The Home Circle | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 6, 1888

The Home Circle.

NEW-YEAR THOUGHTS.

Now dawns the beautiful New Year; Like dreams the old days disappear. Dear friends, when thinking o'er The varied scenes these held in store, How very sweet to you and me Some of our memories will be! How very sad to you and me Some others cannot fail to be!

We may have tried to live aright, To make our words and actions white; Yet I am sure that memory Will conjure up to you and me Some things we might have better done; Some victories we might have won O'er sin and self; some moments born For fruitful missions, wasted. On So broad a scale before us lie The failures of the year gone by.

But, ah! the future comfort lends: Sweet thought, that we may make amends! The fair young time wooes you and me To strive with God's help, earnestly, To make the New Year fresh begun Much better than the year that's done; To fight life's battles valiantly (So doing we shall stronger be), To strive for others' happiness, Finding therein ourselves we bless. And so, I think, whate'er befall, Right happy days will come for all.

—Selected.