The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-03-08

w lille we were QFCSSjuS, Tue CireuLS
told them legends Of the blessd saint,
of which there are not few, so that
the time did not seem long to them
and they were prepared to see re
saint accompanied by the traditional
angel and devil
The approach of Saint Nicholas is al
ways heralded by the ringing OF a bell
by the angel, and the rafting of a
chain by the devil. - lie the childre n
had been listening we had been dress.
ing with the help of the chambermaid.
Saint Nicholas had donned one of his
mothers black skirts. Then the gor.
geOus chasuble had been carefully put
over his head so as not to tear it, and
it had been tied on the sides with
strings so as not to stand out too stiff.
Both his and the angels faces had
been whitened with flour, and U) the
angel had dred spots on my cheeks.
Both our eyebrows had been corked,
and Saint Nocho as had on the wig an.
beard of white lamb wool. The devil
was as black as a chimney sweep.
why should the devil be black,
should like to know0 Nnen all this
had been finished to our satisfaction,
the mitre was placed on Saint Nicho-
las head, and with pair of white cot
ton gloves he grasped the bishops
crook that was t sign that he was
the right shepherd OF the faithful, ami
was ready. | was the angel as l was
the smallest. and had no end of trou-
bic in getting into a dress that | had
I>O1
rOwed for the occasion, and was a
white confirmation dress made of
white muslin, ant. too short for me-
The accommodating chamber maid
however, lent me white skirt to wear
under 1t, so as to hide my pants and
boots, showing themselves in an un-
angelic manner. On my head had a
high frilled night cap, that had belong
ed to some old grandmother Of the last
century. but my chef glory of course
was my wings. These had been tied
and strapped to my back and limbs,
till had great di--culty in moving my
arms. But then IAN exalted person has
to suffer-" as the proverb goes. l re
membered this as l drew on my cotton
gloves, and carefully. and painfully
took up, my basket filled with candy
nuts and apples, also the bell, the out
ward and visible sign of my heavenly
occupation. AS to We devil. Is it pos
sible, have often wondered, that the
real devil should be more black or hor-
rible than my cousin Leo looked? He
was all black, anu woolly, and under
one of his boots he had fastened a
block of wood, so as to make him limp
and hobble. The skullcap, and his
rope tail wagged gracious1y behind
him, while his red flannel tongue, fall
ing out of his mouth, gave him very
fierce look.
Taking up his chain and birchrod, he
was ready, and we descended the
stairs in grand style. l ringing my bell
with an uncomfortable feeling that m!
wings were already becoming loose.
opened the door, and Saint Nichola'
entered. He never greets the company
but advances into the middle of thu
! room and asks, in a sepulchral tone to
hide his own voice.
Can these chilOren pray?'
Sometimes the parents answer for
the children, who are frightened, bu'
| genrally the children fall on theil
knees and begin their ayes and pate
nOsters with quaking voices. It was
so in our case, and after Saint NichOlae
had heard them for a few minutes, he
motiOned that it was enough with hi
crook, and ordered me to reward thest
| "riUhtpOuS children - which did cid