文档介绍：BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
BUTTERCUP GOLD
AND OTHER STORIES
Ellen Robena Field
1
BUTTERCUP GOLD AND OTHER STORIES
The Little New Year
One cold morning Maurice awoke from his dreams and sat up in bed
and listened. He thought he heard a knock at his window; but though the
moon was shining brightly, Jack Frost had been so busily at work that
Maurice could not see through the thickly painted panes. So he crept
sleepily out of bed, and opened the window, and whispered: "Who is
there?"
"I am," replied a tinkling voice. "I am the little New Year, ho! ho! And
I've promised to bring a blessing to everyone. But I am such a little fellow
I need somebody to help me distribute them. Won't you e out
and help?"
"Oh, it's so cold!" said Maurice; "I'd rather go back to my warm bed; "
and he shivered as Jack Frost, who was passing, tickled him under the chin
with one of the frosty paint brushes.
"Never mind the cold," urged the New Year; "please help me."
So Maurice hurried into his clothes, and was soon out in the yard.
There he found a rosy-cheeked boy a little smaller than himself, pulling a
large cart which seemed to be loaded with good things. On one side of this
cart was painted the word "Love," and on the other "Kindness." As soon as
the New Year saw Maurice he said, "Now please take hold and help me
pull;" and down the driveway and up the hill they travelled until they came
to an old shanty.
"Here is where I make my first call," said the New Year. Maurice
looked wonderingly at him. "Why, nobody lives here but an old colored
man who works for us; and he hasn't any children!" "He needs my help,"
said the New Year; "for grown people like to be thought of just as much as
children do. You shovel out a path to his door, while I unload some of my
blessings; and the little hands went busily at work, piling up warm
clothing, wood, and a new year's dinner, the New Year singing as he
worked:-
"Oh, I am the little New Year; ho! ho! Her