HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1923-12-27, Page 2THE HELPING HAND
By Christine Whiting Parmenter
••••••••••••••••••••••••61...0.
"Want any beets ot carrets, eyee now, but sornethieg compassion -
Ma'am?" he askedate in their depths etirred things long
His wares were temptingly display- dormant in the boy's heart
ed and Mary decided that she 'wanted "I didu't come from no orphanage,"
beets. "Joe, will you bring a dieh he confessed, suddenly.
from the pantry?" she called cater her "I kneen that," Answered Mathiesen.
shoulder, as she made her selectiou. "I inquired at Saint Luke's the day.
There was no response. Suddenly, after you came."
Mary realized that the joyous shouts "You knew I lied!" ceed " d
1 ,Joe, an
It was cold, and stormy, and dark "It's—it's terrible for a boy to event were stilled, Only the babY's voice, —and kept me?" 1 ,
ManY Mathiesemoving quietlY abent a home, Jim," said Mazy, gentlyraised in a hurt whininer, was audible.' "Yes. Yo u told Mrs. Misthieeen that Probably after Hallovve'en and
a, '.
the kitchen, preparing supper, paused "I know," answered MathiesenHe Turning, she SaW that the, boy had you wanted a home. We were sorry Christmas there is no festival of, the
.
vanished, though en the floor lay
piste slapping Against the windows, Mary's hand a squeeze. "Sometimee huddled
for a momerit to be sure that the lo- leaned across the little table to give
i Without a word, Mary brought the so we decided to trust you anyway." ong the best known a these are 0101
shape under an old ehawl. a home there's something good in him, ed cuetoms as New Year's Day. Amel
did not righten
4 you didn't tut us; but if a boy wants Year so girt about with long -establish -
called:
fher baby, whorn she I feel like a sinner to have so much;
a' dish herself, paid the man and watch- A shamed red crept into the boy's auguries drawn from what was
had just tucked in for the night. As but—I can't just see us adopting
no sound came from above, she sought sixteen.year-old soul', • ed him depart before she croseetr he cheek He started to speak, but the the "Candlemas Bull." In Scotland
the dining room, switching en. the Mary laughed. Then her face- shawl to disclose words came as if they hurt. 1 and other northern countries the term'
I
•
Anciei.rt :New: Year's, CUStQn1S
and Their Origin
given to • etreets at.midnight, was composed of
Jim." , I year, is supposed to have had its ale, spirits, sugar, nutmeg or cinnae
ered. "But we must do something, he forced an unnatural smile. ' home—not then."
"Peek-a-boo!" he laughed at the "Then why -1' began Mathiesen, in origin in religious ceremonies per mon. It wile a powerful potion, the
, : genuine surprise, when Joe interrupt- formed by candle light. The candles' effects of which were almost 'Mime -
"Why; of course," responded Kathie_ baby. ,
son, quickly. "We'll begin with a suit The baby crowed delightedly hut ed' •"Ididn't know =thin' about used were very large and highly( diately evident. Ritson in a collection '
, . .
of clothes. Pll bring one Mt to-nior- mare laid a hand, on the boy' ee arm. homes—then. I read that all in the ornamented, and were brought in at, of ancient songs gives us a few sung
row. He'll have to swim round in my "Joe—was that the farmer who paper, how a guy went to a house and the midnight' hour to the assembled to the quafAngs of this "prince Of
'wardrobe till afternoon. He's small abused you?" , 1% 1 told the felks that story—waritin' a guests, who, since the falling of dusk, liquors, old or nevi..." One such is:
for sixteen; but, then, he looks as if "None," said the boy, not meeting home, and how he come from an in- had been drieking freely of the was- eA jolly weasel bowl,
he'd never had enough te eat" her eyes. 4`1" never see that man be stitution. Then when they took him sail bowl. Then, in procession, they A wassel of rood ale,
. . ntthis season of the;
•
In England on New Year's Eve
the young. women wont about carrying
the "wassail bowl" and singing from
door to doer certain verses—a (*stern -
whiple had much iie, cemmon with the
hogenany practice in SCotiand, .liet
pint, the strange brew which, inthat
country was carried aliont in the
the boyHis face was white, though "It was a he, sirI didn't wat no Candlemas,
fights as a welcoine to Jim, her hus-
band, who was tramping the half mile
from the station in the rain. When
she returned to the Icitchen, the kettle
wai singing merrily. It seemed very
cosy, she thought, with the rain beat-
ing, against the windows. If only Jim
were here—
Her thoughts were interrupted by
on unexpected knock. It was •a strange
hour for a visitor. Opening the door,
elle saw a boy in shabby raiment
standing upon the little porch.
"What can I do for you?" she asked,
as he did not speak
Mathiesen had departed for the city fore. I was just playm" wiip the in and he got the run o' things, he Marched out into the night, and to Well fare the butler's soul
before ' their' guest awoke next day. baby. She likes for me to hid. and, lit out with all the jewelry and their imaginations the passing clouds mat setthth this to sale.
,
Itlary, tiptoeing into the boy's room, then jump out at her." a I money." 'assumed the shape a a bull. From
Our jolly wasse11"
looked down with pity on a face which,
"All right," said Mary, but th y's "And got caught," supplemented the rise and fall and general motions
in sleep, had lost its sullen lines. Yet, white face and trembling hanks did Mathiesen, "and sent to prison. I read of these clouds the seer foretold good Notwithstanding the opposition
there was a hard expression to the not escape her, nor the fact t)hat he that story, too. And you thought it, or bad weather. Sometimes, too, aug- which it has met' since the Year 1811,
For a moment the boy was silent, mouth that she eouldn't understand in did not return to the carefree omp. paid? I uries for the future were gathered when many abuses were discovered in
peering into the room beyond, as if in one so young. Then she remembered He kept close to the house all day,The boy's voice shook. "I guessed from the state of the atmosphere on the practice, the custom of hurrying -
search of sonaething. He didn't meet the livid bruise he had displayed, and sometimes reading, sometimes staring I could. put it through," he confessed, New Year's Eve, and also from the, first across the threshold of his sweet.
Mary' friendly glance as he said her heart melted. When, later, the
hoarsely, "I want a home." boy came down, she set a bowl of oat -
"A home!" echoed Mary in surprise. meal before him, and went to the stove
She stood back, motioning the boy to turn a griddle cake.
to enter. He obeyed sullenly, as if "Good morning," she said, cheer
-
doing her a favor. fully. "I hope you like griddle cakes
"You're hungry., aren't you?" said and maple syrup?"
Illary quietly. "Sit here by the table It was a question, but the boy made
and I'll get your supper. Then you no answer ati he seated himself before
tan tell me why you want a home." the oatmeal. It struck Mary that he
He slumped into a chair, resting his might be emberrassed, so she did net
elbows on the table and staring nerv-
ously into every corner. He ate hun-
grily the bread and milk which Mary
set before him' watching her covertly
as she movedabout preparing her
own supper. Mary was perfectly
aware of his alert glances. He remind-
ed her of a squirrel devouring a nut
while in deadly fear of some alien in-
terruption, When he had finished,he
turned to him and smiled encourag-
ingly.
"So you want a home?"
"Yes," answered the boy. He spoke
slowly, as if reciting something. "I
run away from Saint Luke's Orphan-
age. I never had no other home. No
one would take me when I was little,
because I had red hair. Then, one day,
a farmer from out this way come for
a boy. He picked me out o' the whole
bunch—me—the biggest. I thought
sure I was groin' to have a home but
all he wanted was a work hose
Look!" He strip ed gie shirt off one
shozai. Mark, ugly 11314
new, "He done that I run away, back
to the orphanage, but they licked me.
I've done with 'ern! I want a home
like' other boys. I--"
Re stopped confused, and Mary
looked down on him compassionately.
"You poor boy!" she said, gently.
"I can't promise you a home; but
give you a night's lodging and try to
help."
"You here alone?" asked the boy,
suddenly; something cunning creeping
into his eyes that repelled Mary.
I have my husband and baby
girl. There's Jim now!" she added,
joyfully; glad of Mathiesen's guiding
hand in this problem.
Mathiesen, who had entered by the
front door, met her half waY across
the dining room and hugged her ard-
ently.
"Some storm! he exclaimed, bey-
ishly, "and some home to come in to
out of the 'wet l Pm hungry, Mary,
and—"
Mary's finger on her lips caused him
to stop abruptly. She closed the door,
and in a few quick words told him of
their self -invited guest.
"Poor kid!" said Mathiesee quietly.
"
into space, his brows knit in theeight; miserably. "I was doin' to bury the- force and character of the wind. I heart has been practiced by many a
and, as the hours passed, the ,bitter stuff till the police stopped lookina In the imagination of most primi- young lad in Anglo-Saxon couetries.
lines alt his mceith which had been beee_a tive peoples, especially those of the The young lady listened attentively
slowly vanishing, returzthel. At; times • "'Yes?" encouraged Mathiesere North, who were forced to battle from the time the midnigni bells ceas-
e
Mary caught him watching her fur 'n "But—I—I liked the baby. I sort o' against the elements of nature for life ed to ring to catch the first footfall on
tively, as if he were trying to geed hated to be mean. I'd. most give up and sustenance, the eves of greate the floor.
her thoughts. In the afternoon she thinkin' about that scheme; but when feasts were considered occasions whenj The welfare of the family, para.
manufactured an errand to tie vil- I see that ;nen again I—I wanted to the spirits of good and evil were In ticularly the fairer portion of it, was
lage in order to leave the baby,RU his got even with—with somebody!" I deadly conflict. The moment of mid- supposed to depend upon the character
care. If she showed that she triested His face hardened, and his brows night on New Year's eve was always' of the first comer after the midnight
him with her dearest treasure, per-• were seamed and angry. I considered a time of speCial activity hour had sohnded. Great care was IIIIPIPnr
haps in time he would trust her But "You mean the farmer who came for the spirits of evil. In order to, taken to exclude all iniproper .per -
look at him. When, at length, she night found him still sullen. Not even this morning?" asked Mathiesen overcome them 'holier and more pow-' sons,„ especially as • the -midnight in
glanced him way, she had to suppress Mathiesen's kindly smile brought a quickly. ,
an astonished exclamation. He hard- response. He went to bed early, but "Yes; him that give me this cut"
ly looked like the same boy. He Was they could hear him tossing restlessly He pointed to his shoulder. "I was
smiling —it was the first smile Mary until they slept. . workin' for him—honest. I thought, Saxon folklore, and even from words, The custom of bestowing gifts has
had seen --but he was smiling neither "Poor boy," said Mathiesen', rently. I'd .trY the 'country for a spell; and, in their dialect, could be overcome by become so inextricably linked, with the
at her nor at the prospect of griddle "If only he'd say what's on his Mind! one day he give his little girl a smack' an appeal to the good genii, the kogh- New Year's celebrations in Paris that
cakes and maple syrup. His smile If he doesn't confide in you tomorrow; that knocked her' flat I see red, sin! men, or hillmen. I New Year's Day is still called the
went straight to the corner where Ill kl h' .4,.i.4- I an't di- and I lammed him one on the javv. He Probably imported, from Italy. was Jour, .d'Estrennes. This custom. scorns
erful influences had to be invoked., The. truder enjoyed the privilege of
evil spirits, or genii, as can be gather-, printing a "hearty kiss" on the nips
ed from the Icelandic and Anglo -1 of the expectant lassie.
Baby Mathiesen reigned suprerne 1.1 a
fenced -in spot, from which she was
grinning a friendly welcome.
"I like kids," said the boy, suddenly.
It seemed to Mary that It was the
first natural speech that he had made.
But he flushed at the words and looked
stonily away from the baby's coquet-
tish gaze.. Mary lifted a golden cake
from the spider.
"That's good," she answered, calmly.
"Pm going to asie you toelook out for
her till nap thne, I have so much to
do. Mr. Mathiesen will be heme early.
He's *going tir bring you a suit elf
elothes-YoUrs look Pretty -well di
"Clothes for tree!" gaped the boy.
"New ones?" "
"Yes, new ones! Ready for your
cakes?"
da," answered the baby, and
the boy laughed.
"Can't she have one,
vulge my plans for him until I feel had a whip in his hand and—" the superstition that on New Year's to have had its rise in the conduct of
•
he's to be trusted. He's not sixteen, The boy shuddered, and Mathiesen eve the "evil eye" was all the more the nobles of the late Middle Ages,
Mary. I'm sure of than" said compassionately, "I understand, malignant. Then, too, there was a who were in the habit of bestowing
It was late that night, when Mary ,You needn't tell me. And—and you widespread practice of the "setting of gifts upon their sovereign.
was soundly sleeping, that Mathiesen thought we'd send you back to him?" mete or drynke by nighte on the, The giving on gifts was also very
awoke With a sense of soniething "I thought, maybe, you'd think he benche to fede Allholde or Goblyn.", common in England among the people.
wrong. He sat up in bed and listened. had a right to me. I ain't but four- In some of the dialogues of the fa-' en Christmas Day, and often on St
All was quiet for a while—thein from teen year old. But I'd go to hell, mous. medieval emorality play "Dives Stephen's Day, employers, parents and
the dining room below, sounded a mister, before I'd go back to him. I lead Pauper" we find mention of this masters presented Christmas boxes to
stealthy footstep. Mathiesen slipped run off that night. I'd have burned and many other New Year's customs their dependents. It was a form cif
out of bed, reached with unerring in his hai•ns -for him if I" hadn't been intended to counteract the activities, Christmas charity. On New Year's,
stinct for his- blauket wrapper; and afraid I'd burn his -wife and kids. I of the forces of evil. I Day, however, gifts were exchanged
crept downstairs. -Through a crack didn't have nothin' to eat all next clay._ Perhaps what contributed most of . between friends and acquaintances as
in the closed door ofthe dieing °mean', was thee, I mule -inhered that boy this general Sear of sinister influences' a sign of good will. This custom, per -
a .faint light Was visibl *dii",t‘ -what asked for a `home, and 1 looned was the deep drinking among the peo-; haps, had its origin in the beer_ which
nagindhils said see all this sil- ple„ whigh4enentielited aimed ueintere•ivas taken aboa-rd every vessel that
ruptedlyfrom tihristrahe cr, out of pert during the octave of
Year's. Day. •Up to the ninth century,', Christmas and which was not to be
except in the Syrian and Coptic opened -until the return of the vessel.
a weapon. His hand cloied firro,y ver eirmin ' thought it was esoeie
the door knob which yielded quietly, rich guy's sennenerepinee.... I—dicla't
so quietly that the boy standing before hardly khoev vvliat a home-was--tlien.
the sideboard, didnot know he was I never get anything but .knocks all churches New Year's day was not Contributions were to be dropped into
interrupted. Then he turned, stifling ray life. Oh, you don't know, sir! celebrated as a special feast day, but thie box'large or small,di
according as
a frightened cry. You don't linderstand. 'You got so was looked upon as merely the oetave the day had been propitious or other-
Mathiesen's keen eyes, at a glance, much. Don't—don't the world owe of Christmas. Therefore the Christ- wise. Hence the name of "Christmas
took in the scene before hini. Dressed me somethin', mister?" . mas cheer was continued throughout boxes," which were given up to and
"Oh, she had her breakfast longl once more in his old clothes, his can "No," answered Mathiesen, sternly, the eneire octave without abatement. including New Yeae's Day. Each ono
ago," said Mary. "Will you keep an pulled low over his eyes, stood Joe, "not one thing." He paused, letting It flickered up for the last time on of these days became known as "Box
eye on her while I make the beds? I'm grasping in one hand what looked like the words sink in. "Everything that New Year's Day, as is clear from the ing Day." At the present tine the
late because I didn't want to wake a pillow case, the contents of which we want, Joe, we have to earn— 19th sermon of Augustine, Bishop of 26th of December is known as "Box -
you." clinked queerly as he moved. The everything—even love. But," his voice Rippe. ing Day.,"
Mary knew tactfully, that the boy sideboard was swept bare of Maey's softened, "I do understand, boy. When
would enjoy his breakfast more if he silver candlesticks and dishes. ;Only I was your age I was as alone as you.
"She's not so
ate alone. When she returned he was the baby's porringer remained., telling But if I hadn't lived straight, and young' nor perhaps so pretty, but
Mathiesen smiled.
on the floor beside the baby's fence, its owe story, kept my soul and body clean, do you
she's awfully nice. And the baby—"
making faces which Miss Mathiesen
Mathiesen drew a quick breath. think for a moment I'd be where I am,
evidently considered a great accorn- "I bet it's not as good as our baby!"
plishment. She wept when her mother
took her up, and stretched out implor-
ing hands to her new friend.
"She'd rather play than go by -by,
Then he came nearer, took the bey's to -day, with a home like this, and
said the boy suddenly.
burden from him, and said, quietly:
"Suppose we sit down, Joe, and talk
it over."
The boy Obeyed, trembling.
any day," laughed Mary. Perhaps "Take off your cap," said Mathiesen we sow, son. There is nothing truer;
you'll carry her upstairs while I get kindly. He eves quietly removing the and if you live ho tl dfair, nes y, an play r eyes crept to the silver on the table
her bottle. Then she'll go to sleep in silver from the pillow case, laying it and hold out a helping hand to the and he gasped, as if suddenly remind -
the sun -room and you can do what upon the dining table, and talking, man below, sometime, sooner or later, ed of some dreadful thing he had for-
.
to read? There are lots of books and together isfying knowledge of days well lived." him
gotten, tl , watching
closely, said quietly:
while Ma iiesen
you want till lunch time. le.0 you like giving the boy a chance to pull himself the reward comes—if it's only the sat-,
magazines in the living room." The boy looked up. His eyes were "It's in your hands now, Joe. I gave
"Well, Jim," said Mary, after their
He stepped into the kithhen, holding guest had gone to bed the second night,
out his hand in welcome, but the boy "what do you think?"
I
did not, or would not, understand. He "I'm puzzled," replied Mathiesen,
hand dropped to his shoulder. liked the clothes, oh! tremendously; a stenographer in my office, I ti "that if I could, I'dh
sup- on, give you t e friendship we want to give yeti. Lt's
looked up suspiciously, as the man's slowly. "I don't get at hingeMary. He I am sure. And this dish came from sen, as if he had not heard the ques-
a e 11 for you th choose; and, I think, you're
ing as if he thought I had an axe to it, maybe more. These salts and pep- Joe --far from it—and 1 have
a wifa man enough to choose the right."
grind or was going to spring some- pers are hardly worth the trouble of and baby, as well as an old mother,
thing unpleasant on him.. He told the carrying away, They wouldn't bring whem 1 have to consider; but—I've
same story, though, that he told last much; but we love them because a another plan for you."
friends who care for ine, and a wife
and baby to love and work for?"
He waited, but as the boy was silent
he went on slowly. "We reap what
Had Mathiesen's over -burdened
heart needed warming, that tribute to
his wee daughter would have done it.
But before he could reply, the boy's
"These candlesticks were a wedding
gift from Mr. Carey for whom bright because back of his eyelids
you my woe ,
carry away our silver, I shan't stop
you. But if you wish, you can be a
son to Miss Garnet, and earn the
If v�u still t to
work," he explained, calmly. "Mrs.
Mathiesen is very fond of them.
They're worth a good deal. of mono,
there were tears. What—what ll
do, sir?" he asked humbly.
"I hope you know," went on Mathie-
How old are you? questioned but he watched me while he was dress- pose it took her a whole week to earn ome you asked for. But I m not rich,
Mathiesen
"Sixteen," answered the boy, aid
flushed.
"M-mna" murmured IVIathiesen. He
looked down at the boy with eyes that
couldn't be anything by kind, yet
seemed to demand the truth. "You're
tired, aren't you?" he asked. "And wet,
and cold. Mrs. Mathiesen has seen to
your supper, of course. Suppose you
have a bath and go to bed. To -morrow
we'll have a talk. Is the guest room
ready, Mary?"
She nodded, and the boy, still sullen,
followed Mathiesen upstairs. Mary
heard her husband moving about evi-
dently showing the boy where he i who was accustomed to receiving Joe intetrapted hoarsely: "I know breathlessly.
would sleep and giving him clean everybody's confidences confessed him- /mi. game! You'll* just keep me "I have a friend who's worked in
clothes The water was running into self baffled. The boy had a confusing talkin' till the cop you've sent for gets our office for twenty years. She had
the tub when Jim returned. In silence way of evading questions oi• answer- here." a snug little home evith her /nether,
he helped Mary put supper on the ing them in a way that revealed no- "No," answered Mathiesen, quietly, who died a year ago, This seemed to
table, and sighed with relief as he thing. "I haven't sett for any cop. In fact, I take away all her courage. She wasn't ,
s'it down. • "He reminds me a a shrewd law- don't know where to find orie out here w el 1 , and the firm decided that she de-.
I hen° you gave that boy enoegh yer" Mathiesen complained, one morn- in the country. I'll make a bargain served a rest. So, last January, they
th eat, dear. He's starved. Eis ghoul- ing, "He has brains—that hoe"; but with you, if yea like, If you'll. ans- retired her on a liberal pension, and
night; and when he's alone for ally little sick girl, in the house where 1 The boy was leaning forward,
length of time, he looks sullen. The used to board, spent all her savhigs
only time he acts like a real boy is to give them to us. The forks anti
when he's with the baby; •and that's spoons we'll miss, of course. I sup -
queer, too, for most boys would take pose I've been caxelese about burglar
pains to hide the fact that they liked insurance. Somehow I never thought
to amuse a baby. We'll keep him here that anyone would steal from us; be-
e day or two, dear, if you don't mind. cause, really we havee't very much. needs at present; but I don't want you
Perhaps, when he gets used to us, I—" in a cheap boarding-house. You need
he'll talk more freely." A smothered protest came from the, a home, and I think I've found you
The day or two grew into a fort- boy, and Mathiesen sat down sudden - one."
night, at the end of which Matlaiesen ly before him. "Now—" he began, but "Where?" questioned the boy,
scarcely breathing, as Mathiesen went
on quietly: "I've got you a job as ele-
vator boy in our office building. It's
easy work that will leave you time to
read and study, which is what you.
need. You'll lettrn enough for your
der blatlee are • almost through the we can't keep biro here indefinitely, V,"61‘ my' qteestions truthfully, I'll tolcl her to take life easily.
"I saw it, said MarY quickly., "The got a echeine—" any caee--even if you walk dff with truth was, she was lonely, and. one!
skin, and he leas a
bruise --"
Mary. It's too Much for you. I've promise not to send for an officer in "But that didn't do the teitle The
farmer who teole him from, the oreihan- Mary didn't hear the scheme just 1V1r5. Mathiesen's treasures. „ Isn't day, when she was staying here, Mrs;
41il-min," said Mathieseri again. motliar's presente, arid when she re- Joe didn't arthwer, arid Mathieseri Garnet,' she said, 4mrhy don't you adopt
did it" then because the baby demanded her that fair?" Mathiesen had an thspiretiOn. ''Miss
then, quietly: Sixthen Years Old and turned Jim was ready for his train, chose to take silence for consent a baby?'
Then the boy, still staring at the
silver, 'voiced the thought born of his
new-found sense of shame: "But—but
what'll she think, sir?"
His eyes crept from Mary's trea-
sures to the room above, and Mathie-
sen smiled. It was a smile that had
healed many a hurt heart before, and
now it fell like balm on a tortured
soul.
"I have no secrets from my wife,
1 an orphan. Somehew—that doesn't Later, the boy—he had told the Ms "Let's begin at the beginning," he "Welt --she did! She'd always want-
' sound quite credible," name was Joe—brought in an armful said, kindly. "Row old are you, Joe?" ed to, but thought her friends would
' "You think he ' lied?" whispered of kindlings aka, dropping thern into Tho boy hesitated—then bfurted out disapprove, She's very happy now,
Mary, one ear on sounds aboVe, the box, get down on his knees for a defiantly: 'Tin goin' on fifteen, anY- bet she needs eorneone •she can trust
Jim einiled. "Oh, we'll give him the Temp with Mary's baby. It was a vrayl" to bring up wood, and tend the fur-
bonefit of tbe doubt Ile mecb attantoisY rornla but Mary only smiled at "And why did you tell us you were eaee, and be a big brother to her
tion anyvvr4„ Tou/1101`rOWS Saturday
and come out early. You keep him in surprise, when the door opened to
busy through the morning and talk mink a 'MAU whose knock she had not
Vitb hhn when 1 got home/' hotta
the joyous youth of It She turned older?" baby. Would yen like to try?"
"I thought" began the by, then The boy looked up, shaken. ,
naleed hie head, and for the figit thee
Met Methiesee's eyes. They were etc:fel 1n eine,
14 alio like your miseis?" he
ing quietly, he,vrent out and closed the
door. He knew, hoW the boY would'
choose. Mary would 'finish the task
he had begun.—New Success.
Joe, e said quietly, "but this 13
your secret, and if you want me to
keep it—"
"Oh, would you?" cried the boy
breathlessly. '
His head went down amid the silver
on the table, while the storm that had
been gathering shook his slender form.
Mathiesen arose, and a feeling of
helplessness crept over him. He knew
that the boy needed the comfort 0110
would give a child, yet be had ap-
pealed to him as s rn.an, and that
thought he must leave intact If. 1Viaty
were only here --
Then, to his joy, he saw her in tho
doorway. Iler eyes held his for a
brief moment—swept past him ^S.) the
silver on the table—to the boy's head
bowed amid his plunder—to the baby's
lonely porringer --mute witness for
the defence, and Mary, being Mary,
understood, She crossed the room and
put her arms about the boy,
"You hadn't any mother, had you?"
she said, tenderly. "Yon didn't under-
stand. There. There."
IShe might have been comforting her
own baby, thought her husband, /to
The Year's End.
Full happy is the man who comes at
last
Into the safe completion of his year;
Weathered the perils of his spring,
that blast ,
How many blossoms promising and;
dear!
And of his summer, with dread pas-,
sions fraught
That oft, like tre, through the,
ripening corn,
Blight all with ' moeldng death and,
leave distraught
%Loved ones to mourn the ruined,
waste forlorn.
But now, though autumn gave but(
harvest slight,
Oh, grateful is he to the Powers:
above - <
For winter's' sunshine, and the
lengthened night '
By hearthside genial with the
warmth of love.
Through silvered days of vistas gol
and green
Contentedly he glides away, serene.
A Prayer.
Oh, young New Year, take not these
things from rne—
The olden faiths; the shining loyalty
Of friends the bitter, searching yeare
i
. . • .
a proved -
The glowing hearth fires, and the,
books I loved;
All worited kindnesses and welcome
ing—
All safe, hardetrodden paths to which
cling.
Oh, gay New Year, glad with the
thrill of seeing--
Leave me the ways that were my
corefortiegl
—Laura Simmone,
,
To eery reader, young and old, we
extend our' heartiest New Year's
greetings and beet wishes for a most,
prosperetts and happy 1924.
1 This is the beet season the year,
,for the farmer to turn over a leaf
in hi., eecount book.
paused a moment, looking down ador- id ua fully re.SOIVO to
ingly at. her bowed head. Then, turn- good resolutions.
eel