Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-10
NO. g..
SORCERY.

IL,
mortals of to-day, having great respect
Tor age, accept with due submission the
venerable assertion. But then (let me
one bit We let dear Antiquity in more
ways than one have her say. while we,
silently protesting, have our way.
Really, love has microscopic eyes. 1t
sees all the beauty and every blemish. 1t
reaches out to correct the faults; and when
this may not be, it tenderly covers them
from view-just as moss covers the ugly
rock, and vines creep over and drape with
beauty the rotten log in the woods.
mo, no, Molly, don't tease me. When
| make pleasure u business, do not get
it; but when 60 earnestly about duty,
pleasure drops right into it, 'Tis such q
queer thing, this pleasure. 1t eludes you
| II you seek it. If you turn from it, it pnr-
sues you"
but Just this once, for the sake Of Il
happy New-year'S. forego your theories
and come"
80 Molly holidays are such hollow
days They are the most homesick days
III the year TO me. I'm afraid of them; so
you see, in self-defense, ill them just as
full of action as they will hold. I refrain
IRON giving where gifts are expected, and
give where it will be a surprise. Don't
you love to see a sad face light up with an
unexpected pleasure? do not care to
seek my own pleasure on these days.
That's the very thing. You are the
one OF all others to put the fun and soul
into my party. DO something for me
come -
The two girls stood in the bay-window
OF warm, bright library. Shadows gath.
cred about the room, but genial light
from the CRATE famed across the floor
Without. one by one, the street-lamps
| were lighted, revealing the snow-fakes
silently falling. So the two girls stood by
the window looking ont upon the street
They were friends. l cannot conjecture
why, unless by the affinity of contrast
They were unlike in nature, and even for
tune had served them diversely One lived
! beautiful. luxurious life, the other de-
pended upon her own hands and brain for
her maintenance.
'Ah. - replied the other, that's dit.
tercnt view Of the case" and the still face
filed with laughter. Now. you give me
a part | will perform. You make me
cog in the wheel, and | will help grind
ont the grist with pleasure
"You dear, delightful girl
with a condition, though; must be
invisible"
And why, pray?n
"Well, I'm not morose bit-not even
cross-rve only bitten my own nose off;
and do want the privilege of mopng be-
hind the scenes little while"
Laughter came from the window, end
ing in a breathless, You are queer be.
ing. I'm glad you have bitten off your
nose, since 1t leaves lyon so respectable
profile
But, Molly, it hurts to do such things.
1t is far easier to say, 1 VIII cut it off and
cast it from me, than to do"
Never mind your solemn enigmas |
believe have gained q point. You will
come and spend New Years with me on
condition that you shall he invisible to my
friends
| yes"
VERY good
| Holiday glee reigned from actic 10 eel.
lar. Halls, kitchen, library, dining-roo
and parlors resounded with footsteps and
merry voices. In the parlors with a blaze
of light which illumined happy faces, and
then streamed out the easement into the
shadowy street, as it yearning towards
the desolate. 1t was wild night with
out. There was reckless clamoring OF the
Notwithstanding and bemoaning for
| know not what. Within was old-tash-
ioned merriment, born of the holiday
spirit. There were music, dance and Jest,
and spirited games. Presently, the guests
resolved themselves into semi-circle
| The gas was turned low, then the doors
rolled aside and revealed a tableau 1t
was "Abdication.' The white-haired Old
year, in royal robes, was placing a crown
upon the head of the fair-haired child,
New year. About the old mans feet were
trophies of his onquests-mechanical in
struments, crucible, a statue, a sword, a
halt-iinished picture, harp, a charred
stick, a broken vase, wedding garment.
heaps of fruits and flowers and trailing
vines. The people We're silent an instant.
the tableau had told too solemn story.
So the doors closed, and when they
rolled aside once more, comic charade
was given. Then heads were put togeth-
er in merry consultation for the explain
ing word. This was followed by other
and other ones.
4 Young man sat behind them all. He
looked absorbed-not in the scene, but in
some mental problem. During the tab
| lcuu uc iOOhtu llttlc DlttcIlN az tuc
broken vase. When the charades were
enacted he never smiled at all. AT length
some one touched his arm. He started
from his abstraction. The doors had been
thrown wide open; all was cleared away;
the gas was turned Gn, conversation re-
sumed. The person who aroused him
said =
"Will you have your fortune told next?"
He politely arose and assented, and pro-
ceeded to the next room. An old, old
woman stood by the fire. She had gray.
wrinkled face. The hair and shaggy
brows seemed hung with snow. like trees
on quiet winters night. Merry eyes
peeped like n mouse out of the massive
face. When he entered, she started,
shrank back for an instant, and then ap-
preached and took his hand in hers. He
looked upon her half indifferently She
bent low over his hand in silence At last
she spoke:
You are not happy
He iptarastaI