The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-12-31

yOu intend to sweep of the earth r.
asked.
'Everything offensive and harm.
fnl," he replied, in ~ most positive
voice. All corruption, oppression,
dishonesty in high places, and dc.
graduation in all places. Yes, and
disease that, too, must eo. And
poverty also. Everything that IS
hateful aud makes the heart bitter
shall be swept away"
lie seemed 40 serious and earnest
about it that | pitied him for his
delusion. .eHow long will it take
you to finish such d contractr l
asked. feeling great compassion
for his disOrdered mind with its
humanitarian instincts.
"Ob. shall make great changes
in u twelvemonth,n he said conf.
IDENTIFY. "The old earth will be an
other place altogether before long.
1t needs nothing bnt a good sweep
ing. aud my broom will do the
work aud dOit well. Brush off the
dirt and new order OF things Will
inaugurate itself Immediately. Look
ont tor universal honesty, good
times, safe banks, good wages, clean
minded stateSmen-but really
must hurry on, l haye an appoint.
ment, begin my sweeping in few
minutes"
"But you haven't told me your
name n | called out as he started
on, with bis broom on his shoulder.
He looked back, Il broad grin on
his handsome young face, and an
swere,i, "Eighteen Eighty.Seven.n
Before | recovered tr0m my as
tonislIment he added, 80, can
sweep; III show YOU" aud he went
on in hisvanity and IgnOrace. Poor,
foolish, inexperienced, happy New
Year.
Turning about, l started toward
home, and in u moment more
heard the village bells "rIng out
the Old" and "ring ia the new"
| had not gone far when | met
another traveller, a very different
figure irOm the velvet-clad youth
With the confident air who had Just
lett me. He was walking with a
tired step, and was bent, Az under
ii burden. AS he approached saw
that he was elderly, somewhat |
broken down, rarpwoi'n as to cOun
tenance, thrcalbdrc AZ to garments,
and under one arm he carried Il
tremendous scroll, and in the other
lianl The worst wIryk Of Il broom |
had ever LAID eyes on. III was i'm,
AZ tine clairvOydIlts say,
with the belief that he was Eight
een Eighty Six, and by that name
[ accOsied him as courteOuSly as |
could, and offered him my sympa.
Thy.
sympathy 7" said the old man,
till he shook. "Sympa.
ihyf We'll that is really laughable.
Thanks, my good friend, bat dou't
need it. YOurcongratulatiOns would
De better. Ii you have any sympa.
by to throw around rrckleSsly give
I TO my successor. know the size
Df the load he has to pick up. That
s Il tiue broom he carries, too.
Nine was as good year ago. Look
Vt it now ! Hardly a spear of it
'emaims, and with all its hard usage,
fear | haven't lett the earth much
steamer. | found the contract too
nuch for me, though | started IN as
shipper as he does. | was chOck
ull of reform ideas; but you see
low my efforts TO clear up the earth
lave aged me, and how l have
cuffled my clothes, aS well as my
oul. But Pm through with it now,
md am going to disembody myself,
nd look on vt the other fellow /
Iwhile.0 His eyes had humorous ,
parkle, and he certainly wore '
Ook of happy relief.
as it possible that your record |
5 so bnlky r. asked, pointing to Z
is scroll. q
"Bulkyi" said the old man with
sarcastic grin. "1f you want to i
now the heft as we'll as the bulk /
{ 1t yOu should glance over it. 1t /
, made up of deaths, riots, earth
uakes, broken banks, trusted OH I
ials going wrong, wrecks, runa- {
Iays, blow ups, wars, rnmOrs OF q
Tars, the overthrow Of the Literal a
arliameut IN England, crazy mon. d
rchs, Doodle aldermen, new re- 4
ruits for Sing Sing, contested Wills,
ard times, strikes, suicides, sick.
esS, murders, burglaries, thrfts 1
nd nearly every unpleasant thing I
on could think Of. Think of the {
represented in this re z
Orl. The thought Of them Op- /
resses me-"
s'But you have l0ne some things b
, felicitate yourself upon, haven't !
Ou ~ / asked. J
ayes, / think / have,H he said. 4
'oking pleased. 81 set up the q
liberty staiae in New York harbor p
iDaugurated \ new political party q
i think I have-and I brought Il
ig thought wave, which il making o
sople hunt up their souls aud take q
me care them, IS well as Of their
Ddies. l s0wed some seed that
III not bring forth thistles, mark u
e, aud then l am 20 thankful that "a
wasn't campaign years q
at Is q little melancholy, though, q
90 away forever, isn't Il r. Cl
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