New-Year's Eve

Good old days--dear old days     When my heart beat high and bold--     When the things of earth seemed full of life,     And the future a haze of gold!     Oh, merry was I that winter night,     And gleeful our little one's din,     And tender the grace of my darling's face     As we watched the new year in.     But a voice--a spectre's, that mocked at love--     Came out of the yonder hall;     "Tick-tock, tick-tock!" 't was the solemn clock     That ruefully croaked to all.     Yet what knew we of the griefs to be     In the year we longed to greet?     Love--love was the theme of the sweet, sweet dream     I fancied might never fleet!     But the spectre stood in that yonder gloom,     And these were the words it spake,     "Tick-tock, tick-tock"--and they seemed to mock     A heart about to break.     'T is new-year's eve, and again I watch     In the old familiar place,     And I'm thinking again of that old time when     I looked on a dear one's face.     Never a little one hugs my knee     And I hear no gleeful shout--     I am sitting alone by the old hearthstone,     Watching the old year out.     But I welcome the voice in yonder gloom     That solemnly calls to me:     "Tick-tock, tick-tock!"--for so the clock     Tells of a life to be;     "Tick-tock, tick-tock!"-'tis so the clock     Tells of eternity.