The Republican journal., 1882-01-19
What the Pudding Brought.
ny SUSAN COOLIDGE

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 he surf lapsed and broke with deep
toned murmur. The hign 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 t.
shut out every ray of moonlight and all
the lovely Isle Of Wight seemed wrapped
in d deep repose of universal sleep.
Not quite all, Half mile away from
Bnnchurch the moon, peeping through
The }eWs, revealed knot of dark figures
| collected under the windows of small
house, and presently, after some prelim-
! may notes on tuning fork, voices broke
| forth in Christmas carol These were
iound They had come, first of all, to
Mis-. Durkie's, because of her lodgers
American ladies, to whom the custom
might probably be a novelty, and thereby
provoke a larger dole than the perform
ers were in the habit of getting from more
accustomed listeners.
The American lodgers were not par
ticularly charmed to be thus reused
from their first sleep 10y strains which,
though we'll meant, We're rather the re-
verse of harmonious.
Good gracious. what is it 7" demand
ed Aieen, the first to wake. Then, hel
cl"uded senses gradually clearing them
selves, "Emmy. Emmy :" she cried, edo
You hear that noise 1t must be the
carul-singers.'
"Oh, dear! why did they Gomez pro
ested sleepy Emmy, II was just so nice
" 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 ,eWs, with their music
books and lanterns, no unpicturesqut
group. Another moment and the inner
door opened, admitting Marian, the third
and oldest sister of the trio.
Nv hat are those horrible sounds ?" 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 AuntN
Rue Its too bad to be walked up. |
should like to sleep all through to-mor-
row, and keep OH dreaming. Where are
YOU, children, and what is this eXtraor-
dinary Warbling ?"
"Hush, Marian. and come and listen.
It's The waits"
Dear me why couldn't they wait till
! tomorrow They look rather pretty,
toe, out there in the moonlight, admit
| ted Marian, peeping over Emmys shoul-
ier But why don't they keep better
| ime2 There, did YOU catch that high
note Half a tone fiat. And what is the
instr ument that tall man is playing, which
makes such extraordinary discords now
md then -
"a tiute, l think; only it is always
half a bar behind the voices. What a
/ troll old custom it is"
II object to il, altogether' said the
'air, stately Aieen. "What right have
'hese-weIl, very doubtful musical peo-
Dle 10 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
peak the very name of Christmas even.
n give any presents, or do anything diff
trent from any other day of the year"
eve didn't reckon on these crotchet-
els and Quaverers,' remarked Emmy.
'Whats that"
That was low knock at the door.
"Ladies, do you hear the carols 2
asked the voice of their landlady, modu-
ated TO cautious whisper.
"Why, of course We do, Mrs. Durkie
now can we help hearing them ?" said
Marian, with rather an eXasperated ac-
cent III her voice.
The music walked US up" said Emmy
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
Nour purse in the dark p
IL think 50. Yes, here it is"
Ten minutes later the waits departed,
made glad with half d crown, and the sis
Ttrs were again in bed, and more than
half asleep.
The morrow dawned gray and misty.
and was made additionally cherries 10y a
The little sitting room, which the sisters
mad taken so much pains to make home
Like on their arrival a month before, was
at Its worst always In such weather. The
sea view, its chief advantage, was blot
ted out, and Mrs. Du,kie's chmneys
never drew well with southeast wind
The three breakfasted almost in silence
Emmy looked pale. Aleen was evident
y i'll 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
Hrr contented, rosy face and "Merrl
Christmas rather Jared on the home
sick three.
Don't, for PHYS sake, order anything
unnatural for dinner" said Aileen. "Lel
rs make the day as unlike Christmas as
we can. don't think | could bear d
feeble imitation of the home holiday
fhe only way is to forget all about it,"
"les, if only we cam" put in Emmy,
from her sofa, with something ike sol
| in her voice.
In moment Aileen was on her knees
beside her. Fragile little Emmy was the
| best loved Of the other two
CATER all, we have the best thing that
Christmas could possibly bring u.s." cooeG
Aileen, stroking the soft hair-"you are
better"
YES, think am, little" admitted
Emmy.
Marian meanwhile held her housekeep-
| ing conference in the entry.
You'd like to have a turkey, to- day ,
suggested Mrs. Durkie in a persuasive
tone.
"No, | think not-racking her brains
for a prosaic suggestion. "ChOps,
think, Mrs. Durkie; and a sole, if vol
can get fresh one; and caulihowel
with white sauce and-mashed potato
! That will do very we'll"
"Dear me it's not a bit like Christ.
mas dlnner'-in disappointed tone
And for the sweet course, Miss Rand p
"Wel!," said Marian, IL think we won'
mind about that to-day. None of us care
much for sweets"
Mrs. Durkie looked deeply, darkly
doubtful. She shook her head, and seem
ed about to speak then her face relaxed
a little sagacious smile shone in her eyes
and she departed without saving more