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Read Ebook: Self-Help Mechanical Drawing: An Educational Treatise by Hawkins N Nehemiah
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Ebook has 746 lines and 91535 words, and 15 pages
THE WHITE CHRISTMAS
A CHRISTMAS MORALITY PLAY IN ONE ACT.
CHARACTERS.
The earth has grown old with its burden of care, But at Christmas it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, And its soul, full of music, bursts forth on the air, When the song of the angels is sung.
It is coming, Old Earth, it is coming tonight! On the snowflakes which cover thy sod The feet of the Christ Child fall gentle and white, And the voice of the Christ Child tells out with delight, That mankind are the children of God.
On the sad and the lonely, the wretched and poor, The voice of the Christ Child shall fall; And to every blind wanderer open the door Of hope that he dared not to dream of before, With a sunshine of welcome for all.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife....
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
O COME, COME, AWAY.
O come, come away From labor now reposing, Let busy care a while forbear; O come, come away.
Come, come, our social joys renew, And thus where trust and friendship grew, Let true hearts welcome you, O come, come away.
From toils and the cares On which the day is closing, The hour of eve brings sweet reprieve, O come, come away. O come where love will smile on thee, And round its hearth will gladness be, And time fly merrily, O come, come away.
SIMEON. Make haste, my son, the hour is waxing late, The night is cold, methinks our sheep await.
ISAAC. Nay gran'ther, I would liefer tarry here. The town is gay, the inns are full of cheer.
SIMEON . But there our duty lies, the wind grows cold! Come, let's away and put the sheep in fold.
ISAAC. Nay, Simeon, wait! What means this crowd of men And women here in peaceful Bethlehem?
SIMEON . Herod the King hath issued a decree That each and all his subjects tax?d be; And every one who in this town saw light Must here return and register tonight. From all Judea, aye, from th' distant land, Each Bethlehemite must come at his command.
ISAAC . The town is full of people, great and small, Each inn is crowded to its very wall.
SIMEON . But come, we're wasting time, 'tis very late. Make haste, my son, I know the flocks await!
ISAAC. Thou speakest true, though I would rather stay, Our duty calls, so to the hills, away!
DEBORAH . My inn is crowded to the doors. The heat Is stifling, but out here the air is sweet.
The bright stars twinkle with mysterious light, Methinks there's something strange about the night.
The air is still, the night is very cold, The shepherds seek the hills to watch the fold.
DEBORAH. Some strange, unearthly voice seems calling me, Methinks this night portends great things to be.
RACHEL. Hail, hostess of the inn, my cousin here Hath lodgings at your inn. We'd seek its cheer.
DEBORAH . Enter within. My guests tonight are gay And fain would turn this winter's night to day.
THOMAS . Oh, mother, hark! There's music in the inn!
ANNA. 'Tis not for us--their noise and merry din.
RUTH. Our little town is crowded, joyous, gay.
THOMAS. So many travelers came this way today.
RUTH. The night is chill and cold, I much do fear The little sheep will shiver by the mere.
ANNA. Too cold it is for thee, I fear, in truth, Return and get thy cloak, my little Ruth. We'll wait for thee upon the little hill.
But speed thy steps, the cold will work thee ill.
RUTH. I'll fly, dear mother, like an arrow home.
ANNA. We must not tarry. Come, my Thomas, come!
MARY. Here is a place, now I must rest awhile! For many a league, for many a weary mile, We've trudged along since break of day began.
JOSEPH. 'Tis true, and I'm an old and ancient man, My joints are stiff, my bones are waxing old-- And the long night is bitter, bitter cold. Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within, And wait thee here while I search out an inn.
MARY . My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty has magnified me: and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.
JOSEPH. For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest, Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.
MARY. Husband, I'm faint; I can no farther go. Methinks I'll rest me here upon this loe.
JOSEPH . Have courage, Mary, here's the hostess here.
We'd lodge with thee tonight.
DEBORAH. Alas, I fear My inn is crowded to the very wall, Soldiers and scribes, the rich, the great, the small!
JOSEPH. Is there room for us? My wife is ill.
DEBORAH. My heart is sad and it is not my will To send you hence, but naught is left to do. Perhaps some other inn will shelter you.
JOSEPH. Alas, the other inns are all the same!
DEBORAH. Never was seen the like in Bethlehem.
My guests are merry, hear their jovial din!
I pity you, there's no room at the inn.
MARY. Our last hope gone! Now, what shall we do? My strength is leaving!
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