Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-22
What the Pudding Brought.

wont to associate with the holy eve, but
soft and bland, with mild airs moving in
from the sea, and all the lovely lovely Isle
of Wight seemed wrapped in deep repose
of universal sleep.
Not quite all. Half a mile away from
Bonchurch the moon revealed a knot of
dark figures collected under the windows of
small house, and presently voices broke
forth in a Christmas carol. These were
the waits" beginning their tuneful round
They had come to Mrs. Durkie'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 were not particu-
larly charmed to be thus reused from their
first sleep by strains which, though well
meant, were rather the reverse of harmo-
NOUS.
"Good gracious what is itp" demanded
Aileen, the first to wake. Emmy Emmyp
she CRIED do you hear that noise2 1t must
be the carolsingers."
"Oh dear why did they Gomez" pro-
tested sleepy Emmy. al was just so nicely
asleepl' Another moment and the inner
door opened, admitting Marian, the third
and Oldest sister of the trio.
"What are those horrible sounds2" she
asked "They woke me out of a sound
sleep, and such nice dream. l thought
we were at home again, and spending
Christmas at Nestledown with Aunty Rue.
It's too bad to be walked up. should like
to sleep all through tomorrow, and keep on
dreaming. Where are you, children, and
what is this extraordinary warbling2"
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" admitted
Marian, peeping over Emmy's shoulder.
"What is the instrument that tall man is
playing, which makes such extraordinary
discords now and them"
"a flute think; only it is always half
bar behind the voices. What droll old
custom it is ~
al object to it altogether" said the fair,
well, very doubtfuly musical people to come
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 Of
the year."
awe didn't reckon on these crotcheters
and quaverers, remarked Emmy. "What's
that 2"
"That" was low knock at the door.
"Ladies, do you hear the carols ?" asked
the voice of their landlady, modulated to a
cautious whisper.
"Why of course we do, Mrs. Durkie I;
how can we help hearing them ?" said Ma
rian, 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 2"
"Well, it is usual" admitted Mrs. Durkie.
"Aileen, could you lay your hand on your
purse in the dark ?"
al think so. Yes, here it is"
Ten minutes later the waits departed,
made glad with half crown, and the sisters
were again in bed.
The morrow dawned gray and misty, and
was made additionally cheerless by driz-
cling rain which soon began to fall.
Mrs. Durkie came for the days orders.
Her contented, rosy face and Merry Christ
mas rather Jared on the homesick three.
"Don't, for PHYS sake, order anything
unnatural for dinner" said Aileen. /" / don't
think could bear feeble imitation of the
home holiday. The only way is to forget
all about it,"
{" Yes, if only we CAM put in Emmy, from
her sofa, with something like sob in her
voice.
In moment Aileen was on her knees be-
side her. Fragile little Emmy was the pet
and best beloved OF the other two.
cater all, we have the best thing that
Christmas could possibly bring u.s." cooed
Aileen, stroking the soft hair-"you are
better"
eyes, think l am, a little" admitted
Emmy.
Marian meanwhile held her housekeeping
conference in the entry.
"You'd like to have turkey to-day
suggested Mrs Durkie, in persuasive tone.
"No, | think not tracking her brains
for prosaic suggestion. "Chops, | think,
Mrs. Durkie; and a sole, if you can get a
fresh one; and cauliAower with white
sauce,-and mashed potato. That will dc
very we'll"
"Dear me it's not bit like Christmas
dinner in disappointed tone. "And fol
the sweet course, Miss Rand ?"
"Well," said Marian, al think we won
mind about that to-day. None of us care
much for sweets"
Mrs. Durkie looked deeply, darkly doubt
full. She shook her head, and seemed abou
to speak; then her face relaxed, little sa
gacious 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 cheer
fulness in the party. Aileen practicet
stoutly on some difficult music Marian reaC
Froude's Cesar aloud to Emilia. Neithe
of the three said a word about the far-of
home of which all were thinking. Towar,
night the rain ceased and Marian, leaninJ
out to close the blind, announced the mool
TO be visible.
Don't let's dress for dinner" Marial
said. awe are all so comfortable as we are.
But | think her object was to discard evel
30 commonplace an observance, to max
the day, as it were, even less than ordinar
days.
Dinner came up, and was eaten with Al
accompaniment OF chat which grew happie
now that the dreaded holiday was fairl
past
"There is moth" Marian began bu
at that moment the door opened, and i
came Mrs. Durkie, and in her hands, raise
aloft, dish, on which famed small bu
symmetrical pudding, surrounded with bls.
ing brandy and topped with towering spri
of red-berried holly.
"Ladies," she said, ave took the libert
of making you Christmas pudding in on
English way, and | hope you'll excuse i
and accept, with my best respects"
1t oas shock but after single momer
of CONSERVATION, the Rands reused 10 tn
situation.
"What beauty Of a puddingl" erie
Aileen.
How very good Of you put in Emm,
awe are so obliged, dear Mrs. Durkie."
"Well, | couldn't seem TO bear vol
spending the day 80 dull like" responde
Mrs. Durkie. Christmas isn't like itse
without pudding, TO my thinking; an
my mother, she always felt so too. This
her recipe, and it has got all the things in
that ought to be-"
"All the things that ought to be VIII
do you meanP asked the puzzled Marian
"Oh, don't mean plums and such lik
ma'am. Every pudding has them at all Sc
sons OF the year. But the Christmas pu
ding is the only one, you know, which HI
the ring, the sixpence, and the thimble."
"a