The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1914-01-08
Dicky's New Year
How he Came to Attend the
GroWa Folks Party.

& w slowed sly and naughty kick
upon the unresisting legs of a
chair that stood near him. His first
impulse was to feel sorry for doing
Tthas. his second to look around and see
IL any one had noticed this little out
burst of temper. $fF
ties of 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
Aunt Gertrude noticed how he kicked
the chair, nor the way he scowIed upon
the world In general from under his
tawny curis. 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.
I wouldn't leave him OUT quoth Dicky
out OF the silence.
What's that?"' asked his mother
carelessly. absorbed In her own
thoughts. "No. no. Dicky: this Is, a par
ty for mothers and fathers friends
You wouldn't enjoy it,
"Oh. but do want to come" persist
ed Dicky. "I've heard you all talking
about it. and want to see the new
year come In the window,
what 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 It to well
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.
Its just a 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 a 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 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. 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 70 d happy
close. First there were only fifteen
minutes OF It left: then there were only
ten. Finally the old year had but 1--WE
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
ah! They turned from the windows
ip 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 at
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 to the right nor to the
left. he went to the window, and, al
though his eyes were closed. his little
hands unlocked the catch that fastened
It 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, at his
brother. who was standing near.
BE careful not to wake him sudden
'ly." said DR.. Tom. Hes walking in
his sleepr
He raised the child gently in his arms
and held him In the full blaze of the
great chandelier, but Dicky's closed
eyeIids 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 cheerfully. "a hap
py New Year to you. Dlcky, dearr'
He was too drowsy to be frightened.
but as his father carried him back to