Year: 1864

'swiIl the New Year Come Tonight, Mamma q


DY CORA M. RACER.
will the New Year come TO night, mammal
I'm tired Of waiting So
My stocking hung by the chimney side
Full three long days ago.
I've run to peep within the door
BY mornings early light,
'Tis empty still-O, say mamma,
Will the New Year come Tonight
Will the New Year come tonight, mammal
The snow is on the hill,
And the ice must be two inchos thick
Upon the meadow rill.
heard you tell papa, last night,
His son must have a sled;
G didn't mean to hear, mamma,)


And pair Of skates, you said.
prayed for just those things, mamma
/ shall be full of glee
And the orphan boys in the village school
will all be envying me.
Ill give them toys and lend them books,
And make their New Year glad,
For God, you say, takes back his gifts
When little folks are bad.
And won't you let me go, mamma,


Upon the New Years day,
And carry something nice and warm
To poor old Widow GrayH
I'll leave the basket near the door,


Within the garden gate.
Will the New Year come tonight, mammal
1t seems so long to wait
The New Year comes tonight, mamma,
saw it in my sleep;
My stockings hung so full ] thought
Mamma, what makes you wecpf
But it only held little shroud-


A shroud and nothing more,
And an open coffin, made for me,
Was standing on the floor.
1t seemed so very strange, indeed
To find such gifts, instead
OF all the toys wished so much,
The story books and sled;
And while wondered what it meant
| You came with fearful Joy,
And said, "Thoult find the New Years suit
God calleth thee, my boy !"
1t is not all dream, mamma
l know it must be true,
But have been so bad boy,


God taketh me from your
don't know what papa will do


When l am laid to rest
And you will have no Willie's head


To fold upon your breast.
The New Year comes tonight, mamma


Put your hand beneath my cheek,
And raise my head little more;


1t is so hard to speak.
You need not fill my stocking now,


cannot go and peep
Before the morning sun is up,


I'll be SO sound asleep.
I shall not want the skates, mamma,


I'll never want the sled;
But won't you give them both to Blake,


Who hurt me on the head?
He used TO hide my books away,


And tear the pictures too,
But now he'll know | forgive him,


AS then / tried TO do.
And if you please, mamma, I'd like


The story book and slate
To go to Frank-the drunkard's boy


You would not let me hate;
And, dear mamma, you won't forget


Upon the New Years day,
The basket full of something nice,


For poor old widow Gray.
The New Year comes tonight mamma,


1t seems so very soon,
think God didn't hear me ask


For Just another June
l know I've been thoughtless boy,
: And made you too much care,
And, may be, for your sake, mamma,
He does not hear my prayer.
There's one thing more: my pretty pets


The robin and the dove,
0 keep for you and dear papa,


And teach them how to love.
The garden hoe, the little rake


You'll find them nicely laid
Upon the garret hoor mamma,


The place where last played.
| thought TO need them both, so oft,


When summer comes again,
To make my garden by the brook,


That trickles through the glen.
, l thought to gather flowers too,
Beside the forest walk,
And sit beneath the apple tree,


Where once we sat 10 talk
1t cannot be, but you will keep


The summer flowers green,
And plant a few-don't cry, mamma


A very few, mean,
a Where I'm asleep. I'd sleep so sweet


Beneath the apple tree.
r When you and robin in the morn,
, May come and sing to me.
The New Year comes, good night, mamma;


l lay me down to sleep;
l pray the Lord-tell poor papa


My soul to keep-if l.
How cold il seems-how dark-kiss mo
J. Mamma, cannot see.
. The New Year comes--to. ight--mamma-


The ear-dies-with-me