HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1920-12-23, Page 14MISS JANET'S
"FIRST-FOOT"
"It's New Year's Eve, Marv"
Mies Janet Macgregor was speaking
to her young servant, as the gin
eleare4 away the supper. Mary, bc:ng
English, agreed placidly. To her it
was the last night of the Old Year,
and that was all.
But to her mistress it was the great-
est night of the year, because of its
associations. Many had passed since
she had lived in her native land, and
all her nearest and dearest had gone.
But, somehow, on "Hogmanay," as
she still called it in her thoughts, they
came very close to her. Often and of-
ten she had dreamed of leaving this
quiet English town and returning to
her Highland home, but she shrank al-
ways from the risk of finding no fa-
miliar faces to greet her, none of the
old folk left.
"If there's nothing else you waist,
Miss Janet," said Mary, as she lifted.
the laden tray, "I'll go to bed,
"And not see the New Year in?"
asked her mistress.
The girl grinned sheepishly as she
said "Good -night," and went away,
leaving hila3 Janet alone with her
(Treaties.
The old lady drew her chair to the
fire, and let her fancy stray back over
the days •af the dear dead past.
She could see herself as a little
barefooted lase, tanning wild in the
Highland village where her father had
kept hie shop. with the keen business
instinct end innate courtesy of his
race.
The brteiness had grown under hie
careful management until at length
he fuitilled the ambition of every true
Snot --he had been able to give his
wily child a good education. The days
i, the Edinburgh boarding -school had
been happy enough; even now she
c;edel find much food for pleasant mus-:
irgs in then. But always she had
legged for the air of the mountains
and the homely friends of the village.
Rr z t:avec had not passel her by,
e her. There had been a time whets
Leve shone hie beacon light ahead of
her. But Fate had proved the strong -i
er, and in a certain grave lay her only
dream of marriage.
Then her father had gone. leaving
them well provided for; in fact, they
had been able to dispose of the hese!
ness and settle dawn to home life un-`
til her mother's health began to fail.
At the doctor's advice, she had
brought her South in the hope that a
milder air would bring new strength
to the worn-out frame.
Then, when she was at last alone in
the world, there was nothing to pre-
vent her going had* 'co the hills and
dales -except that this had been her
mother's last !tome, and here she her-
self lead passed slowly from middle -
age into the gentle old lady she now
And rise had gathered round her
some dear friends, who replaced those
of the long ago. There were many in
this pleasant seaside town who gave
her a glad welcome when she called,
or were pleased to share in the simple
hospitalities she arranged.
Against this thought came the fear
that perhaps, if she went back, she
might find that all the friends of her
childhood had gone. It was so true
that never can we turn back the hands
of the clock. Better be content with
the dear, cherished memories than go
back to find all things changed and
familiar faces gone.
Apart from this, there was no rea-
son *by she shouldn't go "home," as
she called it in her inmost. soul. Her
bank account was as cosy as the fire
beside 'which she was sitting. All
round her were 'evidences of her com-
fortable circumstances, the heavy sil-
ver on the sideboard, the thick locket
and chain on her neck, thebracelets
on her wrist. Massive and ugly as
they were, they were all solid and of
the best.
"And trees £Il bear transplanting, -
she murmured sadly. "But it's on t6-
night that I. feel far from home. Hog-
manay! And no one to 'first-foot' ins
-no one to run round on the stroke
of twelve and wish fine well."
She glanced at the large marble
clock. It still wanted half an hour to
midnight.' She sank back in her chair
and stared into the glowing fire.
The room was very still. No sound
came to her. from outside.
"Well," she thought drowsily, "she
had still much to be thankful for-
health, comfort, peace. She—"
Her eyelids dropped.
* * ,,,
Suddenly she was alert agate.
"I must have dropped off,"'size told
herself, with e, little shrug. "But
what round ole?"
The silence was as intense as ever.
It was still fifteen minutes front the
hoar, She lazily pondered over what
could have awakened her, but was
thankful for the interruption,
"What like should I have ben," she
scolded herself, "if 1 had been asleep
when the New Year dawned, A fine
start it would be.'
Then, aa au image vanishes from a
troubled lake, her smile was swept
from her lips, She kuew uow what
had disturbed her.
From the front door, shadowed by a
deep Porch, came curious sounds as of
metal on metal, stealthy scratching.
Wbat was it? Her withered face
whitened and her lips drew tight.
She knew that Mary and she were
alone, with the nearest neighbor some
distance away. It had always been
the greatest charm of this old 'house
that its gardens secluded it from the
road. Now its loneliness suddenly be-
came a thing of terror and dread.
Her ears, sharpened by a fear she
could not name, she lay'back on her
cushions, tense and breathless. The
scratching had ceased. In its place
she could hear the lock turning; she
knew its little creak too well to be
mistaken,
Thieves! •It could be nothing else.
And she was alone, save for the young
girl upstairs.
The shock almost overwhelmed her.
Then she pulled herself together. The
blood of her fighting ancestors rushed
again through her veins, and she
clenched her hands. The room in
which site sat was at the back of the
house, and there were thick curtains
at the window which would effectively
screen the light from outside.
'Well, if there was anything to face,
let her face it, and not sit crouching
here like a trembling hare.
Her knotted bands clutched the
amts of her chair, and she slowly
drew herself erect. Then. with a
great effort, she went into the darken-
ed hall and watched.
The front door was opening, She
could bee the patch of starlit sky be-
tween the door and the framework-.
A trembi.ng hand was pressed over
her lips. Then, with a muttered
prayer, ehc switched on the light.
The man who stow, or, rather,
crouched, in the open door, sprang up
with a snarl of dismay. He was
copped; he'd put up a fight for it.
• Then a wicked grin twisted his thick.
! lips. It was only the old lady. It was
rotten luck that she should be awake.
He had been so sure she and her girl
I would be a -bed long ago.
For a space of time, unmeasured by
either, they stared at each other, the
little white-hairedwoman and her
strauge visitor. In hie red eyes she
' saw danger for herself and for that
young lass upstairs,
With the knowle,ige or peril came
the strength to face it. •i nen sudden-
ly, with a deep note, the clock struck
twelve, and gave her irspiration. The
man shrank back aghast as she ad-
vanced towards him with outstretched
hand.
"A. Guid New Year!" she said
steadily. "sen' mony may ye see!"
He drew back, till he was pressed
close against the door -frame, but still
she came on, never hesitating, till her
thin old lingers gripped his rough
hand.
"And here's me sitting and girning
that there was no one to 'first-foot'
me!" she went on, with a little laugh,
as she drew him away from the door,
His greedy fingers felt the rings on
hers; a heavy gold bracelet slid down
her withered wrist, till he could have
taken it off easily. It was part of the
plunder he. had come for; yet he did
not clutch at it, and he himself won-
dered why.
Daunted by her strange greeting and
the calmness of her old face, he foI-
lowed her into the warm room, their
hands still clasped.
"Sit down by the fire!" she com-
manded gently. "Tt's a cold night out-
side. And now I mustshow courtesy
to my first guest in the New Year."
Turning her back on hint bravely,
she opened a door in the sideboard,
and drew out a decanter filled with
wine, which shone crimson in the fire-
light. This she placed on the table.
Again . she turned away, and once
again he marvelled at his own numb-
ness.
Now! A. . quick spring .and a tap-
no need for much force with such a
frail old .woman -and he would be free
to seize his booty and escape. A
silent curserang through his brain as
PART OF IRELAND UNDER MARTIAL LAW
Shaded areas show the counties of I.,imeriek,. Kerry, Tipperary and Cork,
which have been placed under martial law.
1 ----The Galway County Conseil has asked the British Government for
a truce
2 -The Limerick County Couu<+ll !taw adopted a resolution disussaclating
itself tram the Galway County Council's action.
he sat there. He couldn't do it!
Thee time she placed a heavy silver
cake -basket on the table. Her hand
was steady as she poured out the wine
till It touched the rims of the glasses.
One glass she placed on a silver sal-
ver, and handed to him with an old-
world courtesy.
"Take some cake!" she invited.
Its not good to drink without eating,
Obediently lee snatched at a piece of
cake. and again eyed her.
Standing beside the table. Ate
raised her glass steadily, never spiel -
leg a drop.
"Here's to the year that's gone!"
she toasted reverently, "And good
fortune to us all in the year that's
come!"
* * *
The sound of Miss Janet's voce had
roused Maty from her sleep, and M-
I quisitively she had stolen to the head
of the stairs to see who the late visi-
tor could be.
One glance at the man's. grim face
was enough, and she fled in terror to
° her room. Presently she heard her
, mistress speaking in the parlor, and,
summoning her pluck, she hastily
threw on some clothes.
Then, step by step, she went down-
stairs, along the dark hall, and out of
the open door. She must get help
somewhere; else who could say what
might be the outcome of this uncouth
visitor's late call?
Out in the quiet road she flew along,
fear pursuing her, and round. the first
corner towards the town. Then a
wild sob of joy broke from her quiver-
ing lips as she saw a massive figure
coming towards her.
"Oh, help -- help!!" she gasped,
"Burglars at Mayville -Miss Mec-
gregor!"
Clutching at the polleeman's sleeve,
she drew him with her es she sped
back. Once again in the house. she
paused. Fearful of what might have
happened in her absence, she printed
silently to the parlor (Icor,
:Vert and aaiebt'ul, the poi c•enan
throw open the door and walked in, to
•ta a in surprise as he saw the
strengc•ly contrasted figures seated by
the fire, with wine and cake on the
table.
"Anything the natter. nese?" be
asked gruffly,
ells: Janet rose unsteadily to her
feet. Now that the strain wrs eluted
she Nit weak and til,
She looked at the man. His eyes
were wild, and staring with despera-
tion, his hands picked ceaselessly at
the padding of his chair, as he crouch-
ed at bay.
Then her eyes caught the glitter
of glass and silver on the table.
"It's toy 'first-foot.' constable." she
finished quietly, true t0 the bond of
hospitality. "This gentleman came to
wish fine a Good New Year. That is
aIl!"
Then she turned to tate startled
man, who was watching in dumb
amazement,
A News Tercentenary
Attention has just been called to the
recent tercentenary of journalism in
the English language, which anniver-
sary occurred early in December. The
first English newspaper was printed,
however, in Amsterdam on Derember
2, 1620, growing out of the necessities
of the Thirty -Year war and being call-
ed "A Corrant Out of Germany, etc."
This news sheet anticipated the "Ga-
zette o£ France" by eleven years, and
from that day an the English-speaking
public has been served by all sorts of
pamphleteering and mews -gathering
publications until, on this side as well
as the other side of the pond, they
have become that daily miracle
"which for the price of a postage
stamp" puts you in touch with the do-
ings of the whole world almost at•the
very instant of the happening. Just
what journalism went through in
these 300 years has been specifically
set out by the London Times in dis-
cwssang a new work on Journalism
which covers the long period of ser-
vice more thoroughly than has ever
been done in any previous investiga-
tion of the ,early history of English-
language newspapers The reviewer,
howeyer, seems to be a little pessi-
mistic as to whether the newspaper of
to -day over there has' the freedom
that it ought to have; though a great
future is envisioned for journalism, in
that i.cience in coming to its aid more
and more through the reduction of
time and space, will tnake it possible
through the use of the wireless tele-
phone of unlimited range, and aero-
planes, almost as swift as thought, to
give the modern newspaper new. news-
gathering facilities and a wider range
of circulation than is now passible un-
der existing physical conditions.
As the British editor sees it, "In a
decade or so from now a ,newspaper
edited at Johannesburg, in wireless
communication with Landon and other
capitals of Europe, may be read with-
in a few hours in every town in South
Africa. The machines and presses
now congregated in one building in
London may be set in motion, simuI-
taneonsly in all parts of the Empire.
That. journali m as a whole still
meets the test of Maccaulay, who saw
in the Fourth Esta..e the standards of
culture, will only be denied by those
who, seeing the minor faults, fail to
realize that a free press in a democ-
-racy is the real protector of liberties
and the promoter of that kind of in-
telllgence that is a continual educe-
tion .of free men in a free state.
Weekly Market Report
Toronto. Honey -60 -30 -lb. tins, 25 to 26e per
Manitoba w•Izeat-No. 1 Northern, lb. Ontario comb honey, at $7.50 per
51.94?a; '\o. 2 Northern, 31.91;x'; No, 15 section case;; 5x/2-21/, -ib, tins, 26
3 Northcru, 31;87?a; No, 4 wheat,. to 27c per lb,
$1,59x. Smoked meats -Hams, med, 40 to
]Manitoba oats --No. 2 CW, 521130; 42e; heavy, 38 to 40c; cooked, 55 to
No. 3 CW 49?; c; extra leo, l feed 58c; rolls, 35 to 37c; cottage rolls, 37
491'>0 , No, 1 feed, eeeee• No. 2 ft'd, to 39e; brtakfast bacon, 45 to 49c;
i4 i,2 C- ' fancy breakfast bacon. 53 to 56c,
Planitoba barley -No, 3 CW 91t"•c• backs, bred . bore in, 49 to 54e, bone-
William.
one-
No.t cV::,841ec; rt�ie2ted,C81e�c, feel, less, 55 to 59e.
(8i;,e. Cured meats --Long cleat bacon, 27
All of the abase in store at 1"'ort to 2$e• clear bel!?es, 26 to 27e.
1'i'illiuni Lard -aero tierces, 25 to 2tic, tubs,
American corn -+1.15. nonith ti 26 to ,26t�c, nail., 261!t to 26%e,
track, Ter: nto, prompt shipment, Prints, 28 to 29e. .compound tierces,
Orrtai io oats -No. 2 white, 50 to Sue, 17 to 18c;,:tubs, 173a to 18zloc; pails,
Ontario ti�hsat--Na, 2 Wince: $1.85 18% to 20c; prints, -21 to 22e..
to 31,90 per car lot; No. 2 Spring, choice heavy steers. 812 to x,13,50,
31.30 to $igh, shipping points, accord- good heavy steers, 310.50 to $11; but-
trn to freight, chefs' cattle. choice, 39.50 to 310; do
:!teas-No.'2. nominal, 31.75 to $1,80. good, 28 to 39; do, nted., 3t; to $7; d.o.
Barley -85 to 900, according toe com., $5 to 85.50; butchers' bulls,
freights outside.
;choice, $8 to 59.50; do, good, $7 to $8;
Buekwhsat No. 3, $1 to 21 0' none-' do com.. 85 to 36; butchers' cows.
inal. choice, 37.50 to 38.50: do, goad, 8f,.25
- lty c -No. 3, 31.50 to 31.56, nominal i to $7; do, com,. +4 to $5• feeders, best.,
according to freights outside. '$9 to 210; do. 900 lbs., 38.50 to $9,50;
Manitoba flour -$11.10, top patents;! do. 800 lbs $7, 7 5 to 58.2:5; do, tam.,
810.60, Government standard. 35 25 to 36 25; canners and cutters, 33
Ontario flour -$7.75, bulk seaboard, l to 24.50; milkers, good to choice, 3100.
ltlilifeed-Gar lots, delivered plant to 3105; do, coin. and med.. 265 to 375;
real freights, bags included: Bran, per! lambs, yearlings, 39 to 39.50; do
ton, $.38 to 340; Shorts, per ton, $4«•' Siring, 311 to 512; calves, good tc
good feed flour. 32.75 to 3,4.00. ' ' choice, $14 to $16; sheens, 36 to $7;
twins, 27 to '',Se; triplets, 23 to oe
Cheese --•-New, large, 26 to. 27e. hog:, fed and watered. 316 to 816,25;
do, weigl ed off ears, $x16.2, to $16,50;
old, large, 32 to 35e; do, twins, 32“:' dee f.o.b. 8115 to 215.25; do, country
to 33eee. points,. 314.75 to 315.
Butter -Fresh dcir}•, choice, 49 tar
Montreal.
60c; creamery, No. 1, 55 to 58e; fresh,, Oats -••.Con, West,. No. 2, 7211,..e; No,
f,8to Margarine--3olto iii• 3, 693ec, Flour -•-Man, Spring wheat
teatents. firsts, $11,10. Rolled oats -
Eggs -No. 1, 69 to 72c; selects, 76 Bags, 90 lbs., 83,80: Bran, 340.25
to 78e; new laid, in carton,, 85 to 900.0 Shorts, 342.25. clay, No. 2, per ton
Beans--•-Cnnadiun hand --picked, bus., t car lots, 331 tt 332.
$3 75 to 34.20; princes, 33 to 33.50;' Cheese -.-Finest eastern, 19 to 210;
Jai:ans, 93,se, Limas, Madagascar, Butter, choicest crearntry, 53 to 55e.
103ee; Calieernia Lianas, 1 2,.•,, !Eggs, fre lt, 72:. Potatcces, per bag,
Maple products --Syrup, per imp, ear lots, 31.60 to 31.70.
gal., $3.40 to 33.50; per 5 imp. gals.,! Good veal, 212 to 313: med., $9 tc
33.25 to 33.10. Merle sugar, lb., 27 312; grass. 34.50 to 35. Hogs, selects
,to 30e. 317 to 317.50; sows, 313 to 13.50,
"While the lass gives the constable I
a glass of Incw, " she 'hitt, 1 will fee
you away." The man behind. the h i n?tt• 1s th tt nc
h
Eyeing the etalwurt volt ctn;us keen-rounri-dhe prime newer that is tau
sour of every m:zrittnx---rte sive. tai -clay
ly, be streaked to h- • feet, and follow- In forme,
a corsicleratirn rtct'r;'£1 htt�
ed the old lastly to the front door , and times. In the pr:cent ere, the Ichare]
freedoas• in mnny ine!ances 1:33 lest his head
"Go," whi pered Zit ,ianet, sul;e�c':• but be reel reg:ri it. Claims:afire:
li poitttinr; to rite curl:tte�:, of tlto
world Weide. "1' will keep him hese tt''11 ¢earls ?tin: ni't to ibrnv: hi. tnore3
a few minute+" about as though t w.=re 5vafite;. tpefi
Then she thrust her Burst, brats economic laws themselvca will tales
k his bi
hand, and her voice broke assheadd-sasve,tuition in Jinni and teach him tc
ed softly: The man himself is more important
"And --and good fortune to t' all In than anything that he maltee, send a
the year that'scone humane consideration for him is the
•
BRITISH GOVERNOR soundest business policy-. If care
taken for his gond, he is bound rot
PROTECTS HOLY CITY to be recklee.: of himself. He can
hardly expect others to be solicitous
Refused to Allow Trains to if he is eareleee and contemptuous of
what is done for him.
Run to Bethlehem.
A despatch from London says:
Ronald Storrs, Governor of Jerusalem,
Factor and Factory.
Some men need the rough jolt of
occasional adversity to remind them
of the value of tlsfir job to them. It
who described himself as the successor is not smart to disparage one's em -
of Pontius Pilate, was entertained at ployment. If you cannot give to it
luncheon by the Overseas Club and your loyalty. which is more than a
Patriotic League. Among his own acts perfunctory fulfillment of routine, you
as Governor, said Storrs, was one to ought to make room for a good and
prohibit drink bars, as they seemed faithful servant. The mere time-
so wholly out of keeping with the sur -server draws down a wage that he
roundings, and the High Commission -
has scarcely earned, andreviles, if he
er had extended this proposition to does not actually bite, the hand from
the whole of Palestine. His reply to which he takes it.
a request fora concession to run There is pride in their calling.
trams to Bethlehem and the Mount of among the genuine and self -respectful
Olives was that the first rail section
would be laid over the body of the
craftsmen. They do not care to let
the finished product leave the tailing
Governor. He had forbidden the use hand until it is as good as they can
of stucco and corrugated iron within make it. How different is their spirit
the walls, and dem the destruction of
buildings without permission.
U.S. SETTLERS
BRING $17,000,000
December May Add Another
Million to Total.
A despatch ftom Ottawa says:
'united States citizens coming into
from the time -serving way of those
who do not care what they turn out
if only the skimped, dishonest work-
manship will elude theinspector and
deceive a purchaser!
Any industrial establishment is as
strong as the "loyalty of those who
work for it and its weak as their
dereliction.
If the output of one of the se em-
ployed is inferior, it is the whale
Canada to take up residence here are establishment that stands discredited.'
bringing with them considerable The mistake or the willful.malfeasance
wealth, according to statistics of the of one stands not against his name,
wh
Immigration Department. The amounwhichis hidden, but against. the pinta
of cash and the value of settlers' of of his employment, fawhich is publicly
feete together in the eleven months knows!' If at a store, or at a or at -
ending November aggregated $17,519,. molt office, or in a trolley car, or
033. December will add another mil-
lion. From all sources immigration by
the end of the year is expected to
total 50,000. The resources of the or-
dinary immigrant from overseas are
not as great as of _ those from the
States. The average is about $72
per head.
Women now take their places with.
men in juries at. the High Courts iii.
London.
REGLAR FELLERS—By Gene Byres
a railway station cone employe meets
the public brusquely, the :public re-
sentment extends beyond the individ-
ual agent to the impersonal institu-
tion behind him. .A factory is not a
group of buildings or machines; it is
a group of factors, each of whom car-
ries a personal responsibility for the
entire plant.:
The British Parliament was pro-
rogued until February 15.
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