Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-12-30
ORIGINAL SOCIAL CORNER STORY
Mr.. JANUARY AND HIS FOLLOWERS
BY Lillian SeIaya


1t was New Years eve; not Great
ure was stirring on the deserted
streets. not even the proverbial Christ
mas mouse, when suddenly. just as the
clock was striking twelve, bang, bang,
went the guns, and a large coach,
drawn by twelve horses, with twelve
guests inside, stopped before a large
building that was suddenly a-blaze
with lights.
Mime. Years ball was the event of
worldwide, and the quickly assembled
guests watched with great curiosity
the advent of the twelve renowned
guests.
The first to alight was a portly fell
low. dressed in sealskin. with high fur
boots. His arms were filled with unpaid
bills, which he receipted at once, and
S1irty-One costly gold dinner sets for
thirty balls he was to give. There
was universal joy when he said the
poor should be Toasted every day Cfor
thirty one days) in the market place;
thirty-One oxen stuffed with thirty
one ducks and turkeys roasted whole
The fountains were to spout forth the
most 1slfcjJIs wine.
Whoever bought loaf of bread at
the bakers would receive a big plum
pudding fun of raisins as a present.
The people all cheered January's fore
thought.
Close on his heels followed a merry
little fellow, saying he must make the
most OF his days. as he had not long
to uve-onIy twenty-eiett short DAYS.
He was rather short and thickset. with
rednose and very srun voice He pre-
scented the guests with samples OF his
buCkWheat cakes. maple syrup, sau-
sases. turkeys cranberry sauce, nuts
and raisins. and told each one in
breezy whisper Chat made them all
I'm for their ooats) that If they would
stop at his market, in Vanity Fair he
would see that they all had twenty
eight kinds OF his choicest goods.
The third guest looked so fierce and
Wild that the merry guests shrank
back, half frightened, at his aspect.
With loud hurrah he rushed at
them, throwing a huge pile OF quinine
boxes and assuring them they would
all need them before his departure.
Then he stamped out Of the room to
an accompaniment of sneezes ard
husky oaths.
hind him, am I to doctor all these
patients pc
And so saying. DR.. April. a slight
young man, came forward His face
was sweet. but sensitive and rather
uncertain The lips laughed easily,
and the face dimpled merriIy. but the
blue eyes looked sad with unshed tears.
HIS was a queer expression, half sad,
half merry; it seemed a true reflection
of his character, for he explained, hui
naorousiy: Sometimes I'm obliged to
be in a good humor, and often in a
bad one according to events. L have
oOAIIS SOAN6AiiTS IOf you. ana ne
gave each a tiny umbrella, as blue as
his eyes, TO protect them from his bad
humors-" Then, with a mfschievous
look, he handed them all dear little
paraSOlS of the same color, to shade
them when he smiled too warmly upon
them.
After him. a lady stepped out of the
coach In her hurry she nearly
sprained her ankle, which caused Dr.
April to weep so profusely that the
sidewalk was covered with puddles
She called herself Miss May Now,
everyone knows she might long ago
have become Mrs. April had she not
dreaded the tickle temper of her suit
or.
Miss May wore a summer dress of
f1lmy green gauze, her beautiful hair
was twisted with anemones. She WAS
very lovely, but there was a certain
GOODNESS in the blue eyes. Her voie e
was rarely beautiful, not a concert
voice, but that of a singer of the
woods. She had learned all the birds
notes from her own green forests. To
each guest she daintily handed a huge
May basket hllet with pink arbutus
and specimens of the most wonderful
plants from all over the world.
I cannot be with you long" she
said for / am so busy ironing ApriPs
handkerchiefs-
Here comes June to tell you about
playtime. I must go back to my work
a-day world"
June was dressed in white muslin
with lilies of the valley in her dark
hair. her arms were filed with roses
which she threw with wonderful grace