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Hope shines not o'er thee now,—
She seeks the rising year;
But faithful Memory's warmest glow
Still lingers there.
She seeks the rising year;
But faithful Memory's warmest glow
Still lingers there.
Her magic power can bring
The varied scenes again,
That chequered o'er thy fleeting wing
With joy or pain.
The varied scenes again,
That chequered o'er thy fleeting wing
With joy or pain.
And though they all have fled,
And thou art fading now,
Yet light like that which gilds the dead
Beams o'er thy brow.
And thou art fading now,
Yet light like that which gilds the dead
Beams o'er thy brow.
Oh! who can ponder o'er
Thy scenes of good and ill,
Nor bless the love that spared once more,
Unwearied still?
Thy scenes of good and ill,
Nor bless the love that spared once more,
Unwearied still?
And pray that every wave,
On Time's eventful sea,
Tinged with a light earth never gave,
More bright may be.
On Time's eventful sea,
Tinged with a light earth never gave,
More bright may be.
Old year, thou art fading fast!
Darker the shadows fall!
And round thee, like a mantle cast,
Night spreads her pall.
Darker the shadows fall!
And round thee, like a mantle cast,
Night spreads her pall.
Hark! on the breeze O hear
Thy solemn midnight knell,
And thou art gone. Departed year,
Once more Farewell!
Thy solemn midnight knell,
And thou art gone. Departed year,
Once more Farewell!
E.
December 31, 1836.