The Old Year And The New Year.

THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW YEAR .

A lonely student in his room AYas sitting by the fire , And 'mid the dark December gloom As the flames kept rising higher ; He thought Ire saw in fancy then , In vision dim and faint , And seemed ( o welcome once again

Two figures strange and quaint . One was an old and weary man Whose locks were ting'd with gray , As if " thro' blessing and thro' ban " lie had wandered on his way ; The other in the happy hours Of all goodly trust and truth ,

Stood glowing in ihe genial pow ' rs Of bright and opening youth . And 'raid the books of ' parted ages , And 'mid the pictures of old clays , Amid the tomes of sair . rs and sages , The world ' s grave censure and its praise , The strident seemed to look in awe , And with a mourning heart that night , On these two forms he mutely saw Amid that fire ' s flickering light .

" What want yon Irere ? " he said at last , 11 AVhy come you now to visit me ? Why can ' t you leave the buried past And the great future yet to be , To tell their mutual tale of tears , Of sorrow , ill , and earthly strife . The cares and crosses of long years In this departing life ?"

" "Why stand you now as pilgrims here Covered with scallop shell , Whispering ' mid earthly doubt and fear Of things I know full well ? AVhy do you seek to open now That book of magic lore , Which tells of faded hope and vow ,

And points to what ' s before ?" " Listen , oh ! listen , student grave Within your room tlris eve , We thy attention briefly crave Amid the cares which grieve , " Tirey said together in magic voice , In deep gentleness of tone , " AVe come in love to bid rejoice The heart which stands alone . '

"For the past is gone and vanish'd , From the realm of toil and care , Thou , too , hast long since banish'd Old fancies warm and fair ; And toiling on alone to-day While thy sand is running out , Thou hast seen thy past all fade away In much of gloom and doubt , "

" For thee that past is but a tale Of years and friends of yore , Of trials which no more assail Of ruins with age all hoar , Of scenes which thou never more canst see , Of friends whom no more rhoul't meet , Of the loving voice and the fancy free Of converse soft and sweet . "

" But yet tlio' all's of the past for thee , Dear friends and loving way , The mind so rare , the heart of glee , Bright shadow , laughing fey : Still that past in its mystic pew ** , And its songs of buried years , Can serve to soften the fleeting hour AVith the tenderness of tears . "

" Remember then , oh , mourning friend That past was in wisdom sent , Those happy hours which too soon would end AVere in mercy and goodness lent To thee , those very golden days Which graeted thy dawn of youth . Were y < t if perhaps in different ways A proving of love and truth . "

" Thy after seasons of riper life , Matured gifts and days , The thronging scenes of human strife , AU earthly gain and praise , AVere sent by One who ' mid life's decay And time ' s departing scroll , And as our hours pass away , And the onward ages roll , "

" Arranges all things for the best , As for thee thy life's career , Thy times of peacefulness and rest , Thy seasons of dread and fear ; Whate ' er thou art , where ' er thou be . His wisdom ruled the plan , Which made thee feel , which made thee see , AVhat is the life of man ?"

" illorirn not ( he past , nor vainly cty For sundered hopes to day , Brood not , nor e ' en complaining sigh For gifts long past away ; Howe ' er to thee thy past has been "Whether for good or ill , Whate ' er has been its lingering scene ,

"I'was God who gave it still . " " Neither the future seek to scan In its all winding maze , Nor idly long on that hidden plan To concentrate thy gaze , The veil still hangs unbroken 'Twixt past and future now , Its words are all \ mspoken , AVe know not the when or how . "

" No , for thee that future lies before In mist , and fog , and night , Upon its still beclouded shore No beams fall yet of light , But wait the dawn , 'ere very long That haze will melt away , And thou wilt hear the joyous song , And hail the golden ray , "

" Which tells of a happier home than this Of a better country far , Of the frie .: ds we always fondly miss , Where nothing our p ; . 'ace can mar , The future of our being Dear rest and endless love , For sight at last is seeing In God ' s—own Truth above . "