The Drama

A letter has arrived at school inviting the children to visit Clarke Hall The letter is addressed to Mistress Horsfall, friend of Priscilla Clarke.  We are expecting to meet Priscilla. Priscilla requires help, especially as it is near Christmas and she wonders if the children could assist her with cleaning and adding to the decorations and preparations for Christmas. Lord and Lady Pilkington are expected to stay that day. The children discuss whether we should go and help, and perhaps we could entertain Priscilla and her visitors with dancing and carol singing.

 When we arrive Benjamin explains that Priscilla has been called away to visit her sick mother so he is very pleased to see us. He needs help decorating the hall and he was feeling sad and lonely so we can cheer him up. He shows us round his house and asks the children to prepare food and sweetmeats in case any visitors arrive before Priscilla returns. He also asks them to tidy the house, make decorations, e.g., a kissing bough, pomanders and tussie mussies, and unpack presents (the basket of gifts from Lord Pilkington) to check that they have not been damaged in transit. He would also like them to decorate and parade the Boar’s Head.

The children will have to return home before dark to avoid danger on the roads, as there is nowhere for so large a company to stay at Clarke Hall.

Throughout the day we recite appropriate nursery rhymes and hope to have a visit from King Wenceslas and make use of the Dole Box. Carol singers arrive before lunch and are invited to stay and sing with us later in the day

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