Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-12-20
One New Years. eye.
BY FRANCIS A. DURIvAGR.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:


~ o, you're not afraid Of being left
~ alone in the church, said Deacon
- Bradstock.
Afraid! no" answered Luke Bridge
h, boldly; what should be afraid OFF,
'Many a man is afraid of his own evil
conscience" said the deacon. Luke
Bridgely made no answer.
This conversation passed in the vestry
Of a small city church. The room had
been lately plastered, and as it was cold
winter weather that 31st of December, q
large fire had been kindled to dry the
walls against the coming Sunday. Luke
Bridgely had been once a thriving me-
chanic. Like many a man whose con-
VITALITY has been his ruin, there were
many good traits in his character; he was
kind-hearted, generous, charitable, but
guided by impulse rather than principle.
The deacon had known him in better
days, and when that afternoon Luke,
haggard, weary and wan, had asked him
for job, he had yentured, for the sake
Of the applicants wife and children, to
engage him to watch the fires. Luke had
not entered a church for years, and it
ed the threshold.
Auu you Will uC1 tame lAC p1COSCs
Luke" said the deacon, as he fingered
near the door.
"Not a bit Of it," answered Luke, with
an uneasy laugh. ST should only break
Il, as have done so many promises to
poor Martha"
"Well," rejoined the deacon, with a
sigh. 'at least you will pledge me your
word not to drink drop to-night?'
'@That l will, deacon; my word Of honor
and give you full permission to turn
the key on me-"
'Luke babe him good night and threw
himself in an armchair before the red
not stove. The light glowed ruddily on
the walls, lit up the pine trees and fes-
toons that were bound about the pillars,
touched the trembling drops of the chan
0elier, cleaned on the dial of the clock
In the gallery, and FURNISHED with gold
the pipes of the great organ. Against the
windows the wind dashed and the arrow
flights Of sleet fell harmlessly, though
with dreary sound.
Luke was composing himself to sleep
when the sound of voices singing with
out reused him. He recognized as the
music drew nearer, the singers, the air
and the words. The latter were as fol-
lows:
"Here's health to the poor old year!
Here's health to his bright young
heir!
At the grave, at the cradle, tits oura
to share
For sorrow and JOY alike good cheer.
Hip, hip, hurrah!
Hip, hip, hurrah!
"A health to the old and the brand new
year,
The music ceased directly under the
windows of the vestry. "Ah, jolly Jack
Tinchley!' said Luke to himself; 81
should know that bass among a thou
sand And Billy Martin, too! no tenor
voice like his. Confound the deacon for
mewing me up here, when my jolly cro-
MES are seeing the old year out and the
new year in"
A sound at the window attracted his
attention, and rubicund visage peered
in on him, like the full moon from the
face Of an old-fashioned clock.
''Hullo! old FELL" said the full moon.
'sYou ought to be hamstrung for desert
ing us on a night like this. We want you
to sing. Hang Deacon Bradstock! Just
you get up in chair, and we'll snake
sou out Of this gospel shop in the twink
ling Of an eye
'.I can't do it. l have given my word
to remain here said Luke, firmly.
.'You won't join u.s."
''No-I tell you I can't
'sThen stay and be hanged to you," said
the full moon, as it set in an angry cloud.
Luke was left to himself. After a
while he fell asleep. He dreamed that
he was in a strange country-strange but
beautiful The sky was deep blue. I'M
checkered by cloud. All at once there
came gliding towards the dreamer, from
4 cluster Of magnolias, an old man, with
two fairy children. As they drew nearer
he recognized with awe the features of
his father and of the two young children.
his own, whose ashes lay in the old
Churchyard They saw hinl-they turned
their glorious faces towards him. Then
In an agony of affection the poor man
was rushing forward to clasp them in his
arms; but he had no power over his
limbs; his feet seemed rooted. And at
the same moment voice sounded in his
ear, Luke Bridgely, art thou worthy to
Join those blessed ones 2"
Worthy or not, I make the effort"
said the unhappy man.
To strive is to succeed" answered
the voice. With this Luke Bridgely
awoke.
You are a sound s,ever. Luke" said