She 's always saying that she 'll be glad when her time comes , and she does n't want to sojourn any longer in this vale of tears . But when she takes a sick spell there 's a fuss ! Doctors from town , and a trained nurse , and enough medicine to kill a dog . Life may be a vale of tears , all right , but there are some folks who enjoy weeping , I reckon . '' They spent the old year 's last hour quietly around the fire . A few minutes before twelve Captain Jim rose and opened the door . `` We must let the New Year in , '' he said . Outside was a fine blue night . A sparkling ribbon of moonlight garlanded the gulf . Inside the bar the harbor shone like a pavement of pearl . They stood before the door and waited -- Captain Jim with his ripe , full experience , Marshall Elliott in his vigorous but empty middle life , Gilbert and Anne with their precious memories and exquisite hopes , Leslie with her record of starved years and her hopeless future . The clock on the little shelf above the fireplace struck twelve . `` Welcome , New Year , '' said Captain Jim , bowing low as the last stroke died away . `` I wish you all the best year of your lives , mates . I reckon that whatever the New Year brings us will be the best the Great Captain has for us -- and somehow or other we 'll all make port in a good harbor . '' CHAPTER 17 A FOUR WINDS WINTER Winter set in vigorously after New Year 's . Big , white drifts heaped themselves about the little house , and palms of frost covered its windows . The harbor ice grew harder and thicker , until the Four Winds people began their usual winter travelling over it . The safe ways were `` bushed '' by a benevolent Government , and night and day the gay tinkle of the sleigh-bells sounded on it . On moonlit nights Anne heard them in her house of dreams like fairy chimes .
The gulf froze over , and the Four XXXXX light flashed no more .
Anne Elliott Jim Leslie Winds minutes sleigh-bells tinkle year years