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  Transcriber’s Notes

  Text printed in italics and small capitals in the original work are
  transcribed _between underscores_ and in ALL CAPITALS, respectively.

  More Transcriber’s Notes may be found at the end of this text.




GOOD TIMES WITH THE JUNIORS




  Good Times
  With The Juniors

  By
  LILIAN M. HEATH

  [Illustration]

  United Society of Christian Endeavor
  Boston and Chicago


  COPYRIGHT, 1904,
  BY GEORGE B. GRAFF




Preface


“Good times” may be either work or play. But work and play--who shall
define them truly?

Our block houses, toy engines, and dolls once seemed intensely real and
important to us. They are not so now. In the same way, as we grow into
the still larger consciousness, into the “life more abundant,” much that
we now regard as of grave moment will take on a new aspect, and we shall
see that it was only play. But play is blessed, and necessary to the
very growth that discards it.

A dear enthusiast in certain lines of work, who is himself growing, I am
sure, once publicly expressed the belief that too close (!) an adherence
to the Christian Endeavor pledge results in a kind of “paperdolatry”
tending toward idleness and pauperism. Dear, dear! Can this be true?

A look around the social and business world of to-day ought to settle
the question. We take the look, and breathe more freely. Endeavorers
here, Endeavorers there, in places of honor and responsibility--what
could our good friend have been thinking about? We must be permitted to
smile, and think that on consideration he will smile, too. In fact, the
smile cure is the best one for this and all other kinds of pessimism.

Yet we are serious, too. In God’s great kindergarten, where we are all
scholars, learning through our play-work how to live, who shall say
which plays are most--or least--important?

One thing is certain. He who said, “Of such is the kingdom of heaven,”
was speaking of those whose only conscious motive was _play_--natural,
graceful, happy, loving life-expression. The growth resulting was
involuntary. With the growth came new impulses, new activities, and new
growth. It is the plan, in God’s kindergarten. Brother, if we would
_grow_, let us not be afraid of play!

To those whose loving ministry among the Juniors finds frequent occasion
for new plans, this little companion volume to “Eighty Pleasant
Evenings” is offered by one who has found both joy and growth in
preparing it. The proportion of the articles original with the compiler
is larger than in any of her previous collections; but ideas from other
sources have been welcomed and utilized whenever they could be made to
fit the Juniors’ needs.

Credit for specially contributed articles is due to Mr. Vincent Van
Marter Beede, Miss Imogen A. Storey, Miss Mattie Marie Gamble, Miss Ida
M. Parmelee, and Miss Alice Chadwick. The aim has been to make each
evening or afternoon as complete as possible in itself. The games
described are therefore included in the socials and parties, but in
addition to the general table of contents a separate index of games
alone is given, thus helping those who may frequently wish to try new
combinations.

With a smile and a prayer the writer sends forth this beloved piece of
her own life-expression, knowing that it will reach just the right
hands.

  Yours in Christian Endeavor,
  LILIAN M. HEATH.




Contents


  Advertising-Carnival                    118
  Barrel Brigade                           91
  Bells of Bonnydingle, The               155
  Bird Social                             101
  Boys’ Book Party, A                     113
  Card-Pasting                            115
  Cinderella Reception                    139
  Climbing the Bean-stalk                 116
  Evening with “Ads,” An                   42
  Fairy Strawberry Festival, A            104
  Flower-Show, A                           41
  For the First of April                   75
  Good Giant, The                          23
  Good-Luck Social, A                      54
  Handkerchief Gymnastics                  97
  Holly and Mistletoe Drill               146
  House Book                               67
  Indian Festival, An                     111
  Jack Frost Reception                    150
  Jack-Knife and Scissors Party            62
  “<DW61>” Social, A                          44
  Letter Social                            78
  Making Valentines                        57
  Mistress Mary’s Contrary Reception      152
  Mysterious Basket-Ball                  121
  New Kind of Dinner Party, A              60
  Orange Social                            39
  <DW29>-Hunt, A                           106
  Parlor Athletic Meet, A                  69
  Parlor Golf Party                       119
  Parlor Mountain-Climb                    93
  Pastery Party, A                         49
  Pillow-Fight, A                          52
  “Polly Pitcher” Social                   66
  Puritan Thanksgiving Dinner, A          126
  Rainbow Social                           96
  Rainy Fourth, A                         108
  Reception at Curlycue Castle             63
  Red-Line Jubilee                         16
  Rope Social, A                           20
  Santa Claus Drill                        11
  Sky-Parlor Reception, No. 1              47
  Sky-Parlor Reception, No. 2              48
  Star Social                             141
  Teddy and the Goblin                    130
  Tropical Fair, A                         71
  Tuffet and the Web, The                  81
  Washington’s Birthday                    72




Good Times With the Juniors.




Santa Claus Drill.

BY IMOGEN A. STOREY.

  What would “good times” amount to in any well-regulated Junior society
  if they did not begin and end with the Christmas holidays? We begin,
  then, with a particularly jolly little drill for Christmas; and, as
  the girls so often have these matters all their own way, we will try
  for a change letting the boys be foremost this time. They will enjoy
  the fun of playing Santa. The Sunday-school primary class, too, must
  be drawn upon.--L. M. H.

An equal number of tiny boys and girls are to be used for the first part
of the drill. They should be dressed in their nightclothes, and each
little one should carry a pillow under his or her arm, and a stocking
hung across the shoulder.

The stage must be decorated with holly, mistletoe, and other Christmas
greens. A large fireplace should occupy the centre rear, shown in
Diagram B. A decorated motto, “A Merry Christmas” may be placed above
the mantel. The fireplace can easily be constructed of brick-
fireproof paper, which can be purchased at any hardware store for a
trifle, and with a piece of chalk from the blackboard the bricks can be
imitated.

On each side, as shown in Diagram A, should stand a small Christmas tree
trimmed up in the conventional way, with the exception of candles, which
it is better to omit unless great precaution is used to prevent an
accident. On each tree the lower limbs should be supplied with hooks
corresponding with a buttonhole in each stocking, which will enable the
little ones to hang their stockings quickly and securely on the trees.

The floor should be laid off for the first part as shown in Diagram A. A
different color used in laying off the diagrams for the two parts will
be found a great help, especially to the smaller children.

[Illustration: DIAGRAM A.]

The children enter from the rear, girls from the right and boys from the
left, or vice versa, carrying pillows under their outside arms and
stockings across the same shoulder, and follow lines R and L in A. When
they reach the dots shown on these lines, all extend their inside arms
diagonally up at the side, and grasp the partner’s hand.

When they reach the diagonal lines, they let go hands, and turn on these
lines, as shown by arrows, turning again on the front line. When the
leaders reach lines R and L, a signal from the piano is given to halt.
In halting, each should keep a distance of fifteen inches from the one
in front, the same as in marching. This distance should be kept
throughout the drill. Another signal is now given to face front, all
turning in the direction of the inside arm. They now recite with
gestures:

“We are going to hang up our stockings” (holding stockings out toward
the audience)

“On the Christmas tree” (turning the body just a little and pointing to
the trees),

“And we know old Santa will fill them,

“For we’ve been good” (girls, pointing to themselves)

“And we’ve been good” (boys, pointing to themselves)

“As good as we could be” (all together).

“Then we are going up to bed” (pointing up),

“And go fa-a-a-st asle-e-e-p” (recited very slowly, dropping heads on
the pillows).

“So, when old Santa comes” (heads raised),

“We won’t be awake to peep” (peep through fingers). The music is now
resumed, the leaders turn to the rear, and follow lines R and L, turning
on the rear line, and again on the side lines shown in A. From the side
lines they turn on the dotted lines, which circle the trees. After
circling the trees a few times, with the common skip step familiar to
all children, a signal is given to halt. The stockings are now hung up,
after which the signal is given to get back into line.

After circling the trees a few times more, they continue skipping,
following the dotted lines to the side lines, then to the front line.
When the leaders reach the front line, they turn on the diagonal lines,
resuming the march very softly and slowly, marching on their toes. When