"Since we all are yet unmated, And are getting on in years, Why not now decide the matter By dividing up in pairs? If I ask you to accept me, And my lonely life to bless, Will you? Will you? Will you?"
Each lady takes the arm of the gentleman facing her, and all walk off to the music of the wedding march.
The Sunday-school, school or club is assembled; the stage is concealed by a curtain, and the Christmas tree, which is near the stage, by another curtain or screen. The tree is decorated in the usual manner, minus the gifts, which are concealed near the stage ready to be delivered when the right time comes. The tree need not be lighted until the closing of any preliminary exercises that have been arranged. After lighting, the tree should be exposed to the view of all. When the children have gazed at it for a few moments, the superintendent or some other suitable person should come forward, as if to distribute the gifts as usual. He should survey the tree attentively and from different standpoints, and finally, with great astonishment, exclaim:
"Why, what in the world does this mean? What strange thing is this? What is the matter with my eyes? [_Rubbing his eyes to see better._] I can't see! As true as I live, I cannot see a single Christmas gift upon this tree! Think of it, a Christmas tree with no presents! Am I growing blind? [_Rubbing his eyes again._]
"Do you see any? [_Turning to any child near._] Well, I thought so! It is too true, children, that although we have a Christmas tree, and a fine one, too, there is not a single gift upon it; no, not even a little one for a little bit of a girl! Now, this is altogether too bad of Santa Claus to forget this Sunday-school--when we've gotten all ready for him, too, lighted the tree and decorated it so beautifully! It isn't a bit like him, either. He never did such a thing before. He can't have forgotten us. The blessed old Saint wouldn't do that! Maybe his reindeer are lame and he is slow in getting here. No! He would have sent Jack Frost on ahead to tell us to wait. Let me think a moment. It can't be that any of you children have been so naughty that he thinks we don't deserve a visit from him, can it? No, no, that cannot be; it is a mistake, somehow. It is very mysterious; I never heard of the like before--no, never----