The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-12-18

@&zazGEW Glory at to- the S' new:
born King"
"Seraphina, can't you take that
piece of candy out Of Thad's mouth?
He nearly choked himself just then.
You can have it back, Thad, when
you've sung two verses. Don't be
such a baby! Now, good and loud!"
"Hark, the herald angels sling"
Schuyler beloved Justify and beat
time with drumstick. Seraphina
sang with much fervor and many false
notes; while little Thad followed the
tune manfully, and substituted a 'la-la-
la when the words proved elusive to-
his four-year-old memory.
The second verse brought to a sue
cessful issue, Schuyler dismissed the
chorus and turned to the door.
"You see T you can't teach Thad
the words of that second verse while
I go downstairs and get some joss
sticks for the censer," he told Sera-
pima.
Schuyler Van Brunt was working un-
der difficulties. Doctor Post had told
him of the old English custom Of sing
ing carols in the streets on Christ
mas morning. It had taken a strong
hold on the boys fertile imagination
so strong a hold that he had planned
to smuggle Seraphina and Thad from
the house, when Christmas came, and
to sing carol outof-doors in true
English fashion.
Then, just when he needed Doctor
Posts advice most, there had been
some vague trouble between the doc.
tor and Aunt Margaret. Aunt Marga-
ret no longer wore the diamond ring
on the third finger of her left hand,
, and Doctor Post came no more to the
. house. 1t was very disheartening.
Schuyler wanted to ask Doctor Post a
score Of questions about the carols.
Did the people who sang them wear
surplices, like the choir boys in the
Christmas procession at St. Jude's?
Did they stand still or march around
while they sang? These and other
, points sadly taxed his eight-year-old
, intellect. But his determination to
SAAS lAoI So1ol III VIC ob1CVL 2lON u
, faltered. Hence the secret rehear-
sails in the nursery.
After much deliberation, he decid-
ed that SUPPLIES would lend dignity
to the occasion. and this decision was
! furthered by the thought that night
, gowns would make very passable sur.
plices. Then, tomato can suggesting
possibilities, he added a censor to the
properties. A tomato can punched full
of holes, swung on the gilt cord that
comes about candy boxes, and filled
with burning joss-sticks, would make
, beautiful censor.
Z. 1t was Christmas Eve, and Schuy
5 ler's plans were complete. He felt
sure they would put up very credit
t able carol in the morning, even if Doc
tor Posts advice had not been obtain
l.. able. AS he crept upstairs with tie
] joss-stick, which he had begged from
. Agnes, the second girl he felt that
, the last obstacle had been surmount
ed
| Come on now, once more" he said
| as he entered the nursery door. Elisa
( will be up with supper in minute
We've just time before she comes
/. Stand up. Thad. Yes, I'll let you have
a piece of the joss-stick if you'll sing
good and loud. Now!"
. H.
t. Very early in the gray of the Christ
mas dawn Schuyler awoke, bounced
out of bed, and began to rouse his CO
horts. He tiptoed to Seraphina's lit
r tie white cot and INDUCED in series
of vigorous shakes and punches.
Get up! Get up, Seraphina! It's
} time to go out and CAROL" he whis
pered hoarsely.
Seraphina arose, and, sitting on the
side of her bed, blinked at him re
. proachfully. Little Thad was already
, awake and ready for anything which
:. savored Of exciting novelty. The two
elder children dressed hurriedly, ant
between them they managed to put
on little Thad's clothes. Then Schuy
Ter crept noiselessly to the hall below
, and returned with coats and hats anG
mittens. When they had bundled
t themselves into these outer garments
each donned "surplice." At the last
moment Schuyler bethought him o.
the brilliant cord on his fathers bath
robe, and at the imminent peril of dis
covery he stole into Mr.. Van Brunt's
dressing-room and returned with the
coveted cord encircling his small
waist. This finishing touch. he fell
& y : e Z -