NEW YEARS NIGHT OF AN UNHAPPY MAN
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From the German of Richter


An old man stood in the new years night at his
window, and looked with a glance of fearful des-
pair up to the inmovable ever-bIooming heavens,
and down upon the still pnrewhite earth, on which
was one SO sleepless and so desolate in soul as
he. For his grave stood near him; it was cover
cd with the SHOWS of old age, not with the green
foliage of youth; and he had brought out of rich
life nothing but errors sins, and diseases; wasted
body desoate soul breast full of poison, and
an old age full of remorse To day, the beautiful
hours of his youth re-appeared like spectres, and
re,conveyed him to that lovely morning when his
father first placed him upon the cross-way of life,
which leads, the right, by sunny paths ofvirtue
into large quiet land, fulfof light and harvests
but on the left, plunges down into the rnole-walks
of existence, and black cave, uIofdistlling poi
sons Kissing snakes, and dark sultry vapors


Alas the snakes were hanging on his breast,
and the drops of poison were on his tongue; and
he knew now where he stood Distracted with ir-
repressible grief, he called to the heavens:


"Give back to me my youthl 0, Father !
place me again upon the cross-way. that may
choose Alright l''


But his father and his youth were long since
gone. He saw the ignisj jatui dancing upon
marshes and disappearing upon cemeteries; and of