Christmas Presence

ACT ONE  Go Tell It On The Mountain | Garth  Scrooge's Nephew (from A Christmas Carol), by Charles Dickens Christmas Is | Niels  Seven Principles of a Successful Christmas | Garrison Keillor Hello, Christmas | Garth Hallmark Christmas Movie, by Keaton Patti Zat You Santa Claus? | Niels The Real Santa Claus, by Mike Mason White Christmas | Garth The True Meaning of Christmas, by Garrison Keillor ACT TWO Come Darkness, Come Light | Niels William Nicholson, Christmas Drinks Party (from Shadowlands) Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming | Niels & Garth Noel, by J.R.R. Tolkien Huron Carol | Garth Joseph's Lullaby, by Ron Klug Boy Like Me / Man Like You | Niels Ever Afterwards (from A Christmas Carol), by Charles Dickens Christmas Prayer, by Robert Louis Stevenson ALL: Silent Night * Kevin Andrews, drums, flute, penny whistle Ytzy, electric guitar Niels Reinhardt, piano, accordion Garth Bowen, guitar, fiddle Ron Reed, readings

Scrooge was early at the office next morning. Oh, if he could only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late! That was the thing he had set his heart upon.And he did it; yes he did! The clock struck nine.No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. He was a full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time.  Bob Cratchit's hat was off before he opened the door; his comforter too. He was on his stool in a jiffy; driving away with his pen, as if he were trying to overtake nine o'clock. “Hallo! What do you mean by coming here at this time of day.” “I am very sorry, sir. I am behind my time.” “You are? Yes. I think you are.  Step this way, if you please.” “It's only once a year, sir. It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.” “Now, I'll tell you what, my friend. I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore... and therefore I am about to raise your salary!” Bob trembled.   “A merry Christmas, Bob! A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good...

"Humbug!  Merry Christmas?  What's Christmas time to you   but a time for paying bills without money;  a time for finding yourself a year older,   but not an hour richer;   a time for balancing your books   and having every item in 'em dead against you?   If I could work my will, every idiot   who goes about with Merry Christmas on his lips   should be boiled with his own pudding   and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.  He should!"   "Uncle! I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time,   when it has come round, as a good time:   a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time:   the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year  when men and women seem by one consent   to open their shut-up hearts freely,   and to think of people below them as if they really were   fellow-passengers to the grave,   and not another race of creatures   bound on other journe...