There's this antique pocket watch on a chain. You read that the fifth pocket of your jeans wasn't for change, but was intended for a pocket watch. You snap the chain to your belt loop, and drop the watch into your pocket. It's a perfect fit. You pull it out and pop open the cover by depressing the button.
"Whoa it looks like it stopped over a hundred years ago," you say whistling.
The face displays the time as 11:59 on December 31, 1876. You wonder if it still works, so you pull out the stem and start winding. You pop the stem back in, and you hear a click, and the clock starts ticking. Suddenly, you hear footsteps and voices upstairs. Old style music is playing loudly too. The door opens and a voice shouts down. The noise increases.
"Come on up. You can find more wine later. We have enough to toast the new year, and it's almost midnight!"
Another voice shouts, "Hurry up!"
You hurry up the stairs, and blink as you look into the living room you had passed through earlier, but now looks entirely different. All the electric lamps have been replaced with kerosene ones, there's a potbelly stove providing heat where the Culligan water dispenser had been, and the room was packed with people in Victorian clothing.
"What are you wearing?" says a young man grabbing your arm, and frowning as he looks you up and down.
"Got into Uncle Zebediah's trunk, I'd guess. Some gear from his prospecting days," says a woman slightly older than you, "Brother are you feeling alright? You do look different."
"No time to mind that, probably just mothballs from the trunk," says the young man, "It's nearly time!"
Others in the room have started chanting as the second hand on the old grandfather clock advances Tick, Tick, Tick....
"Ten," pause, "Nine," Pause, "Eight"...
Your new "sister" whispers excitedly, "In just seconds we say goodbye to this frightful 1876, and hello to the new year of 1879."
"Still cannot believe that the Electoral College voted against the popular vote. It should be President Tilden, not President Hayes!" whined the young man holding your arm. You almost blurt something out about Trump and Clinton, but catch yourself.
Someone else says, "Well, there was voter fraud in the South. Besides it hasn't been decided yet."
The chant continues, "Three."
A man mutters something about "unnatural things."
"Two."
Someone thrusts a tin noisemaker into your hand.
"One."
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"