Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1916 — A New Year’s Allegory [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A New Year’s Allegory

ACROSS the snowbound earth the New Year stepped buoyantly. A splendid youth he was. with fadiant eyes, full red lips and the star of hope set above his brows, Life called to him, called with a thousand eager voices, and he smiled as he listened, remembering that for a whole year the world and the men thereon were his. Far away under the frozen sky a blaze of light shone like ii jewel, and he quickened his steps as he tiirued toward the city. And, though the lights shone boldly when he entered it, most of the streets were empty. Only a few men were about, and as the wind swirled at corners they ran for shelter. In one of the streets the New Year met a woman. A dark veil fluttered around her, so that he could not distinguish her form, but her face was very sweet as she bent and clasped a child to her heart. The New Year gave her greeting. “You are Charity, I know,” he said. Charity laid tier hand in his and smiled. Add, for all his youth, her smile set him dreaming of green woods and golden sunshine, of vague, sweet things that w'ere still unknown to him. Indeed, so deeply did he dream that as he walked he collided with another woman. Another woman ! A glittering gas moth this, with a pert, powdered face, cannined lips and hard, bright eyes. “All hail!” she cried mockingly. “I shall be your constant companion, for I am Kin, and where men are there you will always find me.” The New Year shrank back, and his face darkened. Rut Kin pressed close

to him, laughed loudly and, tearing a rose from those at her breast, tossed it to nan, as with a rustle of silk she passed on. The rose fell on the snow powdered walk, and when the New Year would have picked it up, 10, it was scentless, and as its crimson petals fell asunder he saw that a worm was hid in its heart. Another form came in sight—in the garb of a monk with a dark ‘ hood about his

tranquil face. His eyes were upon the ground, and his lips moved in prayer for all mankind. So tender and pitiful was his face that even before lie cried, “Miserere Domine!” tbe New Year guessed that his name eyas Mercy. Very cold it grew as the New Year turned into a mean street, so cold that lie sought refuge in the porch of a d; i kened house. Yet there prevailed such u grateful warmth that he press-, ed back to learn its cause aud so brushed against a boy—a boy with a wan, beautiful face, tangled hair and rapt eyes. Shabby, desolate and tired he looked, yet the New Year was wonderfully attracted to him. “Why are you here alone?” he asked. “I am never alone,” corrected the boy, and lie stepped aside so tliat tbe New Year caught the fragrance

o* his breath and saw that two great wings were furled behind him, and in the shadow of his wings an old man and an old woman crouched together. How tired, how poor, they looked! But an expression of ineffable tenderness shone on their pinched faces as they lay, white head against white head, chilled breast against chilled breast. “I am all they have,” whispered Love as tears filled his wonderful eyes. ‘‘They have never fail-

ed me, and I sliaTl stay with them until the end.” “I am the End!” called another voice, and a grim figure mounted the steps. “Not yet,” bogged Love, aud be tried to bar the stranger’s way. But at sight of the scythe the other bore Love's great wings drooped. “Mine is the best gift of all,” whispered tlie newcomer as he bent over the forlorn couple. Silently the New Year walked alone with the night and the stars and the scurrying snow. Andas he hurried on the darkness faded into the eerie pallor of dawn. He stretched out his arms and welcomed his first day. “Charity, Sin, Mercy, Love and Death,” he cried—“all mine! How shall I choose from among you?” A shadow fell across him; there was a sound as of wings beating the air, and Love, rosy, triumphant and eternal, caught hig hands. “Let me go with you all your days,” he pleaded, ‘for mine la the gift which sweetens Charity, vanquishes Sin, glorifies Mercy and fears not Death.”

“All hail!” she cried mockingly.

Tenderness Shone on Their Faces.