Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-29
II Rev Years Resolution

It is always well to make good new
years resolutions whether one adheres
to them or not. If kept their effect
will doubtless be beneficial If not
we'll, one never knows until he has
tried it how much comfort can be got
out of conscious superiority to the
temptation of keeping a good resolu-
ton. And the more the resolutions
the greater are the chances for subse-
quent benefit in both ways One
single, lonely resolution, however
meritoriously inherent, is dangerous.
1t is like putting all the eggs in one
basket. Fate is almost certain to kick
it over.
All young Adolphus Bletherwyte's
trouble came from his combining him
self on new years morning to one res
oiution. And yet it was perhaps pru-
dent one He simply resolved that he
would no for one year engage him
self to marry.
eff I can stick to that for twelve
months" he said to himself, 81 shall
be safe for the rest of my life
probably-and may save up some
thing. A wife is more dangerous for
than cigarette, billiard cue, poker
chip, pool ticket and bottle all to-
gether. Sensible men should not
marry I will be sensible. I will not
propose marriage, permit matrimonial
temptations to be put in my way or
even allow myself to think of such 4
thing. But a twelve month is long
enough to swear off for at once"
He stood at the window ruefully
looking out upon the heavy snowfall
of the night and specializing upon
what he would have to pay for a
coupe One would be needed all day,
for walking would be worse when
tramping feet had converted the snow
iuto slush, and be had a great many
calls to make. New years calls were
looked upon as an imperative duty then
to a far greater extent than in very
recent years, and he was not one to set
himself against popular custom,
whether he liked it or not. But he
could not help thinking he would
very much rather shelter himself ~ a
coy, warm room, before a cheerful
fire, in the company of sweet little
wife, whose charming face, musical
voice and affectionate caresses would
be heavenly contrast to-"Oh,
bosh," he EXCLAIMED to himself re-
provingly, "what sort of way is that
for a man to be thinking when he has
just sworn off marrying?"
"Happy new year to you, Mr.. Bleth-
erwyter' a sweet, girlish voice saluted
him from the parlor door, and turn
ing, he greeted pretty Miss Milly Dut-
ton, a vivacious, b1ue-eyed young wo-
man, who was indisputab1y the belle
Of the boarding house.
Happy new year to you also, Miss
Dutton, and many happy returns Of
the day" he replied. eve seem to be
the early birds this morning. Do you
know what time 1t is?" My watch has
run down"
Give minutes of s." she answered.
lokfng at her watch, "and breakfast
will not be ready befor 9. 1t never
is on Sundays and holidays, you
know"
Gas if stomachs knew anything
about holidays" he grumbled, winding
and setting his timepiece.
"Oh, but don't they? How about
Thanksgiving and Christmas?"
"True; and new years; pity mine
today"
"But you will have merry time.
You gentlemen always have ON new
years Indeed, you seem to find ways
for that every holiday. And [ do not
suppose You can even imagine how dull
a holiday may be to one who has to
sit alone through 1t In that dreariest
of all lonesome places, New York
boarding house, with home and
friends and happiness all far away.
There were tears in her voice and
AdoIphus felt in his heart a great
throb of sympathy for her. "Ah!-er
-yeur folks are not so very far away.
Only in Kentucky, I think you said?'
"The heart does not measure dis
tance by miles any more than love can
be sent as a package by express.
might as we'll be upon another planet
or dead, so far as seeing my mother
and sister or hearing their voices
when am here and they are In Ken
lucky Some day I shall become SO
desperate with loneliness that I will
abandon all my hope of a career and
go away home. I feel very much like
doing so this morning"
ooh. Milly-Miss Dutton! l hope
I'm awfully sorry-that is-er-T-oh
You couldn't go away like that. you
know. You are doing splendidly with
your art studies, and it wouldn't be
right to-to-go away and leave-such
a future as you have before YOU
why. Mr.. Bletherwyte! How car
you say have any future to nope for
You have never seen any of my work
that amounted to anything. Nothing
at least, so good as what / have doue
lately"
mo. but l have seen you-er-that
| is to Say-I-
.'You pitied and wished to encour
age me-"