Рождественская сказка на английском языке для школьников. Рождественская пьеса на английском языке. Кайл Китон читает “How Little Bear Spent Christmas With Santa”
Учитель английского языка,
МБОУ «Гимназия №1», гАнгарск
«Рождественская сказка»
Сценарий театрализованной школьной линейки, посвящённой Рождеству в Англии
Участники: ученики 2-4 классов
Цель: Знакомство с традициями и обычаями Великобритании, воспитание уважения к культуре страны, повышение мотивации к изучению английского языка
Аннотация: «Рождественская сказка» это сценарий одного из традиционных внеклассных мероприятий, посвящённых культуре Великобритании и США. В сценарий включены аутентичные рождественские стихи и песни для детей. Дата проведения 24-25 декабря. Длительность 7-10 минут.
Действующие лица: 6 гномов, мальчик и девочка (брат и сестра), Санта, ведущий (может быть учитель)
Декорации: украшенная ёлка, камин
Зрители заходят в музыкальный зал, встают полукругом.
Гаснет свет, под музыку появляются гномики с фонариками в руках (колпачки, варежки, шарфики)
В Канаде, Америке, Великобритании, Франции, Швеции, Дании (по 1 слову)
У всех на уме только одно – люди ждут Рождество! (все вместе).
Гномики говорят по две строчки:
It"s Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Yes, it’s merry, merry Christmas!
It’s time for hanging stockings,
It’s time for riding sleighs,
It’s time for Jolly greating,
Snow and holly overeating.
Oh, I love you, Merry Christmas,
You are the best of holidays.
Ведущий: Деревья покрыты сверкающим снегом. Глубокие сугробы укрыли землю. Приближается рождественская ночь. Всё вокруг замерло в ожидании чуда…
The trees are heavy
With gleaming snow.
The drifts are deep.
And world is white.
No breath of wind
Is there below,
Hushed beauty reigns…
It’s Christmas night.
Ведущий: Тихий зимний вечер. На тёмном небе зажигаются звёзды и месяц, в домах и на улицах рождественские ёлки и зажигаются рождественские свечи.
Брат и сестра украшают ёлку возле камина и рассказывают:
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
They are green when summer days are bright.
They are green when winter days are white.
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
Your branches green delight us.
(В это время зажигаются свечи на камине)
(Дети вешают чулочки на камин)
The stockings are hung,
The carols are being sung.
My heart is field with joy,
Along with every boy and girl.
It’s really hard to go to sleep,
you want to go and take a peep.
And when you are finally in bed,
Visions of Santa dance in your head.
(дети вешают чулочки, задувают свечи, зевая, уходят)
Ведущий: Долго сегодня им не уснуть, как бы на этого гостя взглянуть, Санта проникнет в дом потихоньку и спрячет подарки под ёлку.
Гномы говорят:
- Who very soon will come our way?
Santa very soon will come our way.
Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh.
Santa’s little reindeer pull his sleigh.
- Reindeer sleigh, come our way,
Ho,Ho, Ho cherry nose,
Cap on head, suit that’s red,
Special night, beard that’s white –
Must be Santa, must be Santa,
Must be Santa, Santa Claus.
Заходит Санта:
When the clock is striking 12,
When you are fast asleep
Down the chimney broad and black
With my bag I’ll creep.
Jonny wants a pair of skates.
Susy wants a Dolly;
Nelly wants a story book;
She thinks dolls are folly.
Выходит маленький заспанный мальчик с подушкой:
As for me, my little brain
Isn’t very bright:
Choose for me, old Santa Claus
What you think is right.
(Санта берёт за руку малыша и уводит.)
Ведущий: Дети раньше всех встают, за подарками бегут
Открывает, замирает от восторга детвора,
С Рождеством всех поздравляет и кричит: «Ура! Ура!»
Все поют песенку “We wish you a Merry Christmas!”
Книга, создавшая праздник: Чарльз Диккенс
Образ английского Рождества хрестоматиен: за окном метель, в натопленной комнате накрыт стол, горят десятки свечей, красиво наряженные дети поют рождественские хоралы и получают подарки... Этот образ мало связан с реальностью - хотя бы потому, что в декабре на улицах современного Лондона проще увидеть клумбы с цветами, чем сугробы. Творцом «английского Рождества» стал Чарльз Диккенс, а точнее - его первая и самая известная праздничная повесть «Рождественская песнь в прозе». Необычное русское название прижилось в нашей культуре благодаря переводу Татьяны Озерской, сделанному в ХХ веке. А в XIX веке повесть Диккенса, переведенная почти мгновенно после выхода оригинала в 1843 года и ставшая невероятно популярной в России, называлась «Святочная песнь». И это название более точно отражало суть книги, ведь в оригинале она называется «A Christmas carol». Carol - это аналог русских колядок, народных духовных куплетов, которые и взрослые, и дети распевают на Рождество.
Хотя большинство современных российских детей с повестью Диккенса незнакомы, имя ее главного героя им прекрасно известно. Это банкир Скрудж, образ которого студия «Дисней» позаимствовала у Диккенса для своих анимационных сериалов. Имя Скрудж происходит от английского глагола screw (притеснять, скряжничать, скаредничать) и давно уже стало нарицательным обозначением скряги-грубияна. Повесть Диккенса посвящена чудесному преображению Скруджа из злого монстра в щедрого благотворителя, которое происходит в Сочельник. Помогают Скружу три святочных духа, которые показывают ему истинную суть его прошлой, настоящей и будущей жизни.
Диккенс в «Рождественской песни» создает яркий и запоминающийся портрет «старой доброй Англии», который складывается из зажаренного гуся («величиной с ребенка»), пудинга, огня в очаге, игры в фанты, крепкого эля, танцев. Это исключительно семейный праздник; «троица молитвы, еды и питья», как выразился знаменитый писатель Гилберт Кий Честертон. Вдохновленные красотой образа доброго, спокойного, семейного праздника, британцы в середине XIX века начали активно воплощать его в жизнь и продолжают делать это до сих пор. Почти в каждой современной английской семье есть «Рождественская песнь» Диккенса, часто в сочетании с другими его рождественскими текстами (позже он написал «Сверчок за очагом», «Колокола», «Битва жизни», «Одержимый»). Во время Адвента Диккенса читают маленьким британцам в детских садах и в школах, причем нижней возрастной границы для такого чтения не существует.
Воспоминания о Рождестве: Дилан Томас
Российский Новый год сложно представить без фильма «Ирония судьбы». А английское Рождество отмечено обязательной декабрьской радиотрансляцией повести Дилана Томаса «A child"s Christmas in Wales», русский перевод которой был опубликован под названием «Детство. Рождество. Уэльс». Имя Дилана Томаса прекрасно известно всем ценителям поэзии, ведь он - один из лучших английских поэтов ХХ века, к тому же очень любивший выступать по радио.
Если Диккенс создал идеальную картинку английского Рождества, то Томас автобиографически воссоздал реальность этого праздника. «Детство. Рождество. Уэльс» - небольшой прозаический текст, своего рода «поток сознания», мгновенно переносящий автора и читателя в заснеженный Уэльс начала века. «Наш снег не так вот просто-напросто лили с неба из ведер с белилами, он шалью стлался из-под земли, он выплывал, он вытекал из древесных стволов, и побегов, и веток; и все крыши за ночь порастали нежным и снежным мхом, белый плющ мигом обегал все стены, и немое, штормовое, белое крошево рождественских открыток обрушивалось на входящего во двор почтальона…» Подарки, гости, пудинг, пожар от очага, ветер над заледеневшим морем, снежки и сугробы, замерзающие птицы - все эти картины наплывают одна на другую, создавая удивительную иллюзию подлинности. И хотя, на первый взгляд, Дилан Томас пишет сложно и непрозрачно, многие взрослые англичане признаются, что именно «A child"s Christmas in Wales» было в детстве их любимым рождественским чтением.
Письма Рождественского деда: Джон Рональд Руэл Толкин
Английское Рождество, как и многие наши отечественные праздники, возникло на стыке христианской и язычески-народной традиций. Дата 25 декабря совпала с древнегерманским Йолем, языческим праздником зимнего солнцестояния, «возвращения солнца», главным героем которого был Прадедушка Йоль. Ну и кто же мог лучше всех выстроить связь между Йулем, Санта-Клаусом и Христом? Конечно, сэр Толкин - оксфордский профессор, знаток англосаксонских древностей…
У Толкина было четверо детей: Джон, Майкл, Кристофер и Присцилла. В книге «Семейный альбом» Джон и Присцилла вспоминают детство: «В рождественское утро - подобно тысячам других детей - нам разрешалось заглянуть в чулки и развернуть тщательно выбранные для нас подарки. Однако, кроме подарков, мы каждый год получали письмо от самого Рождественского Деда, со штемпелем “Северный полюс” и самой что ни на есть настоящей “северно-полюсной” маркой!»
Автором этих писем-картинок был отец, глава семьи. Первое письмо от имени Father Christmas, Рождественского Деда, Толкин написал трехлетнему Джону в 1920 году. Последнее получила 14-летняя Присцилла в 1943-м. Это были не банальные поздравительные строчки, а живой и очень личный диалог: Дед радовался успехам детей, жаловался на задержки с оленями, интересовался семейными новостями, рассказывал о жизни на Северном полюсе. Дети Толкина бережно сохранили эти письма и опубликовали их после его смерти. Сегодня на английском языке существует несколько изданий «Letters from Father Christmas» и в виде книг, и в виде коробочки с конвертами, откуда вытаскиваются сами письма. На русский язык переведен только текст; изумительных картинок Толкина русскоязычные дети пока увидеть не могут.
«Письма Рождественского деда» интересны не только как рассказ об английском Рождестве. В первую очередь, это интереснейший памятник семейной культуры. Попробуйте ежегодно писать и рисовать каждому из своих детей письма, наблюдая за их жизнью как бы со стороны! Это неоценимый психологический опыт, причем важность его велика и для детей, и для родителей. Ведь именно так воспитывается у человека умение дарить, а не «отдариваться по поводу», умение получать нежданные, не прошенные подарки, умение вместе радоваться и удивляться.
Рождественские дары и подарки: Беатрис Поттер и О.Генри
Во всем христианском мире Рождество - единственный из всех религиозных праздников, считающийся праздником детей. И во всем мире в этот день детям дарят подарки. Смысл этих традиций очевиден: в этот день родился Божественный младенец, и вся земля склонилась перед ним со своими дарами. В небе засияла Вифлеемская звезда, волхвы принесли в пещеру золото, ладан и смирну, пастухи привели свои стада. На протяжении многих столетий дети разных народов получали подарки два раза в год: в день собственного рождения и в день Рождества Иисуса. Поэтому редкая рождественская книга обходится без темы подарков. Но подарки бывают разные. Российским читателям хорошо известны рождественский рассказ О.Генри «Дары волхвов». Правда, в нашей стране эта бессмертная история о бескорыстном дарении считается подростковым чтением, а вот в Англии ее читают и пяти-, и восьмилетним детям.
Еще одну очень популярную детскую «подарочную» историю рассказала и нарисовала Беатрис Поттер. Хотя в России уже издано несколько книг этой писательницы, повесть о портном из Глостера («The Taylor of Gloucester») с иллюстрациями автора у нас пока можно прочесть только в интернете. Эта бесхитростная история повествует о том, как в день Рождества мыши помогли бедному портному в срок закончить важную работу в благодарность за то, что он спас их от кота. И с той поры он стал богатым и известным.
Почему так важно прочесть детям эти истории? Потому что речь в них об одном и том же: о подарке-действии, подарке-поступке. Книги О.Генри и Беатрис Поттер показывают ребенку истинную сущность подарка и немного уводят его от потребительски-коммерческого отношения к празднику.
Чудо Рождества: Оскар Уайльд
В Англии, в отличие от России, никогда не было гонений на христианство, и религиозная «сердцевина» рождественско-новогодних празднований совершенно естественна для современных британцев. Суть Рождества - чудо: каждый год христианский мир отмечает чудесный приход Иисуса в земной мир. Поэтому вполне закономерно появление религиозных тем и персонажей в детских рождественских книгах. Один из примеров -сказка Оскара Уайльда «The selfish giant», которая в русских переводах называется по-разному: «Эгоистичный великан», «Злой великан»; «Великан-эгоист», «Великан, который думал только о себе». Этот необычайно красивый текст рассказывает о саде, принадлежавшем одному великану. В саду всегда царила зима, поскольку великан обнес сад высокой стеной и не пускал в него детей. Но вот однажды… «Он увидал поразительное зрелище. Через небольшое отверстие в стене дети пробрались в сад и сидели на ветвях деревьев. На каждом дереве был маленький ребенок. И деревья так радовались возвращению детей, что тотчас же покрылись цветами, и нежно качались их ветви над головами малюток. Всюду порхали птицы и восторженно щебетали, и цветы выглядывали из зеленой травы и смеялись. Это была прелестная картина; только в одном углу по-прежнему царила зима. Это было в самом отдаленном углу сада, и там стоял маленький мальчик. Он был так мал, что не мог достать до ветвей и только ходил кругом дерева, горько плача. Бедное дерево все еще было покрыто инеем и снегом, и Северный Ветер бушевал и ревел над ним». Великан помог малышу забраться на дерево, и оно тут же покрылось цветами необыкновенной красоты. Много лет стареющий Великан ждал возвращения малыша. Это случилось перед самой его смертью; ребенок предстал перед Великаном с двумя ранами от гвоздей на руках и ногах, назвав их «ранами любви»…
Христианская этика входит в сознание британцев с самого раннего детства, не прячась и не скрываясь под маской светской морали. Сказочные притчи о милосердии, добре, внутренней красоте писали Оскар Уайльд, Клайв Льюис, Джон Толкин. Чтение этих сказок в рождественские дни совершенно естественно для британцев и вызывает неоднозначные ощущения у эмигрантов из России. Вот как их описывает Наталья, десять лет назад переехавшая из Петербурга в Манчестер и воспитывающая троих детей: «У нас сказки Уайльда читают, в лучшем случае, в школе. Здесь, в Британии, его дарят двух-трехлетним детям. В первые годы я не могла читать “The selfish giant” своим маленьким дочкам. Ведь у нас никто и никогда не говорит с детьми о религии легко и спокойно. Либо звериная серьезность учебников, храмов, музеев, либо пофигизм и атеизм семьи. А вот так, взять и просто прочесть трехлетнему ребенку про райский сад и раны любви… Я не могла, в ужасе думала, как мне это объяснить дочке, начала лепетать что-то про Христа, Распятие. А муж вдруг остановил меня: “Не надо ничего объяснять. Уайльд уже все сказал”. И так и есть. Вот ведь как британцы умеют - не мораль читать, а сказку рассказать. И все ведь ясно, правда? Наверное, это и есть те самые христианские ценности, которые европейцы впитывают с детства…»
Анна Рапопорт
SCENE 1.
(The NEW YEAR and the SNOW MAIDEN are knocking at the door. They have presents and a bell in their hands)
New Year:
I am the little New Year, ho, ho!
Here I come jumping over the snow,
Shaking my bell with a merry din
Snow Maiden:
Presents we bring for each and all
Big folks, little folks, short and tall.
Each one from us a treasure may win,
So open your doors and let me in!
New Year:
Some shall have silver and some shall have gold
Some shall have new clothes and some shall have old.
Snow Maiden:
Some shall have water and some shall have milk
Some shall have satin and some shall have silk!
New Year: But each of you a present may win
Snow Maiden: So open your doors and let us in!
SCENE 2.
(Enter Mrs.CLAUS)
Mrs.Claus: Oh, hello dear New Year! Have you got any present for Santa Claus?
New Year: What? A present for our old Santa? No, here are some presents which he must take to children. And he must hurry! He hasn"t got much time to finish his work!
Mrs.Claus: Poor old Santa... Good-bye, New Year. Merry Christmas!
(Exit New Year. Enter ELF 1 and ELF 2)
Mrs.Claus: Good day, my little elves. Come here! Have you, Elves, ever thought what it is like for our Santa on Christmas morning? He works all Christmas night putting presents in children"s stockings, and when he comes back to a quiet North Pole he is so tired! All people are opening presents and having a wonderful time and poor old Santa is so tired that he can"t celebrate!
1 st Elf:
Think about it. It"s almost shocking!
He won"t even have a Christmas stocking.
Is it too late for us to plan
To celebrate with this kind old man?
Mrs.Claus: What a good idea! No, it isn"t to late! Let"s quickly think of the presents we can make!
2 nd Elf:
Let"s give him new gloves and a hat right away
So the cold won"t get him when he is out in his sleigh.
Mrs.Claus: What about some nice tasty things for the holiday lunch?
2 nd Elf: We"ll make up a tasty brew! Can you cook his favourite stew?
Mrs.Claus: Of course! So, I"m going to the kitchen and you hurry for a surprise for Santa!
SCENE 3.
(Enter TOM SAWYER, DOROTHY and ALICE)
Tom: Where are my Christmas presents? There is nothing in my stocking! How awful! Oh, my dear friends, I"m so angry that I forgot to tell you who I am. I am famous Tom Sawyer!
Dorothy: I am Dorothy. Do you know me? You have read about my adventures in the book "The Wizard of Oz". I flew to a magic country in my house with my dog Toto.
Alice: And my name is Alice. Do you know what tale I come from? "Alice in Wonderland", of course!
Tom: Imagine how unhappy I am with these two silly girls following me here and there and everywhere! Woh!
Dorothy: Tom, stop being naughty, please! It"s Christmas Eve!
Alice: It"s Christmas Eve and where are our presents? There is nothing in my stocking!
Dorothy: And my stocking is empty, too!
Tom: What has happened to Santa Claus?
(Enter MRS.CLAUS and the ELVES)
Mrs.Claus: My dear friends, you know how busy Santa is. No wonder he has forgotten!
Dorothy, Alice: Merry Christmas, Mrs.Claus!
1 st Elf: Merry Christmas, everybody! Do you know that we decided to give Santa Claus some presents. He never gets anything on Christmas, you know.
Tom: I"ve got an idea. Old Santa has so much work to do today. What if we help him to take the presents to those children who live not very far away?
2 nd Elf: That will be nice! Here is a bag with presents, the New Year has left it hear. Oh, how heavy it is!
Mrs.Claus: Now everybody has something to do and I am going to make a stew.
Dorothy: Can we help you. Mrs.Claus?
Alice: We would like to do it!
1 st Elf: And I think we must invite children to our party. They will dress up in pretty clothes and we"ll have fun!
Mrs.Claus: But we must hurry - Christmas is coming.
SCENE 4.
(Enter BLACK FAIRY)
Black Fairy: Oh, I knew it! Santa Claus hasn"t even put a stocking for me. He"s forgotten about me! And they are all talking about him - helping Santa, presents for Santa, a party for Santa... And I"m always alone! O.K. I"ll show them what happens if they forget about Black Fairy! I don"t want them to help that old fat Santa Claus. Oh, what"s that? Christmas presents!? Presents for these naughty, noisy, lazy children? I"ll take them and hide in a good secret place. (to the audience) And if you tell them anything you will never get any presents on Christmas! Do you understand? Never again!
SCENE 5.
(Enter Tom, Dorothy and Alice)
Tom: It"s time to go. The children are waiting for their presents. (looking around) But where are the presents? Where is the bag?
Dorothy: Where are the presents?
Alice (crying): Somebody has taken the bag! Now the children won"t get the presents!
Dorothy (crying): Poor Santa Claus. Everybody will be angry with him. We wanted to help and now...
Tom: Never again shall I ask any girls to help me! The only thing they can do is cry and weep! It"s cold today and if you don"t stop you will have icicles on your eyes! Stop crying and let me think. There must be a way out. Yes! A Christmas Fairy - Saula is the only one who can help us! She always comes on Christmas Eve to those who need help.
SCENE 6.
(Distant music and bells are heard, enter SAULA)
Saula: Merry Christmas!
Tom: Saula! I"ve been thinking about you! How do you know that we need your help?
Saula: I heard someone crying. I thought I could help, and here I am!
Alice: Saula, dear, do you know what has happened?
Saula: I don"t, sweetheart.
Dorothy: We decided to help Santa Claus with the presents, you know he is so busy on Christmas Eve...
Saula: How lovely! How kind of you to do it!
Alice: But somebody has taken the bag with all the presents!
Tom: Even I have no idea - who could do such a bad thing!
Saula: Let me think... I guess I know who it is.
All: Do you!?
Saula: Have you ever heard about the Black Fairy of the Christmas Eve?
Tom: Never.
Alice: Yes, I"ve once read about her. People say she is very wicked, nobody loves her and she loves nobody.
Saula: You are right. She always tries to do something bad on Christmas Eve.
Tom: Let me catch her and she will never do anything bad again!
Saula: Don"t be so angry, Tom. Christmas is the time for love and forgiving. Think of how unhappy she is. She"s got no friends, no family. Nobody gives her presents or says Merry Christmas.
Dorothy: Poor thing.
Alice: I"m so sorry.
Dorothy: And what if we give her a present?
Tom: A present for this ...
Alice: Oh, Tom, we must give her a present and say we are sorry nobody wants to be her friend. May be she isn"t as bad as she looks.
Dorothy: We can be her friends.
Saula: You are good girls! That"s just what we must do. Elves! Elves! Have you got one more stocking?
SCENE 7.
(Enter Elves)
1 st Elf: Merry Christmas Saula!
2 nd Elf: Who do you need a stocking for?
Saula: For Black Fairy.
Elves: Black Fairy?
Tom: These kind women feel sorry for her! And she has stolen the bag with Christmas presents! Have you ever heard anything like that!?
Saula: Tom, be a good boy today. Don"t forget it"s Christmas time.
Tom: O.K. I"ll show you that I can be good. I can even give Black Fairy my tooth as a present. And it"s the best thing I have got!
Dorothy: We"ve got some candies.
2 nd Elf: And I have a nice Christmas bell!
Saula: Here is an apple and a beautiful Christmas card from me. Let us put everything into the stocking and call Black fairy all together.
All: Black Fairy! Black Fairy!
SCENE 8.
(Enter Black Fairy)
Black Fairy: I haven"t seen your bag with presents! I"ve never touched it.
Saula: Dear, nobody thinks you have!
Alice: We just wanted to say to you -
All: Merry Christmas!
Dorothy: Christmas is the time for love, friendship and forgiving.
Tom: Here is a present for you, Black Fairy!
Black Fairy: A Christmas stocking? For me? Isn"t it a joke?
1 st Elf: No, Black Fairy, it isn"t a joke. We want to be your friends.
Black Fairy: Oh, thank you so much! And I am sorry. It was me. I took the presents. I didn"t want you to help Santa Claus because he never, never brings me presents. I am so sorry. Here is the bag. Forgive me, please!
Saula: We will forgive you if you help us to take the presents to the children. We must hurry or we"ll be late!
Black Fairy: Certainly, with great pleasure!
Saula: I"m leaving you now. You can do everything yourselves and I must help those who are unhappy today. Good-bye and merry Christmas! (exit Saula)
SCENE 9.
(Mrs.Claus and the Elves)
Mrs.Claus: Everything is ready. We helped Santa with the presents and his stocking is full of presents, too. And the tasty lunch is on the table. But there are no lights on the Christmas tree!
1 st Elf:
We"ll have to hurry to get things done
The computer shows he"s on his last run!
2 nd Elf: Yes, he is coming!
Mrs.Claus: Tom, Alice, Dorothy, come here! (Enter Tom, Alice, Dorothy). I can hear him. He"s going into his bedroom. Let"s turn off the lights and hide. (the stage remains dark and quiet) I"d better go and see what has happened to him. I don"t hear anything! (the lights go up, Mrs.Claus exits and immediately comes back)
Well, little friends, you needn"t hide
Santa"s too tired after his ride
The party food we"ll have to keep
Dear old Santa is fast asleep!
Tom: What if we wake him up?
Alice: Won"t he be angry? He is so tired.
Dorothy: I know a lovely Christmas song about Santa Claus. If we sing it he"ll wake up and won"t be angry.
I"m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
When the tree tops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I"m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write.
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.
Сегодня на English 4 kids премьера. Кайл Китон читает на английском языке свою новую рождественскую историю для детей: “How Little Bear Spent Christmas With Santa” .
История подходит для детей, которые уже немного знают английский язык и публикуется нами без перевода. Внизу будет дана ссылка чтобы скачать и распечатать эту историю пока без иллюстраций.
Если вам и вашим детям понравится эта история, мы будем рады, если вы пришлете нам свои рисунки и мы их с удовольствием здесь опубликуем.
Кайл Китон читает “How Little Bear Spent Christmas With Santa”
1. Once upon a time there was a little Bear and Little Bear was trying to write a letter to Santa Clause. For it was after Thanksgiving and Christmas was right around the corner. Little Bear had always been told to write a letter to Santa and make sure that Santa knew what Little Bear needed for Christmas. This year though, Little Bear was just too busy to write a letter, as he had so much to do.
Little Bear was more worried about getting gifts for his mom, dad and all his grandparents that he never had time to stop and think about what he needed. So that letter to Santa never was written.
Little Bear was a kind and thoughtful little bear and he always put others before himself. So he went about making gifts for his parents and grandparents. For his mom he dried hundreds of flowers that he had collected all summer. These he made into a wonderful smelling potpourri, He even found a wonderful, only slightly cracked bowl to put the dried flower pedals in, that his mom would just love to see all winter long. For his dad, he made a fishing lure out of an old wine cork and he painted it like a shark from the ocean. For his grandparents he painted a picture of each of them. He hid the paintings in the woods and covered the paintings with leaves and branches, so that no one would see them and spoil the gift.
2. Now all this was good
and most proper for a little bear to be doing, but Santa Clause got worried, for he kept track of all the kids in the world and here it was a week before Christmas and no letter from Little Bear. Why there was a letter from Little Calf, Little Squirrel, Little Lamb, Little Blue Jay and millions of others, but no Little Bear. Santa got worried…
You see Santa knows good children and Santa knew that Little Bear was an good child. So Santa grabbed one of his Reindeer and rode to see if Little Bear was okay.
Santa peeking around a tree trunk found Little Bear painting pictures, making lures and drying flowers. Santa also found that Little Bear was so worn out at the end of the day, that he had no time to write a letter to Santa and tell Santa what he wanted. Santa went back home to the North Pole and thought about what to give a little bear that was too busy making gifts for his family to care about what he wanted for Christmas.
Santa came up with a trick to play on Little Bear. Santa would send Mister Owl to ask him what he wanted. Mister Owl went to Little Bear as he was asked by Santa and presented his question, “What would you like for Christmas, Little Bear?”
3. Little Bear looked up
in surprise as he was finishing the painting of his great grandpa bear, just two days before Christmas and he paused a few seconds thinking at the last brush stroke and said, “I guess that I do not need anything! For I have all that any little bear could ever want!” Then Little Bear said, “I have hugs, kisses, lots of food and lots of love! What more do I need?” Then he finished the brush stroke and declared the last painting done. In fact he declared all the gifts done and just in time for Christmas which was just two days away…
4. Mister Owl flew back
to Santa in the North Pole and reported what he was told. That left Santa in worse shape than he was. For now he had no idea what to get Little Bear. Then since Christmas was two days off and he had to hurry and get done. Santa put his thoughts on the back burner and hurried to get all the gifts together for all the kids all over the world. All the while not knowing what to get a good Little Bear.
Christmas came and Santa put off going to Little Bears home in the deep woods, until last. In fact Little Bear had just gotten up and everyone in the family was gathered around the Christmas Tree in the house and opened up their gifts. Papa Bear and all the rest noticed that Santa had not been by and they were worried. Little Bear had gifts from all the family and he had good gifts of clothes and toys, but the stocking by the fireplace was empty.
Little Bears gifts to the family were a big hit and Papa Bear was so proud of his new fishing lure that he went immediately and stuck it on his fishing hat. That way he would have it safe until spring came and the rivers and lakes thawed from the winter ice. Momma Bear could not get enough deep sweet breaths of her dried flowers and Little Bears grandparents spent all morning hanging their freshly painted portraits that Little Bear had painted. Everyone was very happy, except Santa never came to the house.
5. Little Bear told everyone why he did not get anything from Santa. As Little Bear said, “I did not ask for anything and I did not want anything, for I have all I need!” Then Little Bear said, “I never wrote a letter to Santa!”
Then as everyone thought about what Little Bear just said. There came a rattle, bang, crunch and boom in the front yard of the Bear home in the woods. They all ran to the windows and looked out to see what had happened. Then what appeared before their eyes as the snow settled from being blown around in a whirlwind. There appeared Santa and his reindeer. Then as they stared with wonder a knock came upon the door.
Little Bear ran to the door, for his family was too shocked to go themselves and politely invited Santa to come inside. Santa stepped inside and asked for pardon that he has interrupted the family day of Christmas. Everyone all stared and Santa took that as an OK that all was right. Then Santa asked to speak to Little Bear for a minute.
Papa Bear shook his head yes and his eyes were as big as tea cups. Santa said, “Little Bear, you never sent me a letter!” Little Bear gulped and thought, “Oops I am in trouble!”
Then Santa went on, “I have never had that happen and when Mister Owl came back to me and said that, “Little Bear said, “I have hugs, kisses, lots of food and lots of love! What more do I need?” I had run out of time to try to think of what to get you, Little Bear. So I decided to come by in person and give you a gift that no other kid will have. For kids love to tell me what they want for Christmas, but you did not want anything!”
6. Santa looked at Little Bear
and said, “If your Papa and the rest of your family say OK! I want to take all of you to the North Pole and have you spend Christmas with Mrs. Santa Clause, the elves, the reindeer and I. For we always have a late Christmas after everyone else has theirs!”
Faster than a Little Bear can say, “Yippee!”, the whole family crowded into the sled with Santa and before they knew it they were at the North Pole having a special Christmas…
They had games to play with the elves and they even got to meet Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer. He had a cold and his nose was even redder than normal. They ate so much food that they all felt like their clothes would pop the buttons and Mrs. Santa Clause had tears in her eyes as they all had to leave…
Santa dropped them off at their Bear home in the woods and as the sleigh lifted into the sky they heard, “Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas Little Bear!”
Little Bear said later as his mom tucked him in bed, “I got the best Christmas gift in the whole world and I am glad that my whole family was able to share in it.”
Then he said as his tired eyes closed, “There really is a Santa!”
One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. Every day, when she went to the shops, she spent very little money. She bought the cheapest meat, the cheapest vegetables. And when she was tired, she still walked round and round the shops to find the cheapest food. She saved every cent possible.
Delia counted the money again. There was no mistake. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And the next day was Christmas.
She couldn"t do anything about it. She could only sit down and cry. So she sat there, in the poor little room, and she cried.
Delia lived in this poor little room, in New York, with her husband, James Dillingham Young. They also had a bedroom, and a kitchen and a bathroom – all poor little rooms. James Dillingham Young was lucky, because he had a job, but it was not a good job. These rooms took most of his money. Delia tried to find work, but times were bad, and there was no work for her. But when Mr James Dillingham Young came home to his rooms, Mrs James Dillingham Young called him "Jim" and put her arms round him. And that was good.
Delia stopped crying and she washed her face. She stood by the window, and looked out at a grey cat on a grey wall in the grey road. Tomorrow was Christmas Day, and she had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy Jim a Christmas present. Her Jim. She wanted very much to buy him something really fine, something to show how much she loved him.
Suddenly, Delia turned round and ran over to look in the glass on the wall. Her eyes were bright.
Now, the James Dillingham Youngs had two very special things. One was Jim"s gold watch. It once belonged to his father, and, before that, to his grandfather. The other special thing was Delia"s hair.
Quickly, Delia let down her beautiful, long hair. It fell down her back, and it was almost like a coat around her. Then she put her hair up again, quickly. For a second or two she stood still, and cried a little.
Then she put on her old brown coat, and her old brown hat, turned, and left the room. She went downstairs and out into the road, and her eyes were bright.
She walked along by the shops, and stopped when she came to a door with "Madame Eloise - Hair" on it. Inside there was a fat woman. She did not look like an "Eloise".
"Will you buy my hair?" Delia asked.
"I buy hair," Madame replied. "Take your hat off, then, and show me your hair."
The beautiful brown hair fell down.
"Twenty dollars," Madame said, and she touched the hair with her hand.
"Quick! Cut it off! Give me the money!" Delia said.
The next two hours went quickly. Delia was happy because she was looking round the shops for Jim"s present. At last she found it. It was a gold chain for The Watch. Jim loved his watch, but it had no chain. When Delia saw this gold chain, she knew immediately that it was right for Jim. She must have it. The shop took twenty-one dollars from her for it, and she hurried home with the eighty-seven cents. When she arrived there, she looked at her very short hair in the glass. "What can I do with it?" she thought. For the next half an hour she was very busy.
Then she looked again in the glass. Her hair was now in very small curls all over her head. "Oh, dear. I look like a schoolgirl!" she said to herself. "What"s Jim going to say when he sees me?"
At seven o"clock the dinner was nearly ready and Delia was waiting. "Oh, I hope he thinks that I"m still beautiful!" she thought.
The door opened and Jim came in and closed it. He looked very thin and he needed a new coat. His eyes were on Delia. She could not understand the look on his face, and she was afraid. He was not angry or surprised. He just watched her, with that strange look on his face. Delia ran to him.
"Jim," she cried. "Don"t look at me like that. I sold my hair because I wanted to give you a present. It will soon be long again. I had to do it, Jim. Say «Happy Christmas», please. I have a wonderful present for you!"
"You"ve cut off your hair?" asked Jim.
"Yes. I cut it off and sold it," Delia said. "But don"t you love me any more, Jim? I"m still me."
Jim looked round the room.
"You say your hair has gone?" he said, almost stupidly.
"Yes. I told you. Because I love you! Shall I get the dinner now, Jim?"
Suddenly Jim put his arms round his Delia. Then he took something from his pocket and put it on the table.
"I love you, Delia," he said. "It doesn"t matter if your hair is short or long. But if you open that, you"ll see why I was unhappy at first."
Excited, Delia pulled off the paper. Then she gave a little scream of happiness. But a second later there were cries of unhappiness. Because there were The Combs - the combs for her beautiful hair. When she first saw these combs in the shop window, she wanted them. They were beautiful combs, expensive combs, and now they were her combs. But she no longer had her hair!
Delia picked them up and held them. Her eyes were full of love.
"But my hair will soon be long again, Jim."
And then Delia remembered. She jumped up and cried, "Oh! Oh!" She ran to get Jim"s beautiful present,
and she held it out to him.
"Isn"t it lovely, Jim? I looked everywhere for it. Now you"ll want to look at your watch a hundred times a day. Give it to me! Give me your watch, Jim! Let"s see it with its new chain."
But Jim did not do this. He sat down, put his hands behind his head, and he smiled.
"Delia," he said. "Let"s keep our presents for a time. They"re so nice. You see, I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now, let"s have dinner."
And this was the story of two young people who were very much in love.