Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-12-29
The Sweepers
NEW YEARS STORY WHICH DESCRIBES
HOW 1T WILL BE.

|
HOW IT WILL BE.
The evening was clear and cold, the stars
smiled down upon earth so fondly that wher
I looked from my window late in the nigh
longed to go out under them, and let thei
benign spell charm away the fret and fever
of the day. / went out and walked slowly
on and on, feeling the restful influence o.
the silence and the beauty of the night. A
crescent moon glittered in the sky, the myr
riads of stars blazed in unwonted glory
and the earth slept under white blanket
of snow. AS walked farther and farther
in the cold, white silence, the everyda,
world, with It's worry and vexation, fell
away from me.
Tie people of the village slept. Their
houses were locked and lightless; the earth
itself slept. / only seemed to be awake
But no; another was abroad as we'll as my
self. Not meditative soul, evidently, for
he came toward me whistling and singing
CHEEKY songs. He had no vexations to be
charmed away in the silence of the night,
that was certain. There was confident
ring in his step as he ground his heel into
the hard beaten snow Of the highway, and
there was assertion in the notes he whistled
and sang.
| AS uG CduO Ill SIX III odW tuhe hO VNo Oh
exceedingly spruce youth. with finely de.
velopsd figure, and, as near as | could see
in the white light Of the stars and the snow,
a beaming face. Hs was clad in velvet and
fnr, dressed with foppish care and nicely,
and he carried brand-new broom.
.'Good evening" said, as we were about
to pass each other on the narrow road.
Evening"" he said, interrogatively. 81
never knew any such thing. l belong to
the morning"
"Has the boy been drinking?" thought I:
A second look convinced me that he had
net. He stuck the handle Of his broom
firmly into the snow as he stopped and
spoke. I made up my mind that he was a
youth brimming over with life and health
and superfuous energy. That he was vain,
any one could see from his walk, his speech
and manner. I wanted to prolong the con
versation, and for want of better subject
l mentioned the beauty and newneEs of the
broom.
That pleased him. He smiled approving
", shook the broom triumphantly and said
s'Yes, it's splendid broem, and it's well
that it is, for I have big contract Of sweep
ing On hand, and am just on my way te
begin" =,
Was the boy a merry lunatic? Going to dc
job Of sweeping, clad in velvet and fur
"Have you ever swept any in your life?'
| asked.
"No; but 1 have studied sweeping
studied it in books"
"Ah! and what are you going to sweep,
may ask?'
"Why Pm going to sweep the earth, " he
said confidently, as he hourished the broom
above his head, and then scratched around
with it moment in the snow, merely tC
show his expertness as sweeper
"That's a large contract for Theoretical
sweeper" l answered.; 81 an curious te
know something about you"
''Dcn't recognize nae, ehP Well how
could you, since am not yet born9'' And
he laughed aloud.
Py this eime was Convinced that had
met a jolly ans sxtrenlsly original iunatlo'
As he seemef u&rnleSs 90 ell as 9]TfhtA
l didn't mino asaring him taNs ~
"What part .uial style Of dirt a Il
tended to sweep oa The cart
"Everything efe--ss33gs ano lisft:s
rep!lssdd,,'ii1 psd,,i most positive voice. Al
cSrruption, oppression, dishonesty in high
Places and degradation in all places. Yes.
and disease; that, too must CO. And puy-
erty also. Everything that is hateful and
maxi es the heart bitter shall be swept
away"
He seemed so serious and earnest about it
that pitied him for his delusion. "How
long will it take you to finish such con-
tract?' Iasked, feeling great compassion
for his diserdered mind with its humanita-
ran instincts.
"Oh, / shall make great changes in q
twelvemonth, . he said confidently. THE
old earth will be another place altogether
before long. 1t needs nothing but good
sweeping. I and nay broom will do the
work and do it well. Brush off the dirt
and new order of things will inaugurate
itself Immediately. Look out for univer-
sal honesty, good times, safe banks, good
wages, clean-minded statesmen-but real
ly, must hurry on, have an appoint
ment, begin my sweeping in few min
utes.''
'But you haven't told me your name?
called out as he started on, with his broom
on his shoulder.
He looked back, broad grin on his hand
some young face, and answered, "Eighteer
Eighty Seyen.'
Before / recovered from my astonish-
ment he added, 80, can sweep; I'll show
you," and he went On in his vanity anG
ignorance. Poor, foolish, inexperienced
happy New Year.
Turning about, I started toward home
and in a moment more I heard the village
bells s'ring out the DID," and ''ring in the
new"
had not gone far when | met another
traveller, very different figure from tht
velvet-clad youth with the confident all
who had Just left me. He WAS walking
with tired step, aud was bent, as under +
burden. AS be approached saw that ht
was elderly, somewhat broken down, care
worn as tc countenanoe, threadbare as tt
garments, and under one arm he carried (
tremendous scroll, and in the ether hane
the worst wreck of broom nad ever lait
eyes on. 81 was impre.se Sea-" as the clair
voyants say, with tie belief that he wa
Eighteen Eighty-Six, and by that name
accostea him as courteously as could, ant
offered him my sympathy.
"Sympathy?" said the old man, laughing
till be shook. Sympathy? Well that il
really laughable. Thanks, my good friend
but dent need it. Your congratulation
would be better. If you have any symp
athy to throw around rscklessly give it t.
my successor. I know the size Of the loa.
he has to pick up. That is fine broom b
carries, too. Mine was as good year ago
Lock at it now! Hardly spear of it re
mains, and with all its hard usage, fear
have ut left the sarth much cleaner.
found the contract teo much for me, thoug
l started in as clipper as he does. I wa
check full of reform ideas; but you see ho,
my efforts to clear up the earth have age
me, and how have scuffed my clothes, q
well SIS my SOUL But Pm th, ough with
now, and am going to disembody mysel
and look on at the other fellow awhile.
His eyes had humorous sparkle, and b
certainly wore look of happy relief.
lis it possible that your record is S
bulky?" | asked, pointing to his sarol
''BulkyW said the old man, with sa
caste grin. '1f you want to know tx
heft as well as the bulk of it you shoul
0 elanca over it. 1t is maaa I'D of death