The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1914-01-02


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 noticed this little out
burst of temper
1t may be that the Christmas festivi-
ties of few days before had been
too much for him; but, whatever it was.
Dicky 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 scowIeh 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 a 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. mo. no. Dirky; this is a par
w LOT ulVtlltI anu ldlIcI = IllclluS
You wouldn't enjoy It,"
"Oh. but ! do want to come" persist
ed Dirky "I've heard you all talking
about it. and want to see the new
year come in the window"
"Whnt is the child talking ahout?"
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 wei
come ii in" replied Dirky. 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.
ITS just pretty custom There viii
not be anything for You I" see, and
you will he n,Ich happier upstairs IN
your nice warm bed
Dicky wept Il little ut the time. and
when the hour came for bed under the
stern eye OF his father he rehrl'iouSll
consented "a he tucked in 10y his nurse
although nor without further rrIlon
stranceS Finding them of no avail h'
sobbed his woes into his pillow, while
his father and mother went below t.
receive their guests.
BY making II brave resistance w thu
drowSinr|s that was stealing upon hin
Dicky MANAGED to keep awake unit
the nnrtN had assembled in Tx. pH'nt
below Then he cr.,l ont of bed nn
hung over the hanst"rS. eagerly t"vin@
to catch sigh, Of the brilliant people II
the ntheriu" a man PASSED non
the hall DirLy thought ii might l.
his father and scnntrrcd back to III"
again as fast as his little bare fee
would carry him And then w''hWn
more ado he soon fell asleep. TIN
world forgetting" hv the world forgot
Downstairs the hours PASSED mrril>
and the old year drew To II l,app'
CLOSE First there were only httr"t
minutes of II left: then there Wrl" uhl}
ten Finally the cd year had In, tiNt
short periods. counting sixty second,
each to live The men and wnmel
gathered together showed nothing q
The solrnnity that ,nldrrli"s the me-
rinlcnt Of all such gul 'lrrinls t'"nl
minutes three minutes 'Wu minutes
nh. They turned from the WlnHOW~
in surprise to sec IickN staining III
the doorway
He WAS not dressed for tn" party
and his li,llc uight1nWn nNorbpd ,>tani
protection against the drafts Ut The
tower room He WAS NOT expected ut
the party. either, and the expression
on his fathers face suggested tua1 he
was not even welcome there These
considerations might have disturbed
an adult guest but they mntirred little
to D"Ey
He did not look or speak to any ONE
Ordinarily his fathers StprnneSS would
have sent him with Il headlOng rush to
the protection of his mothers arms.
! Turning neither to the right nor to the
left. he went to the window, and. al
though his eyes We're closed. his little
hands unlocked the catch that fastened
it and opened the great easements
without a mistake or hesitation.
His mother. choking back cry. took
n furred wrap and went to cover him.
His father looked. half in fright. at his
brother, who was standing near.
"Be careful not to wake him sudden
ly," said DR.. Tom. He's 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 closed
eye!ids never quivered as the light
struck against them.
When he opened his eyes he was
amazed to find himself at the party
after all. surrounded by men and wo,
men. who all said cheertnly, "A hap
py New Year to you. Dicky. dear!"
He was too drowsy to be frightened
but as his father carried him back to
bed the child heard the great bells of
the city calling ont to him:
"A happy New Year. Dicky. dear.
ana many Of them