YOUTH'S ADDRESS TO THE DYING YEAR.

Southland Times, Issue 615, 7 January 1867, Page 3

YOUTH'S ADDRESS TO THE DYING YEAR.

By Jonx Gr. Smith. Old year, old year, Thy end is near, "We -wish thou\vould'st tarry no longer here, We have c»me to bid thee a last good-bye, And st:md by thy couch till we see thee die j Tho' joy is glistening thro' the tear "We shed on thy withered face, old year. Thou hast been a sad churl to us, old year, IV w smiles hadst-thou for us, old year, Thy frowns were b euk as thy winter drear, Ah! we wish tho a' woulist tarry no longer here. We have heard Hie prowl of thine angry blast, And have quailed 'neath thy storm-clouds drifting pasr. ; But our fi-dvs an-1 griefs like leaflets sere, We will lay iv thy coffin, thou grim old year. For the'new year conies like a virgin bright, To ravish our souls with wild delight ; To scatter the ilowcrs of love and truth, And deck with blossoms the brow of youth. Then away, old year, Do not stay, old year ; It is time thou vert Lad iv the clay, old year. Yet specie a -word of truth, old year, To the bouaiiiuit iita: t of youth, old year ; A word which may twh us how to steer Thro' the rocks and shoals of ths comiug year. Then the old year raised his face so pale, And a (car tlov.v.l from his eye ; ITor a kuoll c;imi-> .1. .• .■ r on the gale, And he kuew his end v,"v.-> night. " Onward ever, Ujnvji'd ev-.n*, Toil in hojie, and iovo, and fear, Till ye reach the throne of the great Goodgiver," Were the last worua of the dying year.