Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-24
The Old Year
and the New

"Seven-eight-nin DO you hear
that?" asked the old clock in the cor
ner. Here II Is full hour after your
bedtime. and yet you sit there staring
into the itre,"
In front OF the flro sat an old woul-
an-gray haired. wrinkled. feeble. The
voice OF the clock did not disturb her.
but as she watched the .iuul flames,
one could have read her thoughts.
Hut it's exeusable On this night"
continued the clock. In soft tones.
"lIeigho. but it's the last night OF the
old year! Three hours more and we
are done with 1909 You and l are
going TO watch the old year out to-
sether. Let's see? How many years
have | seen come and go? Forty-ex-
actly forty with this one. That's a long
time. long time"
The woman rocked gently TO and
fro. and by and by the clock suddenly
called out:
What. tears in your eyes, Come.
now. but that's no way 10 end the
wear. We are thinking of the same
thing. Yes. he was a good and loving
husband, and I'll say this for both OF
you. that never heard an unpleasant
word between you. IL is IL years
since he died I could only look into
his face as he lay on his dying bed,
and n ever heaven sent its light to
lead soul across the dark valley 1t
was given to him. remember your
tears and means and sobs. and you
prayed that death might come 20 you
as we'll"
The woman wiped her tears. and
there was a feeling OF suffocat!on as
she let memory bring up the events.
Eighth ine--ten," called the clock
after while. "How time does fly, 1
distinctly remember striking the last
hour Of 1908 Let ME see, Some one
then wept with you at that bedside.
There was son and a daughter. All!
now recall their faces-their gentle
ways-their loving words. Two years
latter there was another death-bed.
more walls and sobs. and l saw the
pall-bearers as they carried the daugh-
as II the last blow must crush you.
and ! well remember saying TO myself
that II wouldn't be long before you
were called TO go."
The woman choked back her sobs.
and her lips moved as II she were
speaking the names Of her dead ones.
For many minutes her reverie was
unbrokeu. and she heard not the tick
tack, tick-taclx, OF the steady old
clock.
Mine - ten eieven," suddenly
called the clock. The son? All! how
absentminded I have become. Well
do remember the day woman with
a pale face and frightened eyes opened
the door and handed you letter,
which bore the insignia OF death. You
opened 1t with trembling fingers, and
next moment you were like one dead.
There we're days and days when you
lowered between life and death, and !.
for my part gave up all hopes Died
IN a foreign land; buried among
strangers over the sea. 1t was s-blow
aimed at a heart twice broken"
The woman covered her face and
roaned in anguish. and tie clock con-
tinueG:
Don't grieve so, the dead are at
rest forevermore Life's mistakes may
need to be washed away with tears.
but the dead reapeds their reward. You
are old and poor and broken. but who
can tell what new friends the new
year may raise up for you? cannot
tell you TO forget the past. for a moth
er's heart ever goes out for her dead.
but the new year may have more
sunshine. Come, now I am about TO
strike the old year ont and the new
year In. Let us greet the new with a
smile Of welcome as count-ton-
eIeven-twelve-a happy New Year,"
The woman did not move.
'Heigho," called the clock: I'VE
have left the old behind"
Her hands had dropped beside her,
and her head had fallen.
Dead" clicked the clock. as the
last faint echoes Of his bell died away.