The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-12-30

woman SAT pensively by the fire her head
resting on her hands
From below came the sound of much
laughter. and as the woman heard them
shs sighed Then she fell to lingering heI
wedding ring and her eyes held a look
that might have made her mothers heart
ache
She fell TO wondering upon many things
OF the gay crowd below, how many were
glad at hearth How many were sad at the
going OF the year so slowly waningY How
many were a-nerry to meet the newf Then
after awhile her thoughts went further
back and yet came nearer home, and she
rose from her seat and crossed and closed
the blinds which had been left open. She
lifted her skirts very daintily as she knelt
In front Of one of the many packages in
the room, and 1t was with fastidious fin.
gers that she united the knots In the
strings around 1t and undid the wrappings
She arranged them round the room, half
whimsical look on her face, one on this
chair, one on that-a heap of pencil
sketches, one half done, another but be-
gun, some few finished and framed.
Then she seated herself on little stool
IN their midst, her hands clasped In front
At her knees, and looked at them wistfully.
"You," she nodded her little dark head
toward one OF them, you were done for
daddy on his birthday. was II then He
gave me kiss and said that he never
wished to see finer one"
The gray eyes darkened a little. She
went over and caressed the tiny odd sketch
with her childlike hands, then went back
to her seat
You got me the first prize at school,
she laughed, with nod of her head to.
ward another of her efforts, land you
ah, you came year after mother died
She crossed her feet. and tear fell on her
little buckled slippers. you were done
when Mr. Inchcape said that l had GER
tainly talent, and wanted to do some
thing big to show him how much" After
little: And you, firmly, II was work
ing at you when John asked me to marry
him. And l said, Yes. wonder whyp'
On the stairs and up came a firm, heavy
tread-creak, creak, oreak The door was
thrown open
ooh. / say little woman, you haven Z
half light What's thisP Pshawl /
should put all that rubbish away-only
makes a litter. Where did you pick them
upY Not half bad, but never could be
bothered with those mystical arrange
ments wouldn't give you a good cigar
for the whole regiment
"I'm not sure that want one, with a
tremulous little laugh
"NoY Well, | don't suppose you do.
fatter myself that my wife doesn't smoke
Give me my cigar case off the mantelpiece
old lady came up for 1t Better go to
bed It's all nonsense this waiting up for
the old year Or is it the newp l won Z
be a minute I'm just going to have a
chat with Wilson But do clear all this
rubbish away before you GO.
He went away, laughing at his own joke
She put the drawings away, making a
separate journey to the wrapper with each
And as she covered over the last with a
rain of tears, why, oh, why did you not
tell mep" she whispered
Outside the great bells changed noisily
calling to all the city: Zone two, three
four, five, six, seven, eight nine, ten
eleven, twelve Dingdong dingdong
ding ding dingdong
God bless you merry ladies and merrier
gentlemen A happy New Year to you all /
Black and White