Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-12-19

"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 baby! Now, good and loud!'
"Hark, the herald angels sling"
Schuyler beloved Justify and beat
time with a drumstick. Seraph1na
sang with much fervor and many false
notes; while little Thad followed the
tune manfully, and substituted 'la-la'
la" when the words proved elusive to
his four-year-old memory.
The aecond verse brought to a sue
cessful issue, Schuyler dismissed the
chorus and turned to the door.
You see f you can't teach Thad
the words of that second verse while
l go downstairs and get some JOSS
sticks for the censer," he told Sera'
phina.
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. 1t 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 a carol outofdoors 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 tc
sing that carol in the street never
faltered Hence the secret rehear
sails in the nursery.
After much deliberation, he decid
ed that surplices 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 censor to the
properties. A tomato can punched full
of holes, swung on the gilt cord thai
comes about candy boxes, and filled
with burning joss-sticks. would make
beautiful censor.
1t was Christmas Eve, and Schuy
ler's plans we're complete. He fell
sure they would put up very credit
able carol in the morning, even II Doc
tor Posts advice had not been obtain
able AS he crept upstairs with the
joss-stick, which he had begged from
Agnes, the second girl. he felt thai
the last obstacle had been surmount
ed
Come on now, once MORE" he sale
as he entered the nursery door "Elss
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 sint
good and loud. Now"
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
tie white cot and INDUCED in series
of vigorous shakes and punches.
Get up! Get up, Seraphina! IT.
time to go out and CAROL" he whis
pered hoarsely.
Seraphina arose, and, sitting on thu
side OF her bed, blinked at him re
proachfully. Little Thad was alread!
awake and ready for anything which
savored of exciting novelty. The two
elder children dressed hurriedly, ant
between them they managed to pu
on little Thad's clothes. Then Schuy
Ter crept noiselessly to the hall below
and returned with coats and hats ant
mittens. When they had bundled
themselves into these outer garments
each donned a "surplice." At the las
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'!
dressing-room and returned with thu
coveted cord encircling his small
waist. This finishing touch, he fel
sure, made him quite like the ALTA
boys at St. Jude's. He fished beneath
his bed and drew out the tomato cal
censor filled with the joss.stick.
Come on" he whispered. and LEI
the way down the wide stairs.
With caution worthy OF bette
things, he shot the bolts and opened
the front door. The three grotesqu'
figures stole silently out and stood OF
the stoop In the cold Christmas dawn
The air was still and biting; the 81
lence Of the streets appalling. Sera
phina's mind reverted to the luxury Q
| the bed she had Just quilted.
.O-o-oh!" she chartered ITS coll