The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-12-28
OLD AND NEW YEARS. MEET.
TNn

Twas the night before New Year's-and every.
where round
There was darkness an silenee-no motion, no
sound
Farewell to the Old Year." each person had said
Before he had tucked hims elf snugly in bed,
Expecting that ere he should rise the next morn
The Merry New Year woald be happily born.
Meanwhile, wife and laid us down to our rest.
Each with conscience uutroubled, the soft pillow
pressed.
Scarce had Morpheus his magical spell DER us laid
Than strange voices arose in the regions oerhead.
Weird music and cries made the welkin resound.
And quickly we started from bed with a bound
Though dark clouds obscurcd the moons placid
face
A luster more radiant ilumined the place,
Which seemed, as il were, from above to come
down,
And this wonderful sight our vision did crown:
The Old Year was standing low bent on his cane,
Like mendicant asking. yet asking in vain;
Forsaken by all whom his bounty had fed,
Disheveled his garments, uncovered his head,
Far streamed his white hair in the cold piercing
wind,
Long iccles hung from his beard, while behind
Time closely his footsteps pursued with scythe,
Quite ready and waiting to finish his life.
Poor. wretched and old, he was greeted by none
For his wealth was all squandered, his power quite
gone.
All this wife and I took in at a glance
We almost believed ourselves lost in a trance:
For straightway most marvellous things came to
view,
We saw. meeting the Old Year, the lusty young
New,
soft mantle OF ermine close WRAPPED him
around;
Right royal the jewels with which he was
crowned.
lie was seated at ease in his regal array
On throne formed Of crystal more brilliant than
day;
For the glow of the torches his followers bore,
From each point was reelected a thousand times
DER,
Twas upborne by four heroes of mythical fame
Boreas. Eurus and Auster and Zephyr by name
Twelve ministers grave did his pleasure await
To purvey for his palate provide for his state;
The young and the gay close surrounded his chair
And those wishing fayors by thousands were
there.
Stern Winter and Spring led the van of the train
Sweet Summer and Autumn the rear did main.
tain;
While all clamor above like the note of horn
Rose the voice Of the New Year, in accents OF
sCOTn;
" Bold fellow! how dare you my passage thus bar
And with your base presence this spectacle mar:
Know, if but speak to old Hour Glass the word
A sacrifice quickly you'll fall to his sworul
My business is urgent-Clear, marshals. the way!
\ Kingdom and Scepter await me to dayln
To whom the Old Year-his voice weak and low
Faint and trembling his accents-spake gently
and slow;
" wish not thy pathway in aught to impede
o. foolish and vain! to my warnings give heed
For i'll running race, full oft wisdom is won,
My reign is Just ended and thine scarce begun.
The sycOphant crowds which upon thee now wait
Care nothing for thee, but much for thy state.
For the riches and honors thy power can bestow
They will llatter and fawn, but no gratitude show
Young monarch, beware! put no trust in their
fra!h;
Phey We fOrsaken me now, to attend on thy youth
When thou, in thy turn. shalt grow old and decay.
Think not they viii! longer thy mandates obey
Whcreupon from the crowd rose such tumult aud
din
That the New Year himself scarce a hearing
could win.
Away with the craven old coward! away
Let his presence not cumber the earth for day.
Down, down with the dotard! false prophet, be-
gone!
Let our joyous procession march onward, right
on
Dire confusion and disCord had ruled for a space.
When suddenly quiet fell over fireplace.
Loud and clear the air rose the tones of q bell
For the passing Old Year, toIltng forth the last
kuun
The gay throng all vanished-'twas lost to the
eye
But from the far distance re-echoed this cry:
"On! on to the banquet! the revel and cheer,
HprTah for tie Netc Year! tie haPpy Neu
J',uy ~