By Mary Graham Bonner
It was New Year’s eve. In the big house on hill a party was being given.
There was dancing and talking and laughing and merriment of all kinds.
The mistletoe was still hanging over the door as it had hung throughout the Christmas season, urging shy youths to snatch kisses from shy but eager maidens and encouraging those youths who needed no encouragement.
The music played on, the dancers never wearied. And then suddenly it stopped. All was very still following a trumpet call.
The lights were turned out. A door leading into the big dancing room from the out-of-doors was opened.
And then could be seen an old, old man, with long white beard and long white hair, hobbling along upon a stick, a lantern in his hand.
He threw a light as he walked along and going out of the opened door waved an arm as though in farewell and was just about to shut the door—when, lo and behold, a little lad rushed in, clad n very few garments, all young and excited and bounding with spirits. The door closed. He was within. The lights were turned on.
Dancing began, but only he danced. Around and around, in and out of the people he danced, while the music played, faster, faster, faster. And then he made a low bow and dashed out of the dancing room.
There was applause. All the guests clapped their hands. They called for the little young dancer.
But as they called, in rushed a group of small boys. Under their arms they carried imitation newspapers and as they rushed about they cried.
“Extra! Extra! See about the great new arrival!
“Extra! Extra! The New Year has many packages of joy to scatter over the earth this year.
“He will be with us for 12 months! His stay is to be exactly that long.
“He danced for you now. And he will come in response to the encore you gave him and dance again.
“And after that he will give his encores day by day if you call for him and ask for the happiness, which he has to give, to dance in your hearts!
“Extra! Extra! The New Year is here!”
And around they went with their newspapers to every guest.
Then the little New Year came in and danced once more and then left with kisses and New Year greetings to all.
Once more the dancing began for everyone and way into the New Year they danced.
It was splendid to begin the New Year with dancing!
From the front page of the Moore County News, Carthage, N.C., December 27, 1923
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