The Rhyming Years

       "Well," said the Old Year, "I am going to make up a poem about myself. I feel quite poetical."

       "And," said the New Year, "I will, too." For the New Year didn't want to have the Old Year think that he was unable to do anything like that, even though he was young. But he felt very much pleased when the Old Year said: ''Though I have lived twelve whole months, I have not become a poet.''

       ''I think age should be given the right to speak first,'' said the New Year.

       The Old Year shook his white hair and smiled so that the wrinkles in his face all ran in together.

       This is what he said:

''Yes, it is true I was feeling old,

Yes, it is true I was also cold,

Yes, it is true I heard them cheer,

Welcoming in the glad New Year.''

       Then New Year recited this verse:

''Of course, you see I was out for fun,

My life has only just begun,

They said 'He is young and full of vim,

No one can help but welcome him.'

       "You mustn't think I am conceited," he added. "I say a lot to make my rhyme come out right."

       "Of course," said the Old Year, "for I do too. Well, I will give my second verse. Don't believe it all, though!" Then the Old Year took an old harp he had and he began to play and sing, and this was what he sang:

''And Poor Old Year - he almost wept

As he packed up his things and left.

But as he turned to say good-by,

Something in him made him cry:

'Though my work is mostly done,

I, have, too, had lots of fun,

And 'ere I go upon my way,

This I certainly would say:

'Happy New Year, big and small,

Happy New Year, short and tall,

Happy New Year, every one!

May you all have lots of fun!' "

A New Year's Party

        "Just because it was the first day of the year," said daddy,"and because parties were about the nicest things in the world to the mind of a little girl named Ella, her mother decided to give her one.

       "It certainly does seem like the first of the year, or the first of something," said Ella. 'It's a new day, a new year and we have new toys and new games. We are even going to have supper out of new dishes.'

       ''For among the presents Santa Claus had brought to Ella was a fine set of dishes. They were pink and white and there were six cups and saucers, six little plates, a teapot, sugar bowl and cream jug. It was really a very complete set.

       ''They had thin bread and butter, hot chocolate with whipped cream and a cake which Ella's mother called a New Year's cake. It was pink and white on the top with pink sugared trimmings on the white frosting.

       ''In the center of the cake was one pink candle, for Ella's mother said it would be quite impossible to have a candle for the number of years there had been, and too, it would be nice to have a new way and just consider the year a day old.

       ''After the cake had been almost entirely eaten they played house. Each little girl took a corner of the room as her house and fixed it up with some of Ella's things. They all had their own dolls and many

of their other toys so they really felt quite at home.

       ''Then they began calling on each other, dressing up in shawls and old hats which Ella's mother let them use. After a while they heard a flutter, flutter against the window pane, and then another little flapping sound.

       ''It's a little bird,' said Ella, as she looked out of the window. 'It's right on the sill, and I am dreadfully afraid it has hurt its wings. Poor little dear.'

       ''They opened the window and Ella took the little bird in her hands. Oh, how cold the little bird's feathers were!

       '' 'We'll take care of you,' said Ella. They gave the little bird some bread-crumbs and some water. Then he had a delicious piece of lettuce from the seeds which Ella had started in a box in her room.

       ''Pretty soon the bird began to grow much better and hopped and chirped about the room, and then they let him out for he had simply been very hungry.

       '' 'We'll put some suet in that tree over there,' said Ella.

       '' 'Let's put some bread-crumbs,' said her friends, and then one of them added,

       '' 'And let's give some of the New Year cake crumbs too.'

       ''So the little bird was given a regular New Year's feast, and Ella and her friends were among other children who decided to look after the feathered people through the cold months of the winter and to give them bread-crumbs and suet which they love so well.''

• Christmas for the birds...
• Fun things to do with your dolls on New Year's Day!

The Snowman's Resolution

The Snowman's Resolution
by Aileen Fisher

The snowman's hat was crooked
And his nose was out of place
And several of his whiskers
Had fallen from his face.

But the snowman didn't notice
For he was trying to think
Of a New Year's resolution
That wouldn't melt or shrink.

He thought and planned and pondered
With his little snow-ball head
Till his eyes began to glisten
And his toes began to spread;

And at last he said, "I've got it-
I'll make a firm resolve
That no matter what the weather
My smile will not dissolve."

Now the snowman acted wisely
And his resolution won
For his splinter smile was wooden
And it didn't mind the sun!

The Dying Year

The Dying Year

by John Irving Pearce

Ring bells! oh, ring bells!

For the dying year-

Dawn cometh swiftly;

Death low-hovers near.

Wake! O ye echoes

Of the days long o'er!

Harbingers mytic

Of days now before.

Though many flowers

Ne'er can bloom again,

Though many hours might

Brighter far have been;

Weep not; Oh! weep not!

Other buds will come;

New loves will blossom

In some fairer home.

Let no regrettings

Mar the peaceful close;

Wrap in oblivion

All your weary woes.

Dream on; Oh, dream on!

Through the misty past,

Mingling hope's smiles with 

Mem'ry's tears at last

To The New Year

To The New Year

by L. Smith

My sweet New Year, I greet you!

Memory's broken toys

I leave with the Old Year--

You bring new life, new joys.

With outstretched hands I greet you!

Your breath is like the morn;

Your smiles cover memory--

Again new hopes are born.

With love I meet and greet you!

Give me your brave strong hand,

And lead me swiftly onward:

'T is dangerous here to stand.

The Old For The New

 The Old for the New

by L. Smith

QLD YEAR,  I've loved you well; too well;
And yet for you I shed no tear,
No more to you my secrets tell:
I 'II whisper them to this New Year;
And Oh, I know he'll do his part
And lock them close within his heart.

Old Year, again I say good-bye;
We've walked together, oh, so long!
You've caused me many and many a sigh,
Yet oft you've filled my heart with song.
This is the parting of the ways;
Good-bye to you, and all your days!