Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-12-31
ON NEW YEARS. DAY.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

ON NEW YEARS. DAY.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES,
"Now + wonder what that means 2"
said Philo Lusk. ~r.-z-'.
He had just come back from his
snowy tramp to the post. Office, with the
weekly paper and one letter.
OLD Mrs. Lusk had brought in the
lighted candles, and piled an extra log
on the fire, SO that the low ceiled kitch-
en- was all sglow with rudy hight, while
the smell of stewing apples, and the
song of the tea tettle, which hung from
the iron crane, lent a practical idea of
comfort to the scene.
stakes. amt it?" said Mrs. Lusk.
whose eyesight was not so good as it
had been.
mo, it amt taxes" mechanically ut
tered her son, still intent on the con-
tents of the envelope that he had Just
torn open.
"Well, then, it's letter from your
Aunt Sophrony, out on Long Island,
asking for money"
mo, it amt" said Philo. 1T amt q
letter at all. It's just card. Miss
Valeria Whitman. At Home, January
/, 1884"
"Lal" said Mrs. Lusk. "She wants
you to call there"
"Get outl' said Philo, with a sudden
access of sheepishness, "Why should
I 60 there?"
~Wen, why not?" said Mrs. Lusk.
It's what the city people do, I'm told.
They bake big cake and draw q pitch
= or of cider, and set down in their best
clothes to see company. Valley
Whitman is dreadful enterprising. She
means to lead in the fashions"
"Am l to call there?" asked Philo.
"Why, OF course" said his mother.
"What else does it mean? Miss Valera
Whitman. At Home.'"
"She's at home most days, amt she ?"
said Philo musingly. "There never was
anything of the gadabout in Valley
Whitman that I ever heard off,"
"Oh, but this 'ere's new kink" OK
planned Mrs. Lusk. New Years dav
don't you see?"
I'D calculated to take the oxen on ia
Snidge Hill and grub stumps out of the
clearin' on New Years Day." said Philo
The next day will do as we'll for the
stumps," said Mrs. Lusk, encouraginely
Zone might as we'll be out of the world
as out of the fashion"
Deacon Folgrove got one of Miss
Whitman's cards; also Squire Hart. Tn
fact, there was not a widower or old
bachelor or eligible swain in all Cedar.
vile who was omitted from the list.
Il amt as young as was" said Miss
Whitman to herself. "Its high time j
took steps to establish myself.
So she put fresh muslin curtains to
the windows, made herself new gown
according to the latest fashionplate.
and prepared for the festive Initial Day
of the year.
GAS for you, Bella" she said to he,
niece, who worked in the needle.factorv
near by, and paid for her board and
lodging by such household tasks as she
might be able to do nights and mornings
you can go up to old Mrs. Willett's on
New Years Day. Take my compliments
and jar OF them fermented sweetmeats
old Mrs. Willett won't ever know the
diference-and stay all day, and sew
and mend for her. There amt no virtue
like that of charity"
"But, aunt" pleaded Bella, "would moi
some other day do as we'll for Mrs. vii
lett? would rather remain here and
"No, it wouldn't" said Miss Valeria
CURLY. when I say 1 want q thine
done, I want it done! So therep
II know, said Bella to herself
Aunt Val is going to wear that ridden
lous low-necked dress dyed green of sat.
inland the wreath OF flowers and I'm per.
fectly certain that that was bottle of hal,
dye I saw on her bureau labeled Best
Black Ink And she has sent out lot
OF cards, and is going to see company,
and am to be sent off to Snidge Noun.
tain, where Mrs. Willett lives, to be out
of the way. Well, we'll see!"
Miss Valeria Whitman had Just passed
her tive and fortieth year. She was
stout and ruddy, with the very best set
OF teeth that the Cedarville dentist
could supply, and a perpetual smile riv
eted on her lips; and she was very tired
OF living alone and sewing on vests tc
earn her pin-money. and che had de-
termined, on this particular occasion
to make . coup d'etat and win a hus
band. -...,-r -
So she attired herself on New Years
Day in green satin dress, cut low il
the neck and short in the sleeves. an6
pinned bunch of ohrysanthemums al
the left side, and pulled her newly
tinted bair in the most elaborate style
II do DECLARE" said Miss Val to her
self, II don't look day over twenty !"
And then she took up her position il
the parlcr, where bright fire blazed OF
the neatly.scoured brass andirons, anG
the smell of pancake and currant win,
was already perceptible. with piece O
tatting In her hand. Fortunately th,
day was bright and clear; the well.beat
en- snow offered every indacement K
sleighing parties, and the sunshin,
streamed IN upon the few geraniuml
and the monthly rose in the window
seat, as if cloud and storm were alto
gether thing of the past.
Deacon Folgrove was the first to ar
r1ve-e hard-handed, hard.headed ole
man, with a complexion Of leather, anf
the keenest of twinkling black eyes.
got letter from You, Miss Whit
manr, said he, dispose You want to CON
suit me on business"
La, deacon, what very strange
1deaf g s.d Miss Whitman, with q Gig
gle. No, indeed only wish to bro
mote sociabiity during this festive sea
7 son." ..