Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
WATCHING OUT TIE OLD YEAR.
BY MRS. ELLEN NJ. MITCHELL.

BY MRS. ELLEN NJ. MITCHELL.
81 know something you don't, Susv
BaynOr," exclaimed her brother Ned, on
the thirty-frst 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
f1ngs you doesn't"
Ned looked down at her compassion
ately from the height of his six years.
Glow your eyes bulge out!' he said.
They're as big as saucers. You're dying
to have me tell, you know you are"
Its no such fng. rs 'stOnished at
you. isn't dying the leastest bit" Susy
began to grow quite red in the face, and
emphasized her words more than was
necessary.
ooh, 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"
eyes, and the old year is going to die
o-night-I heard mamma say so-and she
and papa and a whole lot of people are
going to the church to sit up with him
and watch"
"Oh my graciousn' 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 doesn't know him, does II"
'You're little rignerlamus!" 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.
ooh, 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. 'FBut
mamma said the old year would did at
perzactly twelve o'clock this very night,
and guess she knows Then | 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 say?"
Il don't 'spect Jane'll let me-" and
Susy sighed. "But they isn't gone yet, is
they?"
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.
"You go to bed the same as every
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 faint
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.
ooh, 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-
! plcIOn that something wonderful would
happen at twelve o'clock.
| you'll be Yelly lonesome 'thout me,'
| she said Use told mamma bout Sally
AIMS having the measles, and p'raps
she'll not say muffin if sits up with her.
Sally Ann was her doll, and lay on the
table wrapped up in a wooden 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 hubble her to undwess me-"
| Jane doesn't care for Sally Ann. Don't
| you know how she sticks pins into her
| sometimes?"s
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 a 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
nurse is but human, and children are
secondary to beauX.
Susy kept her eyes shut tight, but
winked a 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 Shout
der, and crying, wake up, Susy! Jane
is gone, and I've stirred the fire, and ev-
erything is all coy. Well have just as
nice time as papa and mamma, watch
/ ing out the old vear''
Susy yawned and said, 'fYou's shaked
me nuff, Neddy. rs velly sleepy"
but Sally AIMS worse, and wants you