Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-01-03
THE NEW YEAR.
BY WILD BIRD.

( " Hn giauness HaSninE from eacn gem,
And set in gold of pure device,
A coronet above all price
His garments Of historic thread,
Spun by the hands now cold and dead,
Inwrought with gems Of genius bright
That shine like lamps in sorrows might
Love casts fresh garlands at his feet ''s's
And halls the year with preludes sweet
This year is armed as none before
The fields Of research to explore
His arm is stronger to protect,
His banner brighter to reflect;
The glitter of his diamond pen
Enhght MS every race of men.
The ,,sntnings come with fingers bright
His words in every land to write;
The restless seas their anthems swell.
Regardless, while the cables tell
The daily news from main to man;s
And telephone sings the refrain
The steam-steeds, with elastic tread
Rush down the vale and DER the mead,
and scaling mountains, strong and hale !;
And never wearied, mock the gale
With thunders from their chariot wheels
Or stepping on the wave, with keels
That plough astonished pillows Ger,
To sow the distant isles with lore,
Tne New Year is giant king
Despising neither sword nor sling M
A reigning monarch from his birth;
His, the artillery of earth,
] His shields, bright with experience,
And wisdom's matchless radience;
His bow, wrought out by centuries
And strung by martyrs great and wise,
HIS sword, a day-beam from the throne,
That conquors by the aoord alone.
NJ Al, bn r 1
de seeks the lowliest retreat, 1888
And graces with his smile the board
OfQueen and peasant, slave and lord,
And most delights in peace to sup
With industry from purest cup,
With wisdom worthy of his sires
To all that's good and true aspires.-
The arsenal that he will trust
Glitters with words so strong and lust,
Words sharp as arrows, bright as stars,
Tha; melt the bolts and rend the bars,
And break the walls where Error dwells,
And shake SINS strongest citadels,
Words that can kill, and words that heal,
And make the heart of stone to feel,
And work the Great Creators will
The New Year is an archer bold,
Not bribed by fame nor bought with gold.
With steady hand the bow is drawn,
The faithful arrow swift is gone,
And guilt may strive to draw in vain
The matchless barb, or soothe the pain.
No dupe is he to rigid style,
With heart of ice and lip of guile,-
With tenderness he stoops to win
{ The lost from misery and sin,
He wraps his mantle round the form
That trembles in the chilling storm;
He feeds the hungry with his bread,
And crowns with hope the dropping head.
And teaches infant lips to say
"Our Father" as Christ taught to pray,
/ And not to Brahma, Mars, nor Joye,
Will he bow down in fear or love,
Nor worship Bacchus, for his vine
Sweet from the makers hand divine
Contains no demon to enrage,
And blacken life's eternal page
The cup he offers every soul
Is not the alcoholic bowl
And as the strong souled year shalt run,
His cirling path around the sun,
How many foes shall smiling glide
In stolen armour at his side
And countless darts in secret hurl,
And banners Of deceit unfurl
How many who profess to tell
Sweet words that angels love so we'll,
Will plant, instead Of seeds of truth,
Dark error, death to age and youth,
Aud nourish the deluded scoffer!
And how many hands will offer
Ruins wine cup to the lover,
Needless that the angels hover
Warming, WARNING, PLEADING, CRYING,
DRINK NO MoKE THE our prfsur
Drink the wine as God hath made it,
Ere the serpents sting invade it,
Fresh as Egypt's king Of old,
Drank it from his cup of gold
Read from the historic pages;
Drink the goblet praised by sages,
Pure as milk, and rich and luscious,
Gift of God, to health most precious.
Roses for the cheek of pailor,
Strength for men of might and valorS
Sweet as that at Cana's wedding,
CrImsoned at the Savior's bidding.
When the vines rich clu sters ripen
And the purple hues shall deepen,
Learn to store it like the ancient,
And its worth shall not be transient
Then shall shame be slain, and gladness
Smile away the clouds of sadness
And the anthem rise to Heaven
"Peace on earth, good will is given"
Then shall the golden harvest field,
Bread for the hungry millions yield,
Nor wasted in the drink of woe,
Spread DER Life's roses. drifts of snow.
Thou who holdest all the spheres,
And metest out their days and years,
These stars that glow like chandeiersl
In the blue tent Thou stretchest high
In boundless glory in the sky!
Hold tenderly our blood>bought world
And may Christ's banners, now unfurledy
Spread DER the earth from pole to pole,
And fill with light each darkened soul.
And not A star in all the sky
Sing songs of richer melody
Than rises from our ransomed throngs,
The joy of angels, song of songs,
Gen. XII III
Homer, Aristotle, Horace, virgel, Columella,
Plny and others.
Fairbault, Mimi.