Askov American., 1941-12-25
Trun,pets and Angels
BY Vivian T. Pomeroy

Personally I feel it is a mistake
for Santa Claus to bring trumpets;
but no doubt he knows what very
little boys want, and he cannot bear
to disappoint them.
So when David, who was five
years old, woke up on Christmas
morning at six o'clock and found
among other things a trumpet, he
was very happy. He had masses
of other toys, too-a fire engine,
a flashlight and some wonderful
animals. 1t took him a long time
to open everything, and it was all
lovely. But the trumpet was best
He blew a blast upon it.
Then David thought of a grand
idea. He would get up and play
a carol, "Hark! Hark! etc." outside
the door of his two elder brothers.
He popped his feet into his slippers
got into his wrapper, opened his door
and snapped on the upstairs light
All was quiet. He trotted down the
passage to the wing. Then he stood
outside his brothers door and lifted
up the trumpet and played. To him
it sounded marvellous. "Hark! Hark!
etc."
In three seconds the door was
flung open, and fierce voice cried:
"You get out with that row. Go on,
right now"
"It's 'Hark! Harkp" said David.
'It's Hark to Baby David with
his Internal trumpet" said his furious
brother. "Hop it now. Go away"
And David went because he knew
better than to stay; but he was very
disappointed. He trotted back, and
outside Mothers room he stopped
Mother and Father would like a carol,
anyway. So he lifted the trumpet
and started again. How beautiful il
sounded to him! He stopped. The
door opened and there was Mother.
Happy Christmas, darling!" Moth
er said. Happy Christmas!" said
David. 81 played CAROL"
$50 we heard" said Father. He
did not sound quite so pleased.
Lets light the fire." said Mother,
and she did. It blazed up.
David said: "I'll get some of my
toys" and he went for them. He
came back with his arms full. The
trumpet he put very carefully beside
Mother, who was sitting in a chair
by the fire. "What was the carol?"
she said, when she had seen the toys.
"Hark! Hark!" said David. Didn't t
you hear?"
eyes, 1 did hear" said Mother.
"But perhaps 1 wasn't quite awake
enough to catch the tune"
"I'll play it again." said David.
ooh, no thanks" said Father. "No!
No! No! It's too early for carols"
But Mother said, "Oh, carols have
to be early. I think 1 should like it
once more"
Father groaned in a queer way.
David's trumpet blared out again.
"It's a good trumpet" said Mother.
David was out of breath. Father
said: II certainly don't care for music
so early"
Mother" said David, "are there
really angels?"
eyes, I think So" said Mother
'I've never seen one," David said.
81 have" said Father. There's
one sitting by you now"
David looked puzzled. 81 mean
your mother" said Father.
David laughed. "But Mother has
no WINGS" he said.
"You don't tell an angel by her
said Father.
"Hush! Hush!" said Mother.
81 won't hush," said Father. "You
don't tell an angel by her wings"
"How do you tell angels, Dad
dy?" asked David.
Father said firmly: "By the lovely
funny marvellous things they do"
David thought about that. Then
he said: "You couldn't be an angel,
Daddy, could you?"
81 could not" said Father. II hate
trumpets, and I've never been nice
enough person to like being walked
up by a carol-not even by somebody
I'm pretty fond Of"