Harper's Young People, December 28, 1880 / An Illustrated Monthly

THE FIRST NEW-YEAR'S CALL.—See Next Page.

On the first page of this New-Year's number of Harper's Young People is a picture of the first New-Year's call of the season, which is one made at the door of every house in the land just as the clock strikes twelve on New-Year's Eve.
The little fur-clad figure knocking for admittance is that of New Year himself, Master Eighteen Eighty-One, laden with promises and good wishes that will, we hope, insure him a warm welcome from the sleepy watchers within the cozy room to which he seeks to enter. Even Miss Dolly, whom the children have left on the cricket in the corner to watch the old year out and the new one in, and who does not look at all sleepy, will welcome the little stranger in her own way, and he will quickly be made to feel at home.
Now watch for him, dear children; he will surely come to every door, and when he arrives, welcome him warmly, and make up your minds to do everything in your power to make him the very happiest New Year that ever was.
Christmas was over. The twins, Allan and Jessie, had romped and played away the whole delightful day, in doors and out.
Wonderful to tell, they had wearied of all the pretty new toys, and found an end to play. After tea they sat quietly in the fire-glow, talking with mamma about the beautiful new picture that was her gift to them. It was a charming group of gayly dressed children—little Princes and a Princess, the children of the unhappy King Charles I. of England. The tallest was a handsome boy, in a suit of scarlet velvet, with a broad collar of rich old lace. He held by the hand a tiny tot, in a frilled cap and a dress of blue silk, who timidly clung to the protecting arm of his big brother. The third was a quaint little damsel in a robe of creamy satin, standing with her dainty hands demurely folded before her. Her long stately dress touched the floor with its border of Vandyck points, and her small head was curiously dressed in a by-gone courtly fashion. About her pretty throat was a necklace of costly pearls, and she looked the perfect model of a tiny old-time lady of high degree. A pair of graceful spaniels crouched at the feet of the children, and behind them was a curtain of some rich foreign stuff. The fire-light flashed on the sweet young faces and shining auburn hair, touching the waves and curls, while the shadows danced and nickered until it seemed to Allan that the bright eyes smiled back to him as he looked up. It was like a pleasant dream, and Allan's blue eyes grew slowly dim and dimmer. Jessie's eyelids had been drooping from the time mamma began to tell about the royal children, and directly the twins were fast asleep. Papa came in, and mamma laughed with him at the effect of her story, and then the little sleepers were playfully shaken until they were wide awake enough to walk up stairs.