The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-01
A NEW YEARS STORY.

A NEW YEARS STORY.
l could not resist a burst of laughter
1t was as ridiculous. Roberts
imitation of grandpa. as he
which we were all gathered. Grandpa
could not bear to be disturbed IN his
maps, and hid behind mamma when he
suddenly started, gazed around ia be-
wilderment for momeut, and exclaimed
aloud. Every strange indeed" We all
felt greatly relieved that be did not scold.
he must not have been asleep,only think
ing. "What is it, grandpa?" "What are
you abiding to?' assailad him in mo-
ment from every side. He looked around
on the circle with quizzical smile: and
said. ~"Strange? Oh, Of course, the ad-
venture strange indeed" "What
was it, grandpa? This is New Years
night, you know" "Yes," he said.-':yes,
New Years nis ht' Why, of course: and
the occurrence to which l allcde hap
pened on New Years night, and it was
certainly the strangest I ever met with
in all my experience "Do tell us,
grandpa, pray DO" This IS New Years
night" Re said. ''Why, yes. of course
but, grandpa-," New Years night,
my dears"-grandpa had most proVok
ing way of repeating himself-''I was
saying this is New Years night "Ah!
yes, grandpa2 but the adventure?'' ayes,
exactly, the adventure-it &C.
Cured on New Years night; this is how
it was:
"1n the twilight Of New Years even
ing, having with other boys spent an ex
citing day on the ice, went into the
kitchen to hang up my skates, when I
saw roasting before the fire a fine pump
turkey. 'Halloo, my gay Bird said I, in
bantering tone as [ passed, Pm glad
to see you there and browning so nicely
for the frosty air had improved my hu-
NOR as we'll as my appetite. The kitchen
was empty. The cook voice was audible,
chaslnga cat from the pantry, and as l
was turning round after securing my
dripping skates, my attention was arrest
ed by solemn, hollow whistle, anc with
dismay I beheld that the turkey had
changed his position on the spit, and was
unloosing his footless legs and MANNED
pinions. Releasing his headless neck, he
! stretched it towards me warningly, and
emmitted another hoarse, solemn sound
He then deity swung himself round,
raised his body, gave q slight jerk, and l
| saw him skim easily across the floor, and
| out through the open door / followed, of
course, never thinking of recapturing him
Away he gIided, 50 swiftly as to give me
cnoug h to do to keep him in sight. He
directed his course, not, as one would ex-
pect, to the farm-yard. but to old
| Wjllism's hut, that"
lob, yes, we know it, grandpa. Please
go on
II did not say as much to the turkey
but on he went aoiths,a my leave, and on
[ followed. When he came in sight OF
the hut where the walks unite-there are
three, you remember, the back walk from
the river, the one from the wood, and the
one from the viliage-I saw three process
sions slowly and sadly vending their way
towards the hut. l involuntarilv stayed
my steps, and, despite my curiosity
would have retraced them, lad not my
guide impaired resistless Indication tina
was to follow. Cnwillingiy I proceed
ed through the professionals. whose
shadowy forms encircled me. I was com
PEELED t. enter the hut, [ felt the colo
spectres above aad around me TN every
side, and still they poured in, whilst th'
turkey marshaled in due order Gael
fresh accession. When all had arrived
the turkey assumed position Of pre-
eminence in the centre. Whilst they were
going on through the preliminaries, il
sirence, Of their shostly etiquette, tool
the opportunity of observing the weir(
com pany that surrounded me. Shadow,
forms. I have said; shadowv they wer,
indeed. One battalion-for in each pro
cession the Individuals wore an exactl,
similar appearapce-had dull, dark
muddy compilations, dotted here an,
there, over aud over, will. various spots
black, brown, and amher. On their head
, they each OF them wose sprig of holly
f whilst their neither parts seemed en-
7 veloped in titful lappings of q pale luri'
flame. The next division was compose
| of dark, gaunt giants, their strength dc
parted, and their huge bodies going fss
? to decay. The third company comprise
! pale, a,tenuated figures, skeletons c
birds. I inferred from the long vino
t pipe and peculiar structure Of tn
. frame that they were of the sam
0 species as my goblin commander. A
f air of languid debility pervaded tn
r whole company, which much depresse
$ me, and I actually fel. relieved to hes
e the solemn, If grating, voice of the chic
L Thus he began: Il observe how no VI
consumed turkey has presented hin
b self in this assembly to divide the hone
e OF precedence with myself. Our orothe7
d in misfortune, beth sirloins and pudding
- ,,o oil ~ a Iii. o.l:A:a~. ~ ,.aForo ~