THE BELL SONG.
Chorus for Thirteen Children.
They may be all boys, all girls or both together, and there may be as many additional as desired.
SONG.
Tune: “Jingle Bells.”
DIRECTIONS.
The leader should be older than the others if small children are chosen. He carries a triangle, the others an inch wide red ribbon two feet long, with six small sleighbells sewed on each ribbon. Be sure and have the bells small, as otherwise the number of them makes their accompaniment too loud.
These ribbons are held by the ends with both hands.
COSTUMES.
No elaborate costumes are required, but as some uniformity of dress is always effective, white dresses with red ribbons, for the girls, and dark suits with holly berries or knots of red ribbon in the coat lapel for the boys, would add much to the effect.
Or, all might dress in outdoor costume with fur caps, mittens, etc.
MARCH.
Enter at rear, center or either side.
1. March in single file all around the stage during the first stanza. Let all shake the bells once on the first beat of each measure as they march.
2. During chorus let the leader strike his triangle on the first beat of each measure. One-half of the other shake the bells once on first beat, and the other half on the third beat of each measure. At the word “way” (which is slurred through a whole measure) the leader strikes his triangle once for each beat, thus making four strokes; and at the word “children’s dancing feet” he does the same, and all shake or tinkle their bells through the last two measures. During the chorus the children halt and face front, while they keep time to the music as they sing.
3. At second stanza step backward diagonally, first with right foot, then with left foot on alternate beats of the music, at the same time swing the body and the bells in the direction the steps are taken. The leader stands before the line, facing the audience, and steps as the others do, waving his triangle to right or left, but not striking it.
At chorus the line halts and keeps time with the music as before.
4. At the third stanza the line advances to the front with the same step and motions as during the second stanza, only in a forward direction.
Chorus as before.