The ledger. [volume] (Gaffney City, S.C.) 1896-1907, December 21, 1894, Image 16
*
'4
SHTMAS, 1894
M
^ ma mum swptjzMmt.«
v^.
NEW YEAE
*
'ir
none jjayer than this l.-ap-year dance, M»“j3r thought a moment. • I'll U'll
and as tin* girls, after it was over, were , you, Amy. You run over Ik* for.* break-
going upstairs Amy said: "Oh, 1 wish fast and see Aunt Annie. She dearly
- ' V .•
rr-
Yi
HRICK new dolls
sat on three
little chairs.
Waiting for
C h r i s t m as
day:
And they wondered, when she saw them.
What the little girl would say.
'they hoped that the nursery life was gay;
And they hoped that they would Bnd
The little girl often played with dolls;
Ar.d they hoped that she was kind.
.Vear by sat an old doll neatly dressed
In a new frock, black and red;
She smiled at the French dolls—"As to that,
?»on't feel afraid." she said.
The new dolls turned their waxen heads.
And looked with a haughty stare.
As if they never had seen before
Th »t a doll was sitting there.
** Oh. we're not in the least afraid," said one.
We are'quite too tine and new;
Mat perhaps you yourself will tint! that now
She will searcely care for you."
The old doll shook her bead and smiled
>-tie smiled, although she knew
Her pi.'.st r nose was almost gone
And her cheeks were faded, too.
And now it was day; in came the child.
And there, all gay and bright.
Sat three new dolls In little chairs -
It was a lovely sight.
Sne praised their curls, and noticed, too
How ilnely the,' were dressed,
Hut the oid doll all the while was held
f iasped close against her breast.
Katharine Pyle, in St. Nicholas.
this weren't Saturday night—I don't
wan’t to go home—I know I shall never
have another waltz like that last one
with Al."
The room was in full chatter, for all
the girls wore
likes a joke, you know, and she will
help us manage it. She'll l>e sure then
to have him at the door. You shall
have half the candy. You won't for
get. will you?"
"Oh. Al Van Decker, ho.v did
come here?"
"Thought I'd stroll around and see
that you and Amy got here all right,
and I was just taking the short cut
home. And,” he added, as the last
stroke of twelve from the old town
clock died away: "I wish you a very
you AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR.
>n
the last
evening of
*'i.' that the Van Decker girls gave their :
leap-year party. At eight, o’clock that
evcniDg ''I iss Margarethe Van Decker
shod before the glass in the front
chamber of the old Van Decker house
buttoning her gloves. She was short
. a I
and plain]) and almost eighteen, and if
she was not exactly pretty she made
most people think she was, but Miss
Van Decker, or Meg, as she was fa
miliarly called, had a grievance.
"1 wf.uldn’t care if it were anybody
but Al." she was saying, “but he is al
ways getting the l>est of me. and last
time when he wished me ‘A Happy
New Year' lirst he lH*t a pound of
candy he would do it this year. Why.
just think." continued this small per
son. as she snapped the last button
into its buttonhole, "he has said
‘Happy New Year!’ to me first every
time sine - I was twelve years old. It
seems silly to care, but he does it to
tease me: he knows I mean to get
ahead of him. and then forget it
every time."
The little nose which was inclined to
snub went up with a sniff as Meg
shook out her red skirts and looked
over her shoulder at the place where
her train would have been if she had
been old enough to wear ohe. “And
boys are so conceited, anyway!” she
continued. "If we didn't take pains
and outwit them once in awhile they
would be simply unendurable. Al :
shall not be first this time, for I
think.” she added, firmlv, "that when
•>
I have once made up my mind to do a
thing 1 can carry it out as well as Al
Van Decker or anylxxly else in the
Van Decker family.”
"Come. Meg! Hurry up, Amy!"called
Hess Van Decker. "The boys will be
here in a jiffy, ami we must fa: ready
to receive them."
"Come on, .\jii3'. we shall 1h* the last
down, as usual." and Meg gave another
touch to her crinkly brown tiair. flow
downstairs and landed with a skip and
a twirl at the tiottoiii
Meg Van Decker was one of the Van
Decker con dn*. and so was Amy, and
so was He-s and Sarah and all the rest
of the iort . -on ■ of the younger gencr- ■
ation of the Van Deckers who lived at
the corner The family formed the
principal part of th • small suburban
settlement and (pute ruled it in a ho-|
* i«tl way. indee ! ;it this little party
there was hardl . i guest who was not'
a cousin, or who did not expect to Iks a
cousin some time
Of all ihe dances of there were
fa.. ' * ».
P* r*’ i-
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Ir
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rr;'-v _
W* *' 5 IMH*’' •' 4*1 *
.n^u.,., 7f.ni.i-
ffc-
crowded into it.
trying to find
their wraps. Hut
high above the
baliel rose the
voice of Miss
Sarah. " Girls,
you must hurry!
It's twenty min
utes to twelve
now, and Aunt
Annie said if
grandma let u.s
have the party
here we must all
be home and in
o ii r beds at
twelve. After
twelve it's the
Sabbath."
"Where’s my
other gaiter?”
cried Meg. T’ye
got to see Al
home myself be
fore S u n d a y
morning. Car
riages?" she eon-
.tinued, "did you
girls all engage
carriages? I did
n't. It doesn’t
pay just to take
Al round the cor
ner. Couldn't af
ford it anyway."
A moment lat
er. when there
was a lull, Meg
called: “Amy.
Amy Van Decker,
won't you come
here a minute? I
want to ask you
something.”
Amy came, but
tonhook in hand,
and seating her
self on a foot
stool. liegan but
toning her boots.
Meg lowered her
voice: "Have you
that old brown
dress that you
wore at the mas
querade last fall,
and the hat?"
Amj' nodded her
head, stamping
her left fixit tirm-
ly into the boot.
"Well, I want
to Ixirrow them
to-morrow morn-
ing.”
"What for?"
“Oh. it's a joke
on Al that has
|just popped into
m3' head. Y o u
know that he bet me that pound "Well, the things are up in the gar-1 "Happy Now Year!'"—Florence
of chocolat he would wish me a ret. and eight o'clock is prett}' early Scoville. in St. Louis Republic.
•Ilapp3' Xi Year!' first again this to get up. but if yon reall3' want
year. He doesn't expect to see j them—3'es. I will. Goodnight. Happy
me until the big fuinil3' dinner dreams!”
lt . i>(, ’Hm. .
V- *
W 1 4 :
Mil!
44
Y»-ab-ba-b&! Crisrpu? GifM"
Cbristrp&s in tbe 5unoy 5outb*
A Time to .SrrioiMljr Think of Oar Fitalts,
Failures and Miatak.-a.
The close of the year is always a |
time for serious though* and re flee-;
tion. Ihe past crowds upon us at
such a time with far more than usual
intensity and es
pecially forces up
on our attention
our faults, f a i 1- >
ures and mistakes.
Let us look them
squarely in the
face and profit by !
them. The wise j
man always does
this, hut the fool
never. The latter
goes on commit
ting the same fol-
1 ies and making <
the s a m e m i s-
takes. never prof
iting by his exper
ience. to xuj' n< >th-
ing of the experi
ence of others.
Every man makes
mistakes. It may
not be his fault
the first time, but
it is if he makes
the same mistakes
a second time. We
believe that the
secret of success
with those who
sueceecj. and the
cause of failure j
with those who i
fail, will be found |
largely in icabil-!
ily unddisposition \
tostudy thecauscs
of both suec“s.s!
and failure, not
onl3' in one’s own
experience but in
that of others.
The farmer now
has leisure to re
view the opera-i
lions of the year. ]
and he should do |
it candidly and;
critically. Make a
complete analysis
of ever3 - impor-
tant ope ration- i
Find t h e w e a k '
places in it and
trace them to their
origin. Nothing {
will prepare one
so thoroughly for
the operations of
the 3’ear to come
as this kind of i
searching invest!- ;
gation.
A n d while we j
are about this bus-
iness we should
look just as care-
full3' into our rec
ord of moral re-
sponsibilit)’. We
should be far!
improve eharac-
morals than to
F ALL the old
year's days
could speak.
I wonder what
they 'd say -
me snowy days, the blowy days.
The flowery days of May;
The summer days, when shady ways
Were made for children s feet:
\ .(cation days, when for their pla^s
The country was so sweet!
If all the old year's days could speak—
•lust think of It awhile—
Would their report brinx bitter tears.
Or the sunshine of a smile?
Ah: could they speak from week to week
Of honest work well done.
Of well-used powers in study hours.
Of fairness In the fun?
Of thankful thought for kindness wrought
When homes are rich and clad;
Of tender cure to xive or share
Where homes are poor and sad:
Of pleasant ways in dark, dull days;
Of little, gentle deeds;
Of earnest hours among heart's flowers.
In plucking hurtful weeds;
Can the year speak of patience meek
Where grief has stopped aw hile.
Of courage bold, for weak and old
A loving word or smile?
Methlnks the year must seem most dear
If thus its speech can be.
O'erfull of joys for girls and boys—
A year of jubilee.
-Mrs. M. F. Butts, In X. W. Christian Advo
cate.
Ills Cunning Scheme.
Mr. Drcffleshort—Sophrouia. I wish
you would look at that paper again
and tell me the exact date when that
train robbery took place on the Missouri
Pacific.
Mrs. Drcffleshort—Why, what are
\'ou doing. James?
Mr. Drcffleshort (who is busily writ-
iinr letters to various relatives out
west)—I want to locate a lot of bundles
of costly Christmas gifts—that we
didn't send—on that particular train.—
Chicago Tribune.
Some New Year Advice,
Don't wait for the wagon while the
walking is good.
Don't grieve over spilt milk while
there’s one cow left in the pasture.
Don’t sa3' the world is growing worse
when you are doing nothing to make it
better.
Don't tell the world your troubles.
You can't borrow ten dollars on them.
Don't let the grass grow under your
feet. The cows can't get at it there.—
Atlanta Constitution.
W. (more anxious to
ter, mind and
to-morrow, and by that time I dare j
say that I shall be talking so fast I
shall forget all about it. as usual. Hut
1 am going to dress up so he won't
know me, and then in the morning,
when the poor children go to his house j
for the New Year's cakes 1 am going to
get in with a crowd of them and just
wish him a 'Happy New Year!* For |
once I am glad I live in a Dutchy New
York town, else there wouldn't be an}’
poor children going around asking for
cakes."
Amt' laughed and agreed, and Meg
tied a gauze scarf under her chin and
said: “Now, I ‘hink I'm ready. And
Amy. 3'ou take Harry up to the house,
and I will take Al. and then we will
meet at the corner and go home to
gether. Mind. now. that von don't let
Harr\' go home with you."
"Come, girls.” called Cousin Sarah.
"The carriages have been here for ever
so long." The girls trooped downstairs
to the hall, where the boys were wait
ing, and with some blushing and much
laughter each girl escorted her charge
to the carriage, or walked with him,
as the case might be.
If Al Van Decker had an3’ idea of ,
taking a slow promenade with Meg. he
was soon disabused of the notion, for
she started him away at u great pace,
saying: "I can't dawdle. It's nearl}’ j
midnight and we should have lieen
home half an hour ago." And in less
than five minutes Mr. Albert Van
Decker had arrived at his own door.
"Now. Cousin Meg.” he said, "it's my
turn."
"Nonsense! There is Amy now. Auf
Wiedersehcn!" And away sped little
Miss Van Decker across the street.
"It didn't take long, did it?" said
Meg, as she slipped her arm in Amy’s.
"That is a girl's way of doing things
right to the point. Hut 1 want to In
sure about the old gown; have it ready
by eight o'clock. I want to go over
about nine. Al will come to the door;
he alwayslikestogive away the cakes."
“Yes." said Amy. "He did it when
he was little; yet suppose he shouldn't
answer the tiell."
Meg turned from Amy's door and
Kiiny Knoiurli.
"What I don't understand,”
small Jaekv. "is that Nanta Claus
'W:
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EACH GIRL ESCORTED HER CHARGE.
improve our farms. Serious study
of our weak points and of means to
strengthen them is a very profitable
business at any time, and if pursued
assiduously will strengthen and develop
all that is good and admirable in our
natures, and make us better, stronger,
nobler men and women Us the years go
by. And the time will come in the life
of every one when such a record of
honest, earnest, persistent effort to im
prove will afford far greater satisfac
tion than anything else in his account
with this world. We can wish no In-t-
ter thing for all our readers than that
they begin the new year animated by
a firm resolve to turn all its experience
into profit for themselves, mentally,
morally, socially and materially, and
then to faithfully carry out the resolu
tion.—Ohio Farmer.
The Old and the New.
The Old Year laid upon the p >rt:i!s of the past
A treinbliu£ hand.
And said: "Oh. let me die and he at rest
Within thy misty land:"
Then all the years that lived and died before
Reached forth, and drew the wanderer safe
within the door.
The New Year laid upon the portals of to-day
A firm younc hand.
And said: "Oh. let me come and live and work
Within thy shinini; land:"
Then all the years that ar<- to be replied:
••This is your world." and drew the youth in-ide.
—Kathleen R. Wheeler, in Lippincott s.
walked back to the crossing: but just
before she reached it she saw someone
vault the low fence that ran around the
lawn. She started, and then stood still.
“Don’t l>e frightened,” said a well-
known voice, "it's onh' me ”
understand the letters that I write to
him when 1 don't know how to write.”
“Hof" jeered Mollie. "That's easy
enough. Sant3' Claus can read scrib
blin’ as well as writiu'.”—Harper’s Ha-
zar.
The Bent One.
Editor—I want *an original Christ
mas story. Can you write it?
Writer—Of course not. You'll find the
original Christmas story in the New
Testament.—Detroit Free Press.
Christma* Belli*.
O happy hells! through coming years
We hear, in jour glad sending.
The message still of peace, good-will
All jarring discords blending.
O bells of God! ring on, our souls
To grander action nerving.
Till all our days are Christmas days
Of living and of serving.
—Caroline A. Dugan, in Home.
Will Receive Calls.
"Do you expect to receive calls on
New Year day?" asked Willie Ilicollar
“Yes,” answered Mamie llollertoii;
“I'll have to. The telephone exchange
where I work wouldn't give rmrthe da} -
off. Isn't it mean?' Washington Star.
Old Skinflint's Generosity.
"My dear.” said old Skinflint to his
wife, "we ought to do something for
the poor people around here this Christ
ina-.'’ ^
"I think so. too. What do you p^^
pose to do?” asked Mrs. S. ^
"Suppose we have our Christmas din
ner at night and leave the dining-room
shades up, so that they can see our plum
pudding?”—Harper’s Hazar.
HU Reason.
"How did Charlie come to give up
smoking so suddenly?”
"He was afraid it was going to make
him disregard the truth.”
“How do you mean?”
"He knew he would have to sa3' he
was pleased with those his wife would
give him Christinas.”—Inter Ocean.
Kncouraginjt.
"Grace.” he liegan, tenderly, on New
Year's eve, “I—I—” when she inter
rupted him.
“Wait until twelve o’clock,” she
whispered. "I had enough proposals
last year *0 suit anyone, but 1 want '‘»5
to beat it—so please wait."—Harper's
Hazar.
Thinks Ills Want* Are Covered.
“Fve written a letter to Santa Claus.”
said Willie. “And I think it covers
everything I want.”
.' That's good,” said mamma. "What
did you ask for?”
"Two toy shops and a candy store,”
said Willie.—Harper's Hazar.
Kemeiubering the Widow.
"I don't know much about the father
less.” musedOldsport, reflectively, "but
1 guess this Christmas season is a good
time to remember the widow.”
Having arrived at this decision he
went down-town and ordered a dia
mond bracelet.—Detroit Tribune.
Knllghtencd I'hilaiithropy.
Primus—Jobson is a philanthropist.
Secundua—What does he do?
Primus—He's so sorry for poor chil
dren who have no Christmas that he
spends the year telling them that
Santa Claus is a myth.—Puck.
A New Year'* Wish.
A Happy New Year to you. little one,
Who-o Happy New Years are just Ix-gCml
And tnay your life lie »* sweet and true
As the wishes, to-day, that art wished for you!
Youth's Companion.
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