Here is an excerpt of The Chimes, By Charles Dickens.
A Goblin Story of some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out & a New Year In.
"They were ready for a dance in half a second ( Meg and Richard at the top), and the Drum was on the very brink of leathering away with all his power; when a combination of prodigious sounds was heard outside, and a good-humoured comely woman of some fifty years of age, or thereabouts, came running in, attended by a man bearing a stone pitcher of terrific size, and closely followed by the marrow-bones and cleavers, and the bells; not The Bells, but a portable collection, on a frame.
Trotty said " It's Mrs. Chickenstalker!" And sat down, and beat his knees again.
"Married, and not tell me, Meg!" cried the good woman. "Never! I couldn't rest on the last night of the Old Year without coming to wish you joy. I couldn't have done it, Meg. Not If I had been bedridden,. So here I am; and as it's New Years Eve, and the Eve of your wedding too , my dear.
I had a little flip made, and brought it with me".
Mrs. Chickenstalker's notion of a little flip, did honour to her character. The pitcher steamed and smoked and reeked like a volcano; and the man who had carried it, was faint.
"Mrs Tugby!" said Trotty, who had been going round and round her, in an ecstasy.
"I should say, Chickestalker--Bless your heart and soul! A Happy New Year, and many of 'em! Mrs Tugby", said Trotty when he had saluted her: "I should say, Chickenstalker--This is William Fern and Lilian".
The worthy dame, to his surprise, turned very pale and red.
"Not Lilian Fern whose mother died in Dorsetshire!" she said.
Her uncle answered "Yes", and meeting hastily, they exchanged some hurried words together; the upshot of was, that Mrs Chickenstalker shook by both hands; saluted Trotty on his cheek again, of her own free will; and took the child to her capacious breast.
"Will Fern!" said trotty pulling on his right-hand muffler.
"Not the friend that you was hoping to find?".
"Ay!" returned Will. putting a hand on each of Trotty's shoulders. "And like to prove a'most as good a friend, if that can be, as one I found."
"oh!" said Trotty .
"Please to play up there. Will you have the goodness!.
To the music of the band, the bells the marrow-bones and cleavers, all at once; and while the Chimes were yet in lusty operation out of doors; Trotty, making meg & Richard second couple, led off Mrs. Chickestalker down the dance, and danced it in a step unknown before or since; founded on his own peculiar trot......
So may the New Year be a Happy one to You, Happy to Many more whose Happiness depends on You! So may each Year be happier than the last, and not the meanest of your brethren or sisterhood debarred their rightful share, to what our Great Creator formed them to enjoy."
I hope your parties are full of own made "Flip" and you have dances upon dances for a Happier and Healthier 2014, just like Mrs Chickenstalker and Trotty.
