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Show The Christmas Carolers Are Welcome Everywhere T, EKE come the Carolers" So It used to be. Young faces pressed against the windowpane, straining to heat the cheerfu. carols outside. Perhaps It was the story of the Christ child put to tune ot a ballad of love and cheer. When the singers were done the householder invited them m for a hite and a sup or gave them a coin or two for theit song Then on to the next house, to sing again under the stars or veiled he-hind he-hind sifted snow. An then. In the early morning, home again to their own firesides. It vvas a good old custom, this midnight minstrelsy in the season of peace and goodwill. "With the beginning begin-ning of Yuletlde, twelve days before Christmas day.' as Percival Chuhb tells us In the Standard, published In New York by the American Kthieal Union, "small band of musicians went the rounds and 'in the mire or on the road or on the steps, played the old folk tunes as a lyrical prelude to the great day. To some of the antique an-tique ballad airs, like "Goou King Wenceslaus." says Mr. Chuhh. the singers would add a hymn tune or two "Once In David's Royal City," or "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing." "Punctuating rhe bustle of domestic preparation for the coming feast, these ministrations in the still night gave a breatb ot poetry that touched the spirit of Christmas with an endearing beauty. Day by day the tide of joyous joy-ous anticipation rose until the crescendo cres-cendo broke into a forte of exuber ance." Those simple days of the folk are gone, says Mr. Chubb; the glory is departed. But the custom ol making the rounds on Christmas eve to sing carols of peace and good will ou earth still prevails . here and there. Literary Digest. |