"Well, well, 'ingratitude is the reward of the world,' as the proverb says, and we old fogies with one foot in the grave and the other about to follow must make up our minds to be put on the shelf. We all have our turn; I have had mine, you are having yours, but old age comes at last, and then there is an end of us all, even to the best of us. Even I have been young, friend Goebel. Ha! ha! You'd hardly think so to look at me now with these silvery locks and tottering limbs. I say you'd hardly think so now, would you, eh? Now, how many years should you think I could count, friend Goebel, tell me?" "I haven't the slightest idea," said Goebel, impatiently. "I am hard upon ninety years old, and all tell me that I carry my years well. I may say I haven't had a day's illness in all my life. I have nearly all my teeth yet, and----" "I have no doubt all you say is very true, my friend," interrupted Goebel; "but you have hardly answered my question satisfactorily yet. I asked you where you were going?" "Friend Goebel," said the old man, "now I'll just tell you what I propose doing this morning, just by way of stretching my old limbs, seeing that I have not had a walk for an age. It does old folks good to go out for a stroll every now and then in the country. Too much staying at home over the fire isn't good, even for the likes of me." "Well, well," broke in Goebel, beginning to lose all patience. "I asked you where you were going." "Did you? Ah yes, I had nearly forgot. We old folks are apt to lose our memories at times, you know, my friend, so you young folks ought to have compassion on us, and recollect that we were once like you, and that you will one day become like us, therefore----" "This is insufferable," burst out Goebel, whose forbearance was quite at an end. "I ask you a plain question, and I expect a plain answer. I repeat the question--Where are you going?" "Hoity, toity! friend Goebel," cried the old man, in great surprise. "What! so impatient with your old friend Gustav! Don't you remember how often I have taken you upon my knee and danced you? We used to be great friends then. Don't you recollect? But I suppose you have forgotten all that now, eh?--since you have become a man. Let me see, how long ago must that be? Full thirty years ago, if it's a day, I'll warrant." "Will you, or will you not, give me a plain answer to a plain question. Tell me where you are going?" cried Goebel, now quite furious, and shaking the old man violently by both shoulders. "Softly, softly! friend Goebel," cried the veteran, much alarmed. "Save my life. Prithee, save my life, and I will tell you where I am going, if you will have patience." "Well, tell me at once, and let us have no more chattering," said Goebel, leaving go his hold. "Well, in the first place, then," began old Gustav, recovering himself--"in the first place----but stay, upon second thoughts, I'll just leave you to guess where I am going. Now, where do you think?"