The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-28
THE YEAR THAT
/ NEVER BEGAN.
How Gustaf Spoiled Mugeendorf's
New Year and Unbewitehcd
the SON.

| the cheese factory burned, or when the
new town pump was set up he will tell
you at once that Il was In the year that
newer began, and that is the same as saying
the year that Gustaf came to Muggendorf.
At midnight on New Years eve each
year, just as the great clock In the town
hall tower struck u. all the Muggendorfers
gathered In Abe public square and cele-
brated the coming Of the new year. and
for an hour big folks and little folks blew
horns and shouted and fired crackers u It'll
every dog in the town crawled under the
beds and the nervous old ladies stuffed
cotton In their ears.
| Every Muggendorfer enjoyed the Now
Year celebration, and il WIS too bad that
| Gustaf should have come just in time 10
| spoil il all II he had not come to Muggen-
| dorf just when he did the year would have
had d beginning like any other year.
Gustaf had learned the clockfnaker'a
trade. and one day he tied his best suit in
IA handkerchief and started out TO make his
fortune In the world
His mother kissed him and told him to
IL. a good boy and stick TO the right. and
Gustaf tranped away.
When he came TO he turn Of the road he
TO the 1gh, )" and he did and whenever
the roads branched or crossed lie took the
righthand road. and that is how he came
to Musgendorf.
He walked into the main street and
scratched his yellow hair. for there was
not man TO be seen on the main street,
| and the more he looked the more he
scratched his yellow hair.
And no wonder. for all the shutters were
up and the olndles in the street lamps were
burning, for all the world a. II it Vas the
middle Of the night.
Gustaf walked 10 the public square,
and there he found old man in a cooked
hat, sleeping soundly. The old man had
lighted lantern beside him on the bench.
and h, nodded, and nodded until he nodded
50 far that he knocked the lantern over
and then he awoke suddenly and said that
he had not been asleep.
THAT may BE- said Gustat, 'or that
may not be, but wish you would tell me
where l am and where the towns people
are"
That said the old man very decidedly,
has nothing to do with II. was not asleep
and can prove It. am the night watch
man, and Of course night Waterman does
not sleep while OH duty, 80 you zee couldn't
have boon asleep. You must admit that
or shall not say another word
Very we'll. sir. said Gustaf, Il admit
it. But why you should be on duty now
can't see."
when should a night Waterman be on
duty but at night asked the old man.
.when. indced!" said Gustaf. but the
sun Ia shining, SIR"
"Yes.' said the old man sadly, 1T is a
way It has here. 1t shines at night. and
sets In the morning. 1t has acted that way
ever since It was bewitched"
II wish you would please tell me what
town this IL and where cen get something
10 eat. "a d GUSTAV, bewildered.
The old man told him II was Museen-
dorf.
But. said he. 'as for eating. you cannot
get anything to eat until the sun sets and
the baker opens his shop. 80 you may az
we'll 10 to sleep on the bench here and
wait"
THAT is all very easy to say said Gustaf.
but fear II will be hard for me to sleep
with the great round sun shining
NO doubt said the night Waterman;
everybody here does find It hard, but that
Nuh bC oSttctS0 Si6N 10 VIC tlII1t 10
sleep. 40 sleep at night We must And now
! must 60 my rounds.' and he pottered of
with his lantern, trying the doors OF the
shops as he went to See that they were locked
and barred.
At last the treets began to be dark The
night Waterman returned. yawning. put
ting out the street lights d. he came.
Good morning. he said.
Almost a. he spoke the Jolly baker threw
open his shutters and Gustaf walked across
10 the shop.
Good morning. my brave lad" said the
baker. How come you to be out 30 early?"
Il come from the capital Of the country
where the King lives" said Gustaf.
THAT ID good" said the merry baker;
and how Is his worshipful Majesty the King
these fine daysi'
Neither better nor worse, sir, said Gus.
tai, politely. but better than q clockmaker's
condition may hope to be. But have not
eaten these twelve hours and l have ten
silver pennies In my pocket and will gladly
give one or all Of them for bun II 1t has
sugar frosting II will be none the worse.
-Bravely said, cried the jolly baker. -and
have bun with sugar frosting, and YOU
may keep your ten silver pennies to jingle
in your pocket, for I want none OF them"
BY that time all the shops were open and
the streets were quite dark. ard GustAf got
ready to 60. But the baker made him sit
down again.
For said he. 1T is not every day in
the year ws have visitor from the capital
81 the country. where the King lives"
Then Gustaf told the baker why he had
come 70 Mu9sendorf and asked him IL a
clockmaker''s apprentice could make his
fortune In the town.
The baker shook his head doubtfully.
for he knew there was but one clock In ali
Mussendorf, and that II never gained nor
lost second, and he told G,istaf 10. But
wnen Gustaf said he thought be should
journey on into the world the good. ,stured
baker disagreed.
That ! would not be NO que about. y
he said. FOR tonight Ia the beginning of
the year and great time In Mukeendorf--
such "a comes but once year"
The main strest was a. dark az the cellar
when ihs candle Goes out but every one
was busving himself az usual, buying and
selling and going about his business Ar II
the sun shone. 1t was very b I'd Tor their