T.S. Arthur conveys a message of repentance in his short story “The New Year’s Gift.” The story begins near the end of the year. As New Year’s Day approaches, Henry Foster realizes that he must return to his family, whom he has neglected and abused throughout the years. However, he doubts they are anticipating his coming with excitement.
A Dreadful Past
Six days before New Year’s Day, hired laborer Henry Foster sits in his employer’s farmhouse and listens as the mother, son, and daughter excitedly await the father’s return on Jan. 1. They can’t wait for him to come, and the mother says, “Oh! I think I never loved him so well in my life as I have since he has been away.”Foster walks out into the cold, miserable at the thought of his own homecoming. For years, he has worked but has given less than half of his earnings to his family. He’s squandered most of the money on alcohol. Thus, he knows that his family anticipates his return with dread and anxiety.
