Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-12-27

the iluOr. and az times he be
W. slowed sly and naughty kick
upon the unrcsistiug legs Ut "a
chair that stood near him. His Grst
impulse was 10 feel sorry for doing
this. his second TO look around and see
II any one had noticed this little out
burst Of temper.
II may be that the Christmas fcstivi
ties OF a few days before had been
too much for him. but. whatever 1t was.
Dicky was certainly cross ana inclined
TO weep easily
However neither his mother nor his
Aunt Gertrude noticed how he kicked
the chair nor the way he scowled upou
the world III general from under his
tawny curls They were absorbed in
their preparations for entertaining the
guests 81 that evening. and for once
Dicky was forgotten
III was going 10 have a party auA
invite an the people in the world l'd
invite my own little boy. Dleky, too
/ wouldn't leave Lima out quoth picky
out Of the silence
Whats that:" asked his mother
carelessly. absorbed IN her own
thoughts. NO no. picky this is a par.
Is for mothers and fathers friends
You wouldn't enjoy TT
"Oh. but DO want 70 come. persist
ed Dicky 1--WE heard you all talking
about II. ana / want % see tho new
year come in the window"
"What is the child talking about:'
asked his aunt
"The new year It's coming in the
window. AMI heard mother tell how
you were al going To- open 1t 10 wei
come II in replied nicky somewhat
impatient at his aunt for not under
standing 50 ohyinus Il 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 10 see. and
you will be- much happier upstairs in
your nice warm bed
DlcEy wept little al the time and
when the hour came for bed under the
stern eve Of his father he rebellionsly
consented to he tucked In by his nurse.
although not without further renou.
strances Finding Them Of no avail. he
sobbed his woes into his pillow. while
his father aud mother went below 70
receive their guests
BY making brave resistance 10 the
drowSiness that was stealing upon him
Dlcky managed to keep awake until
the party had assembled in the parlor
below Then he crcpt ont Of bed and
hung over the banisters. eagerly tryiu:
TO catch sight Of the brilliant people IN
the gathering. \ man passed along
the hall Dicky thought il might be
his father ana scampered back 20 bed
again ms 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 merrily.
and the old year drew 10 happy
close. First there were only fifteen
minutes Of II left then there were only
ten Finally the old year had but i've
short periods. counting sixty seconds
each. TO live The men and women
gathered together showed nothing of
the solemnity that underlies the mer-
riment OF all such gatherings. -Four
minutes. three minutes. two minutes
ali They turned from the windows
In surprise to see Dicky 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 lie was not expected NJ
the party, either. and the expression
on his fathers face suggested 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 headlong rush To-
the protection OF his mothers arms.
Turning neither 10 the right nor 10 the
left. he went to the window. and. al.
though his eyes were closed. his little
hands unlocked the catch that fastened
II and opened the great easements
without mistake or hesitation.
His mother. choking back cry. took
a furred wrap and went TO cover him
His father looked. half IN fright. nj his
brother. who was standing near.
"Be careful not 10 wake him sudden
IT," said Dir. Tom Hes walking In
his sleep
lie raised the child gently In his arms
and held him in the full blaze of the
great chandelier. but Dicky's closed
eyelids never qulvered as the light
struck against them.
When he opened his eyes he was
amazed 10 lind himself M the party
after all. surrounded by men and wo-
men. who all said cheerfully. "A hap
by New Year to yon. Dlcky. dear!'
He was too drowsy 10 be frightened.
but as his father carried him back 70
bed the child heard the great bells 81
the city calling ont to him:
"A happy New Year. Dlcky. dear.