IT WAS midnight on New Year's Eve. The church bells were ringing; |the fire siren was blowing. Doors were thrown open as people stepped out onto their porches to shout "Happy New Year!" t(^ each other.
Old Father Time, leaning on his scythe and stroking his long white barked, sighed and shook his head as he listened to them.
"Now why are they so happy about New Year? I don't under-
stand it; New Year's only a baby, and babies are a lot of bother, aren't they? Then why do people like them so much?"
Down the road behind him came the bouncing baby New Year. '/Hello, Father Time!" he called gaily as he passed.
"I'm on my way into the world! Listen to everybody cheer! Isn't it fun? Oh, I'm going to give them the merriest year they ever have had! Good-by, Father Time!"
(Pld Father Time shook his head again, but with a smile this time. (^Maybe that's why people like babies! What a package of fun, they are!" he said.
Her Watched the baby New Year trotting merrily down the road, singing, a rollicking song in time to the gay rhythm of the/ belie
"Happy /New Year," Father Time said with a smile. "Yes, that's what he is—happy New Year. And look where he's heading—I might he known it! He's making straight for the most cheerful spot in tier world—he's going to live on What-a-Jolly Street! Well, 7ioi(; there's no doubt about it, no doubt at all he's going to be a happy, happy New Year!"
