A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU by Frances Eugenia Bolton

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 2, 1907

"A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU."

By Frances Eugenia Bolton

The artist pictures the dying Year With a form that's bowed and old, His crown is faded, its leaf is sere, And Death's dark robes enfold; But the New Year comes as a fresh-browed child, Bright-eyed and fair and true, And the artist pictures sweet Hope in him, And giveth the Year to you.

O better! Better! 'Tis God that gives. Erasing the bitter past, He covers it over with crystal snow, Ay! covers it deep and fast. Then under the radiant New Year's morn, Asparkle with gems like dew, He opens a Rose from the stem of thorn, And giveth Love's hope to you.

"A Happy New Year! A Happy New Year!" Cry a million voices sweet, And faint and far to the fine-trained ear, Comes an infinite pure repeat,— Echo on echoes sweet and high To the Throne beyond the blue. Do you hear the angels singing it down?— "A Happy New Year to you."

O, not a year like the years now past, Garnished with tears and sin. You've learned the lesson of trust at last; For the New Year's sweeping it in. You've learned the lesson of love benign, You are one with the Will so true, So life to its end will be made divine,— "A Happy New Year to you."

Yes, when the death-damp's on thy brow, Yes, when the race is done, When the "Finis" comes to the little "Now" And we close up volume one, Another Book will be opened then For the infinite great TO BE, And angels sing with the saved of men, "A Happy eternity."

FRANCES EUGENIA BOLTON.