They march around the stage, and finally
stop in front of 1897 and the others._)

See how the children, so happy and gay,
Come marching together this glad Christmas day.

_Children_:
With hands on our heads, while the bells sweetly chime,
All blithely we're keeping the glad Christmas time.
Marching and singing, so gayly we go,
Turning and winding in lines to and fro.
Clap all together, and sing, sing away,
So merrily keeping this glad Christmas day.

_1897_: Oh, children, little children,
You're welcome here alway;
I'm glad to see you coming
To keep our Christmas day.
(_Bells outside._)
Oh, children, little children,
Why do the joy-bells chime?

(_Singing heard outside. The following words, to the tune of "Ring, Ye
Happy Christmas Bells."_)

Carol, O ye children all,
With no thought of sadness;
Welcome in the Christmas time
With your songs of gladness.

_Chorus_--Sing, O sing,
Bells all ring,
Let us now be merry,
Let us welcome Christmas day
With our songs so cheery.

_1897_: Hark, how the winds are blowing,
What music do they bring.

_Children_: You hear the little children
Their Christmas carols sing.

_1897_: O children, little children,
What light is that afar?

_Children_: 'Tis shining from the heavens,
A glorious Christmas star.

_1897_: O children, little children,
What means its glorious rays?
And why is Christmas better
Than many other days?

_Children_: Oh, don't you know the story
Of the first Christmas time?
Then listen, we will tell it,
While the bells so sweetly chime.

_First child_: We count the years by hundreds
Since that first Christmas day.
When in a lowly manger
The little Christ-child lay.

_Second child_: That night some shepherds tending
Their flocks upon the hill,