Cheraw chronicle. (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, December 26, 1918, Image 4
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Lanyorv ..y
"r> EING alone over Christ
fmas isn't so Dad, Dut a
whole week after that,
too! I'm lonely now;
what will It be for ten
days, for Mary won't be
home until New Year's
For the first time during
twenty years of married
life Robert Adams' helpmeet had
taken a vacation, or rather had gone
on a visit to an Invalid sister, and her
husband had begun to miss her woefully.
So smoothly had life gone, so
many burdens had Mary lifted from
his shoulders in htr patient, plodding
way, that he missed her guiding, helpful
presence dreadfully. She had left
everything In trim order. The house
was neat as a pin, everything provided
for comfort to his hand, but the irkeomeness
of the intense solitude was
beginning to get on his nerves.
"I reckon I never knew her value
till Just now," he muttered. "She
shames me with the contrast between
the inside neatness and the outside
disorder, and as he glanced from the
window he had to confess that he was
a careless, slovenly man. The front
fence had two out of every five pickets
broken or. missing. The barn was
an antiquated ruin. The porch wobbled
and the clapboards of the house were
bent and storm-blistered for the lack
of paint.
He glanced into a mirror as he
passed it, his neglected beard tousled
and awry. He looked down at the
grimed and threadbare suit he wore
and flushed. He had just come from
the sleeping room upstairs, and, rummaging
a bureau for some papers, had
happened across a stored-away memento
cherished by Mary, a photograph
of himself in his early courting
days. It showed a neatly dressed,
arrow-straight young man, scarcely
comparing with the careless, shabby.
looking Individual he presented now.
The front gate gave out a rasping
sound. It did not click, for ode shattered
hinge alone supported it. The
cracK-toneu nouse oeu issuea a noxiow,
growling sound, and Robert weut to
the door to greet his brother-in-law,
local real estate agent, who held the
bell knob In his hand, as it had come
loose, trailing half a foot of rusted
wire with it.
"I nearly broke my neck stumbling
over that sidewalk of yours," he observed.
"Not much like Mary's domain
here, eh?" and he bestowed an approv
His Face Softened.
ing look around the neat, clean little
6itting room. "I say, Robert, I had a
bid today on some of your property
here."
"That's good," responded Robert,
pricking up his ears, ever keen for
business.
"The town's growing and getting
crowded, and a client Is thinking of
buying some street frontage and building
a half dozen bungalows as a
speculation. 1 wondered if your vacant
corner beyond here mightn't suit
him. What are you asking for It nn
acre?"
"An acre!" fairly shouted Robert.
"Humph! that's cool! Why, the land
is fully a quarter of a mile nevrer
town than the new subdivision ot ,?2m
Lane. He charges lot prices, uud so
shall I."
The brother-in-law hunched his
shoulders and looked dubious. "See
here, Robert," he said. "I'm going to
be plain with you. I've brought half a
dozen customers here who want to
build, and lost all of them. The location
isn't so bad; It's a direct street
and the widest In town, but the minute
they see those rickety sheds facing the
1
street, and the house here, lopsided,
paint all flaked off and the lot littered
up with old wagon wheels and other
rubbish, they shake their heads. You're
behind the times?worse than that, you
delight In playing the 'don't-care old
hayseed,' who doesn't appeal to an upto-date
neighbor. I should think, with
Mary, the thrifty Mary, always neat
as a pin and living in this old wreck
when she could grace a palace, you
would turn over a new leaf. By the
way, the good time to start it will soon
be here?January 1. Think It over. It
means happiness for Mary, who deserves
It, and profit for you, who have
let the golden chances slip by unheeded
all these years."
Robert Adams did not resent the
straightforward talk of his visitor. He
was just in a frame of mind where the
suggestions Implanted might take root
He nodded a thoughtful adieu to his
relative and sat down alone to cogitate.
The postman appeared with a j
letter from Mary and a small bundle. <
The former expressed the delight her
long-anticipated visit had brought to
her people. The package, opened, revealed
Mary's Christmas gift to him? |
half a dozen handkerchiefs and two
neckties. All of them bore initials ^
or some ornamental needlework, and y
his face softened as he realized how \
many plodding hours his wife had de- /
voted to the task to give him pleasure. J
Then he smiled grimly. As he fixed I
his eyes on a framed portrait of his /
helpmeet his eyes grew tender. Then j
they took to their depths a dreamy ^
tinge. Before his mental vision passed \
a series of pictures born of the vivid /
suggestions of the day. 1
"Why, not?" he cried abruptly, comIng
briskly to his feet. "January first p
Is a good time to begin!" p
. v
PKMWflRHHni I 7
" ^ *
^tT'" ^*s"*" w
Stared Fixedly at a Feminine Form.
Robert Adams visited a carpenter
shop, the town paint store and other
places early the next morning. He r(
went to the hardware store and ex- b
UllULIfU U1C laitoi ILL 11UUSC LA lUlUiiUgO,
He spent two hours going over wall- tl
paper stock. He asked each artisan he ^
consulted one uniform question: "Can
you get the work all finished by New SJ
Year's eve?"
He amazed the village tailor by or- ^
derlng his first suit in five years. He e)
was a profitable customer for the bar- r(
her, who not only worked in a shave p
and a hair trim, but a shampoo and y
half a dozen special unguents. d,
Hie renovated husband of Mary Ad- y
ams dallied long at the mirror ere he g(
went out and took Dobbin out of the jj,
stable. The train was due at ten 5,
o'clock, but it was New Year's eve, j
travel was heavy and all trains de- a
layed, and It was well on toward mid- tl
night when he craned his neck from y
the sleigh and eagerly watched the
passengers alight. . #
An utterance of disappointment
escaped his lips as passenger after
passenger left the platform. Then he
stared fixedly at a feminine form arrayed
in a neat velvet hat and a pretty
plush coat. She had turned her face lr
toward the station light.
"Mary!" he cried, but unbelievingly, n
as he viewed her strange attire.
"Ah Pnhfirt !" cho ronlloH nnH hnc.
tened eagerly toward him, but halt- t(
ed with a quick shock. Old Dobbin
looked ten years younger than when
she had last seen him. The sleigh glls- h
tened like a newly burnished chariot.
And Robert!?she feasted her eyes on
this apparent subject of the fountain .
of youth. .
"I?I didn't know you," she stam- ^
mered.
"Nor I you," said Robert?"all dolled ?
up In new togs."
"Oh, Uncle Ephrnim made sister and *
me a famous Christmas present and
insisted on seeing it spent on our own
selves," explained Mary.
"I've invested a trifle in the same
line myself," vaunted Robert, with a
spice of pride. "Get in, Mary. Yes,
new robes. Don't think me reckless?
I did it all for you."
Again?"Oh, Robert!" In rapt tones,
as they came in sight of home, loom- *
ing up like a mansion in a new robe
of white trimmed with dark green. ^
"Walt till you see the rooms?new pa- ^
pered from top to bottom," and Mary
was In a daze as she was ushered
Into the house. Then she put her arms
around his neck and kissed him. k
"What does this wonderful magic /
mean?" she fluttered. ^
Tt means?hark! there go the bells, ^
chiming out the old year. It means
Happy New Tear!" and he placed bis \
arm about her waist?"the newest
New Year of our lives, for we are going
to begin to enjoy the best the world
can give all over again 1"
"he midnight hour, sol tmn and drearrhe
bells ring out ow good old year
listen to the plaintive sound
ribrating o'er the country 'round.
Has! my friend has I o depart,
dy good, old year, it pains my heart
Ie was with me 'mid sunny rays,
ind clung to me in c'oudy days,
1 friend in joy, a frit nd w woe,
res, such was he, but he must got
to more he shall return to me,
Vith all his charms ar^d gifts, so fret
Ind Ah! it grieves me too, the thought
"hat I've not used him, as I oughtI
ind when I think about this yeart
orever now to disappear,
tow also of the years of yon,
lung out since long, to ie no more:
Vith childhood's sport, when dreams J
dreamed,
Vhen fancy's rays upon me beamed,
Vith dear old home, and all its charms
\nd smiling eyes and loving arms,
Vith beckoning hopes of rainbow hue
Vith hearts sincere, that stronger grew
"he bells say sadly: "Gone for aye,
Time sweeps your pleasures al
away!"
\h! cease to ring thou mournful bell,
do not like thy funeral knell,
'urtain mine eyes, thou blessed sleep
Ind let me joy in dreamland reap!
******
'he notes fire hushed?the year is dead,
Ind what he was and gave has fled,
'ut no?once more I hear it ring,
low moving with a steadier swing,
'ounding, sweet notes, conveying cheer
he bells ring in the bright New Year
lew life, new hope, new peace, neu
cheer.
:arewel! the old, welcome New Year I
'es, church bells, ring from lofty spirt
hat heavenward poirk, with hope tt
inspire!
he happy song ts tri your clang,
Vhich one sweet night God's angel
sang: I
Glory to God and peace on earth
'ood will to man," at J birth.
Rev. S. F. Rederus.
CHIPS FROM THE RIME BLOCK.
Well, Angel of the Record Book, turn
ver one more leaf, and Jot down mj
^solutions. I shall try to make them
rlef. But, come to think about it,
hat will all the angels say when
ley see ray resolutions, same as every
ew Year's day? I suspect they'll
ly: "That duffer has dragged out the
lme old set, and he'll smash 'em all
y Monday, or by Tuesday night, I'll
et 1 I wish we angels had a harp for
ich and every time he has made that
esolutlon to quit writing silly rhyme.'
oor Angel of the Record Book I
ou've got a man-sized Job, writing
own the resolutions for the New
ear's morning mob! , I would sugest
you save your strength and ov^i>
ead expense, by making up some ruber
stamps for tec or twenty pence,
ust save the stamps this evening,
nd file them all away. You'll need
lem In a year from now, another New
ear's day!
TAKE TIME TO LIVE RIGHT.
?? 1
The season for good resolutions Is
pproachlng. Thousands are resolvlg
to begin the New Year by comlenclng
some effort at self-Improve"
lent.
Most people suffer frdm poor health
ecause they say "they haven't time
) take care of themselves-"
The business man kijows he needs
lerclse, but denies hlfcnself because
e hasn't time. 1
Most people run their1 lives In such
slipshod fashion that1 they haven't
me to eat properly, to think proper
r, and to rest properly,
And the result Is that they die ahead
f time because they haven't had time
) live properly.
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: I FORGOTTEN
' \ By LAURA JEAN LIBBEY
' i
I "The heart Is hard In nature and unf
) For human fellowship, as being void
I Of sympathy and therefore dead allh
I To love and friendship both, that Is n<
i i pleased
; With sight of others enjoying life
Nor feels their happiness augment h
own."
I At the beginning of the New Yee
( one should brush the dust off his Hi
I of friends, looking up tnose wno na\
i dropped quietly out of one's everyda
* | life without a very good reason fc
it. Making new acquaintances Is usi
ally' an easy matter. But to nurtui
j those acquaintances until they bio
, som Into friends, cemented by loyalt
and constancy, Is a different probler
A man or woman may count a>
qualntances by the score?people wli
Invite them to their homes to dine, 1
theater party, or merrymaking?y<
they are still acquaintances onl;
Friendship means much more thn
this, while few actually understand 1
Many a one has counted up a hundrr
! so-culled friends today. But If adve
sity assails one tomorrow there ran
not be one heart among the many or
could turn to for solace and cheer.
Not one pair of hands would be e:
tended to draw one In from the col
the storm and darkness, If one is su
denly bereft of shelter. Past benefl
are not remembered. Acquaintance
find It easy to forget. Only friends r
member the past and Its hallowc
memories.
A w?B*n will remember every dets
??E?
''/^'t',.' .*'?* .*
:?.*vV/V',V:V'"/!!"V^ViVvS*'^"V,X\\;V*""SSl" ". :'.':J*I"!* !! ;
wmmmmmmmmm
dlo P-?opI
1AME is Nineteen Nineteen?
ou see 1'irwjust .brand-new;
big joyous/shout, Daddy Time Ie
'o brinaj|ew hope to you.
-that youVe got my number,
erjiaps^you rather doubt
/havecbme here to scatter goo
md all the]glooms to flout
's^pjheyworld's gone crazy
ind-things are all dead wrong
tew little-boy brings a promis
c^greet me with a song! ,
B of her courtship?where she first met
0 her lover, their Introduction, the im- j!
0 presslon she formed of him at first ]}
0 sight She even remembers what her
* reveries were and her wonderment as ;; | r
0 to whether or not he thought of her. An
*t She remembers each call he made; all !; Ar
$ that was said or done; how she had !; Ar
J detected, his growing love for her even
0 before he guessed it himself! She re- 31 ^
\ members the hour of their bethrothal j! ^
B and the conversation that brought it
lt quite unexpectedly about.
As for the man she married, not one ;! 50
e man in a hundred can remember what ; j *
Jt emotion swept across his heart at his |j VV
first meeting with her whom he was J; 01
Is to love evermore till death did them I ? Ar
part. Ninety-nine men out of a hun- z
if dred will confess to their wives. "I'm fSSSJ
st blest if I Just know Just how I hape
pened to propose to you." When a
7 man can forget that most thrilling of *
>r all moments In his life he can forget
i- anything. Such men find it very easy
e to forget their wife's or children's
s- birthdays, realizing that remembrance A i
7 would call for presents. sendl
Many wives are glad to have the chll- lnclw
c* dren not forgotten. But they are Just lng t1
to as well satisfied that he has forgotten ?'js
:o how swiftly time Is runplng away with try o
their good looks and aging them, notin
y. Last, and by no means least, no man eva i
o or womnn, no matter how happily mar*
t* rled, should allow the old folks at home Te^
fd to Imagine themselves forgotten by ^n(j'
r* them. It doesn't take much time to .
'y write a few lines once in a fortnight. ?
lOW t
ie We should always remember not to for.
/___ a bway
get tnose wno nave ueeu ucu* uo.
x. increu
Only Keep Green Ones.
d' Don't carry over any old bills lnt> that
ts the New Year?barring, of cour?e, f.r.ea '
P8 green bills. th,?p
e- On
id A Good Resolve. Tolst
Resolve to be better natured daring a caK
dl the coming year. day/
/
I
I
o\ 11: :
w P|jp
t me out llltlf
d cheer, ??||j
e of joy, m&m
M I.
NEW YEAR'S DAY
ood on a tower In de wet
id New Year and Od Year met
id winds were roaing and blowing; J
?d 1 said "O year that meet in teara j
.ve ye aught that i worth the knowing 1 ]>
ence enough arv exploring, j |
f 1?? irvl fffiinr J
UKICIUX VWIIIW ? ?r j
uter enough f deploring, |
t aught that i worth the knowing?" j!
u at my feewo* flowing
'avej on th ?hingie pouring,
d Year roin? *"d blowing,
d {sJeyy Yar blowing and roaring <
?Alfred Lord Tennyaoa J
500' new year advice.
e ol famllla.* wish rings true,
laj-y New Tear, friends, to you."
na who teeps up the custom of
n New Y;ar cards to his friends
t?d this yar a second card bearese
worts:
tead of returning evil for evil,
returj evil with good; to say
g ill if others; to act kindly
,vlth timb animals.
'e ths one day, two days, of
andpompare the state of your
wlttlts state In former days,
ke ie attempt and you will see
he ark, evil moods have passed
an how the soul's happiness has
.86
ikthe attempt, and you will see
t' gospel of love brings the
> and most desirable of all
i
ese cards is written, "This Is
s advice. It Is good to ptn~on
lar where it will be seen every