FAIRIEL CHRISTMAS FUN

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 3, 4 January 1936, Page 7

FAIRIEL

CHRISTMAS FUN

LITTLE NEW YEAR climbs the ladder that leans against t!ic bookshelf of Father Time's cottage. It is a pretty cottage, very modern, with ivalls made of so very modern a composition that you, wouldn't dream there were walls at all if you didn't know. Very, very convenient are invisible walls, 'cause tlierc's no need to have windows and that saves a Window Polisher, which pleased Little New Year for, as he informed Father Time, "I'm just at the holiday age and I'm going to have fun . . . every minute . . .no time for polishing windows at all!'' At the top of the ladder he searches among the books until he finds one labelled "Book of Days, 1936." "Remember" cautions Father Time, "only one page at a time . . . and no dogeared pages next lime I come." Young New Year nods impatiently, "What sort of days are they . . . They all look blank to me 'cept today and tliat's full of tvriting.s . . . bright too!" "The next page depends on this," says Father Time. "So watch your step, Young Man. Tomorrow cannot be written until today is done, so it's no ■.use peeping at the last chapter first." The Young New Year laughs as he dances about the cottage, touching this, looking behind that, exploring everything, introducing himself to the House of Time. "Hello, Clock. I'm New Year. Gay days for me and you. No old books and pipes like Old Year left behind, only the pipe of music ... and the old Day Book ... that'll have to stay 1 suppose." "Old Year . . . New Year .. . they mean nothing to ■me" ticked the Clock. "All is Time and AW is all that matters. Ther.e goes the last hour of the first day!" Twelve silver notes escaped into the blue. '■■ ' Little New Year climbs into the High Chair and turns the first page. There is writing on the second ;. . and thern^ is a thought in his eyes as they meet the fathomless eyes of Father Time.

■"//■/ were you I should keep the pipes and the books, the Ancient chuckles. "You've begun to think. That's a good omen for 1936. You may be an even better year than your late brother if you try. My best wishes on it!"