American Agriculturist 
THE' FARM PAPER THAT PRINTS THE FARM NEWS 
“Agriculture is the Most Healthful, Most Useful and Most Noble Employment of Man.”— Washington 
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Established 1842 
Volume 114 
For the Week Ending November 29, 1924 
Number 22 
W i 
e 
Let’s Have a Christmas Pageant 
A New Way of Presenting the Familiar Christmas Story 
M 1 
TTH every Christmas or Easter time, 
there arises the question, “What sort of 
entertainment shall we have? ” and there¬ 
upon the superintendent of the Sunday- 
school appoints some unfortunates to act as a 
committee, to make plans, select pieces for the 
youngsters, and keep everybody happy>as well as 
entertained. In a small rural community this is a 
real problem. 
Last year, in our community, the time for an¬ 
other Christmas program had rolled round. The 
Sunday-school superintendent was sending out 
“ feelers ” to locate his committee. It seemed to 
the committee that there couldn’t be 
found a single Christmas piece or — 
exercise that hadn't been used before. 
And there were more children than 
ever! 
In the mind of one of the committee 
had been forming the outline for a 
Christmas Pageant. This took defi¬ 
nite shape and after some discussion 
was adopted by the committee. It 
proved an entertainment that was 
different—at least for our com¬ 
munity—included a goodly number of 
people, both the children and grown¬ 
ups, and required a minimum amount 
of practice, an important item for con¬ 
sideration in the country during the 
winter months. 
It w r as a simple pageant, portraying 
the Christmas story by song and verse. 
We used for the music a piano and 
a small chorus of six women’s voices, 
all that could well be spared from - — 
the pageant. Different communities 
should be guided by their -resources in the line of 
singers and musicians. A violin with the piano 
always makes the music far more effective. 
An outline of the pageant is given later and the 
episodes may of course be adapted to local wishes. 
It opened with the march of eight bell-ringers, 
young women in white robes carrying red paper 
bells. They took their station in the choir loft 
behind the stage. 
The episodes, as well as each entrance, "were 
heralded by a reader, who gave the Bible story. 
At the opening of the first episode the full lights 
were turned off, the only light coming from a huge 
yellow star above the stage. The stage was set 
for the shepherds, their vision and the entrance of 
the angel. With their rough garbs and crooks the 
shepherds entered to the song, “While shepherds 
watched their flocks by night.” The second epi¬ 
sode disclosed the manger with Mary and Joseph 
beside it, while three stately Wise Men came to 
pay their homage. Lastly came old Simeon, one 
of our farmer folk, with, gray hair, bent over and 
walking with a stick. 
The third episode introduced a different phase. 
The lights were turned on full, and an aged 
couple, a young couple, and the smallest children 
offered their gifts. When all were on the platform, 
the congregation rose and joined in the grand 
finale, “Oh, come all ye faithful!” 
It was a simple pageant, easily put on, and im¬ 
pressive. The thing that was best about it was the 
splendid cooperation of all the folks. Everybody 
seemed to get into the spirit of the thing. One 
angelic husband fashioned the star and the camp- 
By MRS. E. B. TERBUSH 
fire, lit by an electric light covered with red paper; 
another made the crooks; others provided the 
shepherds’ dresses, which the women made up. 
Everybody helped. Forty-five people took part. 
Of course there were some rather upsetting 
things. Chicken-pox was visiting the youngsters, 
and every practice found new ones succumbed 
while others, who had passed through the siege, 
filled up the depleted ranks. At the last moment 
one of the wise men developed a “crick” in his 
back and another had to be hastily secured. But 
position at right of stage, speaks to shep¬ 
herds from Luke 2:10-12. When finished, 
withdraws to right and remains there 
throughout. 
D. As angel speaks, shepherds start up and 
turn toward her as if to follow. When 
angel has finished, voices chant, “Glory 
to God in the Highest and on earth, peace, 
good-will towards men.” 
A. 
Stage set 
The Experience of One Community Passed 
On to Others 
RS. E. B. TERBUSH is known to women readers of 
the American Agriculturist by occasional pointed, 
helpful articles on household problems. It is not gener¬ 
ally known, perhaps, that she comes by her writing ability 
naturally, for she is the daughter of our own Jared Van 
Wagenen, Jr., whose philosophy and humor have won him 
warm friends among men and women readers alike. 
This account of a Christmas pageant in which Mrs. 
Terbush herself participated tnay furnish suggestions for 
other small communities which do not wish anything 
expensive or difficult, but are looking for something a little 
unusual. It uses familiar music, has easy costuming and 
lighting and presents the Christmas story, old yet ever 
new, in a reverent and beautiful dramatic form. Two or 
three weeks of semi-weekly rehearsals would be sufficient 
time to prepare it. 
such things are all in the day’s work. The impor¬ 
tant thing was that, though everything was not 
perfect, everybody went into it with a zest, and 
the audience seemed to enjoy it. 
THE PAGEANT: GIFTS FOR THE KING 
(Music may come from chorus or quartette, or the 
'participants may do the singing.) 
I. Prologue. Use full lights with exception of 
star through Prologue. 
A. Bell-Ringers (6 or more) enter from back 
of auditorium at beginning of second 
verse of song, “Oh, Little Town of Beth¬ 
lehem!” by chorus. March up side aisles 
and take places in choir loft, or at back of 
stage on raised platform, if possible. 
B. Reader enters from side. Reads prophe¬ 
cies of Christ’s birth, found in Malachi 
3:1; Gen. 3:15; Ps. 89:20; Isaiah 2:2, 28:16, 
23:1, 35:4; Micah 4:1; Ps. 116:4. Other 
references may be used if desired. Reader 
exits. 
II. Episode 1 . Only light comes from big star, 
which is hung above center of stage. 
Shows stage set with camp-fire at left. 
A. Reader enters. Reads from Luke 2:8, 9. 
Exits. 
B. Shepherds (4 to 6 in number) enter from 
left side of stage and take reclining posi¬ 
tions around camp-fire. While in this 
position chorus sings, “While Shepherds 
Kept Their Watch by Night.” 
C. Angel comes slowly up right aisle at begin¬ 
ning of second verse and after taking her 
(Music while stage scenery is again shifted.) 
III. Episode 2. Use starlight throughout episode, 
with manger in center. While 
one verse of “Holy Night” is 
played very softly Alary 
and Joseph enter, and take 
positions at left side of man¬ 
ger, Alary kneeling at the head 
and Joseph standing at foot, 
looking at Babe. 
B. Reader enters and reads from 
Luke 2:15-20. Exits. 
C. Shepherds come from back of 
auditorium up side aisles to 
march music, and kneel around 
Babe while chorus sings, 
“Holy Night.” At conclusion 
of song, Shepherds withdraw 
to right of stage. 
D. Reader enters and reads Matt. 
2:1-12, and exits. 
E. Three Wise Men bearing gifts, 
enter slowly from back of 
auditorium up right aisles, 
while Chorus sings, “We 
- Three Kings of Orient Are.” 
They kneel around manger and 
each presents his gift while verses are 
being sung. (If preferred, Wise Men may 
sing the hymn themselves.) During last 
verse they withdraw to left of stage. 
F. Reader enters and reads, Luke 2:25-28. 
Exits. 
G. Simeon enters from back of auditorium 
to slow music up right aisle. He kneels at 
head of manger while voices chant the 
“Nunc Dimittus.” At end of chant 
Simeon withdraws to right of stage. 
(No scene-shifting necessary at end of this Episode. 
Participants keep positions for next.) 
IV. Episode 3. Use full lights with star. 
A. Reader enters and says, “As the men of 
olden times gave gifts to the Christ Child, 
so we of to-day give gifts to our King.” 
B. Old couple comes up right aisle very slowly 
to music. They bow before the manger 
and the man repeats the verse, “ The time 
of my departure is at hand. I have fought 
a good fight, I have finished my course, I 
have kept the faith. Henceforth there is 
laid up for me a crown of righteousness, 
which the Lord the righteous Judge shall 
give me at that day, and not to me only, 
but unto all them that love his appearing.” 
(Couple withdrawn to right.) 
C. Alaid and youth enter from back briskly 
up right to inspiring music and stand at 
manger—man steps forward and conse¬ 
crates service^and money. “We conse- 
( Continued, on page 376) 
