Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-01-24
THE WAITS
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
CHAPTER l.


struggling street, and made every object almost
as distinctly visible as at noon day. But in the
spiritual light they appeared very different. A
beautiful quletude, solemn, yet serene, seemed
10 rest on all things The quaint houses, with
their hgh-roofs, and oddly-clustered chirnnevs,
looked as if they brooded over the recollections
Of the long past times they had known; and the
grand Old church looked doubly reverend, with
the trost-work glittering about itsNorman-arched
windows, and on the boughs Of the huge cedar
which lowered beside the doorway The moon
beams fingered lovingly about the grey wall !;
they fell, toe, on the white gravestones in the
churchyard, and made each one shine with a
calm smile-happy and holy. 1t was a night
upon which thoughtful men might gaze, and
feel rising in their hearts simultaneous hope for
/ earth and aspiration to heaven.
Very quiet was the place, as the moon went
on her way, looking down with her clear, chill
lustre Of gauze. And there was one house, isoat-
ed from the others by a somewhat extensive do
main of shrnbbery and garden, about which the
moonlight seemed to play as if in curiosity, It
was primitive, old-fashoned abode; window
shutters and blinds were few, save 10 the lower
rooms, and the moonbeams penetrated unhin-
dered into the chambers, and played fantastic
upon the walls and floors. Into one little room,
the eitish rays darted on d sudden, as the moon
rising higher in the heavens, escaped the shadow
Of & projecting buttTess in tie wall; and the
pale light fell upon little whte-draped bed,
wherein lay two young boys. One, the eldest
by some years, was asleep, and the quiverng
light fell his iace--a face every Eneament OF
which was so full of nervous energy, that even
in sleep it did not wear an expression OF repose.
His bro-ll0rs pale delicate features " ere on the
contrary. distinguished by a sort Of sculpturaI
calm. He had high, straight, thoughtful brow,
and that sensitive mouth, which to the most
masculine face always adds an almost woman
like sweetness of expression.
Ihc two boys seemed apt illustrations of two
diherently-const;tuted beings. The one all &C
ton, the other all thoughts if the life Of the
first might be a picture, that Of the second would
be poem.
The younger brother was awake. His eyes
Of dark, deep, liquid hazel, were thoughttully
fixed upon the sleeping face beside him, and
now and again, as with a tender impulse, his
hands gently put aside the clustering brown
curls fr0&. .le broad forehead Of tn? sleeper
Presently he drew back the white curtain, and
looked out at the quiet, homely scene stretched
out in the mooulght-at the foreground of
trees, lca6ess, but clothed in a fairy robe Of
rime, and Gin the far distance, strangely clear
that night,) the wide wonder of the silent sea.
lie Iooked-his face lit up-glowed with a name
less rapture. Unuttercd prayers sweled in the
young hcart-instinctive hope-blcssed beliefs
rose unbidden TO his mind
And even while he thus gazed, and felt, and
pondered in the stiffness of that wintry mid
night, the stiffness was broken. Vibrating on
the frosty air came solemn strains OF music
played with untaught skin on two or three old
fashioned instruments. Il was an ancient Eng
fish air. with kind of patriarchal simplicity in
It's character. half carol half hymn, which har-
monized well with the place and the time As
the very yoico Of the quaint and the peaceful
village came the clear, sweet sounds, blending
IKE . visible actually with the Wintry stars
dottlnG the dark sky, with the snov-coyered
roofs, and walls, and trees, and with the pure,
passioniess moonlight shining over them al
Laurence, wake Listen to tie waits .
1t was some time before the subducd voice
and tile gentle touch disturbed the sleeper from
his dreams. When at last he was aroused, he
started up suddenly, crying aloud
who calls oh, Willie, is it you' he added
in a sleepy tone. What did you wake nae for
Tisn't morling?'
SIC p
There was pause. The two boys listened
in silence.
It's old Giles Headforth with his vioioncello,'
at length broke in Laurence, and John Read
with his cracked hautboy, and little
'Oh, don'tr cried the younger boy, with
gesture almost Of pain; never mind who plays.
Ii sounds so solemn now,so-
His words died away in the iutentncss Of his
listening.
Queer old tune, isn't it, presently said I.au-
renee, and queer old figures they look, I'll be
bound, standing in the street, with red noses,
and frozen cvclashes, and muffled in worstcd
comforts up to the chin
He laughed, and then yawred.
! think / shall go to sleep again These fci-
lows don't seem inclined TO leave off. l shall
he tined Of listening before they are Of playing,
l expect
Keep awake Il little longer, Laurence, dear
pleaded the other. It's only for one night, and
IT'S so nice for as to hear the music, and ioas
out upon the moonlight together
Very well, Willie, assented the other boy,
nipping fresh yawn in the bud, anything 10
please you, old fellow
'Thcra--put your arm round me-so,' pur-
sued Willie, always il the same hUshod, whis
pcring tone and let ne lean my head u}on
your shoulder. NOW, thai Is pleasant We
love each other; don't we, Laurence
And the tender, childish face locked upward,
ashng,y,
I should think so-slightly You're q dear
old chap VIII, though you hare rather oad Cd
fashioned notions
He stepped down, and pressed hearty Kiss
on his young bro,her's delicate face.
And then the two boys remained silent,
watching he hickering moon-rays, ana listening
to the simple music ,y..hout.