or, The Silver Skates 83

with a subdued chorus of barking dogs, squeaking cats and
bleating lambs, to say nothing of a noisy ivory cricket, that the
baby was whirling with infinite delight. At the last, little
Huygens, taking advantage of the increasing loudness of myn-
heer’s tones, had ventured a blast on his new trumpet; and
Wolfert had hastily attempted an accompaniment on the drum.
This had brought matters to a crisis; and well for the little
creatures that ithad. ‘The saint had left no ticket for them to
attend a lecture on Jacob Cats. It was not an appointed part
of the ceremonies. Therefore, when the youngsters saw that
the mother looked neither frightened nor offended, they
gathered new courage. The grand chorus rose triumphant ;
and frolic and joy reigned supreme.

Good St. Nicholas! For the sake of the young Hollanders,
I, for one, am willing to acknowledge him, and defend his
reality against all unbelievers.

Carl Schummel was quite busy during that day, assuring little
children confidentially that not St. Nicholas, but their own
fathers and mothers, had produced the oracle, and loaded the
tables. But we know better than that.

And yet, if this were a saint, why did he not visit the
Brinker cottage that night? Why was that one home, so
dark and sorrowful, passed by?