it was new year's night. an aged man was standing at a window. he raised his mournful eyes towards the deep blue sky, where the stars were floating like white lilies on the surface of a clear calm lake. then he cast them on the earth, where few more hopeless people than himself now moved towards their certain goal——the tomb. he had already passed sixty of the stages leading to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and remorse. now his health was poor, his mind vacant, his heart sorrowful, and his old age short of comforts.
the days of his youth appeared like dreams before him, and he recalled the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrance of the two roads——one leading to a peaceful, sunny plac
