The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1913-12-27
Dicky'sNewY Year
How lie Came to Attend
the Grown Folks Party

DICKY sprawled ungracefully on
the floor, and at times he bestowed
sly and naughty kick upon the unre-
sisting legs of a chair that stood near
him. His first impulse was to feel
sorry for doing this, his second to
look around and see if any one had no.
ticed this little outburst of temper.
1t may be that the Christmas festi-
vities of few days before had been
too much for him; but, whatever it
was, Dickey was certainly cross and
inclined to weep easily.
However, neither his mother nor his
Aunt Gertrude noticed how he kicked
the chair nor the way he scowled upon
the world in general from under his
tawny curls. They were absorbed in
their preparations for entertaining
the guests of that evening, and for
once Dicky was forgotten.
"If was going to have party and
invite all the people in the world I'd
invite my own little boy, Dicky, too.
| wouldn't leave him out" quoth
Dicky out of the silence.
whats that" asked his mother,
carelessly, absorbed in her own
thoughts. "No, no, Dickey; this is
party for mothers and fathers
friends. You wouldn't enjoy it."
"Oh, but | do want to come" per-
sisted Dicky. 1--WE heard you all talk
ing about it, and | want to see the
new year come in the window"
What is the child talking about? ?"
asked his aunt.
"The new year. It's coming in the
window, and | heard mother tell how
you were all going to open it to well
come it in," replied Dickey, somewhat
impatient at his aunt for not under
standing so obvious meaning.
Nothing will come in at the win
dow, DEAR" said his mother gently.
Its Just pretty custom. There will
not be anything for you to see, and
you will be much happier upstairs in
your nice warm bed"
Dickey wept little at the time,
and when the hour came for bed I'M
der the stern eye of his father he re-
belliously consented to be tucked in by
his nurse, although not without fur
Their remonStrances. Finding them
of no avail, he sobbed his woes into
his pillow, while his father and mo-
Their went below to receive their
guests.
By making a brave resistance to
the drowsiness that was stealing upon
him Dicky managed to keep awake
until the party had assembled in the
parlor below Then he crept out of
bed and hung over the banisters, Gag
erly trying to catch sight of the bril-
liant people in the gathering. A man
passed along the hall. Dicky thought
it might be his father and scampered
back to bed again as fast as his little
bare feet would carry him. And then
without more ado he soon fell asleep,
"the world forgetting, by the world
forgot
Downstairs the hours passed mer-
Eily, and the old year drew to happy
close. First there were only fifteen
minutes of it left; then there were on
~ ten. Finally the old year had but
five short periods, counting sixty each
to live. The men and women gathered
together showed nothing of the solem
nifty that underlies the merriment of
all such gatherings. Four minutes,
three minutes, two minutes-ah. They
turned from the windows in surprise
to see Dickey standing in the doorway.
He was not dressed for the party,
and his little nightgown afforded
scant protection against the drafts of
the lower room. He was not expect
ed at the party, either, and the eX
preston on his fathers face suggest
ed that he was not even welcome
there. These considerations might
have disturbed an adult guest, but
they mattered little to Dicky.
He did not look or speak to any one.
Ordinarily his fathers sternness
would have sent him with a headlong
rush to the protection of his mothers
arms. Turning neither to the right
nor to the left, he went to the window
and, althourh his eyes were closed, his
little hands unlocked the catch that
fastened it and opened the great case
mentS without mistake or hesitation.
His mother, choking back a cry,
took a furred wrap and went over to
cover him. His father looked, half in
fright, at his brother, who was stand
ing near.
"Be careful not to wake him sud
denly" said Dr.. Tom. Hes walking
in his sleep"
He raised the child gently in his
arms and held him in the full blaze of
the great chandelier, but Dicky's clos
ed eyeIids never quivered as the light
struck against them
When he opened his eyes he Wa,
amazed to find himself at the party
after all, surrounded by men and wo-
men, who all said cheerfully, "a hap
ply New Year to you, Dicky, dear"
He was too drowsy to be frighten-
ed but as his father carried him back
to bed the child heard the great bells
of the city calling out to him:
"A happy New Year, Dicky, dear,
and many of them!'