By WILLIAM LUFF
I AM putting a golden padlock,
On the chest of the good old year:
But before I seal the treasures,
Perhaps you would like to hear
What is found in the old portmanteau:
And perhaps you would like to see
The wonderful wealth of blessing
My Father has sent to me.
So before I fasten the padlock,
On the chest of the good old year,
I’ll just unpack it a moment
And show you my life’s good cheer.
Here first are my Father’s letters,
Good news of the Home up there;
They have come to me every morning,
To tell of his love and care.
And here are the clothes he sent me,
The garments of praise and grace:
And this is His own blest portrait,
The sunlight of truth on His face.
And these are the many presents
That came with His holy love,
And these are the earthly comforts
That daily His goodness prove.
Say, is it not worth a padlock,
The chest of the good old year:
A padlock of grateful praises,
Put on with a holy fear?
But brother, you need not query
The wealth of my padlocked chest
For your own is as full of mercies,
And you are as richly blest.
So bring out the golden padlocks,
And pack up the old year’s chest
Together this old year’s evening,
For we all are richly blest.
What! cannot shut down the fulness
Close packed in this little day?
That, brother, is my own trouble,
So open the chests must stay.