The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-01-01
= HAPPY NEW YEAR.

the fortunate possessor Yet, though he
had lovely wife and child, both craving
his society, he set about some preparations
which caused the former to regard apprc-
| hensivcly.
''What going out tonight, Charley =
She said.
"Why-ycs. Haven't / mentioned it .
party of us are TO meet at the R
House for game of whist and to watch
out the old year. Bye-byc, baby and
Louise, don't sit up for me. With a nod
and a smile lie was off: but not before he
had seen the culver OF his wifc's lip. and
the anxious and sorrowlul look in her eye.
AS lie donTed his warm oycrcoat in the
lighted hall, he muttered, half under his
| breath:
"Confound it; | can't see any need OF
I.onse' 5 putting ON that injured air. She
has little Alice, and always finds cntcltain-
ment in her company, she says--but a man
can't be forever tied to a woman and a
three-year-old baby
AS he ran down the steps he nearly
stumbled over a little figure just emerg-
ing from the shadows, which, as the light
! fell upon it, seemed TO be moving bundle
of rags; yet Il pale face looked out from it,
and thin hand was held toward him,
while a childish and trembling voice said:
Please, sir, could you give me penny
I'm 50 hungry ?"
Good heaven! what looking Object
said the man aloud, as he handed her a
nickel. She took il eagerly and moved
quickly away; but as Amstlcn watched for
an instant, he thought she staggered.
"a little girl. I" he said Il wish | had
given her more-though no doubt she's a
professional.
But somehow a thought of his own little
daughter came over him then, and he
shuddered; he did not know why-of
course size never could become an object
like that And in the elegant room where
he met his friends, and 'mirth and wine
flowed free, J" he forgot all about her.
But hours later the same forlom figure
lifiNt tttii Httli kIttlbi2 btSltt IL
grating in the walk near large building,
in whose basement an engine at work, con
stantly sent up puiis of steam whose
warmth she was trying to catch. The
place was half in shadow, and directly a
boy came running along and stopped for
the same purpose. The girl shrank back,
but the next instant exclaimed:
"Oh, Teddy! is it you?'
'Humph is it you-more likc-out at
this time o night. Wonder the pericc
hain't nabbed yc! Amt yer got no place
ter go?'
mo, Teddy. But what makes you be
out, too? Didn't yer granny find no place
to stay
eyes, she did, but it S a rank one, you
bet an I'd ruther stay out Of it as longs
can; didn't know but suthin' might turn
up for luck, bcins it's the last night of the
old year and lots o fun goin' on round. :"
"Where, Teddy?' said the poor little
one, looking wistfully up and down the
lighted street.
ooh! at shops and houses round. To-
morrer's the Happy New Year, yer know,
and lclers get together and larks and
watches for it to come i'll. | seen em'thro'
the winders Say, Cert he added in a
lower tone, |'tlere's cop comm and We'll
have to put, if gran want so ruxous I'd
take yer long with me"
81 know she said, 'you can't. But
bout the Happy New Year, Teddy-shall
we sec ii too? do so wish VIC could. If
| knew place where they's watching for
il, I'd 90 in and see if could.
''Sho Gerto!' said the boy, with half
scorn, half pity. ''Thcy wouldn't let gen
in, Here's the bobby-scootr' and he
went off ON a run, while tie girl feebly
rose and went slowly in another direction.
Often she stopped in Swallowed places.
leaning against a post or railing to rest,
and from one such, light from a window
was swung open a little, and within she
could see some gentlemen at table who
seemed to be having fun; and Oh! how
nice and warm it looked in there. Sudden
ly it flashed upon her mind-this must be
one of the places where they were watch
ing for the Happy New Year. OH if she
coud get in and find it too-but Ted said
they wouldn't let her in. Perhaps, if she
could find way 10 slip in, and should
keep very still, they wouldnot mind. Just
then man opened the door of entrance to
the place, looked out for a moment, and
closed it again. The child then passed the
house and took stand in the shadow of a
building near, to watch the door. Pres
emily the man looked out again, then
stepped out, pulling the door to after him,
but not latching it, and another man came
from a door little way off and beckoned
to him. The fellow, whose business was
to let in those who were wanted, and keep
ont those who were not, at this door, hest
tated a second looked up and down the
street. and seeing no one-not even the
trembling child so near-darted out into
the shadow to meet his ehum. The instant
his back was tow ard her, the girl slipped
inside the door he had left affair." Once in
side the hall, the sound of voices and
LAUGHTER directed her TO the room where
she had seen the happy gentlemen. Noise
lessiy she turned the knob, stepped inside,