Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-01-09
Youths Department.
WATCHING OUT THE OLD YEAR
BY mrs. ELLEN M. MITCHELL.

BY MRS. ELLEN M. MITCHELL.
"I know something you don't, Susy
Baynor," exclaimed her brother Ned, on
the thirty.first day of December, in the
year eighteen hundred and something
no matter what.
Susy was mite of girl, only three
years old, but she tossed her head and
said, "Me doesn't tare; me knows lots OF
fings you doesn't"
Ned looked down at her compassion
ateIy from the height of his six years
"How your eyes bulge outl" he said
"They're as big as saucers. You're dying
TO have me tell, you know you are"
''It's no such fing. rs 'stonished al
you. 1 isn't dying the leastest bit" Susy
began to grow quite red in the face, and
emphasized her words more than was
necessary.
"Oh, you're getting mad now, and that
isn't nice" said Ned, reprovingly. "Hush
listen minute. Don't you hear the bells
ring?"
"Course I does. They's yingin' for
church."
"Yes, and the old year is going TO die
tonight heard mamma say so-and she
and papa and whole lot Of people are
going to the church to sit up with him
and watch"
"Oh my graciousp' and Susy held up
two chubby hands, and opened her eyes
wider than ever "But who's the old
year, Neddy? rs sorry he's got to die,
but l doesn't know him, does II"
you're little rignerlamusm m exclaim-
ed Ned. He was fond of using big words,
but was apt TO stumble over their pronun-
citation. "Why, the old year isn't anybody
he's just the old year, that's all, not live
person, you know, only-only-" Ned
stopped, and looked rather puzzled him.
self.
"You's telling fibs. If he isn't live,
how's he going to die?" and Susy looked
at her brother severely.
"Oh, I'll explain it bimeby; haven't
time now," he replied, putting ON an air
of dignity to hide his discontinue, just
as grown people do sometimes. "But
mamma said the old year would did at
perzactly twelve O'Clock this very night,
and guess she knows. Then l asked her
couldn't one watch at home as well as at
church, and she said yes. Now, Susy,
s'posing you and sit up till they come
back. What do you sayY'
81 don't 'spect Jane'll let me-" and
Susy sighed. "But they isn't gone yet, is
theyY"
mo, but mamma was putting on her
bonnet when came into the nursery"
"Then I'll yum and ask her; and if she
says | may, it's all yite."
mo, no, Susy, you mustn't" and Ned
looked guilty. For the fact was his
mother hadn't favored the idea when he
suggested it.
night" he said, and so will /, and pre-
tend to be asleep; and when Jane puts off
down stairs We'll both get up again. She
and cooks specting company, and 'taint
likely they'll 'sturb u.s."
"But rs 'fwaid that's naughty, and
mamma'll call me bad gall" Susy's con-
science was more tender than Ned's.
"Oh, well, do as you please" he an
swered, coldly. 81 can sit up alone"
Susy hesitated, for she felt little GU
rious about this old year, and had sus-
picion that something wonderful would
happen at twelve o'clock.
you'll be velly lonesome 'thout me-"
she said. "I'se told mamma bout Sally
AIMS having the measles, and praps
she'll not say muffin if sits up with her."
Sally Ann was her doll, and lay on the
table wrapped up in woolen rag, "velly
sick indeed" as Susy assured Ned.
"Of course she won't" Ned replied.
doesn't she always sit up with you if
anything's the matter?
Susy frightened, for she had but just
recovered from an attack of the measles,
and remembered how her mother had
watched by her night after night. Surely
she ought to do the same by Sally Ann
now.
But the dear little thing didn't like to
deceive anybody, and so said, 81 dess I'll
tell Jane bout Sally Ann, Neddy, and
not tubble her to undwess me-"
"Jane doesn't care for Sally Ann. Don't
you know how she sticks pins into her
sometimes?"
Yes, Susy remembered that, for it had
caused her many tears So it was finally
agreed that they should go to bed the
same as usual according to Ned's plan,
and get up afterward.
Jane was little surprised that night
when they fell asleep so readily, and
would have suspected some mischief,
perhaps, if her thoughts had not been
occupied by other things. For even a
nurse is but human, and children are
secondary to beaux.
Susy kept her eyes shut tight, but
winked great deal, and thought it hard
work. She couldn't help wishing that
Jane would hurry, and that Ned would
stop snoring in the next room, it sounded
so funny. Then her thoughts got jum-
bled up together, and the next thing she
knew Ned was shaking her by the shoul-
der, and crying, awake up, Susy Jane
is gone, and I've stirred the fire, and ev-
erything is all cozy. Well have just as
nice time as papa and mamma, watch
ing out the old year"
Susy yawned and said, "You's shaked
me nuff, Neddy. rs velly sleepy"
"But Sally AIMS worse, and wants you
awfully. She's got cramps, or some
thing"
"Div her little palegolic," suggested
Susy, drowsily.
ii don't know where tits. And she's
screaming as if she had fits. She's black
in the face now"
Susy's motherly instincts were aroused
at this, and he sat up in bed and tried to
rub her eyes open.
"Div her here, Neddy," said Susy. "In
yock her little while"
you'd better get up first and put on
your Clothes" Ned suggested, "for she's
very sick, and l may have to go for the
doctor"
: But it was only by dint of great deal
OF cOaXlng tnat SuSy was induced TO tol-
low his advice. Not that she didn't love
Sally Ann and want to watch out the old
year with Neddy, but that she was so
"velly sleepy" and kept begging so to be
let alone for zone, two, free little min
utes."
At last, though Ned was successful and
Susy and he sat down before the fire with
a great deal of gravity. Susy held Sally
Ann, and was very much concerned at the
manner in which that young lady be-
haved.
"You isn't got the measles, 'tall,n she
said. "You's jess making b'lieve. You's
velly bad gall, and keeps your muzzer
awake nights"
"Why, Susy, what if mother talked to
you that way 7" said Ned. "Poor thing
She's all broke out too"
Ned was usually Indifferent to Sally
AIMS ailments, and Susy couldn't under
stand the sudden interest he took in them.
She wasn't wise enough to guess that it
was because he wanted her company,
But she put on great deal Of dignity
and replied, 81 doesn't fink you know,
=.