The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-12-31

ooh, / shall make great changes in
twelvemonth," he said confidently. "The old
earth will be another place altogether before
long. 1t needs nothing but good sweeping.
and my broom viii do the work and do it
we'll Brush of the dirt and q new order of
things will inaugurate itself Immediately.
Look out for universal honesty, good times,
safe banks, good wages, clean minded states
men = but really, / must hurry on, have
an appointment, begin my sweeping in a
few minutes"
"But you haven't told me your names"
called out us nc started on, with his broom
ON his shoulder.
He looked back. broad grin OH his hand
some young face, and answered, Eighteen
EightysSeven."
Before recovered from my establishment
he added, 20, can sweep; III show you" and
he went on in his vanity and ignorance.
Poor, foolish, inexperienced, happy New
Year.
Turning about, / started toward home, and
in moment more heard tho village bells
''ring out the DID," and 'ring in tho new"
had not gone far when 1 met another
traveller. "a very different figure from the vel
vet-clad youth with the confident air who had
just left me. He was walking with tired
step, and was bent, as under a burden. AS
he approached saw that he was elderly,
somewhat broken down, careworn as to
countenance, threadbarc as to garments, and
under one arm he carried a tremendous scroll,
and in the other hand the worst wreck of a
broom / had ever laid eyes on. III was inn
pressed" as the clairvoyants say, with the be-
lief that he was Eighteen Eighty Six, and by
that name accosted him as courteously as
could, and offered him my sympathy.
"Sympathys' said the old man, laughing
till he shook. "Sympathys Well that is
really laughable. Thanks, my good friend,
but / don't need it, Your congratulations
would be better. IL you have any sympathy
to throw around recklessly give it to my sue
cessor. l know the size of the load he has to
pick up That is a tine broom be carries, too.
Mine was as good "a year ago. Look at st
now, Hardly spear of it remains, and with
all its hard usage, / fecr 1 haven't left the
earth much cleaner ] found the contract
too much for me, though l started III as chip
per as he does. 1 was chock full of reform
ideas; but you see how my efforts to cleanup
the earth have aged me, aud how l have
scufYed my clothes as well as my soul. But
I'm through with it now, and am going to
disembody myself, and look ola at the other
fellow awhile" His eyes had a humorous
sparkle, and he certainly wore look of
happy relief
as it possible that your record isso 'bulkys"
asked, pointing to his scroll.
Bulky" said the old man, with sarcastic
grin. "If You want to know the 'heft as well
as the bulk of it you should glance over it. 1t
is made up Of deaths, riots, earthquakes,
broken banks, trusted officials going wrong,
wrecks, runaways, blow ups, wars, rumorso of
wars, the overthrow of the Liberal parlia-
ment in England, crazy monarchs. Doodle
aldermen, new recruits for Sing Sing, con-
tested wills, hard times, strikes, suicides,
sickness, murders, hurglaries, thefts, and
nearly every unpleasant thing you could
think Of Think of the beartaches repre-
sented in this Iecord. The thought of them
opDresses n1eo