Page:Poems Curwen.djvu/131

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the year of jubilee.
123

A baleful influence seemed at work
Both upon land and sea;
For floods, fires, storms, combined to mar
Our year of jubilee.

The engineers' lock-out, too, cast
Its shadow far and wide;
And many hapless homes have been
In want this Christmastide.

Heaven grant a speedy settlement,
And may we live to see
Labour and capital go hand
In hand harmoniously.

Grave interests are at stake; we need
The wisdom of a seer,
To safely guide the National barque
Throughout the coming year.

Born amid universal strife,
Who can prognosticate
The issues of events which lie
In eighteen ninety-eight?

Would God, all strife and discord might
Cease now, for evermore;
And peace with this new year be born
On every troubled shore.