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THE OLD YEAR GONE 



It seems but j'esterdaj', so free from care, 



I watched the June-enchanted fern hills wave, 



Green as the billows which the deep seas bear : 

 Bird, leaf and brooklet greeting everywhere 



The glory of the breaking summer day. 



But, thou art gone I and we have but the same 



Stern law of earthly life. Joys vanish fast; 

 Then sorrow comes, with more enduring flame, 



Till o'er life's bridal robes death's pall is cast 

 The heart must wait if it would taste at last 



Once more the rapture of the days long dead 

 Life is so full of storms, and deserts vast, 



The heart nmst bleed ere it is comforted ; 

 The feet must falter ere they leach the door 



Which shuts on grief to never open more. 



But thou, I know, will come again to me, 



Fair Summer, with thy laughter and thj- song : 

 Then 'neath thy smile shall joy more perfect be. 



Because for thee my heart has waited long. 

 Grief now maj' fill mj' heart, but hope is strong, 



And it shall bloom to joy wher. thou dost come. 

 Then let the cold winds rave, my thoughts belong 



To thee alone ; to them my soul is dumb. 

 Awake, or when by sleep's sweet sense possessed, 



The thought of thee to come shall be my guest. 



T. H. RACE. 



