I.
Adozen springs, and more, dear Sue,
Have bloomed, and passed away,
Since hand in hand, and heart to heart,
We spent our wedding-day.
Youth blossomed on our cheeks, dear Sue,
Joy chased each tear of woe,
When first we promised to be true,
That morning long ago.
II.
Though many cares have come, dear Sue,
To checker life's career,
As down its pathway we have trod,
In trembling and in fear.
Still in the darkest storm, dear Sue,
That lowered o'er the way,
We clung the closer, while it blew,
And laughed the clouds away.
III.
'Tis true, our home is humble, Sue,
And riches we have not,
But children gambol round our door,
And consecrate the spot.
Our sons are strong and brave, dear Sue,
Our daughters fair and gay,
But none so beautiful as you,
Upon our wedding-day.
IV.
No grief has crossed our threshold, Sue,
No crape festooned the door,
But health has waved its halcyon wings,
And plenty filled our store.
Then let's be joyful, darling Sue,
And chase dull cares away,
And kindle rosy hope anew,
As on our wedding-day.
XVII. THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.
One more flutter of time's restless wing,
One more furrow in the forehead of spring;
One more step in the journey of fate,
One more ember gone out in life's grate;
One more gray hair in the head of the sage,
One more round in the ladder of age;
One leaf more in the volume of doom,
And one span less in the march to the tomb,
Since brothers, we gathered around bowl and tree,
And Santa Claus welcomed with frolic and glee.
How has thy life been speeding
Since Aurora, at the dawn,
Peeped within thy portals, leading
The babe year, newly born?
Has thy soul been scorched by sorrow,
Has some spectre nestled there?
And with every new to-morrow,
Sowed the seeds of fresh despair?
Rise from thy grief, my brothers!
Burst its chain with strength sublime,
For behold! I bring another,
And a fairer child of time.
Has the year brought health and riches?
Have thy barns been brimming o'er?
Will thy stature fit the niches
Hewn for Hercules of yore?
Are thy muscles firm as granite?
Are thy thousands safe and sound?
Behold! the rolling planet
Starts on a nobler round.
But perhaps across thy vision
Death had cast its shadow there,
And thy home, once all elysian,
Now crapes an empty chair;
Or happier, thy dominions,
Spreading broad and deep and strong,
Re-echo 'neath love's pinions
To a pretty cradle song!
Whate'er thy fortunes, brother!
God's blessing on your head;
Joy for the living mother,
Peace with the loving dead.
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