Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1876-01-06
WILMINGTON DEL, THURSDAY, g. 1876.

"Your name," he sad. gently, whom the lsd
woke up In wonder and little fear. . What do
they csll you 2
.'My name is Anthony he replied, "but they
call mo Tony" H. ..|.-
"Iony what ?-Gsrnet 2" he asked. -.l.-
"Yee,h sald tne boy. " BIT you hol! ms too
tight. Let me go; my mother will misA ms and
bs frightened
The old mau's voice WAS strangely trenulous
as he said, rising up from hl ssst, " Yes, yes.
where yous mother hves- Come J When they
passed out inte tho lighted street, IL seemed TO
John Garnet M II weight OF dull years lad
been lifted away from his heart. Tue very
houses wore now look, and the iiicAoflHg
lamps threw down hopeful CLEANS across bis
path. His small guide, stopped " the half open
doer OF poor cottage, looked up ut him curious
ly. but John stood back ia the shade that he
might nee And be himself unseen.
few moments more, and John Garnet WAS
standing In the r,,ddy glow Of the outage fire,
his head bent down and his lips trembling; for
the sight OF . fair girlisli face which hs reueul
bored sell and the cap Of ~idowhood tbs, sha-
ded it, had touched him rorely -
Stretching out one Land to her, he -sd. with
an earnestness that had something piteous In
it, "Forgive ma, for have suffered l cannot
bring the dead tO life. but 4 eau cherish those
whom he held dear. " they let me. Come home
with me, my daukhter come Apd make II Lone
indeed. for his sske, for l am voIy lonely.
From her he returned TO the boy, who WAS
still beside him looking on with wondering eyes,
"What was that you said to me Just now when
you eat on the or top ps"he asked. lyon have
not forgotten
"No;" replied the boy. HU
"Ssy it agsln, laddie, will y'u?" pleaded tho
old man. "Wil you say it agSin and ~sh that l
may have II ?"
", and some d III idea that this stranger mesrt
to be good to them lighted ny his face ~ ! Q
repeated, "A Happy New Year
"a Happy New Year to Everybody f"
John Garnet wished it with sll bis thankful
and opposite to him there was fair face in
widows cap. 1t is true that this face bore
marks Of trouble, but it was brighter thsn when
he had seen it on the cottage hearth. for her
load OF care for the future was taken away.
John Garnet glanced at her rs he rose up and
stood looking along tho we'll filed table. There
waa q wonderful difference iu him. The CAROL
singers, il they had seen him. would have hesi-
tAted to assert That he was the same John Car
net who had given them penny each. And
! they were the faces Of old friends az ho glanced
oyer his guests. II in the past he had been to
blame (and he knew that he had, the chill wall
Of separation between them WAS broken now.
They had been very good to him-better than
he deserved.
John Garnet thought this. standing before
them at tho New Years festival to speak the
words of welcome and gladuess to them all
Trying to put some OF this self blame and re-
pentence into words, he was conscious That III
tic buzz OF voices rose up around him and smoth-
cred his own. Trying after that to speak Of the
| lost son, OF his own harshness and neglect, and
| his punishment, something made him hesitate
| and falter and break down.
| IL was only the touch Of small fingers curling
up round his own the upward glance OF two
brown eyes, 30 like those other eyes which he
| might meet no more.
John Garnet faltered momeut in his speech
and then lifted the child into seat by his side,
| passing one arm round him. 4. H7
Through Gods morcy," said he ~ see hope
and brighter life before me-brighter in seek.
ing the happiness OF others, which is the only
| true way to our own. l was alone and very
desolAts. did sorrow for my son, but it wal
with barren and selfish grief that refused goos
will to those whom he had LETT sorroUful also
Now his wife is my daughter, the mistress Of my
house, and his children are mine too. Itis mor'
than deserve. I. s.-
sold friends rs / knew yo,
were-I estrsnged myself from you In my bit
terness Of heart and the stubborn pride tina
would not brook reproach. You have forgiven
me and gathered round me again. Bear witnes
for me, all Of you, that humble myself and an
thankful. With all my heart thank yon an
bid you welcome to the homo that IL no longe
desolate. And 30 TO you all here, and to d
the world, A Happy Now Year."