Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-01-02
from. the, Youths companion.] +
AT NORMAN HALL.
4 NEW YEARS WATCH.

Yes, ne all Went to y mole Norman g
for New Year. You have never seen
Norman Eall? Well. it seems to ME
it's the pleasantest old country house in
the world, with it's odd corners and gar
rets, and empty rooms. where we boys
could make no end Of a 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 cd place.
Aunt Norman makes pies and cakes
and buildings that make your mouth
water to think about, and she doe sn't
stint them either, or wink at a fellow.
and tread on his toes, when he's in dan
ger of overeating. She's a nice old
lady. only she's always crying. The
tears have just worn channel down her
poor old pale f1ce. They have, truly;
and it's because of Cousin Cecile.
Cousin Ceclle was uncle aud aunt's
only child, and six; years ago she ran
away and got married to music teacher
named Averil. Uncle is terribly pas
sionate, and he was so angry that he told
aunt is ever she dared mention Cecile's
name to him again that he'd never for
give her, or do something desperate, I
don't remember which; I only know it
was something awful, for when he's in
temper he's worse than wild animal.
Cecile and her husband went OF, 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. Every.
| body 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 did n!
hinder Norman Hall from being the
incest kind OF a place for US boys and
girls.
Uncle had disinherited Cecile, and W.
nephews and nieces-there were six o1
.us-dldn't know but what one of us
would own, Norman Hall one of: these
days; at least, our parents thought 80
and the way they used to lecture US be-
fore We went to the hall, not to make dea1
uncle angry, was amusing, l can tell you
Il was good ways ahead of the others
somehow, in uncle's good graces, be
cause he used to say, !" Mo1daunt is ,
,chip of the old Norman block, sir. He'
"a stubborn, independent chap, tina
Ewould go through, q stone wall to tn
Edogs, sir, if it suited him to travel tina
lway. Just as I used to be myself"
i "Used to be-" indeed, as ii he WASH
Ethen the very stubbornestoldf fellow VIII
was travelling, desperately fast, too, o.
the other side of the stone wall. But
liked him; couldn't help it.
/ got to Norman Hall day. before tn
Eothers came. That night uncle and aun
Ewere sitting before the fire. and as I wa
in the big bay window, watching boa
coming down the river in the moonlight
[ reckon they thought they were alone
Aunt never did talk much, and tn
two sat silent a long time. All of sud
den she dropped her knitting and sal
softly, {" Another New Years eve tc
morrow" and then there seemed to b
a kind Of sob che was trying to kee
down. . ,''~@ ~ '"'-
"And what of that, Helen ~ said ur
Gle, az sharp as a r:zor. "Don't you e.
peot a new year every first ofjanuarys?
cts come to me six times, six wofu
times, since that New Years night that
and then her voice failed. -
"Since you lost disobedient daugt
! ter who had disgraced us, madame.
Uncle pushed up bis bristl y gray hal
till it looked just likeepictures of hedgs
hogs and porcupinee.s
y bat I'm so--lonely-Andrew," sh
! went on, with her Voice quivering, till
wanted to fog uncle and to cry myse
j for company.
/ "You told me never to mention he
and 1 haven't, until tonight, but som,
bow must speak cannot forget tn
only being ever held to my bosom, Il
u :. only voice that ever called me mothe
cannot put the mothers love away az
e. forget her as you have done. You are
i hard man, Andrew, for you have new
let me inquire if my child is dead ;,
alive. But I'll soon know, for my hea
is broken, and I'm dying though yc
saw uncle give her one sharp loo]
and then suppose her paleness scar,
him, for he answered her quite mild
for him:
"Nonsense, nonsense, Helen; what
done, is done. and don't. regret it,
wish you'd be sensible woman, 81
understand that when Cecile set b
parents at defiance, and threw nerse
, away on that low-born vagabond fortul
-. hunter, she chose between. us. She d
it with her eyes open. Do you think l
give the scamp a ohsnce TO make duel
e and brakes of my money?'' .
II But cannot forget her, Andrew
q aunt went on, with so much spirit that
!. declared was as much surprised a.
=. my pigeons should bristle up for a fig
ID with wolf. ''sAll your orders Cal
" drive her ont of my heart and break Il
n tie between us. She's our. cbild-tl
Is child God gave US, and we foolishly j
I, dulged every idle within, until she gre
: to btlieve that it was right for her
s. have her own way. Her fancy for th
IS man was a whin, and she was such
II child, such a poor willful child, and ,
: made her 80, that you had no right
d cast her OFF as you have done. The S
Is Is OF her conduct lies as much at our doc
: as hers. Andrew, before another year
Y expect to stand face to face with n
! God and hear Him ask, What hast tb'
d done with the immortal soul of the j
=. Inocent child i gave thee 2 -
\ Uncle gotsas red as Q turkey.cock @
Il jumped up. -. 50 :. IS
y :. For mercy's sake, Helen" he erie