Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-12-14
AT NORMAN HALL.
A NEW YEARS WATCH.

NEW YEARS WATCH.
Yes, we all went to Uncle Norman's
for New Year. You have never seen
Norman Hall? Well, 1t seems to me
it's the pleasantest old country house
in the world, with its odd corners and
gasrets, and empty rooms, where we
boys could make no end Of racket
without troubling other folks. Uncle
and aunt always let us do just as we
please, for, you see, they live alone, and
when New Year comes round they're
glad enough to have little life in the
old place.
Aunt Norman makes pies and cakes
and puddings that make your mouth
water to think about, and she dosen't t
stint them either. or wink at a fellow,
and tread on his toes, when he's in
danger of oyereating. She's a nice
old lady, only she's always crying.
The tears have just worn channel
down her poor old pale face. They
have, truly; andit's because of Cousin
Cecile.
Cousin Cecile was uncle and aunt's
only child, and six years ago she ran
away and got married to music
teacher named Ayeril. Uncle is terri
bly, passionate, and he was so angry
that he told aunt if ever she dared
mention Cecile's name to him again
that he'd never forgive her, OF do some
thing desperate, 1 don't remember
which; only know it was something
awful, for when he's in temper he's
worse than wild animal.
Cecile and her husband went off. and
nobody ever heard where they went.
That, you see, kept Aunt Norman's
poor eyes forever dripping when uncle
wasn't round. But she didn't dare to
appear sad before him, and tried to
smile and talk, and to be like her old
self. Everybody said she was fretting
her life away, but uncle didn't seem to
see that she was getting weaker and
paler every day.
Well, that was pretty bad, but it
didn't hind er Norman Hall from being
the incest kind of place for us BOYS
and girls.
Uncle had disinherited Cecile, and
we nephews and nieces there were
six of us-didn't know but what one
of us would own Norman Hall one Of
these days; at least, our parents
thought SO, and the way they used to
lecture us before we went to the hall,
not to make dear uncle angry, was
amusing, I can tell you.
I was a good ways ahead of the
others, somehow, in uncle's good
graces, because he used to say, Nor
daunt is a chip Of the old Norman
block, sir. He's a stubborn, independ-
ent chap, that would go through a
stone wall to the dogs, sir, if it suited
him to travel that way. just as I
used to be myself
Used to be" indeed, as if he wasn't
then the very stubbornest old fellow
who was travelling, desperately fast,
too, on the other side of the stone wall.
But liked him couldn't help it.
got to Norman Hall day before
the others came. That night uncle
and aunt were sitting before the fire,
and as | was in the big bay-window,
watching boat coming down the
river, in the moonlight, reckon they
thought they were alone.
Aunt never did talk much. and they
two sat silent long time. All Of a
sudden she dropped her knitting and
said, softly, Another New Years eve
to- morrow J" and then there seemed to
be a kind Of sob she was trying to
keep down.
And what of that Helen?" said
uncle, as sharp as a razor. sDon't
you expect New Year every first of
January p
It's come tome six times, six woful
times, since that New Years night
that -and then her voice failed.
Since you lost adisobedient daugh-
ter who had disgraced US, madame" "
Uncle pushed up his bristly gray hair
till it looked just like pictures Of hedge
hogs and porcupines.