Another year has come and gone
So swiftly flows unceasing time.
Forever on and on and on,
With sorrow's groan and merry chime.
Commingled in its surging tide,
Time bears along upon its flood
Poor human wrecks by sin destroyed;
Yet o'er its stream, the hand of God
Still bends his bow of hope divine;
Its hues of love in beauty shine.
Another year of hope and fear
Has swept around its dial-plate,
And with it thousands disappear
To higher bliss or awful fate.
God grant to us who yet survive
A heart of fervent gratitude,
And grace that we may wholly live
To glorify the Source of good;
Then, should this be our final year,
We'll sink to rest without a fear.
Another year hath brought its store
In rich profusion at our feet,
That we should, heart and soul, adore
Our Maker's love so broad and deep.
And have you cast your bread upon
The waters of the passing year,
In hope that what your hands have done
Will in much future good appear?
Then as thy faith so shall it be;
In coming days thine eyes shall see.
* * * * *
The poem To the Alien, is addressed to his wife, Sarah, who, early
in the year 1884, through the influence of a spiritual deceiver, as
already stated, left her husband.