Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-29
ALL THINGS NEW.
BY SARAH CONANT.

90 mean to try this year"
That IS nobly said by mothers little
boy, but what will new clothes have to do
with it's" and Mrs. May came to sit on
the bed beside Freddy.
"Why don't you think there is some
badness in the clothes, that it gets out OF
me into my jacket?''
Mrs. May repressed the smile the boy
could not see, for his earnestness interest
ed her. His father was a studious man,
much older than herself, who left the
training of the child entirely to her, and
as he was wilful she was glad of any plan
which promised to help him overcome
himself
II don't know how that may be, Fred
DIV, your naughty ways affect other people
surely, and if you think new clothes will
make difference you shall have them
on one condition"
you're the best mother" cried the i'm
pulsive boy hugging her tightly about
the neck.
But the condition must be kept, dear"
oh, yes, your conditions are never
hard, mother dear"
Then, listen; and as she spoke she
stroked the hair which brushed her
cheek. "You must be very sure that none
OF the badness gets into the new clothes.
L cannot give you complete new suit
and have you naughty in it,"
Eyes, l promise"
'1f you can't be good, and you must
try, oh so hard then you must take off
the new clothes"
Freddy was very sober in the dark for
moment, and then he laid his cheek
against his mothers and said:
Eyes, mother"
There was little silence, and then as
Mrs. May said a" Good night" Freddy
cried:
stockings and all, mother?"
Yes, that the feet may not 90 astray,"
she replied, and he was left to 90 to
sleep, which he did in about five MIN
utes.
This was only few DAYS before New
Years Day, and when Freddy went to bed
the last night of the old year he was full
of his idea, and had to be spoken to twice
by his mother before he would quietly
settle to sleep. The morning dawned
clear and bright, and to Freddy's ioy a
storm in the night had robed the world
in white, and the Raven could skim
over the hills with him on its back. He
enjoyed this prospect some time from his
window before he thought of the new
clothes, and turned to find them laid out
on the chair.
"Hurrah!" he shouted as he put them
on, everything complete, even the neck
tie and a new northumberland. The
tie, one with bright Roman colors, would
not stay tied, and Freddy ran for Mary.
She was brushing the stairs, and did not
stop Immediately for the eager boy.
"Oh, Mary, you are so slow" he ex-
claimed, and would have said more, but
he remembered the condition.
Pausing he looked at his new suit and
gently:
"Mary, please come, 1 want to be the
first person mother sees.'
Mary came, smiling at the pleasant re-
quest, and soon Freddy was showing his
mother the beauty of his New Years
gift. Mrs. May admired with Freddy,
and readily promised he should take out
the craven" after breakfast Freddy's
appetite was slight that morning, and
soon his merry shout echoed from the hill
where he and other boys coasted and drew
the girls. Emmie Brown was there with
eyes brighter than ever, and as Freddy
fastened to offer her ride he caught h is
toe in a hidden branch, and fell full
length in the soft snow. He would not
have minded the laugh so much if he had
not seen Tom Ward running up the hill
with Emmie on his sled. The blood
sprung into Freddy's face, and he was
just going to stamp his foot when he
caught sight of the new boot. It would
never do to teach it anything so naughty,
and then, too, his promise; so swallowing
something which must have got into his
throat in the fall, be jumped little Mollie
Gay, who was only four years old, and
mot much count anyway" on his IRA
ven," and gave her such ride that she
clapped her hands and declared he was
the "bestest boy in the year."
When the morning was happily passed.
and something within him suggested
dinner-time, Freddy ran home and
bounced into the kitchen dragging the
Raven" and leaving great, snowy foot
steps.
That's just what you did the last snow,
Freddy" exclaimed Becky; 81 wish there
never a bit fell "
"Did II" and in an instant flashed into
Freddy's mind, "all things new" That
was not new, and was not good, either
he must change it.
'I'm real sorry" he cried, 81 did not
Think" AMI setting the Raven" in the
shed he ran for the broom, and tried to
brush the snow away.
"Bless the boyr' Becky responded.
You've good heart, Freddy, and I'll
just do it myself. I'm bit cross" And
her stout arms soon had the kitchen as
clean as before.
So the day went on. Tt was not alto
gether easy for Freddy to remember, but
a glance at the new clothes, or a look from
his mother brought the promise and reso-
luton to his mind. In this way he man.
aged to wear the suit all day, and when
bedtime came and father kissed him
goodnight, Freddy archly asked:
do look like the old Freddy, father ~
"Why, no; you are a young Freddy"
eyes, and new one" replied the boy,
and rushed away, leaving the father to
eXclaim for the fftieth time since his
birth:
what strange beings children are"
and then returned to his books.
Not so with his mother She came IN
as usual and babe Freddy good night,
and as this was holiday, seated hersei1
for little talk. Freddy first exclaimed ;
Mother, how will il be tomorrow? L
can't wear my new clothes every day,
can I?'
NO, dear; but what about tomorrow
Have YOU not had pleasant day."
Eyes, a'am; but shall be bad again if
don't have the new clothes, shan't II"
Il hope not What made you try so
hard to be good to-day?"
Because l wanted to wear my new
| clothes.n