lose their perfume," replied the sombre Old Year. "What
else have you brought to insure a welcome from the discontented race
of mortals?"

"Why, to say the truth, little or nothing else," said her sister, with
a smile, "save a few new _Annuals_ and almanacs, and some New Year's
gifts for the children. But I heartily wish well to poor mortals, and
mean to do all I can for their improvement and happiness."

"It is a good resolution," rejoined the Old Year. "And, by the way, I
have a plentiful assortment of good resolutions which have now grown
so stale and musty that I am ashamed to carry them any farther. Only
for fear that the city authorities would send Constable Mansfield with
a warrant after me, I should toss them into the street at once. Many
other matters go to make up the contents of my bandbox, but the whole
lot would not fetch a single bid even at an auction of worn-out
furniture; and as they are worth nothing either to you or anybody
else, I need not trouble you with a longer catalogue."

"And must I also pick up such worthless luggage in my travels?" asked
the New Year.

"Most certainly, and well if you have no heavier load to bear,"
replied the other. "And now, my dear sister, I must bid you farewell,
earnestly advising and exhorting you to expect no gratitude nor
good-will from this peevish, unreasonable, inconsiderate,
ill-intending and worse-behaving world. However warmly its inhabitants
may seem to welcome you, yet, do what you may and lavish on them what
means of happiness you please, they will still be complaining, still
craving what it is not in your power to give, still looking forward to
some other year for the accomplishment of projects which ought never
to have been formed, and which, if successful, would only provide new
occasions of discontent. If these ridiculous people ever see anything
tolerable in you, it will be after you are gone for ever."

"But I," cried the fresh-hearted New Year--"I shall try to leave men
wiser than I find them. I will offer them freely whatever good gifts
Providence permits me to distribute, and will tell them to be thankful
for what they have and humbly hopeful for more; and surely, if they
are not absolute fools, they will condescend to be happy, and will
allow me to be a happy year. For my happiness must depend on them."

"Alas for you, then, my poor sister!" said the Old Year, sighing, as
she uplifted her burden. "We grandchildren of Time are born to
troubl