The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince Edited by R. A. Douglas Lithgow |
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STANZAS FOR THE NEW YEAR.—[1859.] |
 | The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince |  |
355
STANZAS FOR THE NEW YEAR.—[1859.]
The Old Year is numbered with those of the past,
He has done with his chances for right or for wrong;
May the good that he gave us remain to the last,
And the evil be dead and forgotten ere long!
Some griefs which he brought us may linger awhile,
But to-day let us have neither murmur nor tear;
We have met with a kindly and sociable smile
To hail with warm welcome the gladsome New Year.
He has done with his chances for right or for wrong;
May the good that he gave us remain to the last,
And the evil be dead and forgotten ere long!
Some griefs which he brought us may linger awhile,
But to-day let us have neither murmur nor tear;
We have met with a kindly and sociable smile
To hail with warm welcome the gladsome New Year.
Some things the Old Year has achieved, we must own,
Which the spirit of progress will wisely extend,—
He has added new grandeur and strength to the throne—
New glories to Science, true Liberty's friend.
He has shown us that language can fly through the seas,—
That lands, the remotest, may seem to draw near;
Let us give the departed due honour for these,
As we hail with warm welcome the gladsom New Year.
Which the spirit of progress will wisely extend,—
He has added new grandeur and strength to the throne—
New glories to Science, true Liberty's friend.
He has shown us that language can fly through the seas,—
That lands, the remotest, may seem to draw near;
Let us give the departed due honour for these,
As we hail with warm welcome the gladsom New Year.
Some kindred and friends the Omnipotent Will
Has summoned and snatched from our tenderest care,
But beings to comfort us cling round us still,
And chase from our souls discontent and despair.
By turns 'tis the lot of unsatisfied man
To hope and to grieve, to rejoice and to fear;
Let us cherish the blessings we have, while we can,
And hail with warm welcome the gladsome New Year.
Has summoned and snatched from our tenderest care,
But beings to comfort us cling round us still,
And chase from our souls discontent and despair.
By turns 'tis the lot of unsatisfied man
To hope and to grieve, to rejoice and to fear;
Let us cherish the blessings we have, while we can,
And hail with warm welcome the gladsome New Year.
356
The wings of old Time change their hues as he flies
With an onward, still onward, but varying flight;
To-day they are sombre as sorrow's own skies,—
To-morrow as lovely as Hope's rosy light.
The darkness should raise us to efforts anew,
The brightness should charm us with solace and cheer;
Then, keeping both duty and pleasure in view,
Let us hail with warm welcome the gladsome New Year.
With an onward, still onward, but varying flight;
To-day they are sombre as sorrow's own skies,—
To-morrow as lovely as Hope's rosy light.
The darkness should raise us to efforts anew,
The brightness should charm us with solace and cheer;
Then, keeping both duty and pleasure in view,
Let us hail with warm welcome the gladsome New Year.
The gladsome New Year is a time when a race
For the good things of life should in earnest begin,
If we wish to attain a more prominent place,
And the goal of success and fruition to win.
Old ties should be strengthened, new friendships be sought,
Old signs of stern feeling should now disappear,—
New plans for improvement be tried and be taught,
When we've hailed with warm welcome the gladsome New Year!
For the good things of life should in earnest begin,
If we wish to attain a more prominent place,
And the goal of success and fruition to win.
Old ties should be strengthened, new friendships be sought,
Old signs of stern feeling should now disappear,—
New plans for improvement be tried and be taught,
When we've hailed with warm welcome the gladsome New Year!
Thou hast come to thy heritage, young Fifty-Nine!
May peace, knowledge, freedom give grace to thy time!
May all that's exalted and noble be thine—
Thy coming triumphant, thy going sublime!
May thy presence bring something of good and of great,
To elevate man in his mortal career;
But, whatever it be, we must “labour and wait,”
And give thee warm welcome, thou gladsome New Year!
May peace, knowledge, freedom give grace to thy time!
May all that's exalted and noble be thine—
Thy coming triumphant, thy going sublime!
May thy presence bring something of good and of great,
To elevate man in his mortal career;
But, whatever it be, we must “labour and wait,”
And give thee warm welcome, thou gladsome New Year!
We rejoice; but, oh! let us remember with awe
The merciful Giver of blessings untold,—
The Source of all wisdom, and order, and law,—
The infinite Power to whom nothing is old.
Let the thoughts of our thankfulness rise unto Him,
Who made and sustains every system and sphere,
So that nothing unworthy our pleasures may dim,
As we hail with warm welcome the gladsome New Year.
The merciful Giver of blessings untold,—
The Source of all wisdom, and order, and law,—
The infinite Power to whom nothing is old.
Let the thoughts of our thankfulness rise unto Him,
Who made and sustains every system and sphere,
So that nothing unworthy our pleasures may dim,
As we hail with warm welcome the gladsome New Year.
| The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince | |