A toast to thee, 0 dear old year,
  While the last moments fly,
A toast to thy sweet memory—
  We'll lift the glasses high,
And bid to thee a fond farewell
  As thou art passing by!

A toast to those who reaped success
  In this good year of grace;
A toast to every one of them—
  Come! Give the victors place!
Come, wish them well with right good will—
  The winners in the race!

And one toast more! To those who failed
  Wherever they may be;—
With faces white they fought the fight,
  But missed the victory;
So here's to them—the ones who strove—
  On land and on the sea!

Fair dreams to thee, 0 grey old year,
  Thy working time is done,
And gone for thee the silver moon,
  And golden noon-day sun;
Yet sad old year—and glad old year—
  We'll know no better one.

This poem is in the public domain.