Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1910-12-23

TheOldY Year "a I
and the New.

ii 49, @S 400
**Seven-eight-nine Do you hear
that?" asked the old clock in the COZ.
ner. "Here it is full hour after your
bedtime, and yet you sit there staring
into the fret"
In front of the fire sat an old WON
an-gray haired, wrinkled, feeble. The
voice Of the clock did not disturb her.
but as she watched the f1tful flames,
one could have read her thoughts.
"But it's excusable on this night"
continued the clock, In soft tones.
"Heigho! but it's the last night of the
ole year. - ~~
- You and I arr
going to watch the old year out to-
gether. Let's see? How many years
have seen come and go? Forty-ex-
actly forty with this one. That's 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 to end the
year. We are thinking Of the same
thing. Yes, he was good and loving
husband, and I'll say this for both Of
you, that never heard an unpleasant
word between you. It is IL years
since he died. I could only look into
his face as he lay on his dying bed,
and If ever heaven sent its light to
lead a soul across the dark valley It
was given to him. I remember your
tears and means and sobs, and you
prayed that death might come to you
as we'll"
The woman wiped her tears, and
there was a feeling of suhocation a.
she let memory bring up the events
Eight nine-ten!" called the clock
after a while. "How time does fly!
distinctly remember striking the last
hour of 1903. Let me see! Some ono
then wept with you at that bedside.
There was a son and daughter Ali
now l recall their faces-their gentle
ways-their loving words. Two years
latter there was another death-hede
more walls and sobs, and saw tho
pall-bearers as they carried the. daugh-:
ters body out of the house. It seems
as if the last blow must crush you,
and I we'll remember saying to myself
that it wouldn't be long before you
were called to 60"
The woman choked back her sobs,
and her lips moved as if she were
speaking the names of her dead ones.
For many minutes her reverie was
unbroken, and she heard not the tick
tack! tick-tack! of the steady old
clock.
Mine - ten - eleven!" 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 it with trembling fingers, and
next moment you were like one dead.
There were days and days when you
lowered between life and death, and I.
for my part gave up all hopes: Died
In 4 foreign land; buried among
strangers over the sea. It was blow
aimed at q heart twice broken"
The woman covered her face ana
moaned In anguish, and the clock con-
unued:
Don't grieve 80. the dead are at
rest forevermore Life's mistakes may
need to be washed away with tears,
but the dead reaped their reward. You
are old and poor and broken, but who
can tell what new friends the new
year may raise up for you9 Il cannot
tell you to forget the past, for moth
er's heart ever goes out for her dead.
but the new year may have more
sunshine. Como, now am about to
strike the old year out land tho new
I year in. Lot VI crest the new with .
smile Of welcome AZ I sseount-ten-
oaeven-twelve- happy New Year!"
The woman did not move.
"Heigho!" called the clock: I'VE
have left the old behind" -
Her hands had dropped beside has
and her head had fallen. 1T. :,
Dsad!" clicked the clock. a. thu
Inst faint echoes of his bell died away.
The Nays Christmas.
Christmas In the regular navy Is OBJ