Exercises
Reading edition
A Hallowe’en Acrostic
[For ten children, either boys or girls.]
A witch comes on the stage with a basket full of letters to spell the word “Hallowe’en.” She pins one on each child, and they dance about and stand in groups; as she calls for the letters, one by one they arrange themselves in a line, come forward, hold up letter and recite.
All:
Witches, witches, leaping ditches, Everywhere are seen; Witches, witches, with their switches, Late on Hallowe’en.
H.:
Hold your head up high, for passing by The cat and owl do often cry.
All:
Meow, meow! Who, who!
A.:
Autumn time brings jolly fun, From Jack-o’-Lantern we won’t run.
All:
He has terrible eyes, oh, my! oh, my!
L.:
Look for charm, and look for token, Witches’ spell will then be broken.
All:
Four-leaf clover, four-leaf clover, Look for it the wide world over.
L.:
Late at night upon the post You may see a solemn ghost.
All:
Whist! be still, a ghost! a ghost!
O.:
Once a year you may discover, In a mirror, friend or lover!
All:
Mirror, mirror, smile at me.
W.:
Well for you to say your prayers, If you’re all alone upstairs.
All:
The wind may call for me and you, OOO—OOO—OOO!
E.:
Every year, I always fear, When the goblins are drawing near.
All:
They may be afraid of you— Just bow and say, “How—do—you do?”
E.:
Echo hear the ghost’s shrill cry, “It’s Hallowe’en—I’m passing by.”
All:
A ghostly cry, oh, my!
N.:
Now we all will say good night, I hope, we gave no one a fright!
Witch:
Oh, no, my dears, you’re most polite, It just takes me to scare you quite; The witches often sigh, ’tis true, Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye to you!
[All march off.]
Take Care, Tables Are Turned!
[The children enter, stand in line and recite. After each recitation is given, the object they mention is seen, shown over a screen at the back of stage. The Witch, Owl, etc., may wear masks, the Bat may be made of paper and swung from above.]
All:
We all have frolicked on Hallowe’en. We hear strange sounds, what can they mean?
First:
What if my Jack-o’-Lantern came to life? I made his mouth so big and wide, And put a candle bright inside!
All:
What if he came to life?
Second:
What if my Witches made of black paper, On Hallowe’en should cut up a caper?
All:
What if they came to life?
Third:
What if the Owl I stuffed this year Should very suddenly appear, And cry, “Tu-who, are you all here?”
All:
What if he came to life?
Fourth:
What of the black cat, so sleek and fat, I cut and mounted upon a mat?
All:
What if he came to life?
Fifth:
Suppose my Bat of paper there, Should go a-sailing through the air!
All:
What if he came to life?
Sixth:
I made a Brownie, a jolly fellow, In a jacket black and yellow.
All:
What if he came to life?
[The objects mentioned, now come forward from behind the screen, and scare the first children, who run off the stage. They shake fingers at the audience and recite]:
Be very careful what you make, Or you may find ’tis a mistake To cut such cunning people out; They’ll come to life beyond a doubt, On Hallowe’en, on Hallowe’en! Hurrah! hurrah! for Hallowe’en!