The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1895-01-25
| new Year BALL.

IL IS ndcN very strange, yet to all
readers of fairy tales well-known fact,
that out on the sunny meadows, when the
gentle breeze wakes the blossoms out of
their dreams they nod and bend to each
other and whisper various bits of flower
gossip into each others dainty ears But
that after death they can come back to
life. though undoubtedly true. is less wide
ly known and far more remarkable.
Two days ago. in the far South, ON the
other side of the cloudpiercing Alps.
sweet rolets and snowlrops were bloom
ing in the open air. Intoxicated, as il
were, with their own fragrance. they were
motinnlcss in the still, mild morning, when
suddenly steps were heard among the
flower beds: they aWOke and Shivrrrll ap
prehei,Sivcly. a bladr shown in the sun
light, Il sharp, piercing sound same to
them, Il sound us of Il death knell: they
must die.
But why" is their last sigh, and nj;
is over.
Today, made into IL bouquet, they arc
held in the dainty hands of young Ell
friede, who, with the greatest delight,
buries her face in the lovely blossoms
Indeed, the Assessor Gab!cr is very
thoughtful man. she says to her mother,
who. with peculiarly searching glance
had been noticing her daughters move
All! Charming! Delightful:'
"Who?''
"Oh, mamma! tho bouquet, of course. y
1t is three hous later.
- Waltz" calls out Assessor Gablcr. the
experienced manager of the ball which
has been arranged by the Casino club for
that New Years eve.
: "Alein Fraulein, may have the pleas
ure?'' Elfriede lays her flowers on one
.>f Tho <hoirs y,lonn1 in Spmi -rirf.ln
around the hall, and floats away on the
assessors arm.
Il really believe | am not dead at all. -
murmurS one of the snowdrops in the
bouquet as it feels a peculiar trembling
and surging through its veins. Then it
gently nudges its neighbor violet, an
whispers:
GOOD evening, Violet: are you living,
too"
1T certainly almost seems sc"
Then it is indeed true what strange
butterfly once said to me, that on New
Years eve dead flowers com" to life
New Years eve! What is that?'
asked the violet.
The violet. as is we'll known, is very
shy Of the world, and does not know
much of what is going on around it,
what New Years eve is! When peonlt
have grown Il year older they have cele-
bration with music, wine and dancing
They meet together, all dressed in Their
best clothes. laugh, chat and joke: and
WHOM the largest of their dreadful sound
ins clocks strikes twelve times, they reach
wildly about for glasses, out of which
rises IL little cloud with peculiar fra
grant aroma, touch glasses, making a
most frightful noise. and then drink tht
whole contents at once, calling out tc
each other: Happy New Year! Happy
New Year. Then they shake hands. hus
hands kiss their wives. those who are be-
trothed do likewise; in short, everything
is gay, joyful and bright. And later the
glasses are again filled and they cat little
round cakes, one. two, three-yes, | have
But it is very strange" rplied the VIC
let. that these people are so happy when
they are always growing Older. They
really ought to be sad and think about
dying"
Indeed, they ought And when they do
not you see they show very plainly that
t.,cy are not any better than the rest of ,ls.
10 be sure. there are some among them
calle.l philosophers. who. day in and day
out, do nothing else but be- W Use, and have
thought out this wisdom: that it would
be better not to live at all: and they have
written big books about it. and with this
solution they would make their lives hap
pier. But the most of people in their
heart of hearts are just as foolish as we
eagerly drink the, dew. even though w.
know that in the deXt storm a Maidstone
may entirely crush U.S. And that is the
right kind of lack of reason 1t is
also called Hope and Happiness II
is that which gives theS" people rosy
checks. which & gives wings to dancing
feet. and"
The waltz came to end.
1t was indeed high time. The eide,
gentlemen were already impatiently look
ing at their watches: the waiter was car
rying about a tray full of steamine
glasses: suddenly everything was still
very sill.
''Why are they all staring 500 asked
the toilet of the snowdrop. elias any.
thing happcned?
Not exactly that, but"
The flower spoke no more. Grand and
solemn. stroke sounded through the
hall. and then another and another. AL
ready Tobias, the brave night Waterman
of the town. had entered tho room with
his bright lantern: "Gentlemen. allow
me to say that the clock has lust"
He can get no further. Happy Now
Year! Happy New Year, is called out
by hundred voices. glasses jingle
hearty greetings fly from lip to lip, warm
glances flash from eye to eye, and, see
there two are embracing each other, and
there again are two Others
"Will not those two kiss each othcr?'
whispered the violet. which during al
this excitement had opened it's eyes very
wide. and now pointed to Elfriede who
on the arm of the assessor is gazing at
the Waterman as though he should fore.
Perhaps next year!' m n,n rs; the the
snowdrop.
An! the wise little fower!-From the
German, in Romance.