The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-08-19
THE YEAR.
J0urHdl.

Ces to the world forever, in our hearts DOuDl
| in loving bands, a wealth OF bright images o
day. gone forever. The book Of our life con
tains these faded leaves reCeding waves car
never wash them from memory. The wave
that wash the shore battle and beat, surge
around our life path, etthere will be greer
spot where memory revels amid these scenes
Tonight my fingers touch the keys lightly
strain of home music is in my heart, AS the
beams of day fade slowly from sight. | see
the smile of her who left mine in sorrow anC
tears, when she went away TO meet the friend,
on the other side. Why do | recall the past
Are those stilcd voices hushed to home
sounds forever Shall the wave-washcd sands
sink them down in the ocean OF time 50 fal
we sha ! see them no mOre-no more rcmem
Der the scenes Of the passing year or years
Thou art gone, IN the new year may we live
worthily, and, as memory is tuned to the
sweet music of passing years recall them
with pleasure; feeling our boat is gliding out
from shore, the strong currents sweeping us
nearer to the shore or haven from which we
can return no more, and as above The storms
and tempest our pilot glides, he will pilot us
safely to the other side.
We shall meet whit. winged messenger to
convey Us 10 the other side--tO Father 5
love. No night, no suffering, no tears there.
Silent years-sweet hopes have been laid
down, the grave Of the year strewn with ia
la h., IL Il a
cup, simple flowers, return with the coming
year. But silently lald to rest, dead flowers
falling on the tomb of the year. art thou. Tn
ccaslngy all things speak TO me OF vanished
hours. All that lie dead tell me we too shall
go hence. Our mission accomplished, the
keel shall touch the pebbly shore. We shall
enter the phantom ship and return no more,
and so they and the year are gone. We cannot
follow them 10 those unseen courts or the
Joys that await them there. We hope to meet
them where the dews shall descend with no
night of suffering or pain, only Gods love
and Sharon's sweet rose bloom by the road.
side. Our pilgrim feet shall fall on falrer
shores, more blooming and eternal Aowers
ours. We say, gather thy blossoms, dead
year; bind them up for the masters reaping;
let garlands fall in biliowy waves; let the
shining bands be bound together, feeling we
are the rcapers. And who will come ana share
in the glory of this harvest home? How swift
the years are gliding! How near the stream
how strong the current, we know not We
only know we too shall pass away-shall lie
with hands folded, and some stranger friend
scatter flowers over the bed where still we lie.
Geraniums bloom above the pale lips now so
cold-this last tribute of love, where uncOn.
SClously we lie, not knowing or caring for the
feet above. All these sacred ina
ges, dead 10 the world, In our hearts fresh and
talr, sweet harbingers of the life to come, we
shall meet and greet them ON the farther
shore. These dead years, with their folded
leaves, will all unclasp in vigor when the
night of earth Is passed, when songs so holy,
Joys so sweet seraphim an chcrubln greet and
meet these faded days to our entrance there.
Dead Year! Memory is touching sacred
chords to night. | seem to see the past, all
It's joys, Sorrows, trials and pains. My fin
gers linger mid soft silken hair or creep ST
emily DER brow | shall see no more here,
but whose love shall be a beacon to guide me
lrlgat. In my hand hold "A treasure, soft,
,yavy tress that once rested on that loving
brow beneath the tender blue eye. Alas! still
I'd IN dreamy Slumbcr 10 the world, it Is
Only golden ringlet,
To the world il is nothing more;
But my soul it clasps in its glory,
To the lights Of the days OF yOre,
SO the world moves, the light OF their pres.
,nCe fades, the dead year sweeps master keys,
urned to diviner melody than all our earthly
life. We feel the upheavng of the heart In
,adences so measured, so low, We bend to
listen TO their teaching. No hand can clasp
hem, no heart reach them into the silent
onward we find them; in professions and
,olonnades of beauty they burst forth in mi
lOr keys, carrying the soul from the earth
,arthy 10 the great fountain of all in life. We
ire hunting FOR the spring of perpetual bloom,
he cooling fountain, We shall never find it,
never quaf from it full strength and beauty
Is il flows away towards its ocean bed. Man
S never satisfied; his destiny is ever onward.
On the great pillows that roll he is an atom.
. specK. Deity and eternity will test the traIl
hIeld he leans on. Alone on the bOundless
,ccan, in the deeps where soul speaks unto
oul. | am hc-bc not afraid. Here the
,rcat lesson is learned; here too we Eel life IS
prng shall be a perpetual bloom. In the
better land we shall tire no more. Those
ountains fall at our feet; love, strength and
sunshine IN our Fathers house. From those
walls, those towers of strength we shall rise
purified. Purified from the frail cords that
JInd US captive here, we shall not sorrow and
,rieve thata few days of waiting have brought
Is home to the golden gate, admitting Us TO
he portals ofciernal life. There we shall see
lim face To face, clasp the hands of long sun.
Tered friends, and the lights of the city shall
DC as the noon day sun. We shall tire no
more OF life's burden The river OF life, the
swelling streams and his love will be our
strength and shield. When We are gone the
shining wings of home and the dead years
will be Land in dovelike remembrance above
our resting place, the dear dead hours gone
forever 10 us on earth, and when We pass be-
YOnd carth's trials, as we go We can sing:
Bright home OF my Savior, what glorics await
The spirit that passes this thy bright pearly gate
What anthems OF rapture, unceasing aud high,
Compose the glad chorus that gladden. the sky.
MARY.