Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-08-27

The Serenade.
One day man, who had pictures to
sell, came through the village where
Mr.. Chester lived. The pictures were
mounted on large squares of paste
board edged with gilt paper and were
colored very brightly.
"Oh, can't we have one, mammal"
they plead, so their mother told them
they could choose the one they liked
best and hang it up in their room after
they had looked at it.
The boys were a long while choosing
: among such a number, for there were
landscapes and roses and kittens play
ing with balls of cotton, but at last
Fred, the eldest, decided that one
called the "Serenade" was much the
finest. 1t represented a garden, fine
house and balcony. In the garden
were flowers of all colors, and great
yellow moon made everything as bright
as day, and beneath the balcony stood
a gentleman with immense black eyes
and curling hair, dressed in crimson
velvet coat and knee breaches, with
white silk stockings and buckled shoes
and lots of lace ruffies at his neck and
about his wrists. His big eyes were
fixed upon the curtains of a window
which opened on the balcony, and
through them was thrust a very small
white band holding rose. Below this
picture were these words, THE Sere-
made" and some verses. When the
boys had paid for the picture they sat
down on the porch to look at it.
Il think" said Frank, that it is the
most beautiful picture that ever waE.
Dat you, mamma?"
I believe it is the brightest ever
saw said the mother.
What does a 'serenade' mean?"
asked Fred.
Why, the thing he is playing on,
of course said Louis.
NO" said mamma THAT is man g.!
dolin. When gentlemen admired ladies
in those days they often went at night |
after every one was in bed to sing be- |
meath their windows. They chose or
wrote some song that told the lady how |
they admired her, how pretty and nice
she was, and they often sang to
guitar or mandolin. Sometimes they
did not sing, but played the flute. This
gentleman is serenading the lady who
IS hiding behind the curtain, and this
is probably what he is singing" and
she read the verses below the picture.
why does the lady hide herself?"
asked Frank.
Well" said Mrs Chester, cit was
considered proper, but, you see. she
is going to throw the singer a rose.
which will show him that she likes the
serenade'
That's his bike suit. isn't it?" asked
Louis. Where has he left his bike?"
Bicycles were not invented when
men dressed like thai" said Mrs. Ches-
ter.
Fred read the verses again.
81 think everything must have been
prettier then than it is now" he said. {
Il often think so myself" said his
mother. Men will probably never {
dress like that again. but there could s
be little more romance in the world !
# people chose" g
81 know what you mean, mamma" i
SAID Fred. After awhile ne sat down
IN the lower step of the porch and be- e
gan to write on his slate, and pretty
'oon he called Louis and Frank to him,
Ind they all whispered together. Their
mother saw they were talking over y
ome little secret. c
After awhile papa came home to tea, (
md then they all sat about the table b
Until about half-past nine O'Clock. a
AS they were very early people they e
IL went upstairs about that time, and s
t ten the house was dark and every a
ne in bed or supposed to be. o
However, just as the clock struck, h
ir. Chester lifted his head to listen. h
Dear me, what can that be?" he Y
sked n
There was a sound Of something not d
Mike Chinese music under the win c.
ow, queer whistling and loud tap fl
Ing and some laughing. Mrs. Chester n
imped up, ran to the window and W