Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-12-26
From the Youths Companion.l
THE CHRISTMAS SUBSTITUTE.

rive minutes OF ELEVEN LIE CHOlI-
master of st. Martins looked impa-
tiently from the clock to the door.
The choir-room was nearly full of men
and boys, arrayed in black cassocks
and white cottas. The professional
cross, with its bunch of holly tied up
on it, leaned against the wall From
the church could be heard the strains
Of "The Messiah" and through the
open door Of the vestry-room the choir
master could see the clergy ali ready
to move.
"Whv: where Charley Reed?' asked
one of the bass singers.
81 was stupid enough to send him
off for substitute to fill Johnny Heal
ey's place. Johnny sent word at the
last minute that he was sick and could
not come. 1t would have made the
procession uneven, and Charley said he
knew boy-went to the same school
who had a good voice and was the
right size; as it was only over on Sec
ond Avenue, and he had half an hour,
1 let him go. l wish l hadn't. 1t
annoys the doctor to have the boys
come in late. Christmas morning, too J
But suppose some accident has hap
pened to the boys; what shall we do
for our soprano solos?"
as his first in the 'Te Deum?'
"Yes-and-oh, here he isl" a
long breath of relief told Of anxiety
suppressed.
Charley Reed stood in the doorway
ushering in the substitute. The choir
boys exchanged glances; the men
turned away to repress a smile. Even
the master, whose one thought was to
keep his procession intact, looked
aghast.
The substitute was boy perhaps
ten or twelve years of age, distinctly
dirty, though an attempt at face-wash-
ing had left broad streaks Of light and
shade. He wore an old jacket and a
pair of trousers so much too large that
they were rolled in a thick y'ad over
each ankle. His shoes were breaking
apart. He held in his hand an old
cap, which had once been fur, but was
now only skin.
1t was not his poverty alone that
marked him, however. There were
many poor, respectable boys in st.
Martins choir. 1t was his face-cool,
cunning, impudent, a face that before
twenty must acquire the criminal look
for life. A cadet in the ranks Of the
dangerous class, he stood there, self
possessed, confident, slyly alert.
The choir-master hurried forward
with an evident attempt to make the
best of the situation. Charley Reed
looked apologetic. The substitute had
an amused twinkle in his keen, hazel
eyes.
Come, Charley, take him into the
lavatory and see that his hands and
face are clean and his hair combed.
Here, Tom, to another boy, who
stood grinning by, "loOk in one of the
lockers beside the organ, and see il
you can find pair Of shoes. Then
get out Johnny Healey's vestments.
In a few moments the robing was
over. Teddy Fitzgerald, the east
side boy, stood in his place in the lin,
in front of Charley Reed, an open
hymnal in his hand.
"Will he behave himself, Charley? 2
whispered the choir-master, as he hur'
ried to the organ.
ooh, yes" said Charley, earnestly
II told him if he acted well you would
give him fifty cents. Don't be afraid
I'll coach him through the service.
The boy with the cross took hi
place at the head of the procession
The clergy came down the steps int
the choir-room. There was a shorr
prayer, a quick "Amen" chanted BY
the boys, then the first verse of th'
"Adeste Fideles." AS the music
scared, "joyful and triumphant, TIT
procession began to move.
Now Teddy was an expert IN pro
cessions, for he had grown up on them
No one ever knew how he got the In
formation-perhaps it came on the air
like the signal for marble-playing o
kite-Aying; but east side or west, Bat
terry or Harlem, Teddy was always o
hand at procession, curied like
human worm round lamp-post, o
| dor tba feet &c tho roounted police