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a new-year wish.
Sport on, thou light and lovely thing, this is the time of mirth,
When voices blend in many a strain to hail the new- year's birth.
Old '49 hath passed away, young '50 now appears,
To smile upon thy downy brow, child of four sunny years;
Now whilst around that happy hearth thou mov'st, its life and glee,
Whilst kind hands pat thy little head, and raise thee to the knee,
And whilst they hear thy merry laugh, and childhood's prattling tongue,
And smile, amazed that wisdom's words should flow from lips so young;
Who bless thy little joy-lit face, in infant beauty clad,
And, listening to their baby mirth, feel their own souls made glad.
Oh, yes! while float around thee, boy, kind wishes, all sincere—
Mine I would offer fervently, "To thee a happy year."
When voices blend in many a strain to hail the new- year's birth.
Old '49 hath passed away, young '50 now appears,
To smile upon thy downy brow, child of four sunny years;
Now whilst around that happy hearth thou mov'st, its life and glee,
Whilst kind hands pat thy little head, and raise thee to the knee,
And whilst they hear thy merry laugh, and childhood's prattling tongue,
And smile, amazed that wisdom's words should flow from lips so young;
Who bless thy little joy-lit face, in infant beauty clad,
And, listening to their baby mirth, feel their own souls made glad.
Oh, yes! while float around thee, boy, kind wishes, all sincere—
Mine I would offer fervently, "To thee a happy year."
A happy year! nay, years of bliss their golden wings out-spread,
Sweet child of many a hope and prayer, above thy guileless head.
May those, the high and kind of heart, whose fostering care is thine,
Whose soul with more than parent's love around thee, boy, entwine,
Sweet child of many a hope and prayer, above thy guileless head.
May those, the high and kind of heart, whose fostering care is thine,
Whose soul with more than parent's love around thee, boy, entwine,
