Punch (69.1875)

January 8, 1876.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 285

A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

'-rjf It was 11.30 p.m., on the night of the 31st December, 1875.

> n]^^ Punch sate in front of his study-fire, thinking over the events

X\l \ fT\\ °^ *ne pas' year : Tolnj lay at full length on the hearth-rug,

Al \ vVu lazily watching the hands of the clock. Near Punch was a

Ws/v^J play-bill, recalling the glories of a Pantomime he had seen on

V f^s~~" aa^jg*^- M^c.r*^>' »/« ' j i Tit/ v— Boxing-night, and the room was gay with mistletoe and holly.

/*8W~€g!^- ^ ^**-r-> s //li ^nfdffiu* The window-curtains were drawn back, so that not a moment

might be lost in throwing up the sash to let in the first clash
of the bells proclaiming the birth of 1876.

" It's over at last!" murmured Punch, dreamily. " What
a number of events crowded into three hundred and sixty-five
days ! Capital notion for a Pantomime—A Review of the
Year's Events. Splendid Transformation Scenes! Lots of'em!/'
And Punch would certainly have fallen fast asleep had he not
"^M^ ->-*o suddenly found himself preternaturally wide awake. Toby,

strange to say, was endowed with human speech.

" You must see them, Master," said the Dog of Dogs ;" many
of them have come a long way to pay their respects to you; and some of them I have ordered round to receive from you the rating
they deserve."

VOL. LUX.

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