Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-12-13
woman, but her manner to Mrs. Steele wa,

V
Year after year passed in pleasant, even
fashion, until I reached the age Of IL.
Mother wakened me as usual one New
Years morning, but, contrary to her GUS
tom, seated herself on my bedside, and,
facing me, clasped my hand in hers.
my son." said she, 'tyou are old enough
now to bear responsibility, and learn manly
ways and ideas. Your father was gentle
man. He was kind, loving and tender; ever
ready to defend girl, woman, and the
right. He never drank to intoxication, and
hoped his son might also be exempt from
this temptation. If not, he prayed that
strength might be given him to leave it
entirely alone"
I wondered why mother was saying this
to me, when tears came in her beloved
eyes, and she continued:
II am telling you this, dear lad, because
you always visit the Steeles on New Years
day, and there are many young men whom
you may see there-young men who drink
too much, say too much, and whose man
ners are not always the manners Of gen
tlemen."
Then understood, and putting my arms
about her neck, pledged myself in the name
of my dead father to be temperate, faith
full and true. The bells of St. Margaret's
broke into a merry chime just then, and
mother ran away crying:
up, up, Jack! My son must not be a
sluggard on New Years day"
The day had been dull and gray. A
Whitley sense Of snow thrilled through the
sharp, wintry air, which made the warmth
and comfort within intoxicating. From
nine o'clock in the morning line of callers
had poured over the door-sil of the Steele
house. Carriages emptied their loads of
elegant looking men at their curbstone, the
tails of rich coats fourished like black
wings behind the flying figures, while white
satin waistcoats and light gloves cleaned
in contrast as the callers rushed up the
steps. Few little boys were among the
guests, and my jealous heart absorbed a
grain of comfort from this knowledge.
I hurried from my outlook, and into my
hat and raglan, when mother called:
"Come, Jack! It's four o'clock! Aren't
you going over to the Steeles?"
When Pompey opened the door, he
showed all his double molars in astonish-
ment at my magnifcence. I was clad in
broadcloth from shoulders to ankles, in.
stead OF the velvet, short trousers and braid.
ed jacket that had fretted my masculine
dignity for two years. Some one has said that
"a sense of being well-dressed gives one
self-possession that religion cannot be-
stow"
felt this as entered the parlor, and
caught glimpse of Mary. The fact. too,
that Mary's pink sash exactly matched my
necktie added warmth to the atmosphere;
and made me accept Grandma Steele's for
NAL kiss and Mrs. Steele's laughing greet
ing: 'My!. o! My! Jack, but you are q
SWELL" a. nay rightful due.
Mary was especially nice and glad to ~
me. She had two or three little tricks of
speech lately that T liked, and her laugh
was getting % sweet and low.
Through the long parlors, under both the
big prismatic chandeliers, was spread "the
table, that wonderful feature of New
Years hospitality in olden New York. It
was laden with substantials and delicacies,
all beautifully arranged; and on q side table
steaming coffee and chocolate, and rich
punch were dispensed by Pompey, who
made = capital bronze cup-bearer, in color
and figure, always ready to "serve de gem
men,"
Mary and I were getting on very wen.
Grandma Steele had taken us to the pretty
table. We feasted, girl and boy fashion
I had proposed Z philopena, and was
about asking for one Of those pink ribbons,
when a party of gentlemen came in, and
suddenly the air changed. In a moment
it became evident they. had imbibed too
freely, and were too hilarious for the So
ciety Of ladies.
Grandma Steele drew herself up very tall,
proudly so. She smiled and talked, but her
smile was like the frost on window-pane,
and her words were like bits of ice strik.
ing the sides of thin goblet. In quick
undertone she gave Pompey to understand
the punch-bowl needed replenishing. It
disappeared - swiftly - if no had been
prestidigitator; and tho black conjuror for
got to bring It back. Clever Pompey!
Mrs. Steele smiled and tested gsyly, or.
changing .badipaSe in her. GahthsestG&