THE TWO GUESTS.
Outside December's frozen gates
A blithe new-comer stands and waits;
A blithe new-comer stands and waits;
While one, with gray beard on his chin,
Sits robed in pilgrim garb within.
Sits robed in pilgrim garb within.
One bright with hope and life's fresh grace,
With youth's glad sunshine on his face;
With youth's glad sunshine on his face;
One grave and sad with sombre air,
Which knows the weight of grief and care.
Which knows the weight of grief and care.
One sadly waits, till time shall spell
The message of his mute farewell;
The message of his mute farewell;
The other, friendly heart and hand
Shall hail with welcome through the land.
Shall hail with welcome through the land.
———
O Parting Guest! Pause yet awhile
And teach thy pallid lips to smile,
And teach thy pallid lips to smile,
For half the New Year's shining grace
Should deck thy form and light thy face;
Should deck thy form and light thy face;
Within his golden summer hours,
Thy seed will bloom in fruit and flowers,
Thy seed will bloom in fruit and flowers,
And half his glow of life will shine
Lit by the soul and strength of thine.
Lit by the soul and strength of thine.
O Coming Guest! Upon thy face
Let tender sadness find a place;
Let tender sadness find a place;
For half the old year's weight of care
Will cloud thy brow and blanch thy hair;
Will cloud thy brow and blanch thy hair;
The grief that crushed his broken will
Must cloud thy heaven of gladness still,
Must cloud thy heaven of gladness still,
And every pang his soul hath known,
Will flash through time to pierce thine own.
Will flash through time to pierce thine own.
———
Fade with thy freight of memories fond
O Year! to seek the land beyond.
O Year! to seek the land beyond.
Rise from thy newer realm of bliss
O Year! and bring fresh hopes to this!
O Year! and bring fresh hopes to this!
While we send up from thankful breasts
God speed and love to both our guests.
God speed and love to both our guests.