A FRIEND stands at the door; br In either tight-closed hand br Hiding rich gifts, three hundred and three score: br Waiting to strew them daily o'er the land br Even as seed the sower. br Each drops he, treads it in and passes by: br It cannot be made fruitful till it die. br br O good New Year, we clasp br This warm shut hand of thine, br Loosing forever, with half sigh, half gasp, br That which from ours falls like dead fingers' twine: br Ay, whether fierce its grasp br Has been, or gentle, having been, we know br That it was blessed: let the Old Year go. br br O New Year, teach us faith! br The road of life is hard: br When our feet bleed and scourging winds us scathe, br Point thou to Him whose visage was more marred br Than any man's: who saith br 'Make straight paths for your feet'--and to the opprest-- br 'Come ye to Me, and I will give you rest.' br br Yet hang some lamp-like hope br Above this unknown way, br Kind year, to give our spirits freer scope br And our hands strength to work while it is day. br But if that way must slope br Tombward, O bring before our fading eyes br The lamp of life, the Hope that never dies. br br Comfort our souls with love,-- br Love of all human kind; br Love special, close--in which like sheltered dove br Each weary heart its own safe nest may find; br And love that turns above br Adoringly; contented to resign br All loves, if need be, for the Love Divine. br br Friend, come thou like a friend, br And whether bright thy face, br Or dim with clouds we cannot comprehend,-- br We'll hold out patient hands, each in his place, br And trust thee to the end. br Knowing thou leadest onwards to those spheres br Where there are neither days nor months nor years.