Threads of Grey and Gold

The proverbial "good resolutions" of the first of January which are usually forgotten thenext day, the watch services in the churches, and the tin horns in the city streets, are aboutthe only formalities connected with the American New Year. The Pilgrim fathers took nonote of the day, save in this prosaic record: "We went to work betimes"; but one JudgeSewall writes with no small pride of the blast of trumpets which was sounded under hiswindow, on the morning of January 1st, 1697.He celebrated the opening of the eighteenth century with a very bad poem which he wrotehimself, and he hired the bellman to recite the poem loudly through the streets of the townof Boston; but happily for a public, even now too much wearied with minor poets, thecustom did not become general.In Scotland and the North of England the New Year festivities are of great importance.Weeks before hand, the village boys, with great secrecy, meet in out of the way places andrehearse their favourite songs and ballads. As the time draws near, they don improvisedmasks and go about from door to door, singing and cutting many quaint capers. The thirtyfirst of December is called "Hogmanay," and the children are told that if they go to thecorner, they will see a man with as many eyes as the year has days. The children of thepoorer classes go from house to house in the better districts, with a large pocket fastenedto their dresses, or a large shawl with a fold in front.Each one receives an oaten cake, a piece of cheese, or sometimes a sweet cake, and goeshome at night heavily laden with a good supply of homely New Year cheer for the rest ofthe family.The Scottish elders celebrate the day with a supper party, and as the clock strikes twelve, friend greets friend and wishes him "a gude New Year and mony o' them."Then with great formality the door is unbarred to let the Old Year out and the New Year in, while all the guests sally forth into the streets to "first foot" their acquaintances.The "first foot" is the first person to enter a house after midnight of December 31st. If he isa dark man, it is considered an omen of good fortune. Women generally are thought tobring ill luck, and in some parts of England a light-haired man, or a light-haired, flat-footedman is preferred. In Durham, this person must bring a piece of coal, a piece of iron, and abottle of whiskey. He gives a glass of whiskey to each man and kisses each woma