It was still in deep night, everything seemed to be the same as usual.
"Tommy!" called a clear little voice. Tommy1and sat up in bed. At the foot of the bed stood a boy about his own age, all dressed in2, like fresh snow. He had very bright eyes, and he3Tommy straightly. "Who are you?" asked Tommy.
"I am the New Year!" said the boy. "This is my day, and I bring4your leaves."
"What leaves?" asked Tommy.
"The new ones, to be sure!" said the New Year. "I hear5words of you from my Daddy."
"6is your Daddy?" asked Tommy.
"The old year, of course!" said the boy. "He said you asked too many questions and I see he was right. And one day you7your book into the fire. Now, all this8stop."
"Oh, must it?" said Tommy. He felt9, and did not know just what to say.
"10it does not stop." the boy said," you will grow11every year, till you grow up into a Terrible Man. Do you want to be a Terrible Man?"N-nol! said Tommy.
"Then you must stop being a terrible boy!" said the New Year. Take your12!" And he held out a book made of leaves, all white.
"Turn over one of these every day." he said," and soon you will be a good boy instead of a bad one." Tommy took the leaves and looked at them.13each leaf were a few words. On one it said, "Help your mother!" On14,"Don't eat so much!" "And on still another," Don't fight Billy Jenkins!"
"Oh!" cried Tommy. "I have to fight Billy Jenkins! He said —"
"Goodbye!" said the New Year." I shall come15when I am old to see whether you are a good boy or a terrible one. Remember, terrible boy makes terrible man."
