Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1913-12-26

OurSt OF temper.
1t may be that the Christmas festivi.
ties Of a few days before had been
too much for him; but, whatever 1t was.
Dicky was certainly cross and inclined
to weep easily.
However, neither his mother nor his
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 l 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, Dicky; this is par
ty for mothers and fathers friends
You wouldn't enjoy it."
"Oh, but do want to come" persist
ed Dicky. 1--WE heard you all talking
about it, and ! want to see the new
year come in the window"
"Wbat is the child talking aboutT'
asked his aunt.
"The new year It's coming in the
window, and heard mother tell how
you were all going to open 1t to vel
come it In" replied Dicky. somewhat
impatient at his aunt for not under
standing so obvious a meaning.
Nothing will come In at the win.
dow, dear" said his mother gently.
TITS just pretty custom. There will
not be anything for you to see, and
you will be much happier upstairs in
your nice warm bed"
Dicky wept little at the time, and
when the hour came for bed under the
stern eye of his father he rebelliously
consented to be tucked in by his nurse,
although not without further remon-
strances. Finding them Of no avail. he
sobbed his woes into his pillow, while
his father and mother went below to
receive their guests.
!, By making 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. eagerly trying
to catch sight of the brilliant 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 bis 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 to happy
close. First there were only fifteen
minutes Of it left; then there were only
ten. Finally the old year had but five
short periods, counting sixty seconds
each, to live The men and women
gathered together showed nothing Of
the solemnity that underlies the mer'
rilnent of all such gatherings. Four
minutes. three minutes. two minutes
alb. 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. He was not expected al
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 woult
have sent him with headlOng rush t.
tho protection of his mothers arms
} Turning neither to the right nor to tn
D left, he went to the window, and, al
though his eyes were closed. his littl
hands unlocked the catch that fastene'
It and opened the great easement
without Q mistake or hesitation.
HIS mother, choking back . cry, too
. furred wrap and went 70 cover bin
:. His father looked, half In fright, at hi
I brother. who WAS Standing nsaf.
I. BE careful not 10 wake him suddes
~" said DR.. Tom "Hs's walking 1
: bis sleep!'
, He raised tho child gently in bis aru,
n and held him II the full blaze Of d
i great chandelier. but Dtcky's close
4 sYeljds never Quivefed % the hgt
!. struck against them.
When be opened bis syes he VI
amazed to end himself ct the part
. sitter all. surrounded by men and VI
. men, who all said cheerfully. "A bal
d ~ New Year to you. Dicky, dearr
He IVES too drowsy to b ktightsoe'
!. hae % his father carried Tin hack
bol The child heard the great bslls Z
~ city calling out to Tin:
"A happy New Year, Deeky, De-
. and many Of thsmr