Grand Haven Daily Tribune January 8, 1913
A SONG FOR THE PASSING
OF THE OLD YEAR A. D. 1913
———
By David Fletcher Hunton
———
Lightly! Step lightly! Speak gently to Night;
The Old Year, is breathing his last!
His face has grown sharp. He’s losing his sight;
Soon all will be over, and past!
Oh look at him now; how shrunken away―
His pale lips are drawing apart!
His beard, like an old man’s, frosty and gray;
Seems counting, the beats of his heart!
Chorus:
Farewell to thee; dear old Year. Fare thee well!
Forever, and ever; Good-bye!
Oh, canst thou hear; our last parting adieu;
Which the winds repeat as they sigh!
Who, cannot whisper, this heart-felt farewell;
Dear Old Year, farewell and good-bye!
Sadly, how sadly, the winter winds blow!
Since darkness, has shrouded our cone;
Old Chanticleer’s crowning, to let us all know,
That midnight, is taking her throne!
‘Tis most twelve o’clock, once more we will call―
The Old Year, and bid him good-bye!
We’ve known him, and found him a friend to us all;
Our hearts ache, to know he must die!
Chorus:
Softly, tread softly, ‘tis midnight we know;
The Church bells are ringing so loud;
Here, in the shadows, that flit to and fro;
The Old Year, lies stiff in his shroud.
Alas! He has gone! Our dear friend is dead!
Death’s signet is set on his brow!
The year, “Nineteen Hundred Thirteen” has sped,
Out into eternity now!
Grand Haven, Mich., A. D. 1914