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Show THE DYIXG YEAR, BY MRS. II. A. U. ! KOIfKTH. (For the Ukrald.) I stoo't bosldo my window, all alone, Ttio air was heavy witt. lb i midnight gloom , Tho wind moaned Badly tUTOugb. the li-at leas tree, Tbo anow lell ooftly on the euM dark naith, And tram tho oun vent's uld, uruy, mossy tow-era tow-era Tho midnipht bolls wrro nettling; sad and slow A Lindir requiem fur I hi- dying yur. Firowell, farewell, th sda) hells rang; J-'ivrowoll, liirewoll. gw aoi totoofi sang; Farewell, dour year ol'jovi and woaa, 0 I hopes and carea, t ila asd repose Ol'tigha and drsms, 01 tnilos und toars, 01 Luouionot sweal, ol'duiibis and !'e:irs; Of sunshine hours, of cluudi and rain, Uflifo and death, of love und iain. Farewoll, lareivoll, doar lading year, With Immortelles we strew thy binr, i V it h fadoleas wreaths ol lumortelle W e deek ihy jravo, larimell, farewoll! As to my enr these limroriai; e?hne? came, A c.irit whisj.orod soiily to my heart, "Have you no faro well to Lko riving yoar?" Ihon thus uotu my inmitst sail i spoko: "Uh huort," I said, "huvo you no high. Oh eyes, have you ne tear, Oh soul, no murmur of regret For this old dying year? . Oh momorj , rio you cherub, 2so tokens ot his stay, . Has ho not loft you treasures 'loo bright totadeanay? Are thoro not dreiimH anil relics tair Of sunny days and hours, Of woodlands green, and balmy win Is Ot pertumod budsaud (lowers? Buvo you no lade loss immortelles io strew u(ion his bier, No laurol wro Lths or garlands greon To crown Lhu dying year'.'" The answers caino so sad and low, they might iiavo ooen tho laroivolla of a parting soul. "iso aiyha have wo 10 brenthe, Ao ttars have wo to Weep, No tokuns londly ohtsriahod, 'o uiomorioa hidden doop; Ho dreams or treaurtd relics Oi pleasures whicb hagyo, 2io wreaths ot t'adulodd piossoms To strew upon his gruve. Tho hopes which o'.her 'years . . tio kiudly to us loft, ' By hid st urn hand ivero stolon, vVe are by nini berelt! ' Tho eyes are dim with weeping, For joys and treasure, riven, Tho hourt is nifih lobraakiug .... For woes whiuh he hue ivon. Tho memory sad and sore " .... ijiesjuyloss in thebieaat, Tho year soialse and oruol lias brought us but unreal. .... Oldyoar so soon to loavn us, oary of lit'o, porpleied, For you wo hive no farewell ' " ' ior wuleumo lor tho nextl'' Vnto the spirit then I sadly said, '"1 have no lurevvell for tne dying year;" I Tho spirit ighed and iinswered low, "i onj I 1 ho wraith oi that old year, eu nearly gone, 6o noon to paaa from earth forever inoro: And can jou part with mo without a ifc-h, Without one soli regrot lor what has boun; ' Do 1 thon merit not one blossing from iour liist hove Idono always ovil. and Not good; are thoro no v eary huurs I have Beguiled: no pains that I hayo soothod; no 60':dS Of h'oi-o that I have sown to o'onio to full And i ich fruj.iun in tho future y.arj".' 1'htn must I say thti nave lived in vain! But are 1 die, list to my parting song, A eiiuplo memory o! the fading year." Soft as the rustling ot an anol's wiuga Then gang the spirit of the dying year- "I save in spring warm gontlo showers, Jn autumn, the golden grain, In nummer, the flowers and crimron fiuit1, The Li reside in wid tor's iaio, - ; Refreshing dews and tho soft weet wind, Tho glorious noon-day sun, t Tho epangled curtains of Hiloht nit And sleep ivhon tbs day waad.ona. iiany an innooent babe' was bnrn, To gladden the mother's breust, . To many a weary aching heart 1 have givon eternal rest-Bitter rest-Bitter tears i have wiped away, Many beans relieved from pain. Many sorrows und cares romuvad Then oh, havo 1 lived in vain'."! 'Not lived in vain for all," 1 said- "Tosorue lou havo done naught but good, thon blessings, bless-ings, thon, l i Arc yours; leave mo to mourn in silonce and Alone, among tho ruins you havo made " Axain the spirit answered sad and low Tho snow thai lulli to-mhr . Jirom;s0 j3 u.-iw, mo oreata ol'lil'o fails from its wings. The seeds, tho plants, the flowers would por-i. por-i. h on The earth's cold broast, 'did not tlie tender snow - - Fold it so loyingly in its warm arms, Death istho harbinenr oflifo, decay ' Ol bloom; tho U arcs that Full In autumn fain Hut dio that spring may thon create new lifo. If sorrows, rain and snow havo fallon on lour heart, I sent thorn not in wrath, but trust Me! 'twas in love, but to prepare tie soods Of hopo for brighter blooming In tho yearn To come. les, all was done in love and faith; And as a t'.konof that love I give To you a young, a bright, a glud Now Year. Tho hopes which 1 have lolded in my rooo Of snow, shall blossom proudly 'neath i's sun Of spring. So lot us pari in peace, accept My pledge of faiiF. and lot mo aleo havo Your blessing and a tear upon my grave!" The voice grew fr mro faint and low, and as The la.-j. words sifilv foil upon my hourt, Thoir hoj uf'il cadence found an echo th ore; A feeling of regret stole o'er my soul That 1 had been so harsh and cruel to Tho dying .year; and thougQis utolo o'er my mind Of blowings he bed showered upon my life, For gt on in one blindly cherished grief. And so, repentant and aubduod. 1 said, "Farewll, uld year, depart in peace, you ha-- My blessing Ljnd a tonr of sad rogrct. In bono I tuko your pledo of i romisi d hone, been your grave I clasp tbo gonu of lifo, And welcome to my hoaitthonow- horn year." |