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The New Year

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 1, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 5.

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The New Year

By Robert Francis Coyle

Like a stainless white page comes the new year to greet us, Pure as the petal of lily or rose, Perfumed and sweet as the breath of the spring-time— What shall we write as it hastes to its close, With pencil of speech, or of thought, or of deed, In business, in pleasure, in purpose, in creed?
Like a ship at the quay waits the new year to bear us Away on a voyage of weal or of woe,— Of woe if the chart and the wheel are neglected; Of weal if we steer by the Book that we know, In fog and in cloud, amid billow and blast And winds whistling sharp round rigging and mast.
Like a king from his throne comes the new year to show us The way to the summits of life and of love; Eyes beaming with hope and hands laden with good things, He would bless us, enrich us, and lead us above The low valley road of dark doubt and despair, To the sun-lighted heights, to walk evermore there.
— Robert Francis Coyle.