The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-02-21
THE SOLITARY MAN.
BROWNIE.

Cold, clustering, but dry. The
head OF the firm sat in his dingy little
office, dreary and alone. That bright
young kirkum was gone at last
That young fellow had been the tor
ment of his life for the week back,
with hls gay talk and happy anticipa.
tions. Why should he not keep his
mirth to himself; he was like trothy
pitcher, bubbling aud ioaming over
with fun and jokes. The parting
bright face had peeped back through
the window, wishing "lIappy New
Year" "Uhm The head said, put
down the sash, you freeze the room" !"
OFF went the happy presence, won.
dering why he had not asked that
lonely man to eat his New Years din
ner with mother and the girls. The
solitary man was lett to his mcdita-
tions of long past years; slowl y they
iloated by. First the holidays of his
boyhood. very old years they seemed
now. The first in the train brought
the memory of his mother, young.
bright mother, with flowing curls of
dark brown hair, with tidy little
apron, covered with -four, baking aud
fussing TO give her boy happy New
Year. Other years iloated by, the
mother always the center-piece, the
solitary boy tho object of all her joy
Gus care. Solitary he always was,
and had felt aggrieved that no broth
ers or sisters came To share lis New
Year and Christmas presents. Then
passed years of trial, the mother, n
widow, struggling to rear her only
boy; the boy always moody and
lonely, never approaching the cheer
ful industry of that bright little moth
er, sometimes rebellmg against her
authority, which he thought far too
stringent. Then came gap in the
procession, filed up by years OF nnla-
miliar or aycrted faces-ycars in
which the moihc: took no part, for in
his selfshness he had left her TO strug-
gle alone. Was her sweet, young head
bowed with age and grief! Or was
she still a bright, CHEEKY old woman,
fighting the world with smiling face
aud turning her back on sorrow?-
Was she happy still? Phantom years
glided past until they halted on the
door step--a gloomy figure, far in the
rear of his mothers traIn-that proud
young mother, who had suffered and
made no sign. Still gazing at tue
distant looming figure growing
brigher every minute, he wondered il
this would be the last one. aud who
would mourn IL il were? His money
would 20 10 cndow hospital, and
that would he the last Of his New
Years on earth. kirkum would no
doubt nail down the coffin lid with \
plying look, but he was sure that no
tear would be shed on his tough,
grizzly face. Again the hating, ling
er;ng step of the coming year vas on
the stair, the last of forty which had
passed. AL bnt the first fifteen with
gloomy, averied faces, and the two
last were haggcrcd and worn. This
coming one. would 1t ever struggle
into birth, or pass through another
procession, the last but one, that time!
Forty were told! Not yet old in
years, though aged indeed in fret and
worry; in good deeds and unselfish-
ness, oh how young!
Fire crackers, and the noisv mirth
of thoughtless boys, fell necessarily
OH his ear. This was "A community
which had kept Christmas, Noel, as
holy-day, for then Christ, the child,
had come, and they had spent the bet
ter par; of the day in church praying
To that Holy Child to intercede for
them. But this clustering, sturdy
New Years Day was to be kept with
lollity and fun, mirth and good din
ncrs prevailed everywhere.
In good deeds, oh. how young, and
the balting step on the stair. In des-
peration, he reached his hat and was
away down the bright thoroughfare,
pecping in At the toys in the show
window. and before he knew II, blink
ing ut old Santa Claus in red cloak,
holding a tree loaded with gifts
Never, since he was boy, had he ia
ken such interest in these things, and
the fashion of them was not much
changed. Among the eager, lively
crowd within, he Involuntary looked
for the brown head and sweet, tosy
face of his young mother. Again the
hating step of his iortieth year was
at his lack. Was he still young? He
considered within himself that natures
like that are ever young; their years
taking the form OF many good deeds
hang light around them. All at once
he felt something tugging at his coat
tail, and broad Scotch accent, "Gie
us toy monnaie." Shades of all de-
parted years! what was this? A lit.
tie red-freckled imp of little bare
footed girl. He turned, forced to do
so by her energy. Il will have my
New Years from you, Blr. Held
Tim says ye never were known TO
give anything. Mother says, asking
for Hoy monnaie is not begging, and
I'll sing song for the gift" She
gesticulated so fiercely, aud was so
cold and red, and with all so tiny and
miserable, that he, with the shadow of
his brown-hared mother leaning over
him, and the halting step of the COM
ing year at his back, he turned and
gave her money, no mean sum either.
The little witheredred face gleamed
with satisfaction for one moment,
then through all her misery and priva-
tion shone the sturdy pride of her
land. "This is very like begging,
Mr.. Held; did not expect this--a
doll and small horse for jamie
Please take the money back and buy
me that doll, the naked one; ! have a
nice piece to dress her."
This took him by surprise; refuse