Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-02-03
WHAT TIE PUDDING BROUGHT

Biaetwood's Magazine
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WHAT TIE PUDDING BROUGHT.
1t was the midnight of the Christmas vigil,
not the cold brilliant midnight that we are
wont to associate with the holy eve, but soft
and bland, with mild airs moving in from the
sea, and misty moon struggling through
faint clouds. On the cliffs the surf lapsed
and broke with deep-toned murmur. The
high chalk downs above still wore a garment
Of turf almost summer green. Greener yet
was the trinity cut grass where tiny Bon
church lay buried in tree shadows so deep as
to shut out every ray of moonlight; and all
the lovely, lovely Isle of Wight seemed wrap
ped in deep repose Of universal sleep.
Not quite all. Half mile away from Bon
church the moon, peeping through the yews,
revealed a knot of dark figures collected un-
der the windows Of a small house, and pres
emily, after some preliminary notes on a tun-
ing fork, voices broke forth in q Christmas
carol. These were the waits" beginning
their tuneful round. They had come, first of
all, to Mrs. Durkie's because of her lodgers
American ladies, to whom the custom might
probably be a novelty, aud thereby provoke
larger dole than the performers were in the
habit Of getting from more accustomed lis
teners.
The American dodgers we're not particular
ly charmed to be thus reused from their first
sleep by strains which, though well meant,
were rather the reverse OF harmonious.
Good gracious! what is it?" demanded
Aileen, the first to wake. Then, her clouded
senses gradually clearing themselves, EN-
my D.. Emmy" she cried, "do you hear that
noise It must be the carol. singers"
"Oh dear! why did they come ?" protested
sleepy Emmy. 81 was Just SO nicely asleep :"
But she sought out wrapper and slippers in
the dark, and presently Joined Aileen at the
window, from which the waits could be seen
standing in the shadow of the yews, with
their music-books and lanterns, no unpictur-
esque group Another moment and the in
ner door opened, admitting Marian, the third
and Oldest sister Of the trio.
"What are those horrible sounds 2" she
asked. They woke me out of sound sleep,
and such nice dream. thought we were
at home again, and spending Christmas at
Nestledown with Aunty Rue. It's too bad to
be walked up. l should like to sleep all
through tomorrow, and keep on dreaming
Where are you, children, and what is this ex-
traordinary warblingT"
Hush, Marian, and come and listen. It's
the waits"
Dear me! why couldn't they wait till to-
morrow They look rather pretty, too, out
lhSlo III tAS uAOOullbu'i huulltttu hhIlhu,
peepng over Emmy's shoulder. "But why
don't they keep better time? There did you
catch that high note ? Half a tone fiat. And
what IS the instrument that tall man is play
ing, which makes such extraordinary discords
now and them"
"a flute, think only it is always half a
bar behind the voices. What a droll old Gus
tom it is :"
Il object to it altogether" said the fair,
stately Aileen. "What right have these
well, very doubtfully musical people to come
and wake us up, without saying BY your
leave, and remind us of the very thing we
were doing our best to forget? You know we
agreed not TO speak the very name of Christ
mas even, or give any presents, or do any
thing different from any other day OF. the
year"
"We didn't reckon on these crocheters and
quaverers, remarked Emmy. whats that p
That" was low knock at the door.
Ladies, do you hear the csrols?" asked
the voice of their landlady modulated to a
cautious whisper.
"Why, of course we do, Mrs Durkie how
can We help hearing them?" said Marian,
with rather an exasperated accent in her
voice.
"The music walked us up" said Emmy.
Mrs. Durkie, are we expected to give some
thing to the singers You must tell us.
"Well, it is usual" admitted Mrs. Durkie.
'Aileen, could you lay your hand on your
purse in the dark ?"
II think 80 Yes, here it is"
Ten minutes later the waits departed, made
glad with half a crown, and the sisters were
again in bed, and more than half asleep
The morrow dawned gray and misty and
was made additionally cheerless by driz-
cling rain which soon began to fall The lit
Ia pttNfns, xpbfnb fha efe hoI tol
so much pains to make home-like on their ar
rival month before was at its worst always
in such weather. The sea view, its chief ad-
vantage, was blotted out, and Mrs. Durkies
chimneys never drew well with a southeast
wind. The three breakfasted almost in ST.
lence. Emmy looked pale. Aileen was evi-
IDENTIFY in low spirits. Marian suggested
church, but Emmy was not up to the rainy
walk, and Aileen would not leave her.
Mrs. Durkie came for the days orders. Her
contented, rosy face and merry Christmas
rather Jared on the homesick three.
Don't for PHYS sake, order anything un-
natural for dinner" said Aileen. Let us make
the day as unlike Christmas as we can.
don't think could bear feeble imitation OF
the home holiday. The only way is to forget
all about it,"
"Yes, if only we can," put in Emmy, from
her sofa, with something like sob in her
voice.
In a moment Aieen was on her knees be-
side her. Fragile little Emmy was the pet
and best beloved of the other two.
"After all, we have the best thing that
Christmas could possibly bring us" oooed
Aileen, stroking the soft hair ir,-''you are bet
| ter"
"Yes, think 1 am, a little, admitted EN-
my.
Marian meanwhile held her housekeeping
conference in the entry.
YOU'D like to have q turkey to-day" sug-
| gested Mrs. Durkie, in persuasive tone.
mo, l think not"-racking her brains for
prosaic suggestion. "Chops, think, Mrs.
Durkie and sole, il you can get fresh
one and a caulihower with white sauce and
mashed potato. That will do very well.
'Dear me it's not a bit like Christmas
dinner"-in disappointed tone. "And for
the sweet course, Miss Rand ?"
"Well," said Marian, II think we won't
mind about that to-day. None of us care
much for sweets"
Mrs. Durkie looked deeply, davkly doubt
full. She shook her head, and seemed about
to speak then her face relaxed, little saga
cious smile shone in her eyes, and she de-
| parted without saying more.
The day went by, as hard days will. There
! was good deal of laborious cheerfulness in