The Press., 1900-01-04
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~ VGesA " U Sssgssis a.sssas
A silent world lay asleep In nj, hts em-
brace; the twinkling stars looked calmly
down, and by the pale light Of the moon,
aimly seen through curtain OF mist, the
hands Of the zodiac pointed to the .31st OF
December.
Whilst the beings who inhabited this
little planet elumbared, one solitary fig- |
ura uassed slowly along the windings Of
the land. He was old and infrm, mere |
skeleton; his gaunt hands feebly grasp@d
the reins OF aspan Of phantom horses, and
he was seated In what looked like fu-
neral car.
He never for one moment slept, never
for q second rested, but ever urging the
tired horses 10 a more rapid pace, he per-
formed the labor Of relentless task
master.
The car creaked and groaned beneath
its heavy load, but each moment only
added to the grewsoma pile within.
There were the lives OF men, women
and children being borne away by thu
swift moving wheels
There were the shattered hopes, the
blighted ambitions. the lost opportunities
and the pitiable faults and errors OF hu-
mainly.
Not dwelling escaped this merciless
collector; all must add his or her share
to the old drivers load.
Seeming to realize that he could not
much longer serve so exacting master.
he had turned his face and bis steeds
toward the land of the setting sun and
on his brow rested an ashen hue, while
his eyes grew dim "a with coming death: :
but determined to remain faithful to the
end. he was trying to quicken the speed
Of his well-nigh exhausted horses, when
suddenly hearing q noise as of rushing
wind close behind him, he turned him
about, and there beheld coming from out
the rosy east glittering chariot drawn
BY spirited horses, which were held In
leash BY a youth of noble countenance
and prlncely bearing.
The horses were fresh and FESTIVE; no
heavy load had they yet drawn, and not
DAYS journey had they trodden.
So light the chariot, that the wheels
scarce seemed to touch the ground, beinR
filed, as it were. with naught save untried
realities. lofty aspirations and good iDten-
tions-mere bubbles-under which lack
Of weight the horses reared and plunged,
eager to dash into the fray. Nearer and
nearer they came. and as there was no.
room enough for both In the same road.
it looked as II the old man would be trod-
den to death under the feet Of the mad
rushing steeds.
"Out Of my way. there, old mani" the
impatient youth cried. II have been hid
den forth to drive the wheels Of Father
Time, and it is almost the hour OF my ex-
pocted arrival. have no time to lose, 80
stand aside and let me pass"
Then the old man slowly replied: ~
am ha 1t is who drives the car OF Time.
For one hundred years have l driven
these faithful steeds up and down this
land, and no one has dared to dispute my
power or intercept my way; thinkest
thou, then, am 10 be ordered about and
turned aside by mere beardless youth.
with pair OF unmanageable colts? Back
back to thy cradle and swadling clothes,
and let me to my labors."
"Ha hal" laughed the youth, "your
labors, forsooth; and what, pray. hast
been thy labots? Look back along thy
pathway and behold thy behests to man.
kind. Thou hast brought famine, earth
quake, pestilence. a cd, fire and dlouth;
and look at the free and bloody wals
which have waged between nations, and
even states. during thy reign. The peo-
pie are aweary grown, and would have no
more Of thee"
For single second 1t seemed that he
stood still and waited for the old driver
to clear the way for his coming. and then,
seeing he made 40 move In that direction,
with the impetuosity native to youth. tn.
newcomer gave a mighty flourish Of the
whip. loosened the reins Of his restless
seeeds, and with q triumphant shout.
dashed forward and relentlessly passed
ever the aged driver, the phantom horses.
car and all; and just as the clock on the
old church tower pealed forth the hour Of
midnight, the old man-Eighteen Hun
dred-breathed his last, and like q
plumed knight, like an armed warrior,
Nineteen Hundred sprang into the arena
Of time. and threw his bright and shining
lance full In the face OF now waking
world, and amidst the joyous peals Of
countless bells, and glare of myriads Of
bon fires, the new century was proclaimed
sovei eign; while over the corpse Of the
one just passed away a mantle of spotless
snow was spread as winding sheet, and
he was hidden with all his failings from
the sight Of mortals.
To our friends-and we feel that W.
have made many-we would cay that We
wish to thank you for the part you have
had In making our business the succ-ss
that 1t Is, and we trust that during tn.
coming year we will be able to continue
to so conduct our business. that We may
retain your confidence and friendship.
To our enemies-if We have any-we
will cay that we hope to win your friend
ship In business relation, at any rate
and now may the new era, which has just
aawned, be filled with peace and plenty
and comfort.
May no wars or grim calamities stalk
through the land during the coming one
hundred years, and NAV the new year br
Q happy and prosperous ons to you all.
with your friend,
0. M. BROWN.