Misc

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
   The flying cloud, the frosty light:
   The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
   Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
   The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
   For those that here we see no more;
   Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
   And ancient forms of party strife;
   Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
   The faithless coldness of the times;
   Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
   The civic slander and the spite;
   Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
   Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
   Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
   The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
   Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Ah! the year is slowly dying,
And the wind in tree-top sighing,
   Chant his requiem.
Thick and fast the leaves are falling,
High in air wild birds are calling,
   Nature’s solemn hymn.

In the deep, dark forest lingers,
Imprints of his icy fingers,
   Chill, and dark, and cold.
And the little streamlets flowing,
Wintry sun so softly glowing,
   Through the maple’s gold.

So, Old Year, gird on your armor,
Let not age, nor fear, nor favor,
   Hurry you along.
List! the farewell echoes pealing,
List! the midnight hour is stealing,
   Hark! thy dying song.

Say, Old Year, ere yet your death knell
Rings from out yon distant church bell,
   Say, what have you done?
Tell of hearts you’ve sadly broken,
Tell of love dead and unspoken,
   Ere your course is run.

Tell the mother who doth languish,
O’er her graves in silent anguish,
   She will see again,
Blooming bright “beyond the river,”
Living on for aye an ever,
   Every bright-eyed gem.

Ah! full many a spirit weary,
You have wooed from paths so dreary,
   Wafted them above.
Now they say Old Year, we bless thee
Raise thy head, we would caress thee
   For this home of love.

On thy brow lies many a furrow,
And thy eyes tell many a sorrow
   Hath its shadow cast.
But thy task is almost ended,
Soon the path which thou hast wended,
   Will be called the “Past.”

Then, old dying year we hold thee,
To our hearts we fondly fold thee,
   Ere the midnight bell.
Soon thy race will now be ended,
With Eternity be blended,
   So, Old Year, farewell.