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Pleasant View, Concord, N. H., May 21, 1904.
TO THE OLD YEAR – 1865
Pass on, returnless year!
The track behind thee is with glory crowned;
The turf where thou hast trod is holy ground.
Pass proudly to thy bier!
Chill was thy midnight day,
While Justice grasped the sword to hold her throne,
And on her altar our loved Lincoln's own
Great willing heart did lay.
Thy purpose hath been won!
Thou point'st thy phantom finger, grim and cold,
To the dark record of our guilt unrolled,
And smiling, say'st, "'Tis done!
"This record I will bear
To the dim chambers of eternity —
The chain and charter I have lived to see
Purged by the cannon's prayer;
"Convulsion, carnage, war;
The pomp and tinsel of unrighteous power;
Bloated oppression in its awful hour, —
I, dying, dare abhor!"
One word, receding year,
Ere thou grow tremulous with shadowy night!
Say, will the young year dawn with wisdom's light
To brighten o'er thy bier?
Or we the past forget,
And heal her wounds too tenderly to last?
Or let today grow difficult and vast
With traitors unvoiced yet?
Though thou must leave the tear, —
Hearts bleeding ere they break in silence yet,
Wrong jubilant and right with bright eye wet, —
Thou fast expiring year,
Thy work is done, and well:
Thou hast borne burdens, and may take thy rest,
Pillow thy head on time's untired breast.
Illustrious year, farewell!
Lynn, Mass., January 1, 1866.
INVOCATION FOR 1868
Father of every age,
Of every rolling sphere,
Help us to write a deathless page
Of truth, this dawning year!
Help us to humbly bow
To Thy all-wise behest —
Whate'er the gift of joy or woe,
Knowing Thou knowest best.
Aid our poor soul to sing
Above the tempest's glee;
Give us the eagle's fearless wing,
The dove's to soar to Thee!
All-merciful and good,
Hover the homeless heart!
Give us this day our daily food
In knowing what Thou art!
Swampscott, Mass., January 1, 1868.
CHRISTMAS MORN
Blest Christmas morn, though murky clouds
Pursue thy way,
Thy light was born where storm enshrouds
Nor dawn nor day!
Dear Christ, forever here and near,
No cradle song,
No natal hour and mother's tear,
To thee belong.
Thou God-idea, Life-encrowned,
The Bethlehem babe —
Beloved, replete, by flesh embound —
Was but thy shade!
Thou gentle beam of living Love,
And deathless Life!
Truth infinite, – so far above
All mortal strife,
Or cruel creed, or earth-born taint:
Fill us today
