The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-12-28
4 HAPPY NEW YEAR.
EY MARION CouTuoUY.

Meta WAS wondering how CiEdcr, La felt.
after the proud sisters had gone 10 the
bali She experienced n thrill "f kecnest
sympathy with that iri horn heroine, whose
fate. however, seemed less ;,iriaG.r dian
Meta $ own. For The Latter would have
r,,joiced in the gay toIletics III her sisters
ii she had auy-aud i'll Ike iuunrht thai
some of the family, IT least, could have
little enjoyment. Even that woulG have
lent \ certain festive cnluiiug To this gray
aud gloomy New Years morning: and then
there would have been the merry hustle of
arrival, long after midnight. ami III, glow
ing account q! the dancing and the dresses
aud the handsome P.iuce-all pleasant
things To hear, Now There Was nothing to
hear, nothing to think of but "A great dis
appointment, nothing TO do but ID bake
cakes for tuIee great boys, in order that
make New Years day seem different from
other common days. nursidc, there was
waste of snow. and a dIcary wind that
tossed about the black spectral boughs.
There was no sunshine to turn au icicic
into a fairys crystal. wherein ono could
read happy fate in glowing colors. Gin
der,lla and her ashes. indeed, The Whole
world was ash color.
Upstairs in Meta drawer lay 4 note from
Mary Fielding, written prccisrl. aud Irie;-
tly, III Mays manner, and giving such a
precious invitation, I'VE receive ur
Thursday, and would be so happy 10 have
you with us" And how happy would
Meta have been. could she have dashr,i
o"cr the snow in Ken. Firldihg's sleigh.
aud stood in the great warm, bright pari"r.
helping Mary and her mother Ia entertain
=. host oil callers "A ShI,li:.g black and
white array of linen and brnaGci1h against
a richly tinted background all b"wine and
b. nding, and laughing and compl!mentInc.
wishing a thousand and one happy New
Year, aud handling plates Of oysters
aud cake, aud cups of coffee, transformed
INTO nectar and ambrosia by the pleas ur,s
of the moment. You see II WAS all fresh
aud joyful to Meta. Since hcr father :
fortune had taken wings and ilown, they
had lived SO far away in the country, and
suffered so many little pri,atinns, The
creates; del;ght that Metals world afforded
was a v!sit to the Fieldings' splendid hnuse
and grounds, In more p"ruous district,
where a lively circle Of "neighbnrs con.
Irived more amusement than the city itself
could have offered. To daI, however, there
were = hundred reasons for stayin. ii
the uou-exIstcnce in Metals possession Of
suitable gaib for all this arisiocraIic les
tivity. Her mother was confined to her
room with 4 neuralgia attack; the cork mad
cooks that " tie country" was too quiet
fOG hex nerves, aui lot retired a sphere for
the exercise of her talents; and the boys.
II let alone, would Iage around the house
and drive Mrs. Brandon distracted, aud
have nothing mice to eat for New
Years day into the bargain, poor fellows,
Ii Meta had not wanted to 90 cary much,
she would have arrayed herself resnlu,ely
lily to take care Of itself; but the very
strength OF her desire gave her such 4 fear
If her own selnshness, that -he turned her
back upon inclination, and couIted duty
over the Hour barrel and the cake board, in
an old black rneIino dress, with her bright
wavy locks in very rough and depressed
condition.
First, as said, sine thought of Cntier.
ella; then she thought of Willie Hurst
She had Fever met hin, but she knew be
was to spend New Years with Kenneth
Fielding, aad I'll the girls said pc was
charming. ahs Thought she would like a
person who had 80 little that was stern
and forbidding about him that every one
called him WTlie, as if they had known
him fer years. Then they said he was tall,
- no could hardly be cffcminate, as the
nick name might imply, but-oh, dear,
what was the Use Of thinking and wonder
ing? New Years ail- .e5e lot other girls.
TO- jug IluS" uttt WIS hEF view
i ears clll-thc bakers cart. No, hush,
Surely those bells bad more silyery tone
than that well known Jog tr"t iangling
peal. 1t couldn't DC \ sleigh. She had
sent word 10 Kenneth hat - ueca nat
drive over for ,ler-put 1t s.s q .icigh,-
Anu 1t Jame gliding merrily To an accom-.
paninent Of laughing bells, through the
open gate and over the almost invisible
carriage drive, through that desola,e white
wilderness of snow. To the very door, Who
could IT be? How Msta's heart Ia. 49,
she tired "T'n j -. ,-eer ito.n the kitchen
window around all angle Of the house, and
see more than the tossing heads of two
black horses. Kenneth Fieiiincs horses.
surely, Then came loud peal of the bell
aud James tIamping step. as she l.f -.
dining rcoc:, :-l.o :. onaeriugIy advanced la
the 'front.' door Miss Meta, she heard
her nam. in ksnu.th's voice. and Will. she
tried dc@pairing!y to smooth her rough
hair, lane brought her two cards. Well!
She had two Tew Years ra!,s a.ter all ia.
~. &.s she p.ei.a.rd 4" receive them -
She looked 1t The cards. one of wi ich bore
Kenneth Fielding's bold SIS patuIe and the