Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-12-23

I
ANsLIS5I9SfSS4g angels sling,
G-<--@---<Z-a Glory to the new
born King"
Seraphina, can't you take that
piece of candy out of Thads mouth?
He nearly choked himself list 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 drumstick. Seraphina
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-yearold memory.
The second 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
go downstairs and get some joss
sticks for the censor" 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. 1t had taken a strong
hold on the boys fertile imagination
so strong hold that he had planned
to smuggle Seraphina and Thad from
the house, when Christmas came, and
to sing a carol out-of-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
surpllces, 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
sing that carol in the street never
/faltered. Hence the secret rehear-
sails In the nursery.
After much elaboration, 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 a censor to the
properties. A tomato can punched full
OF holes, swung on the gilt cord that
comes about candy boxes. and filed
with burning joss-sticks. would make
a beautiful censor.
1t was Christmas Eve, and Schuy-
ler's plans were complete. He felt
sure they would put up very credit
able carol in the morning. even If Doc
tor Posts advice had not been obtain
able. AS he crept upstairs with the
joss-stic 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. Elsa
will be up with supper in a minute.
We've just time before she comes.
Stand up. Thad. Yes. I'll let you have
a piece of the joss-stick il you'll sing
good and loud. Nowi"
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 a 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, and
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 and
mittens. When they had bundled
themselves into these outer garments,
each donned "surplice" At the last
moment Schuyler bethought him of
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 felt
sure, made him quite like the altar
boys at st. Jude's. He fished beneath
his bed and drew out the tomato can
censor filled With the joss-stick
Come on" he whispered. and led
the way down the wide stairs.
With a caution worthy of better
things, he shot the bolts and opened
the front door. The three grotesque
figures stole silently out and stood on
the stoop in the cold Christmas dawn.
The air was still and biting; the ST.
lenee of the streets appalling. Sera-
phina's mind reverted to the luxury or
the bed she had just Quilted.
"O-o-oh!" she chartered It's cold
~~~~~~@~-~~-~~~>-~-~>~~ ~~~~-~~~~~~~~~~-~@~>--
German Christmas Custom.
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