Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-06
ATale OF Newly Years Eve.
Dnln YxrNA CLAUS.


have a story to tell of something
that happened in a little New England
village, long while sgo, one New
Years Eve. =. ~ ss.4.s t.s5.zy.z -
Were it a.tale Of the present time, /
should have to tell you how there was Q
shrek and whistle: then the red lights
of steam engine coming through the.
darkness, and the roar of a train of
cars; thenfheIstopping jnsktwo minutes,
and the baggage pitched out and then
another shrek and whistle, and the train
far away over the country.
But this New Years Eve, years ago,
q stage-sleigh, drawn by four painting
horses, came msrrily jingling through
the village streets aud stopped at the
village inn 1t created qnite q hustle;
the landlord came out TO greet his guests,
bar-room lloungers questioned the an
yer about the news, and the ie.poy
ran to and fro, with his lantern glIm mer-
ing over The snow GTben the travellers
counted over their. trunks and bags 70
be sure none were missing, and hurrIedl
in 10 warmth and light, and the pleasant
prospects of O. hot supper and good
beds. sasl&A~a4A s-s-AthE -
One traveller loitered on the porch.
He wac an old man, well wrapped up in
cloak and furs but was looking anxious
and cafeworn.
As he gazed up the street and down,
"All altered and strange, said ne 70
himself. Forty years makes changes.
Then, farming TO toe driver, L. there an
old stone church in that directionY ask
Cd he ,1otptsnr uwaat
Yes, thess be, 2 answered the driver;
then he added To, the stable boyfsaIhe
old fellow wears furs, or I'd take I'm for
a spook, standin' aout in the snow, q
askin' for church yards" Better walk
IN the parlor, sir. y .... ese5 81 ~. sd
Right merry were the company over
their supper that night--all bu. the old
man; and at its close he asked thelland-
lord, Did youEever. hear Of one John
Marston here2 Forty years ago he kept
a store in-this village, he must be dead
/ SUPPOSE 3 h e.se, "a
"Jobn Marston p replied the host.
"Many aloog year has he been lying an
the church-yard, one son he LETT ana ne
is our pastor now. u g~s-sEg 8. c.n -,
@Can YOU direct me to his housei"A
said the old man rising abruptly.
at isfa good mile from here, and this
is a cold night, sir," observed one OF the
No matter, I must see him tonight"
rejoined the'straDger u came a u. long
"I g. the fi ssnadi66Ed summoned abOy with
a lantern and they set FORTH ) ,glVxN
1t was pretty, though rather poor
cottage, and the pastor and hrs wife were
seated before their cheerful IRE What
were they talking of Past and future
years, perhaps, and how they would be
rich now-yes, rich enough to help all
the poor parishioners-if somebody in
far OF couistry would remember TO do
what he ought to do, and what he easily
could do. -, y ars.....rgi. so +, ~,
@You are surprised at my visit, SIR
said he; you will doubtless be yet more
go when you learn its object For forty
years have, been thinking of this, aud
have put it off and put it from me; and
in retaliation it has worn out my strength
and worn down my spirits, and made me
old before. my time. Forty years ago
your father and / were young men, and
kept store here. / did him deep wrong,
and fed with my gains. | have come
back to restitution fourfold, and Ipray
you Judge me as kindly as you can.
The old mans emotions oVercame
him, and he sobbed ike child. ~.
"God forbid I should judge YOU said
the PASTOR my calling teaches! s charity
The stranger continued an an evil
hour Iyieided TO tenn ptation, but shave
never known peace went to the In
dies. I.crossed and recrossed the ocean;
my wealth increased Il heard after
left here of the deaths, one, by one, of
all my kindred-Tfather, mother, sisters,
all gone. At last / said restitution must
be made soon or never, and | resolved
that before the close of this year 1t should
be done. There are but two hours left
but they win be the happiest IN forty
years for old John Peyton." '..sga.s r.ss.a
Now it was the strangers time to look
amazed; for the pastor wife bad ciasped
her arms around his neck, and was star
ing him in the face.
any uncle, my dear uncle i am
your sister child-she married-did you
never hear Of it" a1n.4aaa
ButHo il was,p Joined in the pastor,
affectionately. "Your name was men
toned sometimes by my father before he
died, as one that once had been led
astray. but doubtless repented of it; and
he always added, God forgive him, as l
do from the bottom of my heart ~ I
1t was happy N ew Years Eve in
that little cottage, and before another
came round they had exchanged it for a
far more comfortable mansion. Il was
the prelude, too, OF many happy years.
And so, thou, well-6lled purse, that
dost owe debt to poverty pay it this
New Year Z W, and be happy likewise.
Nsso York Independent.