OTTO OR 1912'
And Not Down Go forc
And Lend A Hand.
urn
A Pane of Glass j
:
87 MARY HOADLEY ORISWOLD
Copyright by American Hress Asso
ciation, 1911.
THERE wa no reason why John
Dorman should not have re
placed the pane of glass ns
soon as It became broken.
Especially was there no valid reason
why he should have postponed it until
holiday time. It would have saved
him some labor and Mrs. Dorman
much annoyance had he been more
prompt, and there would have been no
story to tell.
John Dormnn was the village under
taker. In the house of mourning be
was sympathetic, tactful and consid
erate. In the social circle he was wit
ty and a teller of good anecdotes. At
home he governed his children dis
creetly, cherished his wife tenderly
and lost no chance to have fun. That
was the true reason for his neglect of
the broken windowpane.
Who broke ibe window gloss or how
does not matter. It was the library
window, and that did mutter to Mrs
Dormnn when John tucked a square
y-yfSfyjk ! K 35511 vM I .MrtfiHMswSssssw M ia xwL i-Ef Bv aLai 17
t Whln The New Year Starts Hls Race Against Time:.
. I
Mm by Willis Hawkins &
JCSPJ El I.V HI CUT AND U TIII) THK 1'AM
or olau.
f pasteboard Into the sash to stop
the draft till such time as he should
attend to it properly. Mrs. Dorman
had her own viewa aa to propriety of
appearance, and a pasteboard pane In
front window of an otherwise artls
tie dwelling on the main traveled road
wan distinctly out of harmony, in
vain John begged ber to remember
(bat a thing la beautiful accordlog to
its usefulness; that the pasteboard
pane kept out the cold and no doubt
waa at that moment the preserver of
their lives by preventing the entire
family from taking pneumonia. The
missing pane of glass continued to be
a favorite topic of conversation with
Mrs. Dormnn. or. rather, of mono
logue, since John after awhile became
merely a listener. However, the pres
sure which Mrs. Dormau brought to
hem- bp means of language impelled
the dallying John to move in the mat
ter.
He selected as his opportunity the
afternoon before New Year's day.
when Mrs Dormau eras out shopping.
Expertly he cut and Btied the pane of
glass, puttied it in plaee. tacked the
pastcltoard buck outside the new glass
and removed nil traces of his labor
He found time also before Mrs Dor
man's returu to step into Neigblior Al
len's a moment. It seemed that such
an eveut as the replacing of that oft
sung pane of glass should be celebrat
ed in ah neiphhorliness. The Aliens
quite agreed with Mr. Dorniau, and
the little surprise prepared for Mr
Doruuin seemed quite complete.
That evening John Dorman sank into
bis easy chair before the grate and
picked up the evening paper with a
view to rending. Mr. Dorman, how
ever, forestalled him. having something
on her mind.
"That missing pane of glass is no
credit to the house. John. I had not
realized bow disreputable that bit of
pasteboard looks atuck into that win
low. It may stay there tonight, for
the wind la on that side of the house,
but tomorrow morning, glass or no
glass, that pasteboard shall go Into the
utove. There baa been delay enough."
Mrs. Dorman spoke as one determined
"I'll see to It first thing in the morn
ing," promised John.
A little later the Aliens came in and
at down with Mr. and Mrs. Dormau
lo a gume of whist. Aa the second
hand was being dealt Mr. Allen abiv
ercd slightly. A mnmen' later Mrs.
Allen, also seeming to feel t . - draft.
asked permission to throw a wrap
across her shoulders. As the hand
progressed Mr. Allen shivered again
and unconsciously turned rp ills Coat
collar, consciously turning it down
again when his wife remonstrated.
It was evident that the room was
too cool for comfort. John Dorman
could understand that, but could not
speak consistently since It was due to
his own negligence. Mrs. Dorman,
however, was governed by no such
restriction. She laid down her cards
and took up the window subject.
"It is cold here, and I know it is
cold. Why shouldn't it be with a pane
of glass broken in that west window,
as It has been for a month? I have
asked John to repair it time and again,
and yet nntliinj; but a sheet of paste
board keeps out the weather. I expect
no less than pneumonia for ihe entire
family and for every one else who has
the courage to venture In to sit with
us for tin evening. Perhaps. John,
you will find it more convenient to
bury us all than to set one little pane
of glass."
"Really, my dear." ho apologized. "1
do mean to attend to It. It should
have been done Ion;.' ago. I give you
my word of honor I will have tlut
glass set !-::n;.:-;..w morning.'
The words, intended to soothe
Mrs. Dormant mind, did divert ber
thoughts, but in a manner euiirely for
sign to the plan of John.
She sprang up with an air of deter
mination and seized the brass bandied
poker from the fire set on the hearth.
"I will see fo It now that you keep
your promise tomorrow morning." she
cried. "That miserable sheet of paste
board shall not be your excuse another
moment."
With a thrust of the poker Mrs. Dor
man attempted to annihilate the paste
board pane. There was a crash of
tfe-M-s-CL 'P'ssswH
Tl.l ... WAS A HAS it OP KHATTKBEL GLASS.
shattered glass, a tearing of pa ste
ward, and then Indeed the west wind
penetrated the room. Mrs. imriuan
masterfully concealed her surprise at
Hading the glass had lioen ,et She
saw itt once the joke; sa saw also
that the joke was not entirely upon
bentatf. Tomorrow morning Jobn
would reset that glass, and it would
not in- a task to his liking eituer.
Willi perfect composure Mrs. Dor
man restored the brass bundled Hiker
lo its place on the ueuuh and remark
id hospitably:
"As the glass cannot be replaced un
til morulng. let us adjoin n in the it
ling room ami fln. 'i lb.' nil.: .-t . i;.-.e.
Afterward. John, 1 am -nr.- will
be glad to step over In lliltu. - ud
br'ag us vanilla and phuculnff u.x 1 "
PYRICMT 1911 BY AMERICAN PKLSA ASSOCIATION.
pOR seven mortal years on end
Sim Lucas courted Mary Burr
Till folks begun to apperhend
He wouldn't never capture her.
Yit Sim he stuck an hung to it
An swore, by jing. he'd never quit
Till she give in an' named the day
When she'd love, honor an' obey.
l-JE'D dog her evrywhere she'd go.
No other feller got a chance
To take her out to any show
Or party, festival or dance.
An alius of a Sunday night
We'd see the same familiar sight
Of Sim a-wait in' by the door
To take her home f m church once mora.
t
1
I
f
TTHE women all took sides with Sim.
An' some talked plain to Mary Burr,
A-sayin they regarded him
As jes' the fittin" man fer her.
But Mary wouldn't budge a peg.
She jes' sot back an let him beg
Till somepn happened Noo Year's eve
That all us men could hardly blieve.
VTATCH meetin had begun awhile
When with a sort o gallUs stride
Sim come a-marchin down the aisle
With Sallie Goodwin at his side.
An when, as if not seem' her.
They sot in front of Mary Burr
All round the church the women folks
Grinned like it was the best of jokes.
"TEX mornin' Mary chanced to meet
With Sim(l guess she made the chance).
An there, right out upon the street.
She ast him to the leap year dance.
Then Sim walked with her to her gate.
An' on her way she sealed her fate.
That's how one weddin come about
Through watchin' of the old year out.
I The Call of the Heart:
New Year's Event
t By CARLOTTA PERRY I
it
IT is not often that the prodigal re
turns on Thnnksglvlug day to sit
at the table where a plate Is al
ways laid for him; that Christ
mas brluga a restoration of pence and
good or that Easter sees a resurrection
of buried hopes. But here Is a family
episode at New Year' which is excep
tional. They were an old fasbioued family,
and they lived in an old fashioned
country house.
They always watched the old year
out and the new year In. and when
from the near church tower tbe old
bell lingered on the last stroke of 12
with much ceremony the outer door
of the great hall was thrown open
that tbe old year might depart and the
new one enter. And according to a
time honored custom each one made a
wish for something that waa most
desired at the hands of tbe New Year.
There wa a tradition that strange
and beautiful things had come to psss
because of this wishing.
Mr Walter Graham, tbe bead of tbe
family, was a man of warm heart, but
with sn Intense pride and an Im
perious will.
Ten years before tbe lime of which
this story tells the eldest daughter o.
tbe bouse had clandestinely married a
man to whose patient and faithful
court paternal consent with unreason
ing prejudice was refused. The father.
Id his wrath, forbade her ever to cross
tbe home threshold agalo.
The girl's heart had not misled her.
Tbe man was in every way worthy.
Happiness and prosperity had been
their portion
The holidays at Graham House,
though atlll the occasion of hospitality
and mirth, were days on which mem
ory was sadly busy. The loving moth
er felt more keenly 011 these festal
days tbe estrangement of which she
might not even seak.
Always when New Year's eve came
Mr. Graham would slip away from
tbe family and guest and spend an
hour alone it thought of the daughter
who bad disobeyed bliu. From these
retrospections be had always come
hinder aud more unrelenting than
jver.
On the New Year's eve of which lata
story tells a merry company was xdlU
en d in Graham Botise.
As usual, a Utile before midnight Ml
Graham sitppen away for his tryst
with bitter memories, but when Just a
moment before tbe time for opeulug
Lite door he came down the grand stair
case there waa a new look on bis face.
"lear friends." he said gently, "will
not all who love us wish with me that
lieace. love and charity may enter
Graham House this blessed Xv
Year's eve mid abide foreveruiore'"
The dear mother, with a sob of Joy
iu her voice, the brothers aud sister-
und all the guests .said softly. "Peace,
love and charity to Graham House for
evermore " Then, as the tulduigbt belt
rang out. the door swung open to the
starlit sky. the snow while world, aud
each one welcomed the New Year, mak
tug the wish dearest to bis heart.
Now. this Is what buppeueti next.
There on the por -h they stood as if '-urc
of 1 welcome. Ibe daughter and the
husband and two smiling fur clad Ill
tie children. The youngest lifted up
his voice gleeftiily saying: "We've
corned, grandfather Aluvver suys ahe
heard your voice IMd you ea II 1"
The old mau stooped and gathered
the little ones lu bU arms "Yes. I call
ed you." he said. "Khe heard aright
the call of my heart "
iNewYear'sGiftsi
By EMILY ORAM HUTCfflNtlS
Copyright by American Press Asso
ciation. 1911.
IT Is worthy of comment that in all
Latin countries the day for ex
changing gifts Is New Year's day,
while In all Kaxon countries It la
Christmas. Tbe reasons for this dif
ference in customs are easy to trace.
Tbe people In the north of Europe cele
brated the feast of Freyr, the winter
solstice, by bestowing gifts on their
loved ones and those to whom they
were Indebted. In Home the time for
Sft giving was the feast of Janus. At
e present time "Le Jour de Can" (ihe
day of the year) is regarded In Franca
aa of far more Importance than "Noel,"
Christmas day.
Although the hnblt of giving pres
ents to the loved ones on Christmas 14
not unknown in France, the giving ot
gifts on New Year's Is almost com
pulsory, the exchange of remem
brances having degenerated Into a
mechanical farce. Certain absolutely
useless articles are manufactured sim
ply as New Year's gifts, and when
once they hare been purchased they
pass Into the regular New Year's cur
rency. Those who receive them this
year put them away and pnss them on
next year to some friend or relative.
It Is nothing unusual for a gift to And
Its way In the course of a few yearn
Into the bands of the original donor,
no whit the worse for Its migrations.
Indeed, the recipient of tbe much used
message of affection la not offended (n
the least, as persona of the Anglo
Baxon race would be.
In England the regular time for be
stowing gifts has always been tbe Teu
tonic holiday in honor of the birth of
Christ, yet there waa an established
custom of giving presents to the mon-
Him 1 X IT A BLOW.
arch on tbe first day of the year, when
ever that happened to be. This prac
tice was inaugurated by Henry HI.,
who "extorted" gifts from bis subjecta.
These, he Informed ins people, tnigus
consist of such trifle as a poise of
gold, a yoke of oxeu. a splendid Jewel,
a piece of cloth worthy to lie mrde up
Into a garment for royally or any lit
tle thing Ihe fortunate vassal could
procure, even down to a pair of pi
geons or a box' of homemade sweet-
assauav
Elizabeth fared belter than any of
her predecessors in tbe matter of New
Year's donations.
There is a peculiar custom in tbe
city of Herlln. that of smasblug tile
bats, which has beeu iu vogue siuca
IMS, wbeu the students Joined with
the pom people to make war on the
bourgeoisie, the hated class who wore
silk hats as tbelr mark of dlsiluctloa.
The first great riot was ou 8t Sylves
ter night tNew Year's eve), and many
a skull under tbe pretentious headgear
was fractured. The native Berliner
knows belter than to go on tbe street
on that night with a tall bat on unlesa
he is out for retaliation.
When Euieror William was a younr
fellow, not even crown prim e (it waa
before Ibe death of bis father aud
grandfather!, he learned something
BjfeMM ihe methods to which a mau
who had a good silk bat ruined la
capable of resorting. He approached
a mau in a shining oiera hat and
struck it the customary preliminary;
Mow with bis fist. Alas, the bat waa
of thin cloth stretched over a met
al frame, and the top concealed a
whole battery of sharp spikes. The
primes hand was so badly lacerated
thai he bad to give up his sport fo
thai night. However, be stopped Ions'
euougb before setting out in sea ret
of the royal surgeon to congratnlafw
the armored pedestrian on bis cleverness.
