The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-01-01
called upon to welcome the new conner

whose name, is, believe, 1897.
My head had dropped still lower
down upon the cushions, and l think
must almost have dropped into a doze
when q shadow came Suddenly be
tween my eyes and the rosy light Of
| the lamp.
This fact brought me to myself very
| quickly, assure you; and with 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
saw anything, and then, such a strange
| creature as met my startled gaze. A
little, old T. an, weather-beaten, wrink-
led white-haired and so wearylook-
ing, sat perched upon n pile of books,
his feet crossed, a worn old hat upon
his head, and altogether, he appea red
to have been buffeting life's pillows for
sIme time, with neither haven nor
calm wherein to recruit his shattered
sails and rigging.
At first he did not seem to be con-
scious of Oy presence or close scruti-
ny; but presently, lifting his dim old
eyes 70 my face, gave me the Denenr
of this remark:
80, you are waiting to see me die,
are you"
TO say I was astonishcd would be
putting it mildly, for / had no idea of
entertaining the Old Year in person;
but after my first great surprise had
passed away and had collected my
self little, concluded to improve the
opportunity and find OFT what had
made my old friend appear 40 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 inquire what line of
goods you carry; or, in other words,
what does your bundle contain, and
how can such small man as yourself
lift so great burden, much less carry
it around?"
"Ah, mel" the weak old voice made
reply, you little know what l have
had to bear through this whole year.
You remember how looked when you
first saw me, year ago at II o'clock,
1 suppose?"
Eyes, indeedw I hastened to assure
him. 81 remember what plump,
healthy, curly-haired, pretty little fell
lOW JOu htIC, al ultIC anu SO
gay and light-hearted, too. Why! your
laugh rang out like silver bells, and
your eyes were full of laughter and
brimmlng over with happiness and
mirth. That is the reason / did not
recognize you tonight. 1t does not
seem possible that you can be the jolly
little chap / reached out n welcoming
hand to twelve months ago Dear me!
how you have changed, to be sure!'
"Yes, / have; but you will not be
surprised at the change when l tell
you what has wrought ii. What do
you think 1 carry in this pack! Moth
ing more nor less that the broken
promises that you poor, miserable un-
happy mortalS made at my birth. Now
do you wonder that l have grown old
and almost worn out before my time
comes to die? Here. look at this bund-
lie and see if you recognize ii. All! l
see you do, by the sudden start you
give as your eyes fall upon its con-
tents. Yes; these are your broken
promises which you faithfully swore
last year Mt this time you would full
fill without fail. And how have you
kept these promises?
AS the old man paused a moment to
look at me to see how l appreciated his
last question, he seemed so sad and
worn out with carrying his heavy bur-
dens that l felt guilty, indeed. and my
face turned scarlet with shame and
modification as l realized how n'uch l
had helped to make the bright. laugh
ing young boy poor, crippled, silver
haired, unhappy old man.
Can I-mayI look at some of the
other parcels my poor old friend? l
asked, hesitatinaly, for / feel that per
haps it.k5 none of my business what
otfersfhaEe ppH upon him; my own
'shaE~ n me to attend to-a
factNS IN, 4 faint smile, my
strang9 soon convinces me of.
mo; - ~ .ot permitted to disclose
any ones failures but their own; 1
know human nature too we'll"
The last with a dry little chuckle, so
devoid of lnirth that it sounded more
like groan than something meant to
resemble a laugh. Eyes" he contin-
ued, as lie changed his position so as
to rest his withered. crooked little legs
against book on his right side, while
his head was suppoFted by another, for
every moment he is growing weaker
and nearer the end; Eyes, ] am anxious
Tor you to see you: own shortcomings
before you have begun to pile theO
upon the back of the new year, who
will come In presently, just as gay and
happy as did last year at this time.
Poor little fellowl How my heart
Gches for him. He little knows what
unseeline mortals he is coming TO live
among. or bow they will promise him
such beautiful things; so many fine.
lofty ambitions; all the ships that go
sailing out of the harbor of hope
freighted with sacred vows and plight
ed words that are to crown him at the