A NEW YEAR | AdventAI

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, January 8, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 2

A NEW YEAR.

Over the threshold a gallant new-comer Steppeth with tread that is royal to see; White as the winter-time, rosy as summer, Hope in his eyes, and his laugh ringeth free. Lo! in his hands there are gifts overflowing, Promises, prophecies, come in his train; O'er him the dawn in its beauty is glowing, Flee from his presence the shadows of pain.

How shall we welcome him? Shall we remember One who as royalty came to our door Twelve months ago, when the winds of December Moaned in the tree-tops, and raved on the shore? He, too, had largess of bounty to offer; He was as smiling, as gracious of mien: Only the beautiful sought he to proffer, Only such looks as were calm and serene.

Now he has fled, and our hopes that have perished, Lovely ideals which never were found, Dreams that we followed, and plans that we cherished, Lie, like the autumn leaves, dead on the ground. So wilt thou cheat us with sign and with token,— So wilt thou woo us to follow thee on, Till thy last sigh, through a lute that is broken, Till thy last vision, is faded and gone.

Nay; we are thankless indeed if we borrow Only the weary libretto of pain, Find in the retrospect nothing but sorrow, Count up our years in the tones that complain; Surely we're stronger through faith and endeavor, Surely are richer in courage and love, Surely are nearer the infinite ever,— Nearer the angels that wait us above.

Welcome, then, New Year, with stainless white pages, Though we may blot them ere long with our tears; So it has been through the long-passing ages, Worn with the footprints of close-treading years. Welcome, sweet year! may thy full-handed hours Find us like servants who wait for their Lord, Using with earnest devotion our powers, Looking for him, and obeying his word.

—Selected.