Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1877 — HAPPY NEW YEAR. [ARTICLE]

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Antli up four flights of nckety stairs, in a bit of an attic, lived three children, with their mother and little Pussy Marble. There was Patty, a round-backed, sadeyed, long-armed little girl of ten frosty winters, for never a summer seemed to have come into Patty’s wearisome trot of life. Then there was Princey, a smiling, restless, shock-headed boy of eight, and baby Pep’mint, with white, puffy cheeks and very limp limbs, and such a big head, that hung down all day long, asleep or awake, over the aching shoulders of careworn little Patty. 'Twas New Year’s morning. Pussy Marble was curled up fast asleep before the nice warm stove. Mrs. Marble was washing and wondering as usual how much longer Princey’s boots and Patty’s gown and Pep’mint’s one little scrimped, patched petticoat would hold on. Patty was sitting on a block of wood, and with baby Pep’mint’s big head slung very far over one shoulder, was patching Princey’s best trowsers. A slipshod sound of old shoes clacketing briskly up over the creaky stairs was presently heard above the noise of the rubblng-board and the doleful croon of Patty’s lullaby. “’Appy New Year!” burst forth in liveliest tones from the lips ’ of a queer little figure that paused for a moment on the threshold of the attic, and then turned a series of somersets across the bare floor up to the very heels of startled Mrs. Marble. “ My stare, Princey Marblet” cried out his mother, whirling round and wiping her nands on her apron preparatory to cuffing young Princey BufPrincey vaulted nimbly out of her. way, turned another somerset, and then straightened himself in his ragged shoes. “ 'Appy New Yer!" he yelled again, darting outaide for a uundle, which he set down on the floor, and concluded his performances by emptying a shower of paper •parcels from his pockets, while he turned proudly round and round to exhibit his new coat. By this time the baby was roaring loudly, and Patty, dropping the old trowsers and thimble ana scissors on Pussy Marble’s back, rose up andu)ried out, “ O dear, dear, our Princey’s gone and been a thief! He’s stole a coat! O ma! O Pepaminty, what shall we do!” “ No, I ain’t a thief! It was give to me. ’Appy New Yee-e-e-r, 1 tell you.” Princey fairly bawled his innocence in Patty’s ear. “Give! Who give!” shrieked Patty and her mother, rushing at him and seizing him by the collar, as if to shake the truth out of him. And this was Princey's story: “ I took home Miss Blivins* clothes for her, to Chester Square; she said she’d give me two cents ’f I would. I rung the bell. My fingers was ’most frose 'thout any mittens. ‘ Miss Blivins is busy, so I’ve brought ’em home,’ says I. ‘ All right,’says he; ‘take’em along up two Eir of stairs, flrat door to the right, and ock.’ I did. ‘ Come in,’ say* somebody. I come in. Oh, my! but I thought it was tlte President’s parlor, ft was so ponty, and such a lot of nice girls and boys jabbering, and having a good time. ‘ ’Appy New Yer!' they au called out. ‘ Thank ye, mum,’ says I, and I made the nice bow to ’em that teacher showed me. ‘ Why don’t you say ’Appy New Yar back to us!’ says a little girl, with goldy hair. She poked her fingers in the Doles in my jacket, and Oh’d ’mazin pitiful at ’em. ‘Here’s all our New Ytr'e presents; what did you have!’ says she. ‘ ’WotAjn’,’ says I. Then their mother asked me all about my folks, and then she went to the closet and brought out this iligaia coat, and says,' I hope it will keep you warm, and I wish you a happy New Yer.' ” “What did you say, Princey Marble!” asked Patty, eagerly. '■'■Nothin'. The words stuck in iny throat. They sent me down stairs to the kitchen, to get a nice breakfast. I bet it was a jolly one. And then the cook sent me up stairs again, because little Goldy Locks wanted to see me. She toted tins bundle out to me. ’Twas most too big for her to carry. And say* she, ‘ Take that home to your mother and sisters, and be a good boy all the rest of the year, because I want you to. I'm going to,’ says she, ‘ when I\don’t forget.’ ‘So ’ll I,’ says I. Then another little girl stuck things in my pockets. 'That’s for Pepaminty,’ says she; she stopped to laugh. ‘That’s for Patty.’ says she. ‘ and the apron is for yonr mother. Tell ’em ‘Appy New Yer, for me..’ 1 I will,’ says I. Now am 1 a thief, Patty Marble!” Princey, too happy to be angered long by Patty’s suspicions, strutted round and round the attic in his new overcoat, and Patty flew after him and hugged him with her one unoccupied arm. The mother, meantime, was wiping her eyes on her sudsy skirt and peering into the bundle. “ Goodness gracious, Princey Marble, this is the first time anch a happy new year ever dim up lheoe *talra. Why, look a here! A hood! just in the nick of time for me, for mine ia all to tatters. A gown! Two gowns! stockin’*! O my, what warm, whole ones. A pair of shoes for Princey, ’* good as new! And I a thlnkin' thi* very morning the Lord had given out pervidm’ for us Marbles.”

■ v. - : .1, JTTWJV4 -V; Mro. Marble wiped her eye. again on “““O we S^it*riTht’down and eat this beautiful New Yeas'* pie! bundle, nodded sweat, Do they sat right down and devoured the pft, Pepaminty having a generous share, and a piece being laid by for ma, and for lame Johnny who lived down-atair*. 7 ‘ ’Appy New Yorp' they both shouted, as they cleared away the last crumb and took heart for the days which were to come.— Blois Gorham, in YotOh'o Companion.