The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-12-31
THE SWEEPERS.


NEW YEARS STORY WHICH DESCRIBES
HOW IT WILL BE.
The evening was clear and cold, the stars
smiled down upon earth so fondly that when
looked from my window late in the night l
longed to go out under them, and let their
benign spell charm away the fret and fever
of the day went out and walked slowly
on and on, feeling the restfu influence Of the
silence and the beauty of the night. A cres-
cent moon glittered in the sky, the myriads
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 everyday world, with its
worry and vexation, fell away from me.
The 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 well as myself.
Not meditative soul, evidently, for he came
toward me whisting and singing CHEEKY
songs He had no vexatons 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 whstled and sang.
AS he came in sight saw that he was an
exceedingly spruce youth, with finely de-
tho white light of the stars and the snow, a
beaming face. He was clad in velvet and
fur, 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. ~
never knew any such thing. belong to the
morning"
"Has the boy been drinkingp thought |. A
second look convinced me that he had not.
He stuck the handle of his broom firmly into
the snow as he stopped and spoke l made
up my mind that he was 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 conversation, and for
want of better subject l mentioned the
beauty and newness of the broom.
That pleased him He smiled approvingly,
shook the broom triumphantly and said:
"Yes, it's a splendid broom, and it's we'll that
1t is, for have big contract of sweeping on
hand, and am just on my way to begin"
"Youp look at him incredulously. Was
the boy merry lunaticl Going to do Job Of
sweeping, clad in velvet and furl Have you
ever swept any in your life" asked.
"No; but have studied sweeping, studied
it in books"
"Ahl and what are you going to sweep
may askP
"Why I'm going to sweep the earth," he
said confidently, as he flourished the broom
above his head, and then scratched around
with 1t a moment In the snow, merely tc
show his expertness as q sweeper.
"That's a large contract for a Theoretical
sweeper" answered; II am curious to know
something about you."
"Don't recognize me, ehl Well, how could
you, since l am not yet bornP And ht
laughed aloud.
By this time i was convinced that had
met jolly and extremely original lunatic
As he seemed harmless as well as mirthful,
didn't mind hearing him talk little. "Wha,
particular style of dirt do you intend tC
sweep of the earthP asked.
Everything offensive and harmful" he re
piled, in a most positive voice, "All corrup
tion, oppression, dishonesty in high places
and degradation in all places, Yes and dis
ease; that, too, must CO. And poverty also
Everything that is hateful and makes thu
heart bitter shall be swept away
He seemed so serious and earnest about 1t
that l pitied him for his delusion. allow
long will it take you to finish such a con-
tractP / asked, feeling great compassion
for his disordered mind with its humanitarian
instincts.