The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-01-05

ioIs OF 1un. AT night we had music and
games and candy-pulling, for we were
determined to see the old year out in the
good old fashion.
A few minutes before midnight a
long procession formed, two and two
aunt and uncle heading it, and marched
down stairs to the big hall door. It was
shut and stood on one side to throw it
open at the last stroke of II.
NOW, good folks" cried uncle.
make your wishes and may the en-
trance OF the New Year give each of us
| our hearts DESIRE
Amen " said aunt, so solemnly that
everybody laughed but me. | knew
| what she meant.
Tie great clock on the staircase COM
menced striking, and at the last stroke
OF IL L threw open the door, and there
was such hubbub, and kissing. and
congratulating all around, you couldn't
bear your own ears. At least all the
aunts and girl cousins kissed us bows.
and we didn't dare to run away for fear
of uncle.
Well, when the fuss stopped a little
we saw something step through the omen
door into the hall, which was inst as
light as day. A very little something.
III blue cloak and hood, which fell off
as it came in.
If you believe it, it was the very pref
test little glrl l ever saw, and she was
about three years old, | reckon. She
bad long yellow curls, and cheeks like
red apples, aud her eyes shone like
Mary s diamonds. She wasn't frightened
a bit, and we all staring at her, but she
looked round and said:
Where's my grandpa and grandma i?
Ceclle wants to tiss 'em Happy New
Year."
We were completely stunned. Not a
word was said, and you could have heard
pin drop. Then we saw that good old
DIR. Arnold was standing back of the
child, and IL moment he took her by
the hand and led her to aunt and uncle.
| g 1t is Cecile's child, he said, gravely;
cher father is dead, and her mother,
fear me, is dying at my house. She
sent her child with o message to you"
Aunt gave one long, shivering cry,
and slid down on the floor, crying out:
My child! my child Oh, Andrew,
my hearts desirep' and then she lay
senseless. Her cap had fallen off, and
her long gray hair streamed all over
uncles feet.
"My God!" uncle cried, "she's dead.
she's dead Oh, Helen, my dear, my
| dear; don't leave your old husband that
way! I'll do anything you wish, any
thing, anything. In mercy, doctor, tell
me is she dead ?"
DR.. Arnold was lifting her up as he
answered.:
"No, she's not dead nor dying, |
hope, but you know what will save her."
al then he gave uncle one sharp
LOOK.
: 1ey laid aunt on the sofa, and she
| opened her eyes and looked around,
and then raised her hand and put her
arm about her husbands neck, without
sound.
He was sobbing like a child, but he
knew what she meant, and he lifted up
the little girl and kissed her, and laid
| her III aunt's arms.
L believe | was crying myself, but [
| couldn't stand 1t any longer, so [ just
ran out of the room, hearing aunt say:
" Oh, thank God, I have my hearts de-
SIRE"
| Uncle and aunt went that night to DR..
Arnold's to see Cousin Cecile, but she
was too i'll to be moved. When she
found she couldn't live, she had travel
ed back to her old home, and knowing
the old customs Of the New Year at Nor
man Hall, she thought that then, or
never, would be the time to get her pa
rents forgiveness.
She had never been very poor, nor
suffered much In that way, but she said
| she couldn't due without her mothers
kiss.
L tell you, uncle is good old fellow,
after all. When he once knuckles down
he does it like man. He was Just as
loving to Cecile, while she lived, as if
she had never disobeyed him, and as
kind and gentle to aunt as if he had
never bulhed or worried her poor life
out. and when poor Cecile died, the
week after New Year, she died happy,
knowing her child would never miss her
love.
Well, uncle Gays that he had intended
making me his heir, before little Cecile
came, and now the only way to make it
right viii be for me to marry Ceclle
when / grow up. 1t makes me laugh to
think of that little tot ever being my
wife, She's pretty, though, and good
little thing, but nobody's ever going to
force wife upon me against my will.
No, when the time comes, I'll see how l
ike her.
Aunt has stopped crying, and I think
she's getting well, which is the best of
all. Uncle gets angry sometimes, but
he never says cross word to her, and
he's as tender as a mother to Cecile all
the time. You see, he was clean
whipped out, as we boys say, and he's
man enough 10 let everybody see he was.
SO that's the way we spent New Year at
Norman Hall.