TO
A
FRIEND
ON
NEW
YEAR'S
DAY
.
DEAR
friend
,
for
thee
,
through
ev'ry
changing
year
,
Unchang'd
affection
draws
the
tie
more
near
;
Treasure
most
precious
,
dearest
to
the
heart
,
Increas'd
in
value
as
the
rest
depart
.
Tho'
kindred
bonds
may
break
,
and
love
must
fade
,
Friendship
still
brightens
in
the
deep'ning
shade
.
Time
,
silent
and
unseen
,
pursues
his
course
,
And
wearied
nature
sickens
at
her
source
.
Methinks
I
see
the
season
onward
roll
,
When
age
,
like
winter
,
comes
to
chill
the
soul
:
I
tremble
at
that
pow'r's
resistless
sway
Who
bears
the
flowers
and
fruit
of
life
away
.
Sudden
to
cease
,
or
gently
to
decline
,
O
,
Power
of
Mercy
!
may
the
lot
be
mine
:
Let
me
not
linger
on
the
verge
of
fate
,
Nor
weary
duty
to
its
utmost
date
;
Losing
,
in
pain's
impatient
gloom
confin'd
,
Freedom
of
thought
,
and
dignity
of
mind
;
Till
pity
views
untouch'd
the
parting
breath
,
And
cold
indiff'rence
adds
a
pang
to
death
.
Yet
if
to
suffer
long
my
doom
is
past
,
Let
me
preserve
this
temper
to
the
last
:
O
let
me
still
from
self
my
feelings
bear
,
To
sympathise
with
sorrow's
starting
tear
,
Nor
sadden
at
the
smile
which
joy
bestows
,
Though
far
from
me
her
beam
ethereal
glows
:
Let
me
remember
,
in
the
gloom
of
age
,
To
smile
at
follies
happier
youth
engage
;
See
them
fallacious
,
but
indulgent
spare
The
fairy
dreams
experience
cannot
share
.
Nor
view
the
rising
morn
with
jaundice
eye
,
Because
for
me
no
more
the
sparkling
moments
fly
.