OR The Voice OF THE OLD YEAR. BY SAMUEL R. WILLS, T C.D. AUTHOR OF "CHILDHOOD," A POEM, ETC. SAMUEL B. OLDHAM, 8 SUFFOLK STREET. LONDON: SEELEYS, FLEET STREET. MDCCCLII. 250.9.574. PREFACE. TRUE friendship is of Divine origin. It is free from all tormenting fear, jealous doubt, and withering envy. It is a star of the first magnitude, which kindly illumines this dark and thorny vale of tears, shining brightest when the sun of prosperity has gone down in darkness. Unlike the hollow-hearted, insincere, friendship of the world, it goes with us hand in hand-sympathizes with our natures-weeps at our sorrows, and rejoices at our happiness. The loss of such a treasure is a loss indeed. We feel our need of it, when, weary of the vanities and empty pretensions of this fluctuating scene, we turn away, and listen, in vain, for the simultaneous throbbings of that faithful bosom, which so often fondly answered to our own-when we look around, in vain, for the affectionate glance of that serene eye, which never met ours with indifference. We listen-we look: but the friend of our bosom is gone, and we are sadly alone! Such has been my experience. I once had a friend— one in whom there was no alloy. "We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company." But alas! his generous heart has long ceased to beat-he lies mouldering within the ice-cold grave! Memory, which "with giant grasp, flings back the folds of night," now rushes upon me, with a thousand endearing reminiscences, concerning him who is gone:- However, the limits of the present publication admit only of a few brief and simple sketches. The last moments of the Old Year always seem to shed around, a solemn and reflective atmosphere, peculiar to themselves; and, thinking such a season most suitable for the literary birth-day of this little volume, I now send it forth with my earnest prayer that it may, in some degree, be the humble means of attracting increased attention to the instructive VOICE OF THE OLD YEAR. DUBLIN, December, 1851. S. R. W. CONTENTS. THE last evening of the Old Year-William -His romantic visit to the demesne-Vision of the Old Year-The Storm-The student-His PAGE WILLIAM's early life-Scene at his mother's dying bed-Regret at her decease-Friends-Mother's love the best-The midnight hour-The time- |
