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26             Poems by Mary Baker Eddy

  	         TO THE OLD YEAR — 1865 

 1	    PASS on, returnless year! 
  	        The track behind thee is with
 3	          glory crowned;
  	    The turf where thou hast trod is
  	          holy ground. 
 6	        Pass proudly to thy bier! 

  	        Chill was thy midnight day,
  	    While Justice grasped the sword to hold her
 9	          throne,
  	    And on her altar our loved Lincoln's own
  	        Great willing heart did lay. 

12	        Thy purpose hath been won! 
  	    Thou point'st thy phantom finger, grim and
  	          cold,
15	    To the dark record of our guilt unrolled,
  	        And smiling, say'st, " 'Tis done! 

  	        "This record I will bear
18	    To the dim chambers of eternity — 
  	    The chain and charter I have lived to see
  	        Purged by the cannon's prayer;
 
                 Poems by Mary Baker Eddy                  27



 1	        "Convulsion, carnage, war;
  	    The pomp and tinsel of unrighteous power;
 3	    Bloated oppression in its awful hour, — 
  	        I, dying, dare abhor!" 

  	        One word, receding year,
 6	    Ere thou grow tremulous with shadowy
  	          night! 
  	    Say, will the young year dawn with wisdom's
 9	          light
  	        To brighten o'er thy bier? 

  	        Or we the past forget,
12	    And heal her wounds too tenderly to last? 
  	    Or let today grow difficult and vast
  	      ...  With traitors unvoiced yet? 

15	        Though thou must leave the tear, — 
  	    Hearts bleeding ere they break in silence yet,
  	    Wrong jubilant and right with bright eye
18	          wet, — 
  	        Thou fast expiring year,

  	        Thy work is done, and well:
21	    Thou hast borne burdens, and may take thy
  	          rest,
  	    Pillow thy head on time's untired breast. 
24	        Illustrious year, farewell! 

  	      Lynn, Mass., January 1, 1866. 
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