 | Household Verses |  |
25
NEW-YEAR VERSES, 1841.
Eighteen hundred forty! thou
Hast for aye departed now:
All thy fitful hopes and fears,
All thy transient smiles and tears,
All thy many anxious schemes,—
Now appear like fading dreams;
Such as owed to Time their birth
Have but proved themselves of earth,
Born to dazzle and to die,
Linked not with Eternity.
Hast for aye departed now:
All thy fitful hopes and fears,
All thy transient smiles and tears,
All thy many anxious schemes,—
Now appear like fading dreams;
Such as owed to Time their birth
Have but proved themselves of earth,
Born to dazzle and to die,
Linked not with Eternity.
26
Yet, among them, there might be
Some—set to a loftier key;
Hopes—more noble and sublime
Than belong to things of time:
Fears—of holier, happier force,
Heavenly wisdom's hidden source;
Smiles—enkindled from within;
Tears—called forth for conscious sin;
Schemes—that had a wider scope
Than the worldling's sordid hope.
Some—set to a loftier key;
Hopes—more noble and sublime
Than belong to things of time:
Fears—of holier, happier force,
Heavenly wisdom's hidden source;
Smiles—enkindled from within;
Tears—called forth for conscious sin;
Schemes—that had a wider scope
Than the worldling's sordid hope.
Such were not of Time, alone;
Such should not with him have flown:
Time! thy rapid pinions stay;
Bear not such, as gauds, away;
Winnow from the grain the chaff,
Give us back the better half
Of our by-gone hopes and fears,
Schemes and projects, smiles and tears;
We should own our loss—our gain,
In the few that might remain.
Such should not with him have flown:
Time! thy rapid pinions stay;
Bear not such, as gauds, away;
Winnow from the grain the chaff,
Give us back the better half
Of our by-gone hopes and fears,
Schemes and projects, smiles and tears;
We should own our loss—our gain,
In the few that might remain.
27
What avails on Time to call?
Things like these own not his thrall;
His the earthly, and diurnal,
Not the heavenly, and eternal!
Look, with faith, and hope, and love,
Unto One, enthroned above!
To His Son's atonement turn;
From His Holy Spirit learn
Aspirations which can climb
To Eternity—from Time!
Things like these own not his thrall;
His the earthly, and diurnal,
Not the heavenly, and eternal!
Look, with faith, and hope, and love,
Unto One, enthroned above!
To His Son's atonement turn;
From His Holy Spirit learn
Aspirations which can climb
To Eternity—from Time!
Eighteen hundred forty-one!
Hailed by many! known to none!
Gladsome bells, with merry peal,
To thy birth have set their seal;
Who may hear thy parting knell,
God! and he alone, can tell!
Joyous tongues around express
For thee-hopes of happiness;
Sobered hearts, too, here and there,
Greet thee with a voiceless prayer!
Hailed by many! known to none!
Gladsome bells, with merry peal,
To thy birth have set their seal;
Who may hear thy parting knell,
God! and he alone, can tell!
Joyous tongues around express
For thee-hopes of happiness;
Sobered hearts, too, here and there,
Greet thee with a voiceless prayer!
28
But thy glory—and thy gloom
Still are in the future's womb:
Whatsoe'er of good, or ill,
Shall be given thee to fulfil,
May we look to Him, alone,
Who can make that good our own;
Who can guard us from each ill,
While we seek to do His will;
And when we from Time must sever,
Take us to Himself—for ever!
Still are in the future's womb:
Whatsoe'er of good, or ill,
Shall be given thee to fulfil,
May we look to Him, alone,
Who can make that good our own;
Who can guard us from each ill,
While we seek to do His will;
And when we from Time must sever,
Take us to Himself—for ever!
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