The two were own sisters , being both granddaughters of Time , and , though one looked so much older than the other , it was rather owing to hardships and trouble than to age , since there was but a twelvemonth 's difference between them . `` Well , my dear sister , '' said the New Year , after the first salutations , `` you look almost tired to death . What have you been about during your sojourn in this part of infinite space ? '' `` Oh , I have it all recorded here in my book of chronicles , '' answered the Old Year , in a heavy tone . `` There is nothing that would amuse you , and you will soon get sufficient knowledge of such matters from your own personal experience . It is but tiresome reading . '' Nevertheless , she turned over the leaves of the folio and glanced at them by the light of the moon , feeling an irresistible spell of interest in her own biography , although its incidents were remembered without pleasure . The volume , though she termed it her book of chronicles , seemed to be neither more nor less than the Salem Gazette for 1838 ; in the accuracy of which journal this sagacious Old Year had so much confidence that she deemed it needless to record her history with her own pen . `` What have you been doing in the political way ? '' asked the New Year . `` Why , my course here in the United States , '' said the Old Year -- `` though perhaps I ought to blush at the confession -- my political course , I must acknowledge , has been rather vacillatory , sometimes inclining toward the Whigs , then causing the administration party to shout for triumph , and now again uplifting what seemed the almost prostrate banner of the opposition ; so that historians will hardly know what to make of me in this respect . But the Loco-Focos -- '' `` I do not like these party nicknames , '' interrupted her sister , who seemed remarkably touchy about some points . `` Perhaps we shall part in better humor if we avoid any political discussion . '' `` With all my heart , '' replied the Old Year , who had already been tormented half to death with squabbles of this kind . `` I care not if the name of Whig or Tory , with their interminable brawls about banks and the sub-treasury , abolition , Texas , the Florida war , and a million of other topics which you will learn soon enough for your own comfort , -- I care not , I say , if no whisper of these matters ever reaches my ears again . Yet they have occupied so large a share of my attention that I scarcely know what else to tell you . There has , indeed been a curious sort of war on the Canada border , where blood has streamed in the names of liberty and patriotism ; but it must remain for some future , perhaps far-distant , year to tell whether or no those holy names have been rightfully invoked . Nothing so much depresses me in my view of mortal affairs as to see high energies wasted and human life and happiness thrown away for ends that appear oftentimes unwise , and still oftener remain unaccomplished . But the wisest people and the best keep a steadfast faith that the progress of mankind is onward and upward , and that the toil and anguish of the path serve to wear away the imperfections of the immortal pilgrim , and will be felt no more when they have done their office . '' `` Perhaps , '' cried the hopeful New Year -- `` perhaps I shall see that happy day . ''
`` I doubt whether it be so close XXXXX hand , '' answered the Old Year , gravely smiling .
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