Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
POETRY .
THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ON THE OPENING OF THE NEW YEAR . How many thousands hail the new-born year With merry voice , bright eyes , and cheerful hearts , — Friends greeting friends , ancl neighbours wishing each Another year of happiness and joy!—And this is well . "Tis well that human love
, And cordial wishes , should be thus express'd In season . "There ' s a time , " saith Wisdom ' s Book , " For all things . "—Custom maketh New Year ' s Day The proper time for opening the heart To human kindness!—Then the tongue may speak Uncurb'd by cold formality , antl Life Be cheer'd , for that one happy day , with smiles !
—Alas ! that man should be but Custom ' s slave ! One day ' s " good wishes" for his fellow-man He giveth freely , " as the custom is ! "He turneth from the world , for that short day , To feel , as human nature ought to feel , That all created by the hand of Gor > , For earthly Lifeare equal to himself .
, Man is uncertain as all mortal things , — One hour all brightness , gaiety , ancl joy , The next hour clouded by the gloom of care ! Now sitting on the throne of worldly pride , High in command of trembling brother-men , Then low and mingling with poor kindred dust—Cold and forgotten in the silent grave !
Thus transient are the greatest things of Earth , — For man , with all his boasted rank and pow ' r , Passeth from Life ancl vanisheth away , Ev ' n as a shadow with the setting sun !
O ye among the princes , raised above The millions that are born to toil , and bend In humble attitude to earthly kings—The kings of classes , mark'd by human laws ! Ye who may rule the great affairs of States ! Ye who possess a favour'd nation ' s wealth , With all its pow ' r for evil or for gootl !
Remember Heav ' n conferred ! gifts on you For noble purposes—that you may bless And yield obedience to the King of all , By cherishing the love of human kind , Regarding ev ' n the feeblest of the weak As equal with yourselves in life and death—Created by the same Eternal will ,
Destined like you to endless joy or woe !—¦ Think of the future!—O how soon may come The final hour , when ye shall hear the voice—
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
POETRY .
THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ON THE OPENING OF THE NEW YEAR . How many thousands hail the new-born year With merry voice , bright eyes , and cheerful hearts , — Friends greeting friends , ancl neighbours wishing each Another year of happiness and joy!—And this is well . "Tis well that human love
, And cordial wishes , should be thus express'd In season . "There ' s a time , " saith Wisdom ' s Book , " For all things . "—Custom maketh New Year ' s Day The proper time for opening the heart To human kindness!—Then the tongue may speak Uncurb'd by cold formality , antl Life Be cheer'd , for that one happy day , with smiles !
—Alas ! that man should be but Custom ' s slave ! One day ' s " good wishes" for his fellow-man He giveth freely , " as the custom is ! "He turneth from the world , for that short day , To feel , as human nature ought to feel , That all created by the hand of Gor > , For earthly Lifeare equal to himself .
, Man is uncertain as all mortal things , — One hour all brightness , gaiety , ancl joy , The next hour clouded by the gloom of care ! Now sitting on the throne of worldly pride , High in command of trembling brother-men , Then low and mingling with poor kindred dust—Cold and forgotten in the silent grave !
Thus transient are the greatest things of Earth , — For man , with all his boasted rank and pow ' r , Passeth from Life ancl vanisheth away , Ev ' n as a shadow with the setting sun !
O ye among the princes , raised above The millions that are born to toil , and bend In humble attitude to earthly kings—The kings of classes , mark'd by human laws ! Ye who may rule the great affairs of States ! Ye who possess a favour'd nation ' s wealth , With all its pow ' r for evil or for gootl !
Remember Heav ' n conferred ! gifts on you For noble purposes—that you may bless And yield obedience to the King of all , By cherishing the love of human kind , Regarding ev ' n the feeblest of the weak As equal with yourselves in life and death—Created by the same Eternal will ,
Destined like you to endless joy or woe !—¦ Think of the future!—O how soon may come The final hour , when ye shall hear the voice—