.--And I won't.

Bandsman.--Well, you are mean. Come along. (Beckoning to the rest of
the band.) We'll go, and it will be a long time before we come down
this street again.

(Curtain falls.)

BOX

SCENE 2: A ROOM

Tommy (hopping about the room, waving a letter in his hand.)--Hurrah!
hurrah! Uncle Dick is coming. Hurrah! hurrah!

(Enter Tommy's brother and sister and papa and mamma.)

Papa.--What's the matter, Tommy?

Tommy.--Uncle Dick has written to say he is coming to spend Christmas
with us, and he is bringing me a Christmas box.

Mamma.--How kind of him! But be sure you are careful not to offend
him, Tommy. He is rather a touchy old gentleman.

Sister.--I wonder what it will be, Tommy.

Brother.--I hope it will be a set of cricket things, and then we can
play cricket in the summer.

Tommy.--Oh! yes, I hope it will be, but whatever it is, it is sure to
be something nice.

(Begins hopping about again. Enter Uncle Dick, a very old gentleman
with a gouty foot. Tommy does not see him and goes banging into him,
treading on his gouty foot.)

Uncle Dick.--Oh! oh! oh! oh, my toe!

Tommy.--Oh! Never mind your toe! Where's my Christmas box?

Uncle Dick.--Your Christmas box, you young scamp! Think of my toe.

Tommy.--Please, uncle, I'm very sorry, but I do so want to know what
you have brought me for a Christmas box.

Uncle Dick (roaring).--Here's your Christmas box, and may it teach you
to be more careful in future. (Boxes Tommy's ears.)

(Curtain falls.)

Here is a list of words which will divide easily into charade words:

Brides-maids. Sea-side. Ca