"Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky.
The flying clouds, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night--
Ring out, wild bells, and let it die!
"Ring out the Old; ring in the New!
Ring, happy bells, across the snow!
The year is going; let it go--
Ring out the false! ring in the truer!"--TENNYSON.
Oh! welcome! welcome! glad New Year!
We hail with joy your birth.
Let peace and love reign far and near,
And plenty fill the earth!
Old Year, good-bye! a last good-bye
To sorrow, woe and sin!
Let all of darkness with thee die
And all of light begin!
When first we bade you welcome here
We hailed you with delight;
But ah! how many then were near,
So far away to-night!
Ah! well! if thorns were 'mong thy flowers,
Or clouds were in thy sky,
We owe thee many blissful hours
Whose memory ne'er can die!
Farewell, farewell, for aye, Old Year,
And as you pass from view,
For all those golden hours a tear
That pass away with you!
"Le Roi est mort!" "Vive le Roi!"
The Old Year, weeping, dies!
Ere we can mourn, a joyous chime
Peals through the midnight skies.
Oh! welcome! welcome! New-born Year!
We join the strains of joy;
To everyone our hearts hold dear
Be peace without alloy!
May fadeless light their pathway bless;
And, for a lasting stay,
Oh! may they find that happiness
That cannot pass away.
For years may come, and years may go,
And earthly joys grow old;
But heavenly love no change can know--
No time can make it cold.
Oh! welcome! welcome! New-born Year!
And, as we hail your birth,
May pure and holy thoughts come near
And raise our hopes from earth!