The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-27
The Old Year Lies In State.
lCopnrinhf. 1891. br the United PressA

The Old Year Lies In State.
Copyright. 1891. BY the United Press.)
The Old Year is dead" the chimes ring out.
Telling the midnight air;
AS sleeping In peace the weary form
Lies resting sweetly there.
And many mourn for the good old year.
Passing his quiet face;
While the long line moves by the coff1n'd form
Win slow and solemn pace.
mother comes and with mournful eyes
Looks ON the silent year;
y on took my baby, she whispers low,
Weary youleft me here"
She lays In tue coffin lock Of hair,
baby 3 golden curl
Tell me, o dead year, tell me now,
Why did you take my girly'
Two lovers whose eyes with joy are bright
Smile on the peaceful brow;
And place byits side blooming rose,
Inc token OF their VOW.
Slowly and calmly, with weary step,
An aged man walks by,
You've taught me" he says to the sleeping
year
"How sweet it is to dle."'
There comes to the cof1iu sturdy youth
Bearing sheaf Of grain
We thank thee forall thy gracious gifts;
Thy life has been our gain"
mother draws near with her baby boy;
She strokes the Old Years hair;
You brought this beautiful child to me,
thank you for your care."
W
Then slowly denser throng rolls on.
Gazing upon that face
Nations and tribes, and from distant lands
Many savage race
And now great egions with arms reversed
And muflied drums are there;
While warning nations cease their strife
To stand in silent prayer.
In awe by the OLD Years quiet form
The nations move along,
While from million voices bursts
A sweet and wondrous song.
A hymn they sing to the dead years praise
For good that he has done,
That weary men he has given rest
After their race was run.
There are some chat felt the Cid Years W.T. ath
In war and plague and food.
And men pass by whose dripping hands
Are red with human blood
Races which know the tyrant's clutch
Pray by the dead years side
That the worlds injustice, harsh and strong,
They yet may override.
'' VIII.
Then happier nations thank the year
For gifts of peace and Joy;
For progress which the powers Of wrong
In league could not destroy;
For strength he gave to the sacred hope
That men need NOT despair,
That the cloud through which they darhly see
But hides Fathers care.
]9:sI So. n
In Joy and sorrow closely Joined
The nations pass the dead,
While sprigs of flowers and evergreen
They place about his heal.
flushed for time is the busy hum
Where men are wont to meet;
''The year is dead,' is whispered low;
His life is now complete"
And the Old Year, smiling peacefully,
HeedS not the passing throng,
Heeds not the varying words OF men,
HeedS not the nations song.
Years die-and the world still onward moves.
Men die-the world cares not;
A man or q year seems little worth:
Both pass, and are forgot.
But to those who loved the dear Old Year
Is Joy that he has rest.
After bis life's laborious task
To sleep in peace his best.
And the nations chant goes heavenward,
Thanking the God above
That he giveth his beloved sleep
Out of his boundless love.
XII.
At last the long procession ends;
Alone the dead year lies
While through the echoing shades Of night
Softly the great song dies,
Never again shall the Fastening feet
OF nations pass that way;
The growing light in the eastern sky
Tells OF tue coming day.
Kill
Then from the shadowy veil of night
Twelve ghostly forms appear,
And stand about their father form,
The children of the year.
Tenderly kissing the sleeping face,
Crowned by its locks of snow
They bear the Old Year away to rest
In the land where ages go.
EDWARD S. VAN ZILE.