Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-12-30
WHAT A PUDDING BR0I CHIT
a CHRISTlIAs STORY.
BY SUSAN CooLIDGE.

| b1 oOaAN tOOLIDufs.
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 III 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 Bonchurch
lay buried in tree shadows SO deep as to
shut out every ray of moonlight; and all
the lovely, lovely Isle of Wight seemed
wrapped in a deep repose of universal
sleep.
Not quite all. Half mile away from
Bonchurch the moon, peeping through
the yews, revealed knot of dark figures
collected under the windows of a small
house, and presently, after some prelim-
mary notes on tuning-fork, voices broke
forth III Christmas carol These were
the waits" beginning their tuneful
round. They had come, first of all, to
Mrs. Durkle's, because of her dodgers,
American ladies, to whom the custom
might probably be novelty, and thereby
provoke larger dole than the performers
were in the habit of getting from more
accustomed listeners.
The American dodgers We're not par
ticularly charmed to be thus reused from
their first sleep by strains which,
though we'll meant, were rather the re-
verse of harmonies.
"Good gracious what is it 2" demand
ed Aileen, the first to wake. Then, her
clouded senses gradually clearing them
selves, Emmy! Emmy - she cried
do you hear that noise? 1t must be
the carol-singers.
"Oh dear, why did they come 2" pro-
tested sleepy Emmy. 81 was just SO
nicely asleep!'
But she sought out wrapper and slip
pers 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 unpicturesque
group. Another moment and the inner
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 a
sound sleep, and such nice dream.
thought we were at home again, and
spending Christmas at Nestledown with
Amty Rue. It's too bad to be walked
up. I should like to sleep all through
tomorrow, and keep ON dreaming. Where
are you, children, and what is this extra
ordinary warbing?"
Hush, Marian, and come and listen.
It's the waits"
"Dear me why couldn't they wait
till tomorrow? They look rather pretty,
too, out there in the moonlight, admit
ted Marian, peeping over Emmy's shoul-
der. But why don't they keep better
time? There, did you catch that high
note Half tone fiat. And what is
the instrument that tall man is playing,
which makes such extraordinary dis
cords now and then?"
"A flute, / think; only it is always
half bar behind the voices. What a
droll old custom it is =
"I 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 Christmas even,
or give any presents, or do anything
different from any other day i'll the
year"
1--WE didn't reckon on these srotcheters
and quaverers, remarked Emmy
what's that q
"That was low knock at the door.
Ladies, do you hear the carols q
asked the voice of their landlady,
modulated to cautious whisper.
"Why, of course we do, Mrs. Durkie
how can we help hearing them 2" said
Marian, with rather an exasperated accent
i'll her voice
1.-THE music walked us up" said En-
N.Y. Mrs. Durkie, are we expected to
give something to the singers? You
must tell u.s.
"Well, it is usual" admitted Mrs
Durkie.
"Aileen, could you lay your hand on
your purse in the dark ?"
81 think so. 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 a
drizzling rain which soon began to fall
The little sittingroom, which the sisters
had taken SO much pains to make home
ike ON their arrival month before, was
at its worst always in such weather. The
sea view, its chief advantage, was blotted
out, and Mrs Durkie's chimneys never
drew well with southeast wind. The
three breakfasted almost in silence
Emmy looked pale. Aileen was evi-
dantly in low spirits. Marian suggested
church. but Emmy was not up to the