| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | January 1 | | The Last of the New Year’s Callers | | By Henry Cuyler Bunner (1855–1896) |
| | | | The story of an old man, an old man’s friendship, and a new card-basket. |
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THE DOOR is shut—I think the fine old face | |
| Trembles a little, round the under lip: | |
| His look is wistful—can it be the place | |
| Where, at his knock, the bolt was quick to slip | |
| (It had a knocker then), when, bravely decked, | 5 |
| He took, of New Year’s, with his lowest bow, | |
| His glass of egg-nog, white and nutmeg-flecked, | |
| From her who is—where is the young bride now? | |
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| O Greenwood, answer! Through your ample gate | |
| There went a hearse, these many years ago; | 10 |
| And often by a grave—more oft of late— | |
| Stands an old gentleman, with hair like snow. | |
| Two graves he stands by, truly; for the friend | |
| Who won her, long has lain beside his wife; | |
| And their old comrade, waiting for the end, | 15 |
| Remembers what they were to him in life. | |
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| And now he stands before the old-time door, | |
| A little gladdened in his lonely heart | |
| To give of love for those that are no more | |
| To those that live to-day a generous part. | 20 |
| Ay, She has gone, sweet, loyal, brave and gay— | |
| But then, her daughter’s grown and wed the while; | |
| And the old custom lingers: New Year’s Day. | |
| Will not she greet him with her mother’s smile? | |
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| But things are changed, ah, changed, you see; | 25 |
| We keep no New Year’s now, not we— | |
| It’s an old-time day, | |
| And an old-time way, | |
| And an old-time fashion we’ve chosen to cut— | |
| And the dear old man | 30 |
| May wait as he can | |
| In front of the old-time door that’s shut. | | | |
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