A new year

Behold! a new white world!

The falling snow

Has cloaked the last old year

And bid him go.

To-morrow! cries the oak-tree

To his heart,

My sealèd buds shall fling

Their leaves apart.

To-morrow! pipes the robin,

And again

How sweet the nest that long

Was full of rain.

To-morrow! bleats the sheep,

And one by one

My little lambs shall frolic

’Neath the sun.

For us, too, let some fair

To-morrow be,

O Thou who weavest threads

Of Destiny!

Thou wast a babe on that

Far Christmas Day,

Let us as children follow

In Thy way.

So that our hearts grown cold

’Neath time and pain,

With young sweet faith may blossom

Green again.

That empty promises

Of passing years

Spring into life, and not

Repenting tears.

So that our deeds upon

The earth may go,

As innocent as lambs,

And pure as snow.