While gaping thousands come and go- And shall we breathe in happier spheres No matter; while our home is here R RING QUT, WILD BELLS! An Invocation to the New Year. ING out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light; The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more; Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring out the want, the care, the sin, Ring out false pride in place and blood, Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be. OLD. OY the wayside, on a mossy stone, BY Sat a hoary pilgrim sadly musing; Oft I marked him sitting there alone, By the wayside, on a mossy stone. Buckled knee and shoe, and broad-rimmed hat, Buckled knee and shoe, and broad-rimmed hat. It was summer, and we went to school, Dapper country lads and little maidens, It was summer, and we went to school. When the stranger seemed to mark our play- Oftentimes the tears unbidden started, When the stranger seemed to mark our play. One sweet spirit broke the silent spell; One sweet spirit broke the silent spell. "Angel," said he sadly, "I am old; Earthly hope no longer hath a morrow; Yet, why I sit here thou shalt be told; Then his eye betrayed a pearl of sorrow: Down it rolled! "Angel," said he sadly, "I am old. "I have tottered here to look once more I have tottered here to look once more. "All the picture now to me how dear! E'en this gray old rock, where I am seated, Is a jewel worth my journey here; Ah! that such a scene must be completed All the picture now to me how dear! "Old stone school-house! - it is still the same! Old stone school-house! - it is still the same! "In the cottage, yonder, I was born; Long my happy home—that humble dwelling: There are the fields of clover, wheat, and corn, There the spring, with limpid nectar swelling; Ah, forlorn! In the cottage, yonder, I was born. "There's the orchard where we used to climb, Fearing nought but work and rainy weather; There's the or hard where we used to climb! "There's the mill that ground our yellow grain, Pond, and river still serenely flowing; Cot, there nestling in the shaded lane, There's the mill that ground our yellow grain! "There's the gate on which I used to swing, Brook, and bridge, and barn, and old red stable; But, alas! no more the morn shall bring That dear group around my father's table; There's the gate on which I used to swing. "I am fleeing!—all I loved are fled! Yon green meadow was our place for playing: That old tree can tell of sweet things said, When around it Jane and I were straying: I am fleeing!—all I loved are fled! "Yon white spire, a pencil on the sky, Points me to seven that are now in glory, Yon white spire, a pencil on the sky! "Oft the aisle of that old church we trod, Oft the aisle of that old church we trod! "There I heard of wisdom's pleasant ways- There I heard of wisdom's pleasant ways! "There my Mary blessed me with her hand, Yonder turf her gentle bosom pressing; There my Mary blessed me with her hand! "I have come to see that grave once more, I have come to see that grave once more. “Angel,” said he sadly, "I am old! Earthly hope no longer hath a morrow; "Angel," said he sadly, "I am old!” |