210 THE JOURNEYMAN. 



a slight difference in bulk or a still slighter difference in 

 the loops of its scaly coat; while, upon that part of it 

 where its head and tail meet, the eye can rest with plea- 

 sure. It is said that this adder is a symbol of the year ; 

 and certainly, as the eye is attracted more' by its head 

 and tail than by any part of its body, so the attention of 

 the moralist is excited more by the beginning and close 

 of the year than by any of its intermediate parts. The 

 moralist, do I say ? Alas ! true moralists are by no 

 means common characters, yet serious reflection at such 

 a season as this is not confined to a class of men so ex- 

 tremely rare. I remember that at a stage of life little 

 removed from childhood, on a New- Year's Day, not all 

 the halfpence my friends gave me could make me happy. 

 A certain vague regret for the days of sport that had 

 passed away, and a fearful anticipation of the days of 

 care and toil which I knew were coming on, conspired 

 to cast a gloom over my mind. But in this the boy in- 

 dulged in a folly not always avoided by the man. When 

 I looked at the head and tail of the snake, I thought of 

 the sting which in reality both of them bear, but not of 

 the antidote growing near. I now perceive that it was 

 unwise thus to suffer the clouds of unavailing regret and 

 dismal anticipation to cast their shade over my enjoy- 

 ments. He who taught that there is but one thing truly 

 needful taught also that " sufficient unto the day is the 

 evil thereof." It is an opinion of mine that all the drink- 

 ing and feasting so common at this season were at first 

 resorted to for the sake of dissipating gloomy thoughts 

 like those with which I was once perplexed. The more 

 I think of this, the more I am confirmed of its truth. 

 Judging from experience, it appears reasonable enough 

 that the man who is unprepared to die should strive to 

 forget that he is mortal : but it is monstrous to suppose 



