strangers? Each of them had his passport and
his luggage with him; they even brought presents
for me, and for you, and for all the people in the
town. Who were they? What did they want?
And what did they bring with them?

``Good-morning!'' they cried to the sentry at
the town-gate.

``Good-morning,'' replied the sentry, for the
clock had struck twelve.

``Your name and profession?'' asked the sentry
of the one who alighted first from the carriage.

``See for yourself in the passport,'' he replied.

``I am myself!''--and a famous fellow he looked,
arrayed in bearskin and fur boots. ``Come to me
to-morrow, and I will give you a New Year's
present. I throw shillings and pence among the
people. I give balls every night, no less than
thirty-one; indeed, that is the highest number
I can spare for balls. My ships are often frozen
in, but in my offices it is warm and comfortable.
MY NAME IS JANUARY. I am a merchant, and I
generally bring my accounts with me.''

Then the second alighted. He seemed a merry
fellow. He was a director of a theater, a manager