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Show r.T?jj I.L was very quiet In LSyV) i houses there may have pfei'irj ueen some sound of rev-iSSjWO rev-iSSjWO elry, but little of it H&u'iVll rcuc'iel tlle streets. The linrir-l' streets were silent, dark deserted. Along the side ot the town the river (lowed silently. Ferry boats, tug boats, other water craft moved along quietly. The swish of the waters wa-ters made by the moving boats reached but little distance away The whole world seemed very quiet, very subdued as though night had almost put It to sleep, only scattering scat-tering a few of Its dreams, lis twinkling, melodious dreams here and there. All of a 'sudden there was a stir. The world seemed tc have shifted Its position, to be waking up now It appears wide awake. Now It was thoroughly awake. No longer long-er were the streets dark and quiet. No long er did the sounds come faintly from the houses. No longer long-er did the boats, the ferry boats, the tug boats, the other water craft move so si lently. All let themselves be beard. People along the streets cheered, blew horns, smiled at strangers, shouted greetings to each other. The sounds from houses grew Intensified. Music grew loud er, gayer, merrier, happier. Whistles Whis-tles and sirens and bells from the river craft blew and shrieked and shrilly cheered. Every one and everything now wanted to articulate, to add to the sound of welcome, to add to the world's good wishes to the world. In a moment It had huppeucd. Just so little time before the world had been trudging along somewhat wearily, somewhat hopefully, keeping keep-ing Its longings, Its secrets, its am bitions, its better Intentions deeply to itself. It had been shy just a few moments before. It had been inarticulate, keeping things to itself. it-self. It had regarded strangers as strangers. It had regarded itself as a stranger even unto itself. Just so little time before the world had been feeling a little lonely. lone-ly. It was getting old. There was something depressing about getting old. The world knew that as well as anyone. There was something even depressing in the thought that so soon it would be adding to its age. Another year was so soon to be finished, closed. How often the world had wanted want-ed to take others Into its confidence, confi-dence, to tell what it thought, what It hoped, what it dreamed. But it was afraid some one would laugh at It and the world couldn't have its dreams, no matter how Illusive they might be, made fun of and mocked. Yet sometimes the world wonders If others didn't feel the same way. If others might not often wish to talk but were shyly afraid. So the world wrapped its protect lng cloak of inarticulate longings about it and hid what hopes and dreams lay inside. And as the world kept so much to itself it felt the burden of its thoughts, of its disappointments, of its dreams thai never had come true. So the world felt old, so the world had dreaded a little, young, brisk, gay, fresh, sponlaneous, tireless, untrammeled New Year. B'jt now, 'n n moment, all that had changed. In just a little small seemingly insignificant moment the world had become gay, lighthearted. happy. Now the world's shy cloak had been thrown aside. Now the world was frank, joyous, open-hearted, jubilant. ju-bilant. Now the world completely forgot that so short a time ago It had been feeling old and weary. For the New Year had brought In Its little, young, affectionate fists vitality vital-ity and brain-swept freedom and joy. The little New Year had been so disarming, so candid. It had not realized Mint there was shyness shy-ness and inar-ticulation inar-ticulation and age In the world. So if a bright little New Year didn't see these things In the world, the world almost felt certain the. were but wearj figments of an Imaglna t Ion grown a little old. And so the world shouted. It couldn't yell loud enough. It couldn't look upon others with more affection, admiration and gladness If It had tried. And In the town and along the rher and In other towns and along other rivers, across prairies where lights gleamed only here and there. In large cities everywhere the world was feeling very happy. All over file great expanse through which the world wandered and rotated there was n new beglniilnq a new start, a gorgeous new collection of dreams that would surely come true. In a moment It had happened. A new year had been born. It Is no small event In world circles. A Happy, Happy New Year! ((c). TJ29. Western NewapHpcr Union.) |