O places, and faces, and things that are past,
O changes on changes that followed so fast,
O life, full of care, toil, sorrow, and fear,
With age creeping on by the mouth and the year,
O friendships forgotten, and foes that are dead,
And pleasures of yore, long faded and fled,--
Alas! for old times, and this dreary look-back
As Christmas comes round in its desolate track;
Alas! for the season of social good cheer
Whose memories quicken small merriment here,
Since Death on each tableau intrudes a pale face,
And sorrowful Change shadows every place.

II.
Yet,-- cheers for the Present! how pleasant at least
This gathering of friends at each family feast,
Friends kindly and warm, and sincere if too new,
And haply as good as the old and as true;
And if pretty children be grown into men,
They are worthier now (let us hope it) than then;
And though many worries embitter one's life
There are still many mercies to slacken the strife;
While health, and experience of evils long met,
And well-weathered storms -- to be well-weathered yet--
And courage, and duty, and hope to the last
Make up in the present for all that is past!

III.
Then,-- look to the future, brave soldier of faith!
Look up throughout life, and look onward through death,
Look on to Eternity, calm and sublime,
To balance these pitiful battles of time;
Look forth to where friendships, then perfect and pure,
Though clouded awhile, are for ever made sure;
Look out to where Enmities, strong through much sin,
Extinguished without, are forgotten within;
While evil from goodness dissected away
No longer can trouble by night and by day,
But only the children of wisdom and love
Surround the blest spirit in glories above!