The record-union., 1898-05-04
SUNDAYS AND THE SiLVERTONS.

/
l knew the Silvertons when they We're
IN the nursery; l followed their stormy
career till they reached the schoolroom,
and finally lost sight of one after an
other of the mighty family as they
plunged into boarding school.
The SilvertCns We're never more inter-
esting than On Sundays.
/ Breakfast on that day was at in
stead of o'clock. but this trifling cir
tcumstance apparently made no differ
ence to the early hour at which the
family arose.
| From the first faint glimmer of dawn
as it seemed to me, there was scuffiing
, on the landing outside and much AM
mated conV VersatiOn of q domestic ma
lture.
/ / don't know why the Silvertons kept
their wardrobe on the landing, nor why
they apparently dressed out there in
stead of in their bedrooms or the nurs-
cry; but this is only one of the many
strange customs of the family with
which l gradually became familiarized
Nellie, you've got my stockings!
I've not seen your horrid stockings;
SO please be quiet"
/ Where is my white petticoat
Madge?"
It's in your drawer.
1T isn't 1 tell you I wouldn't have
your disgusting petticoat anywhere
near my wardrobe. The embroidery on
J it is enough to make anyone sick. rs
so German"
German? 1t isn't bit more Ger
man than yo11rS And ANYWAY nv
dear, I'd rather have a German petit
coat, even. than a great starched thing
like that. What do you look like? Your
! hair another
Nellie, just look at Madge's hair!
Isn't she an awful sight?"
This was the signal for a babel of
tongues, the disputants evidently sak-
ing sides, and uttering their war crys
with appalling vehemence.
Shouts of Miss Crimped hairi
Crimped- hair" German petticOat.
German petticoat!" rent the air, and
Fraulein's voice echoing shrilly from a
distant bedroom interpenetrated the
symphony.
"Nein. This quarrel-it shall step
I Will not ave it! Sherman petticoat,
y )
you are the impolitest childrel.
Deutsch Deutsch. allies Deutsch! Won
morning till to evening""
There was a lull and then the cla-
NOR broke out with fresh virulence as
someone all at once remarked
Who's going to church,"
| I'm not said the entire family with
one voice. 1t was the only occasion
| h oh, T
animity of utterance.
well, l do call it mean! If Madge
doesn't go to-day that will be the sec
ond Sunday she has stayed at home
and I've been every single time since
Christmas
You know perfectly WELL" said
| Madge, her voice growing strangely
feeble, that l don't feel at all we'll"
| You never do--on Sundays. Isn't
that just like Madge? Why. last Sun
day I felt simply awful. I had a cold
and earache, and a bruise on my arm,
but l had to go, and"
A distant door was banged with vio-
lence, distant whistling became more
painfully out of tune as it drew nearer,
| heralding the approach of Jim, who had
evidently just emerged upon the land
Ing, WHSIe L plclu1eu HIS SlSleTS III Dllel
much starched petticoats and all the
glory of hair crimped for Sunday.
Il say. you girls, who's going to
church? I'm not"
There was always an aggressive air
| about Jim, but, even though he had
roared mildly as any sucking dove, it
| would not have. averted the storm
which greeted the announcement. The
| 20 afH ;aif
though peculiar.
There was apparently a melancholy
satisfaction in suffering that was shar-
ed, and. though from the point Of view
of the mere outsider there could be n
qualification in insisting upon the al
tendance of others upon divine service
if in any case you would be compelled
to go yourself, it was considered the
greatest act of perfidy to evade the cnr-
| emony
| 20, that's meaner than anything!
| Why. he hasn't been once these h3ii-
days! Not a single time!'
Yes, and last Sunday, when he pre-
tended to have 'toothache, do you re-
member we came home and found him
sitting over the schoolroom fire with
Jumps of taffee in his mouth
les, SIMPLY lulHpS, cNHoSu 4NCIil~'
HE couldn't speak do you remember?
And there he was enjoying himself with
the Boys Own Paper and apples"
90 well"-there was scorn. tempered
with resignation, in her voice-"I used
to wish l was boy; but now"
| Jim whistled loudly under fire and,
Judging from the thud in the hall be-
low, slid down the banister with lu!ld
loa
The gong interrupted the excited cla-
NOR, and ten minutes later it was my
privilege to sit down to breakfast with
the family.
The Silvertons were charming to out
ward view, and never more charming
than on Sunday morning, when clean
white frocks, clean white pinafores,
flaxen HAIR faultlessly arranged. white
drill collars to sailor suits, enaanced
the natural charms of the family.
The breakfast table on Sunday morn
ing was. in fact, quite an idyliic little
spectacle and the uninitiated stranger
glancing from smiling mamma at cne
end of the table to cheerful papa at the
other. would sometimes lay hand on
the glossy head next to her. and accom-
lpany the glance with congratulatory
murmur.
never did but then was not the un-
initiated stranger, and, after ALL the
fact had its advantages.
/ Subdued, yet unchecked, by the par
entail presence, any alteration begun
! before meals was continued steadily
throughout their entire course, ana
i usually so dexterously conducted that
lit passed for the ordinary pleasant in