Master and Boy + 

“Who is this little one lying,” + 

Said Time, “at my garden-gate, + 

Moaning and sobbing and crying, + 

Out in the cold so late?” + 

“They lurked until we came near, + 

Master and I,” the child said, + 

“Then caught me, with ‘Welcome, New-year! + 

Happy Year! Golden-head!’ + 

“See Christmas-day, my Master, + 

On the meadow a mile away! + 

Father Time, make me run faster! + 

I’m the Shadow of Christmas-day!” + 

“Run, my child; still he’s in sight! + 

Only look well to his track; + 

Little Shadow, run like the light, + 

He misses you at his back!” + 

Old Time sat down in the sun + 

On a grave-stone⁠—his legs were numb: + 

“When the boy to his master has run,” + 

He said, “Heaven’s New Year is come!” + 