The Globe-republican., 1896-12-31

twilight through the room, which, to
gether with the warm glow Of the fire
caused me to congratulate myself upon
my good fortune in having SO many
comforts, even though was obliged t.
work with my pen night and day, al
most, facing so many disappointments
disagreeable editors, and all that sort
of thing.
And then, as my mind drifted from
one thing to another, the happenings
of a whole year, the new friends had
made, the old ones who had gone
away, the clock struck 10. had still
two hours with my departing cOm'
rade, two hours before I would be
called upon to welcome the new conner
whose name, is, believe, 1897.
NY head had dropped still lower
down upon the cushions, and l think ]
Eust almost have dropped into dOze,
tween my eyes and the rosy light Of
tire lamp.
This fact brought me to myself very
quickly, l assure you; and with q start
Of surprise, 1 raised my head to see
who or what had gained entrance to
my room without my knowledge or
any previous manifestation whatever.
l was obliged to look twice before I
saw anything, and then. such a strange
creature as met my startled gaze. A
little, old s. an. weather-beaten. wrink-
led, white-haired. and SO weary-l look
ing. sat pcrchcd upon pile Of books,
his feet crossed. 4 worn old hat upon
his head. and altogether. he appeared
to have been buffeting life's pillows for
some time. with neither haven nor
calm wherein to recruit his shattered
sails ard rigging.
At first lie did not seem to be con-
scious Of I0y presence or close scruti-
ny: but presently. lifting his dim old
eyes TO my face. gave me the benefit
Of this remark:
$50. you are waiting to see me die,
are your
10 say l was astonishcd would be
putting it mildly. for had no idea of
entertaining tho Old Year in person;
but after my first great surprise had
passed away and 1 mad collected N.Y.
self little, concluded to improve the
opportunity and find CIT what had
made my old friend appear 20 decided
ly worn out, and what that great bund-
lie contained that he had lifted from his
back and deposited on the table by his
side
"And so you are really the Old Year.
are you? May l inquire what line Of
goods YOU carry; or, in other words,
what does your bundle contain. and
how can such a small man as yourself
lift so great a burden, much less carry
1t arOund?"
"Ah, mer' the weak old voice made
reply, you little know what I have
had to bear through this whole year.
You remember how looked when you
first saw me, a year ago at Il O'Clock,
I SUPPOSE
Eyes, indeedr' FASTENED to assure
him. Il remember what n plump,
healthy. curly-haired. pretty little fell
low you were: a mere child. and so
gay and light-hearted. too. Why! your
laugh rang out like silver bells, and
your eyes were full of laughter and
over with happiness and
mirth. That is the reason I did not
you tonight. 1t does not
seem possible that you can he the jolly
little chap reached out welcoming
hand to twelve months ago. Dear me!
how you have changed. to be sure!'
"Yes. ! have; but you will not be
at the change when I tell
you what has wrought it. What do
you think l carry in this pack: Moth
ing more nor less that the broken
promises that you poor, miserable, uu-
eappy mOrtals made at my birth. Now
do you wonder that have grown old
and almost worn cut before my time
comes to die? Here. look ut this bund-
le and see II you recognize 1t. All!
wee you do. by the sudden start you
give a. your eyes fall upon its con-
tents. Yes: these are your broken
promises which you faithfully swore
last year at this time you would full
al without fail. And how have you
Kept these promises?
As the old man paused a moment to
ook at me to see how appreciated his
last question. he seelped SO sad ard
worn out with carving his heavy bur-
dens that felt guilty. indeed. and my
face turned scarlet with shame and
as realized how n.0ch I
had helped to make the bright. laugh