The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

Year, and are you going away to-
night?"
The old man turned slowly, and
looked at the child; and Harry could
see that he had a very kind face,
though it was all SCARED and wrinkl-
ed.
eyes" said the old man, in pleas
ant voice, 'I'm the Old Year, and I'm
waiting for my son, the New Year.
When he comes, I'm going away"
"But can't you stay here?" asked
the little boy. "Well be very good
to you, and take care of you."
"Oh, no." said the Old Year, smil-
ing; 81 can't stay now. You should
have been good to me and taken care
of me while | was with you. l have
been with you for whole year; but
I must go now, and make room for
the New Year."
"Why!' exclaimed Harry, in aston
ishment, shave you been here year?
| never saw YOU"
"And yet" said the Old Year, you
have helped to make me old. came
here a year ago, young, and in just a
year have grown this old"
"How did | help?" asked Harry.
81 didn't mean to-"
"Do you see this scar on my facet"
asked the Old Year. "That is where
you pushed your little sister down
and hurt her. And these bumps on
my head are where you threw stones
at the birds. You pulled the cats
tall you tripped your little playmate
and hurt him; and those all left their
scars on me, and helped to make me
old. You cried and frowned when
your mamma asked you to do some
thing you didn't want to, and that is
what makes my face SO wrinkled."
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" said Harry. IL
didn't know I was hurting you. Did
| make your clothes SO torn and
ragged, too?"
eyes," said the Old Year, "every
time you tore your clothes, you tore
mine"
do all the naughty things do
really hurt you?"
EYES," replied the Old Year; "but
I shall be satisfied if you are sorry,
and if you will promise to treat the
New Year better"
Indeed l WILL" promised Harry,
eagerly.
Just then he heard a CHEEKY voice
behind him say: "Well, here | am,
father"
Harry turned. and saw standing in
the doorway handsome young man,
dressed in a beautiful snow-white
robe.
so this is the little boy I'm to take
care of, is it," asked the New Year
holding out his hand to Harry.
Harry took it. The New Year
seemed so kind and jovial, he could
but like him.
"I'm sure we shall be good friends,
continued the New Year, smiling
"shall we not, Harry?"
"Rem ember your PROMISE" said
the Old Year.
ooh, indeed | WILL" cried Harry
II will be good to the New Year"
"Of course you will" said the New
Year, laughing. every one is good
to the New Year"
swell, good-by, my son." said the
Old Year, rising feebly.
The New Year knelt down, and the
Old Year placed his hands on his
head in blessing.
Then he turned to 60.
"Oh, are you going away now, Ole
Year," cried Harry, reaching out hi;
hands.
But the New Year caught him up
and, setting him on his shoulder
danced through the rooms with him
and finally upstairs, where he laio
him on his own bed.
"a Happy New Year, he cried.
Harry opened his eyes, and looking
up, saw his mother.
"Why, where is the New Year3" hi
asked, sitting up in bed.
THE New Year is here" replied
mamma. This is the New Year."
"But / mean the New Year WHIT
brought me upstairs. | was down
stairs, mamma, and | saw the New
Year come in; and, oh, he is SO nice
| like him ever so much"
"You saw the New Year come in?
cried mamma, in establishment.
eyes," replied Harry; "and ! say
the Old Year, too; and he looked 81
old. He showed me where | hur
him, but didn't mean to; and In
going to be good to the New Year."
Mamma began to see that her littl