PARTS LXXIII. TO LXXVIII. JANUARY-JUNE, 1872.

LONDON:

JOHN AND CHARLES MOZLEY, 6, PATERNOSTER ROW;

OXFORD: JAMES PARKER AND Co.

1872.

MONTHLY PACKET

OF

EVENING READINGS

For Members of the English Church.

JANUARY, 1872.

IN THE LAST WATCH OF THE OLD YEAR.

VOL. 13.

ANOTHER year, another year departed!

Ah God! how good art Thou!

That still through sunny paths I walk, glad-hearted,
With yet unshadowed brow!

Another year, with mercies overflowing,
Hath dawned on me and set;
And still my coming-in and my out-going
My Lord with love hath met!

Alas! for His commands so often broken!
For thoughts and deeds of sin!

For God-less words so soon and lightly spoken,
Leaving dark stains within!

Where is the love that once so brightly burning
Reached child-like hands to Thee?

Where is the youthful zeal, so hotly spurning
The least disloyalty?

Alas! it seems they, like the year, are dying,
And leave me full of fears;

And cold indifference all too soon is drying
My quick repentant tears!

My heart is like a pool that slumbers darkling,
With weeds o'erhung and wrapt,

Whose cold abyss holds gems all rich and sparkling,
In useless darkness lapt.