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