12
A NEW "Love Will
YEAR'S JjJ.*
BASKET
™ l ™™By
jlxv
FROEMCKS
ROM the time I was a boy in kilts,
calling on the Steeles formed
S7T\ P art a "d parcel of my New Year's
I (!«) day. They lived in a great stone
vi ivJSy h° use across the way. Their
V y windows were larger, their front
door broader, and the iron pineapples on
their gateposts bigger than any others in
the neighborhood. I am sure about the
pineapples, for Mary Steele and I meas
ured them one day after a wordy battle.
We used the hem of her pinafore as far
as it would go, and finished the inches upon
my pocket handkerchief.
She was right, Their pineapples were
twice the size of ours, and I admired her
pretty, exultant face, as it pressed closely
to see that I "played fair." She was so
near that her breath blew her loose hair
across my cheek. Suddenly, I snatched her
close and kissed her again and again. She
struggled and freed herself. Indignant tears
■were in her eyes. "\ou are a very mean
boy," she said, "and I'll never speak to
you again."
It was a mean trick, and my cheeks flush
yet when I think of it; but 1 was "only a
boy," as Grandma Steele said, when she
patched up the row; "and boys have im
pulses, as well as girls."
After that error 1 felt it my duty to
become more winning and agreeable. I tried
with my boy's might to keep myself neat,
and corrected a dozen small faults, of which
mother despaired, in order to stand well
with Mary. Strive as I would, there was
a lost something that could not be- re
stored, and Mary's distrust of me made my
self-love ache. It was only on New Year's
day that she treated me with the interest
I craved. Dear old New Year's days! Hove
the memory of them.
Though the Steele house was stately,out
side, once within those hospitable doors
formality was forgotten, until one met
Grandma Steele. Her handsome fa<e and
fine manner suggested high-breeding, and
unconsciously one put forth one's best
speech and conduct when in her presence.
"1 SNATCHED HER CLOSE."
I thought it a breach of courtesy to cough
or sneeze before her, and many a heroic
struggle have I had with self to avoid these
spasms.
Mary's mother was altogether different.
She was a small, fair woman, with merry
little ways, a continual laugh, and the
manners of a child. The sort of a person
that one must pet, and indulge, and ex
cuse. My mother was also a very small
■woman, but her manner to Mrs. Steele was
that of a tall woman bending to a midget.
Year after year passed in pleasant, even
fashion, until I reached the age of 12.
Mother wakened me as usual one New
Year's morning, but, contrary to her cus
tom, seated herself on my bedside, and,
facing me, clasped my hand in hers.
"My son," said she, "you are old enough
now to bear responsibility, and learn manly
ways and ideas. Your father was a gentle
man. He was kind, loving and tender; ever
ready to defend a girl, a woman, and the
right. He never drank to intoxication, and
hoped his son might also be exempt from
this temptation. If not, he prayed that
strength might be given him to leave it
entirely alone."
I wondered why mother was saying this
to me, when tears came in her beloved
eyes, and she continued:
"I am telling you this, dear lad, because
you always visit the Steeles on New Year's
day, and there are many young men whom
you may see there—young men who drink
too much, say too much, and whose man
ners are not always the manners of gen
tlemen."
Then I understood, and putting my arms
about her neck, pledged myself in the name
of my dead fattier to be temperate, faith
ful and true. The bells of St. Margaret's
broke into a merry chime just then, and
mother ran away crying:
"Up, up, Jack! My son must not be a
sluggard on New Year's day."
The day had been dull and gray. A
whitey sense of snow thrilled through tli€
•harp, wintry air, which made the warmth
and comfort within intoxicating. From
nine o'clock in the morning a line of callers
had poured over the door-sill of the Steele
house. Carriages emptied their loads ol
elegant looking men at their curbstone, the
tails of rich coats flourished like black
wings behind the flying figures, while white
satin waistcoats and light gloves gleamed
in contrast as the callers rushed up the
steps. Few little boys were among the
guests, and my jealous heart absorbed a
grain of comfort from this knowledge.
I hurried frtffn my outlook, and into my
hat and raglan, when mother called:
"Come, Jack! It's four o'clock! Aren'l
you going over to the Steeles?"
When Pompey opened the door, h(
showed all his double molars in astonish
ment at my magnificence. I was clad ii
broadcloth from shoulders to ankles, in
stead of the velvet, short trousers and braid
ed jacket that had fretted my masculine
dignity for two years. Someonehassaid thai
"a sense of being well-dressed gives one
a self-possession that religion cannot be
stow."
. I felt this as I entered the parlor, anc
caught a glimpse of M..ry. The fact, too
4hat Mar)-*« pink sash exactly matched mj
necktie added warmth to the atmosphere;
and made me accept Grandma Steele s for
ma! kiss and Mrs. Steele's laughing greet
ing: "My! 0! My! Jack, but you are a
swell," as my rightful due.
Mary was especially nice and glad to see
me. She had two or three little tricks of
speech lately that I liked, and her laugh
was getting so sweet and low.
Through the long parlors, under both the
big prismatic chandeliers, was spread "the
table," that wonderful feature of New
Year's hospitality in olden New ork. It
was laden with substantial* and delicacies,
all beautifully arranged; and on a side table
steaming coffee and chocolate, and rich
punch were dispensed by Pompey, who
made a capital bronze cup bearer, in color
and figure, always ready to "serve de gem
men."
Mary and I were getting on very well.
Grandma Steele had taken us to the pretty
HE LAY PRCC-TRATE.
table. We feasted, girl and boy fashion;
I had proposed a philopena, and was
about asking for one of those pink ribbons,
when a party of gentlemen came in, and
suddenly the air changed. In a moment
it became evident they had imbibed too
freely, and were too hilarious for the so
ciety of ladies.
Grandma Steele drew herself up very tall,
proudly so. She smiled and talked, but her
smile was like the frost on a window-pane,
and her words were like bits of ice strik
j ing the sides of a thin goblet. In a quick
1 undertone she gave Pompey to understand
J the punch-bowl needed replenishing. It
! disappeared as swiftly as if he had been a
! prestidigitator; and the black conjuror for
j got to bring it back. Clever Pompey!
Mrs. Steele smiled and jested gayly, ex
changing badinage in her light-hearted
way, and looking very fair and pretty. She
I rippled out a merry laugh, as one young
! man fell to his knees while making a gal
| lant speech over her extended hand. Across
j Grandma Steele's face came a flash of color,
j She stepped quickly toward her daughter
in-law, exclaiming:
j "Mary! Be careful;" but she was too
late. The daring young man was on his
feet, and made a rush for the now fright
: ened lady. lie caught her tightly in his
drunken embrace, and started to run off
with her. The other men were laughing
helplessly, treating the matter as a huge
joke.
Mary groaned and covered her face with
both bands, and I, in a fury of rage, dashed
in front of the young man and tore open
his arms with the power and ease of some
mighty avenger. Mrs. Steele, thus freed,
fairly flew up the stairs, her face filled
with terror and distress.
I stood by the newel post a second, flushed
and panting; gazing down in disgust at the
prostrate man. Then, as Pompey lifted the
drunkard to his feet, a volley of curses,
black and deep, that were intended for me,
befouled the air.
The memory of my morning's pledge
came to my mind. I walked to the parlor,
and said to the three gentlemen:
"Your friend is ill. He is in his carriage.
Pompey is waiting at the door. I will make
! your excuses to Mrs. Steele."
j They bowed themselves out in a maudlin
T HEAR the bells of midnight ringing ever sweet and clear, j \'ttffijt
'Neath the starry fields of azure whlls the earth is white with snow, j jj' '/
\ Tha wild winds bear their music ever hills and valleys far, ' /
HWJmV \\ And Scho ' mon £thc dells that lie amid the snow impearl'd: ( JIM 7.
lllfvH\w " seems ,0 f!oat ,loft and find * lodgment In a star { f*//;// /
\ iIVX Th,t sheds 1,8 SOft 4nd radiant "* ht upon a sleeping world. jj V .'J//
! ill T THROW the casemer.t wide to hear the anthem of the bells 11. it jjll.
Ju a\\ \v That ring at midnight's solemn hour to let the New Year In; I WI hi
!\ 'v! I \ They breathe of happiness and peace and each glad one foretells ] I \j Wj j
y j r ■ Thedawnlngof a cyclenew above the Old Year'sdln; I•' fla//
Ij\V iI , Methinks J hear the footsteps cf the New Year young and strong, 'J i ivS\l I
1 v\\ \tv rad ' ,n '' '" ;s a ""'® child, he treads tha paths of night; 11 Ji;\ 111
jfc\\i l\ His scepter in his eager hand 3, his heart a living song. || Nraty'/
'" 11 C ° meS '° m "" onI wa '" n 112 by the morning's gates of light. j\
|BtK 'M \ fnE Old Year, flitting by us, leaves his foot-tracks In the snow, mS//A
lilllva ' give the parting guest a smile to cheer him on his way; Aiiv/A\i7
* Methinks he stops a moment where the winter winds are low ij\\/
\ J 0 ca ' c ' l *' ,e music of the chimes that usher In the day: // f}illj\\//
\WVVi\I He hears the bells at midnight and listens with a sigh,
IV\ 'W The monarch old has left his throne and all his robes of state, mil fljw/jwi
And onward cotries the youthful king beneath the bending sky,
\fxHff 1 Eaith-welcomed by the glaesome bells, with childish heart elate. «
O GOLDEN bells of midnight I the gladsome year ye bring ('
; \iKyi Is welcomed by a happy world, 13 crowned in every zone;
112 W In everr heart the chorus of the chimes is echoing, ffSffiaM
\v VxvL And fills with Joy the humblest cot and aureoles the throne: 'iff/TVI/A
The pilot on the vasty deep at midnight gaies far ML
K\ IV <4 And hails the mystic music of the unseen blissful bells, MraE
And steers his good bark homeward by the New Year's shining star, //%ss&
KMm Tho while upon the distant shore the sacred pasan swells.
ft BELLS that usher In the year I O chimes of love and peacel
O tuneful bails that ring of change above the fleecy snow I
Hearts gladsome grow and 'ncath your sway a thousand sorrows cease,
As backward from some misty past come scenes cf long ago:
Ring loud, O bells of midnight, that usher in the year,
Tho portals of the morning fair, enwreathed, are standing wide;
The Old Year drops upon the snow an unregrettsd tear.
As the nations hail the New Yoar in hi 3 glory ar.d his prldj.
CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1901.
fashion; and it wa« the prouA»jt moment ol
my life when Grandma Steele laid her hand
on my yellow head and said, quietly:
"My boy! My little protector! I thank
you."
Mr. Steele came in shortly after that.
Grandma Steele met him at the door, and
his order to Pompey, as I went home, was:
"We are not. at home to-night, Pompey."
That same month I went to boarding
school, carrying my lady's color with me,
in the shape of a pink hair ribbon Mary had
worn on New Year's day. Surely, there
never was a prouder knight than I.
Year by year the good old custom dwin
dled; killed by just such sights a« had dis
gusted my young soul. The gorgeous toi
lettes moderated to modest gowns. Luxu
rious tables shrank to trays of cakes and
wine, or cakes and coffee. Men walked, or
rode in street cars, to pay their calls. Fam
ily reunions began to be popular. Still I
made my annual call on Mary and her
mother, and grew no nearer.
The stately Grandma had passed away,
and Mary sometimes wore her pearl-set
miniature. Then my home was desolated.
My mother's death left me sad indeed. Mr.
Steele was a kind friend in my trouble,
and when the worst was past Mrs. Steele
showed herself still merry, childlike, and
young. Mary, alone, I could not fathom.
1 had been in Paris two years, and had
corresponded with Mary in fraternal fash
ion for more than a twelvemonth; when I
suddenly wrote an impassioned letter, tell
ing her of my life's love, and imploring her
to be my wife.
She responded briefly, and in the tone
used through all her letters:"l thank you
for the high compliment," she wrote, "but
why not keep on in our old friendly way?"
This was too much. I was hurt deeply,
never answered her letter, and resolved to
keep aloof, now and forever. Toward the
end of December I became uneasy, and re
solved togo home, or, at least, to old
New York. We landed on New Year's eve,
and on New Year's morning, as the bells
of St. Margaret's were chiming for serv
ice, I found myself opposite Mary's house,
looking over at the old place, with the same
old boyish interest.
What a change from the old days! Every
shade of every house on the block entirely
covered its window, and on each bell-pull
was a tiny basket fastened with a bunco of
gay ribbons. I was indignant. "A nice way
that," 1 argued, mentally, "to treat visitors
on New Year's day." A closed houee, in
deed! it should open to me! And that
basket! Probably it was the gift of some fond
lover, like the Mayday baskets of the olden
time. Tied with Mary's favorite color, too!
Yery well! I would take it down and offer
her my congratulations, when I handed her
the basket!
So I mounted the steps and gave the
bell knob a vigorous pull. Old Pompey
opened the door. He knew me at once,
and smiled broadly, as he said:
"Miss Mary,she'll be delighted. Disvisit's
so on-reglar; jes whut she likes."
When Mary came, she seemed a little
tremulous and confused. I remembered
the basket. It had fallen to the floor. 1
pounced upon it viciously. In it lay a
card:
"Mr. Stewart Kingsley."
"Mary," I gasped; "surely you are never
going to marry the man who insulted your
mother 12 years ago;" and 1 held up the
card before her astonished eyes.
"You silly boy," said she, and with that
years vanished; we were young again.
"This," shaking the basket, "is the way
1 people receive to-day. We put out our
basket, and anyone who wishes may drop
j his card in it."
I "Then he did not send the basket?"
j "Oh, no!" laughed Mary.
' "Well," said I, "what a silly fashion; to
tie five yards of ribbon to one's bell-handle,
! that a friend may not pull it!"
| "No. Only two yards," said Mary,
i "Five," I protested, and then said:
i "Come; let's measure it." So I took my
| handkerchief to measure and finished
| up the inches on the ribbon that hung
*from her belt. This brought us very
I near each other; my hand trembled,
but I had gained a fine courage. A curl of
| my yellow, tousled head brushed Mary's
1 cheek. She flushed prettily, and, putting her
| arms about my neck, touched my lips light
ly with hers.
"That was a mean trick!" I cried, de
lightedly, snatching my darling to my heart,
"and I'll never speak to you again, unless
you promise to repeat it every day of your
natural life."
THE WATCH NIGHT.
Twa* like an old-time lovefeast—that
Watch night, for It necmed
That heaven was Just so near to us Its
light around us streamed;
Jerusalem, the golden, (lung all Its portals
wide.
And we felt thp shining presence of the
crowned and crucified.
We saw, as 'twere beneath a bright and
all-revealing sky.
That far-off land, o'er Jordan's strand,
where our possessions lie;
And heard, while all our songs of joy were
thrilled and wafted o'er,
A softer, sweeter music from the bright,
celestial shore.
The dear old songs of Zlon—the old and
ever new—
From praying lips and hearts that night
were answered from the blue;
We listened for the answer, with perfect
faith, and then
When one cried "Hallelujah!" soft echoes
said: "Amen!"
"Amen!" each face uplifted seemed all a
shlne with light—
The radiance of the realms that know no
sorrow—neither night;
Where never any blessing to Ills children
He denies—
When the Lord Himself shall wipe away
the teardrops from their eyes.
'Twas like an old-time Lorefeast; old
scenes were brought to view—
We had the old-time singing, and the "old
religion," too!
We to'd how He had walked with us
through valleys of Despair,
Until at last, the dangers past, His love
had led us there!
And all sang "Hallelujah!" In sight of
heavenly lands;
'Twas a glad shaking up of hearts, as well
as shaking hands!
And the Old Year died In music, ar.d the
New Year dawned in light,
And we passed to God's good morning from
the glory of His Night!
—Frank L. Stanton, in Atlanta Constitu
tion.
HOW JIMMIE KEPT
HIS RESOLUTIONS
On the first day of January Jimmie
Wilson's mother said: "Well, my son,
| what are your New Year's resolutions
I this year?"
It was evening, and Jimmie was
j working on a problem in interest at
i the time, for, say as much as they
might about his not being neat in his
j dress or his unpleasant habit of nod
j ding his head when he meant "yes,"
| and shaking it when he meant "no,"
I no one could say that he was not the
j leading pupil in arithmetic in Lee-s
--[ town academy. Another thing that
everybody had to admit was that Jim
i mie was in love with his mother, but
I to-night he scowled and worked on.
j He heard Eva's siibdued laugh, and
J without raising his eyes he saw Tom
j kick Ned.
He did not see his mother's face,
I but he knew without looking that
I pained surpris-e was written there, for
I he had never been the boy to treat his
j mother with disrespect. He might trip
| Tom or s'trike Ned. he might even
j tease Elsie or grumble when his fa
| ther asked him to leave his problems
j to post a letter for him or to mow the
j grass on the lawn, but his mother al-
I ways found him ready togo on an
j errand or do the chores.
By and by the figures began to act
queerly. He found himself saying
"nine times eight equals fifty-six," and
once he discovered that he had multi
plied the interest by the principal to
get the rate. Determined not to give
up, he tried to get his mind back to
his work by adding a set of figures,
three columns at a time, but he failed,
and dropped to two columns; it was
stil too much for him, and when he
had gone to one column and had said
"five and eight are—l won't talk tolifr
before the others —eight and five are
—they'd laugh if I did—are twelve; no,
are —like as not Ned would ask me the
time; pshaw! Five and eight—or else
Tom would tell me to catch cold and
get a crick in my neck—" he gave up
and slammed book and tablet upon
the table with such a bang that his
mother dropped her work and Eva
gave a frightened little screech that
set the other boys into a roar of laugh
ter.
Taking advantage of the confusion,
Jimmie whispered to his mother:
"Come up to my room," and made his
escape. He waited in the hall until
his mother came out, and then he took
her arm and together they went in
silence up to his room. Pushing her
into his own cushioned rocker, he went
to a table and took from one of the
drawers a little red book. Then he
came and sat on the arm of her chair.
Still he had not spoken, but his moth
er was accustomed to his silent ways.
Some people thought it queer that he
should be so quiet, but when they
mentioned it to his moth-r, she only
smiled and called it "Jimmie's way."
Opening his book well toward the
back, he said: "You know I keep my
school records in here and my monthly
accounts and anything else that T want
to have convenient to refer to. I've had
it two years."
He paused a moment, but his mother
knew that he was warming to his sub
ject, and at such a time he was siire to
find the words that he needed.
"Back here I have written my New
Year's resolutions, and you know how
I have broken every one of them. 'Jan
uary 1, 1597.—1 hereby resolve to quit
nodding my head and to say "yes" in
stead. If I stick to it, mother will give
me a new watch.* What happened?"
His mother laughed, but he repeated
almost fiercely: "What happened?"
"Why, on the second day of January
I took you to the jeweler's and showed
you the kind of watch I would get you
if you kept your resolution, and then
I asked: 'lsn't it worth the effort?' "
"And like a dunce, I nodded my
head!"
"So you did, and you have tried ever
since to earn that watch, but it has
proved too hard a battle. Neverthe
less I will say: 'Try again.' "
"WeH, here's January 1, IS9B. 'Once
more 1 firmly resolve to quit nodding
my head; moreover, I resolve not to
give so much attention to arithmetic
that I neglect my grammar.* What
happened? Why, I nodded my head
worse than ever and my year's average
in grammar was one less than it was
the year before."
"Still, I believe that you made a de
termined effort and you helped me to
s«e how strongly your mind was turned
toward mathematics. I think we have
both been happier since," said his
mother. From his elevated position on
her chair arm Jimmie patted his moth
er's head approvingly.
"Now it comes to this year, and I
know just what you want me to re
solve to do. You want me first to say
this: 'I am determined that the third
time is the charm, and that not once
during this entire year will I nod my
head for vess or shake it for no.' Don't
you?"
"I should like it," she answered with
a smile. "I should not like to have you
give iip what once you have under
taken to do."
"Then you'd like me to add that I
will be neat in my personal appear
ance. Now I want to ask you a ques
tion. Does being neat mean wearing
a stiff collar and a white shirt and
keeping my shoes blacked?"
"I should think so."
"Well, I can't do it." ,
"You can do it. You may not want
to very much."
"Suppose I fail?"
"Try again."
"Suppose Tom tells me to take a stiff
neck so I can't nod?"
"Don't hear him."
"Yes, I will, and pound him, too."
"Well?"
"Why, of course, when you look at me
like that I'll try if I die in the at
tempt," and, taking a pencil from his
pocket, lie recorded his two vows.
On the following day Jimmie went
down town and bought a half-dozen
white shirts and as many collars.
"I don't want any half-high collars,
either," he said to the clerk. "I want
regular chokers. Death can't come
any too soon to a fellow that has to
wear such things 1 . I want good points
to them, too."
When he appeared at dinner,hishead
held high and his chin scraping the
points at every movement of his head,
the entire family looked the amaze
ment that it did not dare to speak.
Something in Jimmie's expression for
bade it.
With unfailing regularity, his l an
swers fell: "Yes, mother," No, father,"
and if at times his head moved sus
piciously, as if the nod or the shake
were coming, he always caught him
self and the words came in time to
save him. Eva declared to her mother
an hour later that her head and neck
ached for Jimmie, and on each suc
ceeding day through the week she
wished for Saturday.
Surelj- Jimmie would put on his old
cotton shirt, for Saturday," she told
! her mother in another outburst of suf
fering. "And if he does, I'll just hug
1 him. I like our sloucby old Jimmie a
I hundred times better than I do this
i high-collared 'Yes-Eva-ed' boy we have
now."
But Saturday brought, no change in
Jinimie's attire, and still no one dared
speak to him about it. Jimmie went
to his room earlier in the evening - now
than he used to do, and during the
summer he spent many an hour alone
in his room with his door looked. The
year wore on and finally the 31st of De
cember. 1599, had come and was almost
gone. A party of young people had
gathered at the house of the Wilsons
to watch the old year out, but just be
fore the clock struck 12 Jimmie
touched his mother's arm, and togeth
er they slipped off to his room.
Going to the table drawer he took
out the little book, and, opening it
to the page on which he had written
his resolutions, he spread it on the
table and waited for the clock tostrike.
When the last sound had died away
he took his pencil and wrote across the
page "Victory." Then he slowly re
moved his high collar and threw in
into his mother's lap. Standing di
rectly in front of her, he said:
"Mother, ask me if I am glad that
1900 has arrived."
She repeated the question, and Jim
mie deliberately nodded his head three
times.
"Now, ask me if I am going to make
any more New Year's resolutions."
She asked this question, and he
shook his head three times, from right
to left. Then he broke into a hearty
laugh.
"I just wanted to see if I knew how
to do it,"he said. "I used to come off
up here and take off my collar and rest
my head and neck, but never once did
I nod my head. Now, I think I can
remember to say yes and no, but I've
bought a box of new collars, and they
are not high ones, either."
He produced a box filled with the
comfortable turn-over kind, and, se
lecting one, put it on. Then he said:
"We had better go downstairs. They
have misled us. Hut don't say a word
about this."
"Tell me one thing more," said his
mother as they started down. "How
did you manage to remember not to
nod your head?" Jimmie laughed
again.
"Oh,mj'collars always managed that
for me," he said. —Chicago Daily Rec
ord.
Ceremony of Hand Klntlnß.
On New Year's day at the Russian
capital the princes of the imperial fam
ily, personages of the court, function
aries and servants of the palace, come
in regular order to present their hom
age and good wishes to the emperor,
who kisses all the members of his
family, and all the high officials three
times, according to the Russian fash
ion. People meeting in the street in
Russia on New Year's kiss each other,
whether acquainted or not. The fa
vored ones who have been kissed by
the czar are permitted to kiss the hand
of the empress. The ceremony of hand
kissing was suppressed for a time, but
reestablished a few years ago under
the reign of Alexander 111.
ONE NEW YEAR'S NIGHT.
A Dream That Warned Tliln Vonn|
Man to Tarn from the
l'dtk. »112 Sin.
On (i certain New Year's night,
old man stood by the window, and
gazed with a long look of despair out
on the immovable, forever-sparkling
heavens, then down upon the white,
sinless earth, whereon at that mo
ment no one was so cheerless, so
sleepless as he. His own grave stood
near him; it was not decked with the
verdure of youth, but it was covered
with the snows of ages. And this old
man had brought nothing with him
from the rich, teeming life of the
world, save errors, sins, and disease;
nothing but a worn body, a rayless,
desolate soul, a bosom brimming with
remorse, and a frosted old age filled
with regrets, writes William Masoa
Turner, in New York Weekly.
The glad mornings of his youth
hovered around him on this cold win
ter night like flitting apparitions;
they carried him far back to that
early, rosy dawn, when his father
stood with him at the cross-roads of
life—the right leading over sunny
pathways into a quiet, distant land
resplendent with golden harvests and
white-winged angels; but the left
road led down to the slums of vice,
far away to a black cavern of drip
ping poisons and twisting adders.
Alas! the vipers hung around hi 3
breast! the poison-drops were upon
his tongue! He knew where he was.
His brain reeling, and while unut
terable terror filled his bosom, he
cried unto Heaven:
"Give me, oh! give me youth again!
Oh! father, place me again at the
cross-roads of life that I may choose
another path!"
But his father, like his own youth,
was of the Long Ago.
He saw over the black morass a
will-o'-wisp glittering hither and
thither; then it' disappeared in a
damp churchyard.
"How like! how like my days of fol
ly!" he cried.
He saw a star shoot from the heav
ens, and, shimmering in its fall, van
ish in the darkness of earth.
"Like myself!" he groaned from a.
torn heart. And the serpent's tooth
of remorse dug down deeper. His
fiery fancy pointed to him the creep
ing niglit-wanderers on the roof; and
the spectral wind-mill raised its men
acing arms. Then one shape remain
ing in the ghastly charnel-house of
| repentance and remorse, gradually
j grew into his own image.
| In the midst of'liis anguish, sudden
j Iy the music of the New Year's night
floated upon the air; and it was the
j silver chiming of belfry bells. His
I soul was stirred within him; he gazed
j around the murky horizon, and over
j the spreading earth. The memory of
! the friends of his youth came to him;
i they were now honored teachers in
! the world, and the glad fathers of
j children. Again he wailed out:
| "Alas! like you, I, too, on this New
j Year's night, could have slumbered
j with tearless eyes, if I had only
| chosen aright! Alas! my fond par
\ ents, I, too, could be happy had I but
j heeded your warnings and wishes of
i the New Year's Eve!"
Then before his feverish memory
the heydey of his youth arose—even
as in the bleak charnel-house the
specter had taken his own image.
* * * He could look no longer; he
veiled his eyes and agonized by his
sorrow a thousand hot tears streamed
down his furrowed face. Comfortless
and in abject misery he could only
murmur:
"Oh! youth, come again! Come
again!"
And it came again; for it was but
a horrible vision of sleep which had
passed before him on this cold New
Year's Night. lie was still in the hey
dey of his youth, and he thanked
Heaven that, still young and treading
the frail paths of vice, he had time
to turn away to the sun-lit avenue
which led to the land of harvests and
happiness.
Young reader, turn you with him,
if you stand in the path of sin. Be
warned by this dreain, for the time
may arrive when you, too, may cry:
"Come, oh! come again, sweet time of
youth!"
And it will not come.
A Day for Cnnilj-Mnkiri.
There is a street in Paris to which
New Year's day is a whole year's
fortune. This is the Ituo des Lom
bards, where the wholesale confec
tioners reside. For days preceding
January 1 this street is blocked with
wagons loaded with sweetmeats
ready for shipment. There are all
forms and descriptions made of
sugar and hollow to hold bonbons.
It is said that for sweetmeats alone
SIOO,OOO is spent annually on this day
in Paris. Jewelry is also sold in
great quantities, for no Frenchman
calls empty handed. The day is
filled with exchange of visits and
bonbons, and the oecasion is one of
enjoyment and rejoicings.
A Suxoii Sew Year's Cnxtom.
Many curious customs and associa
tions cluster around New Year's day.
The Saxons in "ye olden tyme" used to
dance around an apple tree on New
Year's eve, singing a song, to insure a
good crop, and bells were rung to an
nounce the death of the old year and
usher in the birth of the new. In other
parts of England at midnight the
house door facing the west was opened
to let out the old year, while the door
facing the cast was opened to welcome
the blithe new year.
Celebrate with llontircn.
Bonfires of mammoth proportions
are kindled on New Year's-eve in Per
sia—New Year's is March 21—and peo
ple dance about them. This holiday
is the most important of the year and
feasting lasts for ten days; every on»
appears in new clothes.