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FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 > V 
 
 
Mr. Temple Scott's book blends old 
 and new, and arranges the rich material 
 under the winning headings, The 
 Christmas of the' Home, of the Soul, of 
 the Wanderer, of Religion, with gener- 
 ous 'Sheaves of Christmas carols and 
 hymns at the close. Most of the poems 
 are of course by unknown authors. 
 Among those that can be named. Lady 
 Lindsay has by far the leading place, with 
 eleven numbers ; Herrick follows with 
 six, Bishop Brooks, Selwyn Image, 
 Rossetti and Vaughn have each four; 
 Katherine Tynan, Whittier and Wither, 
 three each. Seventy-two other poets are 
 represented by one or two poems. We 
 would not leave this book without a word 
 of appreciation for the far from per- 
 functory ^'Introduction on Christmas," 
 as the witness to the spirit of joy at the 
 foundation of Christianity, a considerable 
 part of which is printed in another 
 column. 
 
I 
 
 THE CHRISTMAS TREASURY 
 
I 
 
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 p^ 
 
 m 
 
 SS 
 
 The 
 
 Christmas 
 
 Treasury 
 
 of 
 
 SongandVerse 
 
 Compiled by 
 
 Temple Scott 
 
 
 New York 
 
 The Baker & Taylor Co. 
 
 1910 
 
 tyJ 
 
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 "^PA 
 
 g]S 
 
 ss 
 
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Copyright, 1910, by 
 THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY 
 
 Published, October, 1910 
 
 PRESS OF WILLIAM G. HEWITT 
 
 61-67 NAVY STREET 
 
 BROOKLYN, N. Y. 
 
TO 
 
 DORIS 
 
 FROM HER HOPING FATHER 
 
 The flighty purpose never is overtook 
 U^iless the deed go with it: from this moment 
 The very firstlings of 7?iy heart shall be 
 The fi,r St lings of my hand J'' 
 
The Editor gratefully acknowledges 
 his indebtedness to Mr. Bliss Car- 
 7na7i for per7}iission to tise the extract 
 f?om his poe7H, ** Christmas Eve at 
 St. Kavin's.'" 
 
I 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction — Essay on Christmas . . xi 
 The Christmas of the Home .... 19 
 The Christmas of the Soul . . . .111 
 The Christmas of the Wanderer . . .149 
 The Christmas of ReHgion . . . .183 
 
 Christmas Carols 225 
 
 Christmas Hymns . 291 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 If there be one day in the calendar more 
 than any other which bears witness to the 
 spirit of joy at the foundation of Christianity, 
 it is surely that of Christmas. In its double 
 meaning of festival and holy day, it links the 
 fine instinct of the old unconscious w^orld 
 with the high wisdom of the seeing modern 
 life. The feast of the holly and mistletoe may 
 commemorate the ever-fruitful strength of the 
 earth's life, despite winter's snows and frosts : 
 but the holy day of the birth of Jesus Christ 
 is the day of an event of far profounder import 
 for us than the promise of mere material com- 
 fort. What to Druid priests was a sign of 
 good, is become for us a symbol of grace ; 
 w^hat to them was an evidence for hope, is for 
 us made a message of assurance. They were 
 gladdened in the drear days by the promise 
 
 [xi] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 of the Spring and the harvests to come ; we joy 
 in the silent nights in the abounding grace of 
 a knowledge of the presence among us of 
 the living God. For in the coming of the 
 man Christ we realized, for the first time, the 
 Spirit that is in all things — in hearts as well 
 as in harvests. 
 
 If ever a religion dare appoint a Day of 
 At-one-ment, Christianity would surely be 
 justified in setting Christmas Day as such a 
 day ; for is it not the day on which the human 
 and divine were made one; the day on which 
 this unity was made manifest? And is not 
 that a matter for joy? Is it not also a moving 
 thought for self -purification? 
 
 Joy comes naturally when the heart is clean. 
 How more cleanly can we purify the heart 
 than by leaving it free for the play of the 
 gracious impulses that make for beneficence 
 and love? And beneficence and love are, as 
 they should be, of the very air of Christmas. 
 "Peace on earth; good-will to men,'' was the 
 message. In peace the earth grows kindly and 
 beneficent; with good-will men grow kinly 
 and loving. In peace the earth laughs in its 
 harvests; in good-will men joy in their gifts. 
 
 [xii] 
 
^ INTRODUCTION ^ 
 
 As the one blossoms and flower in peace, so 
 does the other flower and blossom in love. 
 Each gives its fruit-oflfering through joy. And 
 it is in joy alone that we ourselves most fully 
 realize our at-one-ment with the creative im- 
 pulse of this universe of ours. 
 
 If we are children of God in any real sense 
 then must we be children of joy. But, in this 
 turmoil of work and strife, it is not easy for us 
 to be either children or joyous. Worshippers 
 of Mammon are slaves to a jealous god, and 
 they know not how to lift up their hearts in 
 gladness. They have sold their birthright of 
 freedom for a mess of pottage. When they 
 try to be children they look like satyrs leering 
 as lovers. Thank God, then, for happy chil- 
 dren to remind us of what we once were, and 
 what we still may be, if we but learn the lesson 
 of their emancipating joy. 
 
 Rightly has Christmas been made the chil- 
 dren's festival. Every child is a saviour, who 
 is come to save us from degrading ambitions, 
 and to take us by the hand and to lead us to 
 pleasanter fields and sweeter pastures than 
 those w^hich we, by our cunning and craft, 
 have made for ourselves. They know better 
 
 [xiii] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 than we what is good for the soul ; they are 
 nearer than we are to the Hfe of things. 
 
 As once again this season of good-will and 
 good-cheer comes round, let us leave, for a 
 time at least, the turning of the wheels of 
 chance. Let us permit the finer qualities in 
 our humanity to have their play. It is not too 
 late to be young and of ''the happy people." 
 It is the time for rejoicing and thanksgiving. 
 But, indeed, we shall not be able to help our- 
 selves. A spiritual fact is more stable and 
 more magnetic than the everlasting hills. It 
 will have its way. And there are few more 
 compelling forces than the thoughts which have 
 been enshrined in a great event. The holy day 
 is a holiday indeed ; for love itself is at play. 
 As the midnight chimes peal forth the advent 
 of Christmas a very host of invisible forces rise 
 up and bear us on. The ghosts of thousands 
 of Christmases past pass before us with ap- 
 pealing benedictions. Our minds become 
 chambers haunted with beneficent presences. 
 
 We may forget our birthdays and even the 
 anniversaries of our marriage, but Christmas 
 comes and insists on being celebrated. Indeed, 
 we have no option in the matter. Times may 
 
 [xiv] 
 
^ INTRODUCTION ^ 
 
 be bad, wars may wage, tempests may rage, 
 politics may plague, sickness may devastate ; 
 but the herald of the coming Feast of the Chil- 
 dren is certain to sound his trumpet call, and 
 as with the magic pipe of the Pied Piper of 
 Hamelin, thousands of little pattering feet will 
 spring alert and alive to its meaning. It fills 
 the air with music. Its note may not be melo- 
 dious, but the laughter of the children softens 
 its discords so that it comes to us reminiscent 
 of our childhood's day's, when the world was 
 young, and everything went very well, and 
 Santa Claus w^as near, and dear, and real. 
 
 It should be a blessed time for us even 
 though we are growing old. It is our 
 yearly rejuvenation, our annual reminder of 
 ''the good old times," the anniversary of days 
 when all was golden and rosy and transfigured 
 in an ideal reality that no experience can im- 
 prove and no learning make more glorious. 
 Leave us our Christmases and w^e can w^ell 
 aflford to let go almost all the other ties that 
 bind memory's strands to the supporting posts 
 of life. In ministering to the delight of chil- 
 dren w^e keep our own hearts young ; we drink 
 again of the springs of life so that a new thrill 
 
 [ XV ] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 of the divine influence passes from them to us. 
 Our wrinkles are smoothed out by the placidity 
 of our feelings; our furrows are unknit and 
 become the lines of laughter; our mumblings 
 are coherent in the stress of sympathy; our 
 cacklings take on a resonance that smacks of 
 joyous forgetfulness. We are reborn in the 
 celebration of the new birth. *'The sun doth 
 shake light from his locks, and all the way 
 breathing perfumes doth spice the day." 
 
 This happy custom of serving the little ones 
 inspires us to carry the service further. We 
 give to each other also, and we delight in an 
 unconscious make-believe. We also are 
 once more children at play. We welcome this 
 opportunity to steep our sophisticated minds 
 in a sea of generous emotion which floats buoy- 
 antly our Ship of Brotherhood and Good Will. 
 We are not so bad as we thought we were, 
 each to the other, during the rest of the year. 
 We have no ''axes to grind" this day, no stocks 
 to sell, no business to promote. The games of 
 the market-place are set aside for other games. 
 At ''Blindman's Buff" we may hurt our shins — 
 our hearts are not broken ; and if our pockets 
 are opened, it is by the graceful and deli- 
 
 [ xvi ] 
 
^ INTRODUCTION ^ 
 
 cate hand of Our Lady of Charity. Old dames 
 nod to each other pleasantly, and talk of the 
 dances and merry-makings of the days long 
 gone, and of the Johns and Charlies who kissed 
 them under the mistletoe at the Christmas of 
 long ago when the snow fell three feet in the 
 night. And the Johns and Charlies, now bald- 
 headed and ruddy-faced, dig each other in the 
 ribs and remind one another of the pretty girls 
 they also kissed under the mistletoe on that 
 Christmas of long ago, when the snow fell 
 three feet in the night. Ah ! but those were 
 the days when boys were boys and girls girls ! 
 And papas smile at mammas, and brothers 
 flirt with the other fellows' sisters, and cousins 
 joke each other, and uncles and aunts find 
 new nephews and nieces, and even mother-in- 
 law thinks her Lucy's husband a worthy man ; 
 and all sing "Auld Lang Syne'' together to 
 make a new ''Syne" for a future looking back 
 and the hallowing of a new experience in the 
 shrine of a perfumed memory. Thus do these 
 Christmas merry-makers become memory- 
 makers ; builders of real palaces of joy — man- 
 sions for the soul to live in happiness. 
 
 It was, indeed, a fine wisdom that gave us 
 
 [ xvii ] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 this one day, at least, in the year, in which to 
 be truly free ; in which we might dare to throw 
 aside the mask and show the kindly heart in 
 the smiling face. '*\Vhat you thought of me 
 yesterday or what you think of me to-morrow 
 is not the true me ; the true me is here and 
 now on this Christmas morning. Your hand, 
 brother!'' Let us be glad together because we 
 no longer fear each other, but can take joy in 
 each other. And, mayhap, if the habit grow 
 with us, in love and in truth, this spirit of 
 Christmas shall spread its beneficence over all 
 the days of our lives. For we are brethren 
 together, in the life of the great saint who was 
 born on this day. 
 
 ''O, most illustrious of the days of time!" 
 a poet once apostrophized Christmas day. Il- 
 lustrious in that it is the day of the rebirth of 
 our real selves ; of the quickening in us of that 
 spirit which is our most splendid possession 
 for this earthly life and our profoundest as- 
 surance of divine grace. 
 
 Temple Scott. 
 
 [ xviii 1 
 
if 
 
 I 
 
 THE CHRISTMAS OF THE HOME 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 CHRISTMAS 
 
 C hrist, Christ, is born to-day ! 
 H oly be thy holiday. 
 R ise betimes, and haste away, 
 I n thy church to kneel and pray, 
 S urely from thine heart to say : 
 T hou, O Lord, will I obey. 
 
 M any poor around there be — 
 A 1ms give thou, and sympathy, 
 S o God's blessing 'light on thee. 
 
 Lady Lindsay. 
 
 But my song I troll out, for Christmas stout, 
 
 The hearty, the true, and the bold ; 
 A bumper I drain, and with might and main 
 Give three cheers for this Christmas old. 
 Charles Dickens. 
 CThe Pickwick Papers:') 
 
 [19] 
 
|X^ LET . US . ALL • BE • MERRY |^ 
 
 A Visit From St. Nicholas 
 
 ^T^WAS the night before Christmas, when 
 
 1 all through the house 
 Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse ; 
 The stockings were hung by the chimney with 
 
 care, 
 In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be 
 
 there ; 
 The children were nestled all snug in their 
 
 beds, 
 While visions of sugar-plums danced in their 
 
 heads ; 
 And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, 
 Had just settled our brains for a long winter's 
 
 nap — 
 When out on the lawn there arose such a 
 
 clatter, 
 I sprang from my bed to see what was the 
 
 matter. 
 
 Away to the window I flew like a flash. 
 Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. 
 The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow 
 Gave a lustre of midday to objects below; 
 
 [21] 
 
|Z^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 When, what to my wondering eyes should ap- 
 pear, 
 
 But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, 
 
 With a little old driver, so lively and quick, 
 
 I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. 
 
 More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, 
 
 And he whistled and shouted, and called them 
 by name : 
 
 "Now, Dasher! now. Dancer! now, Prancer 
 and Vixen ! 
 
 On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blit- 
 zen! 
 
 To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall ! 
 
 Now dash away, dash away, dash away all !'' 
 
 As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane 
 
 fly. 
 
 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to 
 
 the sky, 
 So up to the house-top the coursers they flew. 
 With the sleigh full of toys, — and St. Nich- 
 olas, too. 
 And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof 
 The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. 
 
 [22] 
 
I 
 
 ^ LOVE . IS . ALL ^ 
 
 As I drew in my head, and was turning 
 
 around, 
 Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a 
 
 bound. 
 He was dressed all in fur from his head to his 
 
 foot, 
 And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes 
 
 and soot; 
 A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, 
 And he looked like a peddler just opening his 
 
 pack. 
 
 His eyes, how they twinkled ! his dimples, how 
 
 merry ! 
 His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a 
 
 cherry ; 
 His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, 
 And the beard on his chin was as white as the 
 
 snow. 
 The stump of a pipe held tight in his teeth. 
 And the smoke it encircled his head like a 
 
 wreath. 
 He had a broad face, and a little round belly 
 That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full 
 
 of jelly. 
 
 [23] 
 
^ TIIF. . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old 
 
 elf, 
 And I laughed when I saw^ him, in spite of 
 
 myself. 
 A wink of his eye and a twist of his head 
 Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. 
 
 He spoke not a word, but went straight to his 
 work, 
 
 And filled all the stockings ; then turned with 
 a jerk, 
 
 And laying his finger aside of his nose, 
 
 And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. ' 
 
 He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a 
 whistle, 
 
 And away they all flew, like the down of a 
 thistle ; 
 
 But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of 
 sight, 
 
 ''Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good- 
 night!" 
 
 Clement C. Moore. 
 
 [24] 
 
^ GOD • AP.ON'E . INCREASE • OUR • LOVE ^ 
 
 A Christmas Carol for Children 
 
 GOOD news from heaven the angels bring, 
 Glad tidings to the earth they sing : 
 To us this day a child is given, 
 To crown us with the joy of heaven. 
 
 This is the Christ, our God and Lord, 
 Who in all need shall aid aftord ; 
 He will Himself our Saviour be. 
 From sin and sorrow set us free. 
 
 To us that blessedness He brings. 
 Which from the Father's bounty springs : 
 That in the heavenly realm we may 
 With Him enjoy eternal day. 
 
 All hail, Thou noble Guest, this morn, 
 Whose love did not the sinner scorn ! 
 In my distress Thou cam'st to me : 
 What thanks shall I return to Thee ? 
 
 Were earth a thousand times as fair, 
 Beset with gold and jewels rare, 
 
 [25] 
 
►^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 She yet were far too poor to be 
 A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee. 
 
 Ah, dearest Jesus, Holy Child! 
 
 Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled, 
 
 Within my heart, that it may be * 
 
 A quiet chamber kept for Thee. 
 
 Praise God upon His heavenly throne, 
 Who gave to us His only Son : 
 
 For this His hosts, on joyful wing, J 
 
 A blest New Year of mercy sing. ■ 
 
 Martin Luther. 
 
 In Bethlehem, that Noble Place 
 
 IN Bethlehem, that noble place, 
 As by prophecy said it was, 
 Of the Virgin Mary full of grace, 
 Salvator mundi natus est. 
 Be we merry in this feast. 
 In quo Salvator natus est. 
 
 On Christmas night an angel it told 
 To the shepherdes, keeping their fold, 
 
 [26] 
 
^ BE . WE . MERRY • IX • THIS • FEAST ^ 
 
 That into Bethlehem with beasts wold 
 Salvator miindi natiis est. 
 
 Be we merry in this feast, 
 
 In quo Salvator natiis est. 
 
 The shepherdes were compassed right, 
 About them was a full great light ; 
 Dread ye nought, said the angel bright, 
 Salvator miindi natus est. 
 
 Be we merry in this feast. 
 
 In quo Salvator natus est. 
 
 Behold, to you we bring great joy ; 
 For why Jesus is born this day ; 
 To us, of Mary, that mild May, 
 Salvator mundi natus est. 
 
 Be we merry in this feast, 
 
 In quo Salvator natus est. 
 
 And thus in faith find it ye shall, 
 Lying poorly in an oxes stall. 
 The shepherdes then God lauded all, 
 Quia Salvator mundi est. 
 
 Be we merry in this feast, 
 
 In quo Salvator natus est. 
 
 A.D. 1550. 
 
 [27] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The Shepherds 
 
 OTHAN the fairest day, thrice fairer 
 night ! 
 Night to blest days in which a sun doth rise. 
 Of which that golden eye which clears tlie 
 skies 
 Is but a sparkling ray, a shadow-light ! 
 And blessed ye, in silly pastor's sight. 
 
 Mild creatures, in whose warm crib now lies 
 That heaven-sent Youngling, holy maid-born 
 
 Wight, 
 Midst, end, beginning of our prophecies ! 
 Blest cottage that hath flowers in winter 
 spread. 
 Though withered — blessed grass that hath 
 
 the grace 
 To deck and be a carpet to that place ! 
 Thus sang, unto the sounds of oaten reed, 
 Before the Babe, the shepherds bowed on 
 
 knees. 
 And springs ran nectar, honey dropped from 
 trees. 
 
 William Drum mono, 
 
 of Hawthornden, 
 
 \ 2S 1 
 
^ TO . YOUR • health's • DESIRING ^ 
 
 Ceremonies For Christmas 
 
 COME, bring with a noise, 
 My merrie, merrie boyes, 
 The Christmas Log to the firing ; 
 While my good Dame, she 
 Bids ye all be free, 
 And drink to your heart's desiring. 
 
 With the last yeere's brand 
 
 Light the new block, and 
 For good successe in his spending, 
 
 On your Psaltries play, 
 
 That sweet luck may 
 Come while the Log is a-teending. 
 
 Drink now the strong Beere, 
 Cut the white Loafe here. 
 
 The while the meat is a-shredding 
 For the rare Alince Pie, 
 And the Plums stand by 
 
 To fill the Paste that's a-kneading. 
 
 Robert Herrick. 
 C'Hespcrides/') 
 
 [29] 
 
)X^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Christmas Eve — Another Ceremony 
 
 COME, guard this night the Christmas Pie^ 
 That the Thiefe, though ne'er so she, 
 With his Flesh-hocks don't come nie 
 To catch it 
 
 From him, who all alone sits there, 
 Having his eyes still in his care, 
 And a deale of nightly feare, 
 To watch it. 
 
 Robert Herrick. 
 CHesperidesr) 
 
 [30] 
 
^ WASSAIL • WASSAIL ^^ 
 
 Another Ceremony to the Maids 
 
 w 
 
 ASH your hands, or else the fire 
 Will not teend to your desire ; 
 Unwasht hands, ye maidens, know, 
 Dead the fire, though ye blow. 
 
 Robert Herrick. 
 CHesperides/') 
 
 Another 
 
 WASSAILE the Trees, that they may 
 beare 
 You many a Plum, and many a Peare ; 
 For more or lesse fruits they will bring 
 As you doe give them Wassailing. 
 
 Robert Herrick. 
 C'Hesperidesr) 
 
 [31] 
 
)X( THE ■ CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 A Rocking Hymn 
 
 SWEET baby, sleep! What ails my dear? 
 What ails my darling thus to cry? 
 Be still, my child, and lend thine ear 
 To hear me sing thy lullaby. 
 
 My pretty lamb, forbear to weep ; 
 Be still, my dear ; sweet baby, sleep ! 
 
 When God with us was dwelling here. 
 
 In little babes He took delight ; 
 Such innocents as thou, my dear, 
 Are ever precious in His sight. 
 Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep ; 
 Be still, my babe ; sweet baby, sleep ! 
 
 A little Infant once was He, 
 
 And strength in weakness then was laid 
 Upon His virgin-mother's knee, 
 
 That power to thee might be conveyed. 
 Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep ; 
 Be still, my babe ; sweet baby, sleep ! 
 
 In this thy frailty and thy need 
 
 He friends and helpers doth prepare, 
 
 [32] 
 
)I^ SWEET . BABY . SLEEP ^ 
 
 Which thee shall cherish, clothe, and feed, 
 For of thy weal they tender are. 
 Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep ! 
 Be still, my babe ; sweet baby, sleep. 
 
 The King of kings, when He was born, 
 
 Had not so much for outward ease ; 
 By Him such dressings were not worn. 
 Nor such like swaddling-clothes as these. 
 Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep ! 
 Be still, my babe ; sweet baby, sleep. 
 
 Within a manger lodged thy Lord, 
 
 Where oxen lay and asses fed ; 
 Warm rooms we do to thee afford, 
 An easy cradle or a bed. 
 
 My baby, then, forbear to weep ; 
 Be still, my babe ; sweet baby, sleep ! 
 
 Thou hast, yet more, to perfect this, 
 
 A promise and an earnest got 
 Of gaining everlasting bliss, 
 
 Though thou, my babe, perceiv'st it not. 
 Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep ; 
 Be still, my babe ; sweet baby, sleep. 
 
 George Wither. 
 [33] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Old Christmas 
 
 LO now is come our joyf uFst feast ; 
 Let every man be jolly. 
 Each room with ivy leaves is dress'd, 
 
 And every post with holly. 
 Though some churls at our mirth repine, 
 Round your foreheads garlands twine, 
 Drown sorrow in a cup of wine, 
 And let us all be merry. 
 
 Now all our neighbours' chimneys smoke, 
 And Christmas blocks are burning; 
 
 Their ovens they with baked meats choke. 
 And all their spits are turning. 
 
 Without the door let sorrow lie, 
 
 And if for cold it hap to die. 
 
 We'll bury it in a Christmas pie, 
 And evermore be merry. 
 
 Now every lad is wondrous trim, 
 And no man minds his labour ; 
 
 Our lasses have provided them 
 A bagpipe and a tabor. 
 
 [34] 
 
^ LET . US . ALL • BE • MERRY ^ 
 
 Young men and maids, and girls and boys, 
 Give life to one another's joys, 
 And you anon shall by their noise 
 
 Perceive that they are merry. 
 
 Rank misers now do sparing shun, 
 
 Their hall of music soundeth, 
 And dogs thence with whole shoulders run, 
 
 So all things there aboundeth. 
 The country folks themselves advance, 
 With crowdy-muttons come out of France ; 
 And Jack shall pipe, and Jill shall dance, 
 And all the town be merry. 
 
 Ned Swash has fetch'd his bands from pawn, 
 
 And all his best apparel ; 
 Brisk Nell hath bought a ruff of lawn, 
 
 With droppings of the barrel ; 
 And those that hardly all the year 
 Had bread to eat or rags to wear 
 Will have both clothes and dainty fare, 
 And all the day be merry. 
 
 Now poor men to the justices 
 With capons make their arrants, 
 
 [35] 
 
)^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 And if they hap to fail of these, 
 
 They plague them with their warrants. 
 But now they feed them with good cheer, 
 And what they want they take in beer, 
 For Christmas comes but once a year, 
 And then they shall be merry. 
 
 Good farmers in the country nurse 
 The poor, that else were undone. 
 Some landlords spend their money worse. 
 
 On lust and pride in London. 
 There the roysters they do play, 
 Drab and dice their lands away. 
 Which may be ours another day. 
 
 And therefore let's be merry. 
 
 The client now his suit forbears. 
 The prisoner's heart is eased, 
 
 The debtor drinks away his cares. 
 And for the time is pleased. 
 
 Though others' purses be more fat, 
 
 Why should we pine or grieve at that ? 
 
 Hang sorrow, care will kill a cat, 
 
 And therefore let's be merry. 
 
 [36] 
 
^' LAUGH . AND • BE • MERRY )^ 
 
 Hark, now the wags abroad do call 
 Each other forth to rambling ; 
 Anon you'll see them in the hall 
 
 For nuts and apples scrambling. 
 Hark, how the roofs with laughter sound ! 
 Anon they'll think the house goes round, 
 For they the cellar's depth have found, 
 And there they will be merry. 
 
 The wenches w^ith their wassail bowls 
 
 About the streets are singing ; 
 The boys are come to catch the owls, 
 
 The wild mare in is bringing. 
 Our kitchen-boy hath broke his box. 
 And to the dealing of the ox 
 Our honest neighbours come by flocks. 
 And here they w^ill be merry. 
 
 Now kings and queens poor sheepcotes have, 
 
 And mate with everybody ; 
 The honest now may play the knave. 
 
 And wise men play at noddy. 
 Some youths will now a-mumming go. 
 Some others play at rowland-hoe, 
 And twenty other gameboys, moe, 
 Because they will be merry. 
 
 [37] 
 
)^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Then, wherefore, in these merry days 
 Should we, I pray, be duller? 
 
 No ; let us sing some roundelays 
 To make our mirth the fuller. 
 
 And, whilst inspired thus we sing. 
 
 Let all the streets with echoes ring ; 
 
 Woods and hills, and everything. 
 Bear witness we are merry. 
 
 George Wither. 
 
 The Christmas Carol 
 
 THE minstrels played their Christmas tune 
 To-night beneath my cottage eaves ; 
 While, smitten by a lofty moon, 
 The encircling laurels, thick with leaves. 
 Gave back a rich and dazzling sheen. 
 That overpowered their natural green. 
 
 Through hill and valley every breeze 
 Had sunk to rest with folded wings : 
 Keen was the air, but could not freeze, 
 Nor check, the music of the strings; 
 
 [38] 
 
)^ MERRY . CHRISTMAS • TO • ALL ^ 
 
 So stout and hardy were the band 
 
 That scraped the chords with strenuous hand ; 
 
 And who but Hstened ? — till was paid 
 Respect to every inmate's claim : 
 The greeting given, the music played, 
 In honor of each household name, 
 Duly pronounced with lusty call, 
 And ''Merry Christmas'' wished to all! 
 
 O Brother ! I revere the choice 
 That took thee from thy native hills : 
 And it is given thee to rejoice, 
 Though public care full often tills 
 (Heaven only witness of the toil) 
 A barren and ungrateful soil. 
 
 Yet, would that thou, with me and mine, 
 
 Hadst heard the never-failing rite, 
 
 And seen on other faces shine 
 
 A true revival of the light 
 
 Which Nature and these rustic Powers, 
 
 In simple childhood, spread through ours. 
 
 For pleasure hath not ceased to wait 
 On these expected annual rounds, 
 
 [39] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |2^ 
 
 Whether the rich man's sumptuous gate 
 Call forth the unelaborate sounds, 
 Or they are offered at the door 
 That guards the lowliest of the poor. 
 
 How touching, when at midnight sweep 
 Snow-muffled winds, and all is dark, 
 To hear — and sink again to sleep ! 
 Or, at an earlier call, to mark 
 By blazing fire the still suspense 
 Of self-complacent innocence; 
 
 The mutual nod — the grave disguise 
 
 Of hearts with gladness brimming o'er — 
 
 And some unbidden tears that rise 
 
 For names once heard, and heard no more; 
 
 Tears brightened by the serenade 
 
 For infant in the cradle laid. 
 
 Ah ! not for emerald fields alone, 
 
 With ambient streams more pure and bright 
 
 Than fabled Cytherea's zone, 
 
 Glittering before the Thunderer's sight, 
 
 Is to my heart of hearts endeared 
 
 The ground where we were born and reared ! 
 
 [40] 
 
^ FILL . THE . VALE . WITH • JOY ^ 
 
 Hail, ancient Manners ! sure defence, 
 Where they survive, of wholesome laws ; 
 Remnants of love whose modest sense 
 Thus into narrow room withdraws ; 
 Hail, Usages of pristine mold, 
 And ye that guard them, Mountains old ! 
 
 Bear with me, Brother ! quench the thought 
 
 That slights this passion, or condemns ; 
 
 If thee fond Fancy ever brought 
 
 From the proud margin of the Thames, 
 
 And Lambeth's venerable towers. 
 
 To humbler streams and greener bowers. 
 
 Yes, they can make, who fail to find, 
 
 Short leisure even in busiest days, 
 
 Moments to cast a look behind, 
 
 And profit by those kindly rays 
 
 That through the clouds do sometimes steal. 
 
 And all the far-off past reveal. 
 
 Hence, while the imperial City's din 
 Beats frequent on thy satiate ear, 
 A pleased attention I may win 
 To agitations less severe, 
 
 [41] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 That neither overwhelm nor cloy, 
 But fill the hollow vale with joy ! 
 
 William Wordsworth. 
 
 {To Rev. Dr. Wordsworth, zvith the Sonnets 
 to the River Duddon, and other poems.) 
 
 Cradle Song 
 
 HUSH ! my dear, lie still and slumber, 
 Holy Angels guard thy bed ! 
 Heavenly blessings without number 
 Gently falling on thy head. 
 
 Sleep, my babe; thy food and raiment, 
 House and home, thy friends provide; 
 
 All without thy care or payment. 
 All thy wants are well supplied. 
 
 How much better thou 'rt attended 
 Than the Son of God could be, 
 
 When from heaven He descended, 
 And became a child like thee ! 
 
 42 
 
)I^ LOVE . IS . THE . BOND • OF • PEACE ^ 
 
 Soft and easy is thy cradle; 
 
 Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay; 
 When His birthplace was a stable, 
 
 And His softest bed was hay. 
 
 See the kinder shepherds round Him, 
 
 Telling wonders from the sky ! 
 Where they sought Him, there they found 
 Him, 
 
 With His Virgin-Mother by. 
 
 See the lovely Babe a-dressing; 
 
 Lovely Infant, how He smiled! 
 When He wept, the Mother's blessing 
 
 Soothed and hush'd the holy Child. 
 
 Lo, He slumbers in His manger, 
 
 Where the horned oxen fed : 
 Peace, my darling, here's no danger ; 
 
 Here's no ox a-near thy bed ! 
 
 May'st thou live to know and fear Him, 
 Trust and love Him all thy days ; 
 
 Then go dwell for ever near Him, 
 See His face, and sing His praise ! 
 
 [43] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY |^ 
 
 I could give thee thousand kisses, 
 
 Hoping what I most desire ; 
 Not a mother's fondest wishes 
 
 Can to greater joys aspire. 
 
 Isaac Watts. 
 
 Old Christmas-Tide 
 
 HEx\P on more wood! — the wind is chill; 
 But let it whistle as it will, 
 We'll keep our Christmas merry still. 
 Each age has deemed the new-born year 
 The fittest time for festal cheer. 
 Even heathen yet, the savage Dane 
 At lol more deep the mead did drain; 
 High on the beach his galley drew, 
 And feasted all his pirate crew ; 
 Then in his low and pine-built hall, 
 Where shields and axes decked the wall. 
 They gorged upon the half-dressed steer ; 
 Caroused in seas of sable beer ; 
 While round, in brutal jest, were thrown 
 The half-gnawed rib and marrow-bone, 
 
 [44] 
 
 i 
 
|Z( LAUGH . AND • BE • MERRY ^ 
 
 Or listened all, in grim delight, 
 
 While scalds yelled out the joy of fight, 
 
 Then forth in frenzy would they hie. 
 
 While wildly loose their red locks fly ; 
 
 And, dancing round the blazing pile, 
 
 They make such barbarous mirth the while, 
 
 As best might to the mind recall 
 
 The boisterous joys of Odin's hall. 
 
 And well our Christian sires of old 
 
 Loved when the year its course had rolled, 
 
 And brought blithe Christmas back again, 
 
 With all his hospitable train. 
 
 Domestic and religious rite 
 
 Gave honor to the holy night: 
 
 On Christmas eve the bells were rung ; 
 
 On Christmas eve the mass was sung ; 
 
 That holy night, in all the year, 
 
 Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear. 
 
 The damsel donned her kirtle sheen ; 
 
 The hall was dressed with holly green ; 
 
 Forth to the wood did merry-men go, 
 
 To gather in the mistletoe ; 
 
 Then opened wide the baron's hall 
 
 To vassal, tenant, serf, and all ; 
 
 Power laid his rod of rule aside, 
 
 And ceremony doffed his pride. 
 
 [45] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The heir, with roses in his shoes, 
 
 That night might village partner choose ; 
 
 The lord, underogating, share 
 
 The vulgar game of ''post and pair/' 
 
 All hailed, with uncontrolled delight, 
 
 And general voice, the happy night 
 
 That to the cottage, as the crown, 
 
 Brought tidings of salvation down. 
 
 The fire, with well-dried logs supplied, 
 
 Went roaring up the chimney w ide ; 
 
 The huge hall-table's oaken face. 
 
 Scrubbed till it shone, the day to grace, 
 
 Bore then upon its massive board 
 
 No mark to part the squire and lord. 
 
 Then was brought in the lusty brawn 
 
 By old blue-coated serving man ; 
 
 Then the grim boar's head frowned on high, 
 
 Crested with bays and rosemary. 
 
 Well can the green-garbed ranger tell. 
 
 How, when and where, the monster fell; 
 
 What dogs before his death he tore, 
 
 And all the baiting of the boar. 
 
 The Wassail round, in good brown bowls. 
 
 Garnished with ribbons, blithely trowls. 
 
 There the huge sirloin reeked ; hard by 
 
 Plum-porridge stood, and Christmas pie; 
 
 [46] 
 
^ HEAVEN . OUR • LOVE • DEFEND ^ 
 
 Nor failed old Scotland to produce, 
 At such high tide, her savory goose. 
 Then came the merry masquers in, 
 And carols roared with blithesome din ; 
 If unmelodious was the song, 
 It was a hearty note, and strong, 
 Who lists may in their mumming see 
 Traces of ancient mystery ; 
 White shirts supplied the masquerade, 
 And smutted cheeks the vizors made : 
 
 But, O ! what masquers, richly digfht. 
 Can boast of bosoms half so light ! 
 England was merry England, when 
 Old Christmas brought his sports again. 
 'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale ; 
 Twas Christmas told the merriest tale; 
 A Christmas gambol oft could cheer 
 The poor man's heart through half the year. 
 Sir Walter Scott. 
 
 [47] 
 
fZ^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Christmas Day 
 
 THE time draws near the birth of Christ : 
 The moon is hid ; the night is still ; 
 The Christmas bells from hill to hill 
 Answer to each other in the mist. 
 
 Four voices of four hamlets round, 
 From far and near, on mead and moor, 
 Swell out and fail, as if a door 
 
 Were shut between me and the sound : 
 
 Each voice four changes on the wind, 
 That now dilate and now decrease, 
 Peace and good-will, good-will and peace, 
 
 Peace and good-will to all mankind. 
 
 This year I slept and woke with pain, 
 I almost wish'd no more to wake, 
 And that my hold on life would break 
 
 Before I heard those bells again : 
 
 [48] 
 
^ THE . MERRY • BELLS • OF • YULE ^ 
 
 But they my troubled spirit rule, 
 For they controll'd me when a boy ; 
 They bring me sorrow touched with joy, 
 
 The merry, merry bells of Yule. 
 
 With such compelling cause to grieve 
 As daily vexes household peace, 
 And chains regret to his decease, 
 
 How dare we keep our Christmas eve ; 
 
 Which brings no more a welcome guest 
 To enrich the threshold of the night 
 With shower'd largess of delight 
 
 In dance and song and game and jest? 
 
 Yet go, and while the holly boughs 
 Entwine the cold baptismal font, 
 Make one wreath more for Use and Womb, 
 
 That guard the portals of the house ; 
 
 Old sisters of a day gone by, 
 
 Gray nurses, loving nothing new ; 
 Why should they miss their yearly due 
 
 Before their time ? They, too, will die. 
 
 [49] 
 
|X^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 With trembling fingers did we weave 
 The holly round the Christmas hearth ; 
 A rainy cloud possess'd the earth, 
 
 And sadly fell our Christmas eve. 
 
 At our old pastimes in the hall 
 
 We gamboird, making vain pretence 
 Of gladness, with an awful sense 
 
 Of one mute Shadow watching all. 
 
 We paused : the winds were in the beech : 
 We heard them sweep the winter land ; 
 And in a circle hand in hand 
 
 Sat silent, looking each at each. 
 
 Then echo-like our voices rang; 
 
 We sang, though every eye was dim, 
 A merry song we sang with him 
 
 Last year : impetuously we sang : 
 
 We ceased : a gentler feeling crept 
 
 Upon us : surely rest is meet : 
 
 *They rest,'' we said,'' their sleep is sweet,' 
 And silence .followed, and we wept. 
 
 [50] 
 
)^ RISE . HOLY . MORN ^ 
 
 Our voices took a higher range ; 
 
 Once more we sang : ''They do not die 
 Nor lose their mortal sympathy, 
 
 Nor change to us, altho' they change ; 
 
 "Rapt from the fickle and the frail 
 With gathered power, yet the same, 
 Pierces the keen seraphic flame 
 
 From orb to orb, from veil to veil." 
 
 Rise, happy morn ; rise, holy morn ; 
 
 Draw forth the cheerful day from night : 
 O Father, touch the east, and light 
 
 The light that shone when Hope was born. 
 
 Alfred Tennyson. 
 In Memoriam, 
 
 [51] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Children's Christmas Eve 
 
 REJOICE in God alway, 
 With stars in Heaven rejoice, 
 Ere dawn of Christ's own day 
 
 Lift up each Httle voice. 
 Look up with glad, pure eye, 
 And count those lamps on high. 
 Nay, who may count them ? On our gaze 
 They from their deeps come out in ever- 
 widening maze. 
 
 Each in his stand aloof 
 
 Prepares his keenest beam 
 Upon that hovel roof, 
 
 In at that door, to stream 
 Where meekly waits her time 
 The whole earth's Flower and Prime : — 
 Where in few hours the Eternal One 
 Will make a clear, new day, rising before the 
 sun. 
 
 Rejoice in God alway. 
 
 With each green leaf rejoice, 
 
 Of berries on each spray 
 The brightest be your choice. 
 
 [52] 
 
 I 
 I 
 
^ REJOICE . IN . GOD . ALWAY ^ 
 
 From bower and mountain lone 
 The autumnal hues are gone, 
 Yet gay shall be our Christmas wreath, 
 The glistening beads above, the burnish'd 
 leaves beneath. 
 
 Rejoice in God alway, 
 
 With Powers rejoice on high, 
 Who now with glad array 
 
 Are gathering in the sky, 
 His cradle to attend, 
 And there all lowly bend. 
 But half so low as He hath bow'd 
 Did never highest Angel stoop from brightest 
 cloud. 
 
 Rejoice in God alway, 
 
 All creatures, bird and beast; 
 Rejoice, again I say, 
 
 His mightiest and His least; 
 From ox and ass that wait 
 Here on His poor estate. 
 To the four living Powers, decreed 
 A thousand ways at once His awful car to 
 speed. 
 
 [53] 
 
|X( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 Rejoice in God alway ; 
 
 With Saints in Paradise 
 Your midnight service say, 
 
 For vigil glad arise. 
 Ev'n they in their calm bowers 
 Too tardy find the hours 
 Till He reveal the wondrous Birth : 
 How must we look and long, chain'd here to 
 sin and earth ! 
 
 Ye babes, to Jesus dear. 
 
 Rejoice in Him alway. 
 Ye whom He bade draw near. 
 O'er whom He loved to pray, 
 Wake, and lift up the head, 
 Each in his quiet bed. 
 Listen ! His voice the night wind brings : 
 He in your cradle lies, He in our carol sings. 
 
 John Keble. 
 
 [54] 
 
^ KEEP . OLD . CHRISTMAS • UP ^ 
 
 COME down to-marra night, and mind 
 Don't leave thy fiddle-bag behind. 
 We'll shaik a lag and drink a cup 
 O' yal to kip wold Christmas up. 
 
 An' let thy sister tiake thy yarm, 
 The wa'k woon't do 'er any harm. 
 Ther's noo dirt now to spwile her frock, 
 Var 'tis a-vroze so hard's a rock. 
 
 Ther bent noo stranngers that 'ull come, 
 But only a vew naighbours ; zome 
 Vrom Stowe, an' Combe, an' two ar dree 
 Vrom uncle's up at Rookery. 
 
 An' thee woot vine a ruozy fiace, 
 An* pair ov eyes so black as sloos, 
 The pirtiest oones in al the pliace, 
 I'm sure I needen tell thee whose. 
 
 We got a black bran', dree girt logs, 
 So much as dree ov us can car. 
 We'll put 'em up athirt the dogs. 
 An' miake a vier to the bar. 
 
 [55] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )^ 
 
 An' ev'ry oone wull tell his tale, 
 An' ev'ry oone wull zing his zong, 
 An' ev'ry oone wull drink his yal, 
 To love an' frien'ship al night long. 
 
 We'll snap the tongs, we'll have a bal, 
 We'll shiake the house, we'll rise the ruf, 
 We'll romp an' miake the maidens squal, 
 A-catchen o'm at bline-man's buff. 
 
 Zoo come to-marra night, an' mind 
 Don't leave thy fiddle-bag behind. 
 We'll shiake a lag, an' drink a cup 
 O' yal to kip wold Chris'mas up. 
 
 William Barnes. 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 I care not for spring: on this fickle wing 
 Let the blossoms and buds be borne : 
 He wooes, them amain with his treacherous 
 rain, 
 And he scatters them ere the morn. 
 
 [56] 
 
^ CHRISTMAS . KIXG • OF • SEASONS ^ 
 
 An inconstant elf, he knows not himself 
 Xor his own changing mind an hour, 
 
 He'll smile in your face, and, with wry 
 grimace, 
 He'll wither vour vouno:est flower. 
 
 Let the summer sun to his bright home run, 
 
 He shall never be sought by me ; 
 When he's dimmed by a cloud I can laugh 
 aloud, 
 
 And care not how sulky he be ! 
 For his darling child is the madness wild 
 
 That sports in fierce fever's train ; 
 And when love is too strong, it don't last long, 
 
 As many have found to their pain. 
 
 A mild harvest night, by the tranquil light 
 
 Of the modest and gentle moon, 
 Has a far sweeter sheen, for me, I ween, 
 
 Than the broad and unblushing noon 
 But every leaf awakens my grief, 
 
 As it lieth beneath the tree ; 
 So let autumn air be never so fair, 
 
 It by no means agrees with me. 
 
 [57] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMx\S . TREASURY ^ 
 
 But my song I troll out, for Christmas stout. 
 The hearty, the true, and the bold ; 
 
 A bumper I drain, and with might and main 
 Give three cheers for this Christmas old ! 
 
 We'll usher him in with a merry din 
 That shall gladden his joyous heart. 
 
 And we'll keep him up, while there's bite or 
 sup, 
 And in fellowship good we'll part. 
 
 In his fine, honest pride, he scorns to hide 
 
 One jot of his hard-weather scars; 
 They're no disgrace, for there's much the same 
 trace 
 
 On the cheeks of our bravest tars. 
 Then again I sing, till the roof doth ring, 
 
 And it echoes from wall to wall — 
 To the stout old wight, fair welcome to-night, 
 
 As the King of the Seasons all ! 
 
 Charles Dickens. 
 
 [58] 
 
^ GOD • UNITE . OUR • HEARTS • ARIGHT ^ 
 
 The Angel's Story 
 
 THROUGH the blue and frosty heavens 
 Christmas stars were shining bright; 
 Glistening lamps throughout the City 
 
 Almost matched their gleaming light ; 
 While the winter snow was lying. 
 And the winter winds were sighing, 
 Long ago, one Christmas night. 
 
 While from every tower and steeple 
 Pealing bells were sounding clear 
 
 (Never with such tones of gladness 
 Save when Christmas time is near), 
 
 Many a one that night was merry 
 Who had toiled through all the year. 
 
 That night saw old wrongs forgiven. 
 Friends, long parted, reconciled; 
 
 Voices all unused to laughter, 
 Mournful eyes that rarely smiled, 
 
 Trembling hearts that feared the morrow, 
 From their anxious thoughts beguiled. 
 
 [59] 
 
>^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 Rich and poor felt love and blessing 
 From the gracious season fall ; 
 
 Joy and plenty in the cottage, 
 Peace and feasting in the hall; 
 
 And the voices of the children 
 Ringing clear above it all ! 
 
 Adelaide A. Procter. 
 
 The Mahogany Tree 
 
 CHRISTMAS is here; 
 Winds whistle shrill. 
 Icy and chill, 
 Little care we : 
 Little we fear 
 Weather without, 
 Sheltered about 
 The mahogany tree. 
 
 Once on the boughs, 
 Birds of rare plume 
 Sang, in its bloom; 
 Night birds are we: 
 
 [60] 
 
^ SIT . ROUND . THE • OLD • TREE ^ 
 
 Here we carouse, 
 Singing like them, 
 Perched round the stem 
 Of the jolly old tree. 
 
 Here let us sport, 
 Boys, as we sit; 
 Laughter and wit 
 Flashing so free. 
 Life is but short — 
 When we are gone, 
 Let them sing on, 
 Round the old tree. 
 
 Evenings w^e knew, 
 Happy as this; 
 Faces we miss, 
 Pleasant to see. 
 Kind hearts and true. 
 Gentle and just, 
 Peace to your dust! 
 
 We sing round the tree. 
 
 Care, like a dun, 
 Lurks at the gate: 
 
 [6i] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Let the dog wait: 
 Happy we'll be! 
 Drink, every one ; 
 Pile up the coals, 
 Fill the red bowls. 
 Round the old tree! 
 
 Drain we the cup — 
 Friend, art afraid? 
 Spirits are laid 
 In the Red Sea. 
 Mantle it up; 
 Empty it yet; 
 Let us forget, 
 Round the old tree. 
 
 Sorrows, begone ! 
 Life and its ills, 
 Duns and their bills, 
 Bid we to flee. 
 Come w^ith the dawn, 
 Blue-devil sprite, 
 Leave us to-night, 
 Round the old tree, 
 
 W. M. Thackeray. 
 
 [62] 
 
^ THE • MERRY • CHRISTMAS • TIME }^ 
 
 The End of the Play 
 
 ^n^^HE play is done — the curtain drops, 
 
 I Slow falling to the prompter's bell ; 
 
 A moment yet the actor stops, 
 
 And looks around, to say farewell. 
 It is an irksome word and task, 
 
 And when he's laugh'd and said his say, 
 He shows, as he removes the mask, 
 
 A face that's anything but gay. 
 
 One word, ere yet the evening ends : 
 
 Let's close it with a parting rhyme, 
 x\nd pledge a hand to all young friends, 
 
 As fits the merry Christmas time. 
 On life's wide scene you, too, have parts, 
 
 That fate ere long shall bid you play ; 
 Good-night! — with honest, gentle hearts 
 
 A kindly greeting go alway ! 
 
 Good-night ! I'd say the griefs, the joys, 
 Just hinted in this mimic page, 
 
 The triumphs and defeats of boys. 
 Are but repeated in our age ; 
 
 1^3] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY |^ 
 
 rd say your woes were not less keen, 
 
 Your hopes more vain, than those of men, 
 
 Your pangs or pleasure of fifteen 
 At forty-five played o'er again. 
 
 I'd say we sufifer and we strive 
 
 Not less nor more as men than boys, 
 With grizzled beards at forty-five, 
 
 As erst at twelve in corduroys ; 
 And if, in time of sacred youth, 
 
 We learn'd at home to love and pray. 
 Pray heaven that early love and truth 
 
 May never wholly pass away. 
 
 And in the world, as in the school, 
 
 I'd say how fate may change and shift, 
 The prize be sometimes with the fool, 
 
 The race not always to the swift ; 
 The strong may yield, the good may fall. 
 
 The great man be a vulgar clown, 
 The knave be lifted over all. 
 
 The kind cast pitilessly down. 
 
 Who knows the inscrutable design ? 
 Blessed be He who took and gave ! 
 
 [64] 
 
^ BE • EACH . A . GENTLEMAN ^ 
 
 Why should your mother, Charles, not mine, 
 Be weeping at her darling's grave ? 
 
 We bow to heaven that will'd it so, 
 That darkly rules the fate of all, 
 
 That sends the respite or the blow, 
 That's free to give or to recall. 
 
 This crowns his feast with wine and wit — 
 
 Who brought him to that mirth and state ? 
 His betters, see, below him sit. 
 
 Or hunger hopeless at the gate. 
 Who bade the mud from Dives' wheel 
 
 To spurn the rags of Lazarus ? 
 Come, brother, in that dust we'll kneel, 
 
 Confessing heaven that rul'd it thus. 
 
 So each shall mourn, in life's advance. 
 
 Dear hopes, dear friends, untimely kill'd; 
 Shall grieve for many a forfeit chance, 
 
 And longing passion unfulfiU'd. 
 Amen ! Whatever fate be sent. 
 
 Pray God the heart may kindly glow, 
 Although the head with cares be bent 
 
 And whitened with the winter snow. 
 Come wealth or want, come good or ill. 
 
 Let young and old accept their part, 
 
 [65] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )^ 
 
 And bow before the awful will, 
 And bear it with an honest heart. 
 
 Who misses or who wins the prize — 
 Go, lose or conquer as you can ; 
 
 But if you fail, or if you rise. 
 Be each, pray God, a gentleman. 
 
 A gentleman, or old or young ! 
 
 (Bear kindly with my humble lays) 
 The sacred chorus first was sung 
 
 Upon the first of Christmas days ; 
 The shepherds heard it overhead — 
 
 The joyful angels rais'd it then ; 
 Glory to heaven on high, it said, 
 
 And peace on earth to gentlemen! 
 
 My song, save this, is little worth; 
 
 I lay the weary pen aside. 
 And wish you health and love and mirth, 
 
 As fits the solemn Christmas-tide. 
 As fits the holy Christmas birth. 
 
 Be this, good friends, our carol still : 
 Be peace on earth, be peace on earth, 
 
 To men of gentle will. 
 
 W. M. Thackeray. 
 [66] 
 
^ THE . EVERGREEX . TREE ^ 
 
 The Christmas Mistletoe 
 
 WHEX winter nights grow long, 
 And winds without blow cold, 
 We sit in a ring round the warm wood fire 
 
 And listen to stories old ! 
 And we try to look grave (as maids should 
 
 be) ' 
 When the men bring in boughs of the laurel 
 tree. 
 O the laurel, the evergreen tree ! 
 The poets have laurels — and why not we? 
 
 How pleasant, when night falls down, 
 
 And hides the wintry sun, 
 To see them come in to the blazing fire, 
 
 And know that their work is done ; 
 Whilst many bring in, with a laugh or rhyme, 
 Green branches of holly for Christmas time ! 
 
 O the holly, the bright green holly! 
 
 It tells (like a tongue) that the times are 
 jolly! 
 
 Sometimes — (in our grave house 
 Observe this happeneth not) 
 
 [67] 
 
^ THE • CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 But at times, the evergreen laurel boughs 
 
 And the holly are all forgot ! 
 And then! what then? Why, the men laugh 
 
 low, 
 And hang up a branch of the mistletoe ! 
 
 Oh, brave is the laurel ! and brave is the 
 holly ! 
 
 But the mistletoe banisheth melancholy! 
 Ah, nobody knows, nor ever shall know, 
 What is done under the mistletoe ! 
 
 Barry Cornwall. 
 
 Christmas Bells 
 
 {HEARD the bells on Christmas Day 
 Their old, familiar carols play, 
 And wild and sweet 
 The words repeat, 
 Of peace on earth, good-will to men ! 
 
 And thought how^ as the day had come, 
 The belfries of all Christendom 
 
 [68] 
 
^ PEACE . OX . EARTH ^ 
 
 Had rolled along 
 The unbroken song 
 Of peace on earth, good-will to men! 
 
 Till, ringing, singing on its way, 
 The world revolved from night to day, 
 
 A voice, a chime, 
 
 A chant sublime 
 Of peace on earth, good-will to men ! 
 
 Then from each black, accursed mouth 
 The cannon thundered in the South, 
 
 And with the sound 
 
 The carols drowned 
 Of peace on earth, good-will to men ! 
 
 It was as if an earthquake rent 
 The hearthstones of a continent. 
 
 And made forlorn 
 
 The households born 
 Of peace on earth, good-will to men! 
 
 And in despair I bow^d my head ; 
 'There is no peace on earth," I said; 
 
 [69] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 'Tor hate is strong, 
 And mocks the song 
 Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" 
 
 Then pealed the bells more loud and deep : 
 *'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep ! 
 
 The Wrong shall fail, 
 
 The Right prevail, 
 With peace on earth, good-will to men !" 
 
 Henry W. Longfellow. 
 
 Under the Holly Bough 
 
 YE who have scorn'd each other, 
 Or injured friend or brother. 
 
 In this fast fading year ; 
 Ye who, by word or deed. 
 Hath made a kind heart bleed. 
 
 Come gather here. 
 Let sinn'd against and sinning 
 Forget their strife's beginning; 
 Be links no longer broken. 
 Be sweet forgiveness spoken, 
 
 Under the holly bough. 
 
 [70] 
 
^ GOOD . WILL . TO • MEN ^ 
 
 Ye who have lov'd each other, 
 Sister and friend and brother, 
 
 In this fast fading year ; 
 Mother, and sire, and child, 
 Young man and maiden mild, 
 
 Come gather here; 
 And let your hearts grow fonder, 
 As memory shall ponder 
 
 Each past unbroken vow. 
 Old loves, and younger wooing, 
 Are sweet in the renewing, 
 
 Under the holly bough. 
 
 Ye who have nourished sadness. 
 Estranged from hope and gladness. 
 
 In this fast fading year ; 
 Ye with overburdened mind, 
 Made aliens from your kind, 
 
 Come gather here. 
 Let not the useless sorrow 
 Pursue you night and morrow; 
 
 If e'er you hoped — hope now; 
 Take heart ; uncloud your faces. 
 And join in our embraces 
 
 Under the holly bough. 
 
 Charles Mackay. 
 
 [71] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 They Leave the Land of Gems and Gold 
 
 THEY leave the land of gems and gold, 
 The shining portals of the East ; 
 For Him, the woman's Seed foretold, 
 They leave the revel and the feast. 
 
 To earth their scepters they have cast. 
 And crowns by kings ancestral worn; 
 
 They track the lonely Syrian waste ; 
 They kneel before the Babe new born. 
 
 O happy eyes that saw Him first ! 
 
 O happy lips that kissed His feet ! 
 Earth slakes at last her ancient thirst, 
 
 With Eden's joy her pulses beat. 
 
 Trufe kings are those who thus forsake 
 Their kingdoms for the Eternal King ; 
 
 Serpent, her foot is on thy neck ; 
 
 Herod, thou writhest, but canst not sting. 
 
 [72] 
 
^ BETHLEHEM • CRADLES • A • KING ^ 
 
 He, He is King, and He alone, 
 Who lifts that infant hand to bless ; 
 
 Who makes His mother's knee His throne, 
 Yet rules the starry wilderness. 
 
 Aubrey de \^ere. 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 r 
 
 ^HERE'S a song in the air ! 
 There's a star in the sky ! 
 There's a mother's deep prayer 
 And a baby's low cry ! 
 And the star rains its fire while the Beautiful 
 
 sing, 
 For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a king. 
 
 There's a tumult of joy 
 
 O'er the wonderful birth, 
 
 For the Virgin's sweet boy 
 
 Is the Lord of the earth. 
 Ay! the star rains its fire and the Beautiful 
 
 sing, 
 For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a king. 
 
 [73] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 In the light of that star 
 
 Lie the ages impearled ; 
 
 And that song from afar 
 
 Has swept over the world. 
 Every hearth is aflame and the Beautiful sing 
 In the homes of the nations that Jesus is King. 
 
 We rejoice in the light, 
 And we echo the song 
 That comes down through the night 
 From the heavenly throng. 
 Ay ! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, 
 And we greet in his cradle our Saviour and 
 King. 
 
 JosiAH Gilbert Holland. 
 
 A Lullaby for Christmas 
 
 SLEEP, baby, sleep ! The mother sings : 
 Heaven's angels kneel and fold their 
 wings. 
 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! 
 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! The father cries : 
 Stars lean and w^orship from the skies. 
 
 [74] 
 
^ SLEEP . BABY • SLEEP ^ 
 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! 
 With swathes of scented hay Thy bed 
 By Mary's hand at eve was spread. 
 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! 
 
 At midnight came the shepherds, they 
 Whom angels wakened by the way. 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! 
 
 And three kings from the East afar, 
 Ere dawn, came, guided by Thy star. 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! 
 
 They brought Thee gifts of gold and gems. 
 Pure Orient pearls, rich diadems. 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! 
 
 But Thou, who liest slumbering there, 
 Art King of kings, earth, stars, and air. 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! 
 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! The shepherds sing : 
 Through earth, through heaven, hosannas 
 ring. 
 
 Sleep, baby, sleep ! 
 
 John Addixgton Symoxds. 
 
 [75] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Christmas Once Is Christmas Still 
 
 THE silent skies are full of speech 
 For who hath ears to hear ; 
 The winds are whispering each to each, 
 The moon is calling to the beech, 
 And stars their sacred mission teach, 
 Of Faith, and Love, and Fear. 
 
 But once the sky its silence broke. 
 And song o'erflowed the earth. 
 The midnight air with glory shook. 
 And angels mortal language spoke, 
 When God our human nature took, 
 In Christ the Savior's birth. 
 
 And Christmas once is Christmas still ; 
 
 The gates through which He came, 
 And forests wild and murmuring rill. 
 And fruitful field and breezy hill. 
 And all that else the wide world fill, 
 
 Are vocal with His name. 
 
 [76] 
 
^ O ■ NEVER . SILENT • SONG ^ 
 
 Shall we not listen while they sing, 
 
 This latest Christmas morn, 
 And music hear in everything, 
 And faithful lives in tribute bring 
 To the great song which greets the King 
 
 Who comes when Christ is born? 
 
 The sky can still remember 
 
 The earliest Christmas morn, 
 When in the cold December 
 
 The Savior Christ was born; 
 And still in darkness clouded, 
 
 And still in noonday light, 
 It feels its far depths crowded 
 
 With Angels fair and bright. 
 
 O never failing splendor ! 
 
 O never silent song! 
 Still keep the green earth tender, 
 
 Still keep the gray earth strong ; 
 Still keep the brave earth dreaming 
 
 Of deeds that shall be done, 
 While children's lives come streaming 
 
 Like sunbeams from the sun. 
 
 l77^ 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 No Star unfolds its glory, 
 
 No trumpet's wind is blown, 
 But tells the Christmas story 
 
 In music of its own. 
 No eager strife of mortals, 
 
 In busy fields or town, 
 But sees the open portals 
 
 Through which the Christ came down. 
 
 O Angels sweet and splendid, 
 
 Throng in our hearts, and sing 
 The wonders which attended 
 
 The coming of the King; 
 Till we, too, boldly pressing 
 
 Where once the Angel trod. 
 Climb Bethlehem's Hill of Blessing", 
 
 And find the Son of God. 
 
 Phillips Brooks. 
 
 [78] 
 
I 
 
 ]^ THE . SONG . THE • ANGELS • SUNG }^ 
 
 The Voice of the Christ-Child 
 
 THE earth has grown cold with its burden 
 of care, 
 But at Christmas it always is young. 
 The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, 
 And its soul full of music breaks forth on the 
 air. 
 When the song of the Angels is sung. 
 
 It is comings old earth, it is coming to-night ; 
 
 On the snowflakes which cover thy sod. 
 The feet of the Christ-child fall gently and 
 
 white, 
 And the voice of the Christ-child tells out with 
 delight 
 That mankind are the children of God. 
 
 On the sad and the lonely, the wretched and 
 poor, 
 That voice of the Christ-child shall fall ; 
 And to every blind wanderer opens the door 
 Of a hope which he dared not to dream of 
 before. 
 With a sunshine of welcome for all. 
 
 [79] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY ^ 
 
 The feet of the humblest may walk in the field 
 
 Where the feet of the holiest have trod; 
 This, this is the marvel to mortals revealed, 
 When the silvery trumpets of Christmas have 
 pealed, 
 That mankind are the children of God. 
 
 Phillips Brooks. 
 
 Merry Christmas 
 
 IN the rush of the merry morning, 
 When the red burns through the gray, 
 And the wintry world lies waiting I 
 
 For the glory of the day, 
 Then we hear a fitful rushing 
 
 Just without, upon the stair, J 
 
 See two white phantoms coming, 
 Catch the gleam of sunny hair. 
 
 Are they Christmas fairies, stealing 
 Rows of little socks to fill ? 
 
 Are they Angels floating hither 
 With their message of good-will? 
 
 [80] 
 
 I 
 
)^ A • MERRY . CHRISTMAS • TO • ALL ^ 
 
 What sweet spell are these elves weaving, 
 As like larks they chirp and sing? 
 
 Are these palms of peace from heaven 
 That these lovely spirits bring? 
 
 Rosy feet upon the threshold, 
 
 Eager faces peeping through. 
 With the first red ray of sunshine 
 
 Chanting cherubs come in view; 
 Mistletoe and gleaming holly. 
 
 Symbols of a blessed day, 
 In their chubby hands they carry, 
 
 Streaming all along the way. 
 
 Well we know them, never weary 
 
 Of their innocent surprise : 
 Waiting, watching, listening always 
 
 With full hearts and tender eyes, 
 While our little household angels. 
 
 White and golden in the sun. 
 Greet us wdth the sweet old welcome — 
 
 ''Merry Christmas, every one !'' 
 
 Author Unknown. 
 
 [8i] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Christmas Bells 
 
 HARK ! the Christmas bells are ringing — 
 Ringing through the frosty air — 
 Happiness to each one bringing, 
 And release from toil and care. 
 
 How the merry peal is swelling 
 
 From the gray old crumbling tower, 
 
 To the simplest creature telling 
 Of Almighty love and power. 
 
 Ankle-deep the snow is lying, 
 Every spray is clothed in white, 
 
 Yet abroad the folk are hieing, 
 Brisk and busy, gay and light. 
 
 Now fresh helps and aid are offered 
 
 To the aged and the poor. 
 And rare love exchanges proffered 
 
 At the lowliest cottage door. 
 
 Neighbors shaking hands and greeting, 
 No one sorrowing, no one sad, 
 
 [82] 
 
|X( CHRISTMAS . BELLS • OF • PRAISE ^ 
 
 Children, loving parents meeting, 
 Young and old alike are glad. 
 
 Then while Christmas bells are ringing, 
 Rich and poor, your voices raise, 
 
 And — your simple carol singing — 
 Waft to heaven your grateful praise. 
 
 Author Unknown. 
 
 The Delights of Christmas 
 
 WHEN Christmas approaches, each bosom 
 is gay. 
 That festival banishes sorrow away ; 
 While Richard he kisses both Susan and Dolly, 
 When tricking the house up with ivy and holly ; 
 For never as yet it was counted a crime 
 To be merry and cherry at that happy time. 
 
 Then comes turkey and chine, with the famous 
 
 roast beef, 
 Of EngHsh provisions still reckoned the chief; 
 
 [83] 
 
]^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )X^ 
 
 Roger wishes the cook-maid his wishes to 
 
 crown, 
 "Oh, Dolly ! pray give me a bit of the brown ;'' 
 For never as yet it was counted a crime 
 To be merry and cherry at that happy time. 
 
 The luscious plum pudding does smoking 
 
 appear. 
 And the charming mince pie is not far in the 
 
 rear ; 
 Then each licks his chops to behold such a 
 
 sight. 
 For to taste it affords him superior delight ; 
 For never as yet it was counted a crime 
 To be merry and cherry at that happy time. 
 
 Now the humming October goes merrily 
 
 round, 
 And each with good humor is happily crown'd, 
 The song and the dance, and the mirth-giving 
 
 jest, 
 Alike without harm by each one is expressed. 
 For never as yet it was counted a crime 
 To be merry and cherry at that happy time. 
 
 [84] 
 
^ AT . THAT . HAPPY • TIME ^ 
 
 Twelfth Day next approaches, to give you 
 
 delight, 
 And the sugar'd rich cake is display'd to the 
 
 sight; 
 Then sloven and slut, and the King and the 
 
 Queen, 
 Alike must be present to add to the scene ; 
 For never as yet it was counted a crime 
 To be merry and cherry at that happy time. 
 
 May each be found thus as the year circles 
 
 round, 
 With mirth and good humor each Christmas 
 
 be crown'd. 
 And may all who have plenty of riches in store 
 With their bountiful blessings make happy the 
 
 poor; 
 For never as yet it was counted a crime 
 To be merry and cherry at that happy time. 
 
 Author Unknown, 
 
 [85] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 December 
 
 NAY, no closed doors for me, 
 But open doors and open hearts and glee 
 To welcome young and old. 
 
 Dimmest and brightest month am I ; 
 
 My short days end, my lengthening days 
 begin ; 
 What matters more or less sun in the sky 
 
 When all is sun within? 
 
 [December begins making a wreath as he 
 sings.] 
 
 Ivy and privet, dark as night, 
 
 I weave with hips and haws a cheerful show, 
 And holly for a beauty and delight, 
 
 And milky mistletoe. 
 
 While high above them all I set 
 
 Yew twigs and Christmas roses pure and 
 pale; 
 Then Spring her snowdrop and her violet 
 
 May keep, so sweet and frail ; 
 
 [86] 
 
)3^ THE . CAROL • OF . LOVE ^ 
 
 May keep each merry singing bird, 
 
 Of all her happy birds that singing build: 
 
 For I've a carol which some shepherds heard 
 Once in a wintry field. 
 
 Christina G. Rossetti. 
 {''The Months'' — December.) 
 
 'Xeath Mistletoe 
 
 ^ X TEATH mistletoe, should chance arise, 
 
 1 \| You may be happy if you're wise. 
 Though bored you lie with pantomime 
 And Christmas fare and Christmas rhyme — 
 One fine old custom don't despise. 
 
 If you're a man of enterprise, 
 You'll find, I venture to surmise, 
 'Tis pleasant then at Christmas time 
 'Neath mistletoe ! 
 
 You see they scarcely can disguise 
 The sparkle of their pretty eyes ; 
 x\nd no one thinks it is a crime, 
 When goes the merry Christmas chime, 
 A rare old rite to exercise 
 'Neath mistletoe ! 
 
 J. ASHBY StERRY. 
 
 [87] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )X( 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 ^T^ IS merry 'neath the mistletoe, 
 
 1 When holly berries glisten bright; 
 
 When Christmas fires gleam and glow, 
 
 When wintry winds so wildly blow, 
 And all the meadows round are white — 
 
 'Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe! 
 
 How happy then are Fan and Flo, 
 With eyes a-sparkle with delight! 
 
 When Christmas fires gleam and glow, 
 
 \Mien dainty dimples come and go, 
 
 And maidens shrink with feigned fright — 
 
 'Tis merrv 'neath the mistletoe ! 
 
 A privilege 'tis then, you know, 
 To exercise time-honored rite ; 
 
 When Christmas fires gleam and glow, 
 
 When loving lips may pout, although 
 With other lips they oft unite — 
 
 'Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe ! 
 
 f88] 
 
^ CHRISTMAS'S • LOVING • MEMORIES ^ 
 
 If Flossy then should whisper "No!" 
 Such whispers should be stifled quite, 
 
 When Christmas fires gleam and glow ; 
 
 If Fanny's coy, objecting ''Oh!" 
 Be strangled by a rare foresight — 
 
 'Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe ! 
 
 When rosy lips, like Cupid's bow, 
 
 Assault provokingly invite, 
 When Christmas fires gleam and glow, 
 When slowly falls the sullen snow. 
 
 And dull is drear December night — 
 Tis merry 'neath the mistletoe ! 
 
 J. ASHBY StERRY. 
 
 Ballade of Christmas Ghosts 
 
 BETWEEN the moonlight and the fire, 
 In winter twilights long ago, 
 What ghosts we raised for your desire, 
 
 To make your merry blood run slow ! 
 How old, how grave, how wise we grow ! 
 No Christmas ghost can make us chill. 
 Save those that troop in mournful row — 
 The ghosts we all can raise at will. 
 
 [89] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY ^ 
 
 The beasts can talk in barn and byre 
 
 On Christmas Eve, old legends know. 
 As year by year the years retire, 
 
 We men fall silent then, I trow, 
 Such sights hath memory to show, 
 
 Such voices from the silence thrill, 
 Such shapes return with Christmas snow — 
 
 The ghosts we all can raise at will. 
 
 Oh, children of the village choir. 
 
 Your carols on the midnight throw ! 
 Oh, bright across the mist and mire. 
 
 Ye ruddy hearts of Christmas, glow ! 
 Beat back the dread, beat down the woe, 
 
 Let's cheerily descend the hill; 
 Be welcome all, to come or go — 
 
 The ghosts we all can raise at will. 
 
 Envoy. 
 
 Friend, siirsnm corda, soon or slow 
 
 We part, like guests who've joyed their fill ; 
 
 Forget them not, nor mourn them so — 
 The ghosts we all can raise at will. 
 
 A. Lang. 
 
 [90]. 
 
|X( CHRISTMAS . A • MERRY • FESTIVAL ^ 
 
 The Christmas of the Sorrowful 
 
 THE shops are decked ; green wreaths hang 
 fair to see ; 
 Our town is gay with mirth and jolHty; 
 The people crowd, and laugh and dance in 
 
 hall— 
 'Tis Christmas Day, a merry festival ! 
 
 And sweet the story how, from Heaven's own 
 
 gate, 
 The King's Son came, so left His mighty state, 
 While angels sang, ''Glory to God on high. 
 And on earth peace, for Christ new-born doth 
 
 lie." 
 
 Then shepherds marveled, and a beauteous 
 
 star 
 Guided the wise men from the Orient far, 
 To bend the knee where, in poor stable-rest, 
 The Virgin-Mother clasped her babe on breast. 
 
 Yet some there be that turn aside and weep : 
 Some in whose life grief's canker gnaws o'er- 
 deep, 
 
 [91] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Some racked by pain or crushed by blindness' 
 
 pall, 
 And some to cruel sickness bound in thrall ; 
 
 Some that stretch helpless hands across the 
 
 flood 
 Which bore their dear ones from all worldly 
 
 good — 
 Fain would they drag those pale ghosts back, 
 
 and cry, 
 *'If Death take all I love, then I must die!" 
 
 And some starve daily, deeming rich folk hard, 
 
 While others from love's comfort stand de- 
 barred. 
 
 And some burn fierce in hate, revenge or 
 wrong — 
 
 Such fever, bred of injury, stays long. 
 
 Some, groping at Faith's door in misty doubt, 
 Are worn by conflict, from the Truth shut out. 
 To all these woful souls a Christmas morn 
 Brings but new grief and weariness forlorn. 
 
 Then bid them gaze toward Calvary's dark hill. 
 Where He, our Sacrifice, bleeds for us still — 
 
 [92] 
 
^ Christ's • message . of . hope ^ 
 
 Sinless, compassionate — for me, for you. 
 Yea, mortal anguish to the full He knew. 
 
 Misjudged He was, poor, mocked, in thought 
 
 most lone ; 
 Scarce counted He a scrip or stafif His own. 
 He wept, ne'er laughed, and His few years on 
 
 earth 
 Were toilsome, void of praise, success or 
 
 mirth. 
 
 Faint hearts ! Christ's message wings not to 
 
 the glad. 
 He calls the blind, the lame, the sick, the s?d. 
 The Christmas of the Sorrowful, for sure. 
 Within His own short span did He endure. 
 
 When here His latest wintry days were spent 
 He wrestled sore in prayer, and silent went 
 Out to the desert, sorrow-led, where dim 
 The future loomed, and Death encompassed 
 Him. 
 
 His hours as holy stairs led up to God — 
 Steps that His aching, bruised feet slow trod. 
 
 [93] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )X( 
 
 Dwell ye on this, ye that repine and fret, 
 That He may lift and walk beside you yet. 
 
 Bare earth and naked trees on every side 
 We see around us at chill Christmas-tide; 
 Yet, later, shall the crocus buds of gold 
 Flame o'er this dank and desolate brown mold. 
 
 So shines the promise of each Christmas Day ; 
 Though dark our path, our Guide shall lead 
 
 the way. 
 Here is good cheer, for Christ hath taught us 
 
 peace — 
 The Man of Sorrows bids our sorrow cease. 
 
 Lady Lindsay. 
 
 Ring the Bells 
 
 R' 
 
 , ING the bells. 
 Ring the bells, 
 Ring the merry Christmas bells, 
 And let their voice resound 
 Around, around, 
 Till o'er the leas and o'er the fells 
 
 [94] 
 
^ THE . JOYFUL • BELLS • OF - XMAS ^ 
 
 The gladsome echo loudly tells 
 
 How we to-day 
 
 Are blithe and gay, 
 And how for all sad hearts we pray. 
 
 Ring the bells, 
 
 Ring the bells, 
 Ring the joyful Christmas bells ! 
 
 Ring the bells, 
 
 Ring the bells. 
 Ring the merry Christmas bells. 
 So ring them high and low, 
 
 O'er ice and snow, 
 O'er cragged hills and silent dells. 
 While round the earth the message swells, 
 
 How we to-day 
 
 Are blithe and gay, 
 And how for all sad hearts we pray. 
 
 Ring the bells, 
 
 Ring the bells. 
 Ring the joyful Christmas bells ! 
 
 Lady Lindsay. 
 
 [95] 
 
|X( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 The Coming of Christmas 
 
 CHRISTMAS is a-drawing near, 
 Christmas-tide and Christmas cheer, 
 Merry wassail, merry song, 
 Joyous dance and roundelay — 
 All that doth to Yule belong. 
 Yet unto my soul I say, 
 'Thou that slumberest, wake and pray/' 
 
 Christmas is a-nearing quite, 
 
 Time of feast and full delight, 
 
 Pleasant pomp and allegresse. 
 
 Harp and viol's music gay. 
 
 Jeweled tokens, gaudy dress. 
 
 Yet unto my soul I say, 
 
 'Thou that slumberest, wake and pray." 
 
 Christmas — Sheahan — Fifteen 
 
 Christm.as is a-chiming soon. 
 
 Bringing Love for choicest boon, 
 
 Pensioners to sit in hall, 
 
 Comrades, friends of many a day, , . 
 
 Greeting fair from great and small. 
 
 Yet unto my soul I say, 
 
 'Thou that slumberest, wake and pray." 
 
 Lady Lindsay. 
 [96] 
 
}^ HOPE . IS . THE ■ CHILD • OF • LOVE }^ 
 
 hristmas Communion 
 
 COME in, dear Babe, and rest! 
 Cold is the night, and keen ; 
 Here is no Mother with her milky breast, 
 Her long hair's silken screen, 
 To hide from Thee the stable, poor and mean. 
 
 There are no angel-folk 
 
 Hung between Heaven and earth, 
 Making the night a glory, and no flock 
 Of stars that sing for mirth 
 Because of the wonderful, long-looked for 
 Birth. 
 
 It is so dark and cold. 
 
 Colder than Bethlehem was; 
 Here are no sheets with lavender in fold, 
 
 Nor even the pleached grass. 
 Cold as a stone, cold is my heart, alas ! 
 
 But two gaunt beasts are here. 
 
 Not meet for Thy delight; 
 Ox of my appetites, misspent and drear, 
 
 [97] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Ass of my folly light, 
 Hanging their heads, Thy courtiers are to- 
 night. 
 
 Not like those innocent things 
 That shook the bed for Thee ; 
 Here are no shepherd men, here are no kings 
 With gifts in their degree ; 
 Cold, bare, and empty, yet wilt come to me ? 
 
 Cold as the clay, and hard, 
 
 Yet wilt Thou come as of yore ? 
 I who have neither gold nor spikenard. 
 Thou Hope as long before ! 
 For Thee, for Thee, the stable waits once more. 
 Katharine Tynan. 
 
 The Pedlar 
 
 IT'S Christmas Eve, and the dogs are a-cold. 
 And the star's in the sky and the flock's 
 in the fold. 
 
 [98] 
 
^ GOD-REST . YOU • GENTLEMEN ^ 
 
 A pedlar came to the homestead gate 
 
 With his pack and his pike, and weary was 
 he; 
 
 He said, ''See wares from heaven to buy you! 
 Who will chaffer his heart with me?" 
 
 It's Christmas Eve, and the dogs are a-cold, 
 And the star's in the sky, and the flock's in the 
 fold. 
 
 The farmer laughed: 'Tor a quittance from 
 hell 
 Here's all I've left of a heart for ye !" 
 Quoth the goodwife: ''For a heavenly man- 
 sion 
 Take, and you're welcome, my heart in fee !" 
 
 It's Christmas Eve, and the dogs are a-cold, 
 And the star's in the sky, and the flock's in the 
 fold. 
 
 The younker bought him a kingly crown, 
 The men got glory in bliss to be ; 
 
 The maids chose harps and golden garments, 
 Cried "Good-e'en!" and "Good-by !" said he. 
 
 [99] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY ^ 
 
 It's Christmas Eve, and the dogs are a-cold, 
 And the star's in the sky, and the flock's in the 
 fold. 
 
 But the youngest of all said never a word, 
 Her hand to her flaxen head held she ; 
 
 Till, just as he passed the door, she whispered, 
 "Here's my heart, as a gift for thee!" 
 
 It's Christmas Eve, and the dogs are a-cold, 
 And the star's in the sky, and the flock's in the 
 fold. 
 
 It's feasting day, and the feast's in heaven, 
 And there are our folk, all fair to see. 
 
 *'Have they left no room for My own little 
 maiden ? 
 Come, she must sit on the throne with Me !" 
 
 It's Christmas Eve, and the dogs are a-cold. 
 And the star's in the sky, and the lamb's in the 
 fold! 
 
 W. G. COLLINGWOOD. 
 
 [lOO] 
 
^KEEP . TIME . WITH • JOYFUL • CHIME^ 
 
 A Christmas Chime 
 
 KEEP time, keep time, glad Christmas 
 chime ! 
 Loud, louder sing thy song subUme ; 
 Ne'er half enough can e'er be told 
 Of that dear story, sweet and old. 
 Hark, men and women — children, too — 
 List to the wondrous tale anew, 
 How long ago, in land afar. 
 The shepherds saw the shining star ; 
 Heard echoed strains of harp and lyre 
 Attuned to thrill of angel choir. 
 
 Keep time, keep time, wild, joyful chime ! 
 Bid every heart keep Christmas time — 
 Let there be none so worn and weary, 
 Let there be none so lone and dreary, 
 That thy rich music may not fill 
 With happiness and fond good-will : 
 With just a bit of hope and cheer, 
 A firmer trust in heaven near, 
 A sense of sacred, new-found rest. 
 That Jesus sleeps on Mary's breast. 
 
 [ lOI ] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 Keep time, keep time, blest Christmas chime! 
 
 Repeat thy message true, sublime, 
 
 Unto the mighty, to the lowly. 
 
 Unto the sinner, to the holy : 
 
 Bid them live on in gentle peace. 
 
 Their strife and hatred all to cease ; 
 
 And bid them come, not, as of old. 
 
 With frankincense, myrrh, gems and gold, 
 
 But with the nobler — love's own proffer — 
 
 Unto their God their hearts to offer. 
 
 Kathleen Kavanagh. 
 
 St. Bride's Lullaby 
 
 o 
 
 H, Baby Christ, so dear to me, 
 
 Sang Bridget Bride : 
 How sweet thou art. 
 My baby dear. 
 Heart of my heart ! 
 
 Heavy her body was with thee, 
 Mary, beloved of One in Three, 
 
 Sang Bridget Bride — 
 Mary, who bore thee, little lad ; 
 
 [ 102] 
 
|X^ MY . BABE . IS . MY . KING }^ 
 
 But light her heart was, hght and glad, 
 With God's love clad. 
 
 Sit on my knee. 
 
 Sang Bridget Bride ; 
 Sit here, 
 O Baby dear, 
 
 Close to my heart, my heart, 
 For I thy foster-mother am, 
 My helpless lamb ! 
 Oh, have no fear, 
 
 Sang good St. Bride. 
 
 None, none. 
 No fear have I ; 
 So let me cling 
 Close to thy side. 
 While thou dost sing, 
 O Bridget Bride ! 
 
 My Lord, my Prince, I sing: 
 My Baby dear, my King ! 
 Sang Bridget Bride. 
 
 Fiona Macleod. 
 
 [103] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS - TREASURY |X( 
 
 Santa Claus 
 
 HE comes in the night! He comes in the 
 night ! 
 He softly, silently comes, 
 While the little brown heads on the pillows so 
 white 
 Are dreaming of bugles and drums. 
 He cuts through the snow like a ship through 
 the foam, 
 While the white flakes around him whirl. 
 Who tells him I know not, but he findeth the 
 home 
 Of each good little boy and girl. 
 
 His sleigh it is long, and deep, and wide ; 
 
 It will carry a host of things, 
 While dozens of drums hang over the side, 
 
 With the sticks sticking under the strings. 
 And yet not the sound of a drum is heard, 
 
 Not a bugle blast is blown, 
 As he mounts to the chimney-top like a bird, 
 
 And drops to the hearth like a stone. 
 
 [ 104 ] 
 
^ THE . children's • FRIEND ^ 
 
 The little red stockings he silently fills, 
 
 Till the stockings will hold no more ; 
 The bright little sleds for the great snow hills 
 
 Are quickly set down on the floor. 
 Then Santa Claus mounts to the roof like a 
 bird, 
 
 And glides to his seat in the sleigh ; 
 Not the sound of a bugle or drum is heard 
 
 As he noiselessly gallops away. 
 
 He rides to the East, and he rides to the West, 
 
 Of his goodies he touches not one; 
 He eateth the crumbs of the Christmas feast 
 
 When the dear little folks are done. 
 Old Santa Claus doeth all that he can ; 
 
 This beautiful mission is his ; 
 Then, children, be good to the little old man 
 
 When you find who the Httle man is. 
 
 Anon. 
 
 [105] 
 
|X( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )X( 
 
 A Christmas Greeting 
 
 A MERRY Christmas morning 
 To each and every one ! 
 The rose has kissed the dawning, 
 And the gold is in the sun. 
 
 And may the Christmas splendor 
 
 A joyous greeting bear, 
 Of love that's true and tender 
 
 And faith that's sweet and fair. 
 
 Author Unknown. 
 
 [io6] 
 
 J 
 
^ BE . MERRY • WITH . GOOD-CHEER ^ 
 
 At the Sign of the Jolly Jack 
 
 YOU merry folk, be of good cheer, 
 For Christmas comes but once a year. 
 From open door you'll take no harm 
 By winter if your hearts are warm. 
 So ope the door, and hear us carol 
 The burthen of our Christmas moral. 
 Be ye merry and make good cheer, 
 For Christmas comes but once a year ; 
 Scrape the fiddle and beat the drum, 
 And bury the night ere morning come. 
 
 57 — Christmas (left over from ist batch copy 
 
 There was an inn beside a track, 
 
 As it might be, the Jolly Jack ; 
 
 Upon a night, whate'er its name. 
 
 There kept they Christmas all the same. 
 
 They sit in jovial round at table. 
 
 While Christ was lying in the stable. 
 
 They make merry and have good cheer. 
 
 For Christmas comes but once a year ; 
 
 They scrape the fiddle and beat the drum. 
 
 And they'll bury the night ere morning 
 come. 
 
 [107] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The jolly landlord stands him up, 
 And welcomes all to bite and sup ; 
 He has a hearty face and red, 
 He knows not Who lies in his shed. 
 What harm, if he be honest and true, 
 That he may be Christ's landlord too ? 
 
 So he makes merry and has good cheer, 
 For Christmas comes but once a year ; 
 He scrapes his fiddle and beats his drum, 
 And he'll bury the night ere morning come. 
 
 The landlord's son sits in his place. 
 He bows his head and says his grace ; 
 He leads his partner to the dance. 
 And the light of love is in his glance. 
 If his thoughts are handsome as his face, 
 What matter if Christ be in the place ? 
 
 So he makes merry and has good cheer. 
 For Christmas comes but once a year ; 
 He scrapes his fiddle and beats his drum, 
 And he'll bury the night ere morning come. 
 
 Of all the folk that night, I ween, 
 Some were honest and some w^ere mean ; 
 If all were honest, 'twas well for all, 
 For Christ was sleeping in the stall. 
 
 [io8] 
 
^ CHRISTMAS . COMES • ONCE • A . YEAR^ 
 
 But never may Englishmen so fare 
 
 That they at Christmas should forbear — 
 
 To make them merry and have good cheer, 
 For Christmas comes but once a year ; 
 To scrape the fiddle and beat the drum, 
 And bury the night ere morning come. 
 
 Geoffrey Smith. 
 
 [109] 
 
THE CHRISTMAS OF THE SOUL 
 
 ALL after pleasures as I rid one day, 
 My horse and I, both tired, body and mind, 
 With full cry of affections, quite astray, 
 I took up in the next inn I could find. 
 
 There, when I came, Whom found I but my dear, 
 My dearest Lord ; expecting till the grief 
 
 Of pleasures brought me to Him; ready there 
 To be all passengers' most sweet relief? 
 
 O Thou, Whose glorious yet contracted light, 
 Wrapt in Night's mantle, stole into a manger; 
 
 Since my dark soul and brutish, is Thy right — 
 To man, of all beasts, be not Thou a stranger: 
 
 Furnish and deck my soul, that Thou may'st have 
 A better lodging than a rack or grave. 
 
 George Herbert. 
 
 [Ill] 
 
I 
 
 1 
 
^ DECK . MY . SOUL • O • LORD ^ 
 
 Christmas 
 
 ALL after pleasures as I rid one day, 
 My horse and I both tired, body and 
 mind, 
 With full cry of affections quite astray, 
 I took up in the next inn I could find. 
 
 There, when I came, Whom found I but my 
 dear, 
 
 My dearest Lord; expecting till the grief 
 Of pleasures brought me to Him ; ready there 
 
 To be of all passengers' most sweet relief? 
 
 O Thou, Whose glorious, yet contracted, light, 
 
 Wrapt in Night's mantle, stole into a 
 
 manger ; 
 
 Since my dark soul and brutish — is Thy right, 
 
 To Man, of all beasts, be not Thou a 
 
 stranger : 
 
 Furnish and deck my soul, that Thou may'st 
 
 have 
 A better lodging than a rack or grave. 
 
 [113] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |X( 
 
 The shepherds sing ; and shall I silent be ? 
 
 My God, no hymn for Thee? 
 My soul's a shepherd too : a flock it feeds 
 
 Of thoughts and words and deeds. 
 The pasture is Thy word, the streams Thy 
 grace, 
 
 Enriching every place. 
 
 Shepherds and flock shall sing, and all my 
 powers 
 Ousting the daylight hours. 
 
 Then we will chide the sun for letting night 
 
 Take up his place and right: 
 We sing one common Lord; wherefore he 
 should 
 
 Himself the candle hold. 
 
 I will go searching till I find a sun 
 
 Shall stay till we have done; 
 A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly 
 
 As frost-nipt suns look sadly. 
 Then we will sing and shine all our own day, 
 
 And one another pay. 
 
 [114] 
 
 i 
 
^ AWAKE . GLAD • HEART |^ 
 
 His beams shall cheer my breast, and both so 
 
 twine, 
 Till ev'n His beams sing and my music shine. 
 
 George Herbert. 
 
 Christ's Nativity 
 
 AWAKE, glad heart ! get up and sing ! 
 It is the Birthday of thy King. 
 Awake ! awake ! 
 The sun doth shake 
 Light from his locks, and, all the way 
 Breathing perfumes, doth spice the day. 
 
 Awake ! awake ! hark how th' wood rings, 
 Winds whisper, and the busy springs 
 
 A concert make ! 
 
 Awake ! awake ! 
 Man is their high-priest, and should rise 
 To offer up the sacrifice. 
 
 I would I were a bird or star, 
 Fluttering in woods, or lifted far 
 
 Above this inn 
 
 And road of sin ! 
 
 [115] 
 
}fZ^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Then either bird or star should be 
 Shining or singing still to Thee. 
 
 I would I had in my best part 
 
 Fit rooms for Thee ! or that my heart 
 
 Were so clean as 
 
 Thy manger was ! 
 
 But I am all filth, and obscene : 
 
 Yet if thou wilt, Thou canst make clean. 
 
 Sweet Jesu ! will then. Let no more 
 This leper haunt and soil Thy door ! 
 
 Cure him, ease him, 
 
 O release him ! 
 And let once more, by mystic birth, 
 The Lord of life be born in earth. 
 
 Henry Vaughan. 
 
 The Nativity 
 
 PEACE ! and to all the world ! Sure One, 
 And he the Prince of Peace, hath none ! 
 He travails to be born, and then 
 Is born to travail more again. 
 
 [ii6] 
 
^ THE . LORD . OF • LIFE • IS • BORN |^ 
 
 Poor Galilee, thou canst not be 
 The place for His nativity. 
 His restless mother's called away, 
 And not delivered till she pay. 
 
 A tax? Tis so still. We can see 
 The Church thrive in her misery, 
 And, like her head at Bethlehem, rise, 
 When she, oppressed with troubles, lyes. 
 Rise! Should all fail, we cannot be 
 In more extremities than He. 
 Great Type of passions ! come what will, 
 Thy grief exceeds all copies still ; 
 Thou cam'st from heaven to earth, that we 
 Might go from earth to heaven with Thee ; 
 And though Thou found'st no welcome here, 
 Thou didst provide no mansions there. 
 A stable was Thy court, and when 
 Men turned to beasts, beasts would be men; 
 They were Thy courtiers ; others none ; 
 And their poor manger was Thy throne. 
 No swaddling silks Thy limbs did fold, 
 Though Thou couldst turn Thy rags to gold. 
 No rockers waited on Thy birth, 
 No cradles stirred, nor songs of mirth ; 
 
 [117] 
 
^ 
 
 THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY 
 
 ^ 
 
 But her chaste lap and sacred breast. 
 Which lodged Thee first^ did give Thee rest. 
 
 But stay ! What light is that doth stream 
 And drop here in a gilded beam? 
 It is Thy star runs page, and brings 
 Thy tributary Eastern Kings. 
 Lord! grant some light to us, that we 
 May find with them the way to Thee ! 
 Behold what mists eclipse the day! 
 How dark it is ! Shed down one ray 
 To guide us out of this dark night. 
 And say once more, '*Let there be light!" 
 
 Henry Vaughan. 
 (''Thalia Rediviva/') 
 
 [ii8] 
 
^ LET • THERE • BE • LIGHT ^ 
 
 The Burning Babe 
 
 AS I in hoary winter's night stood shivering 
 in the snow, 
 Surprised I was with sudden heat which made 
 
 my heart to glow ; 
 And Hfting up a fearful eye to view what fire 
 
 was near, 
 A pretty Babe, all burning bright, did in the 
 
 air appear, 
 Who, scorched with exceeding heat, such 
 
 floods of tears did shed, 
 As though His floods should quench His flames 
 
 with what His tears were fed. 
 "Alas," quoth He, ''but newly born in fiery 
 
 heats to fry. 
 Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel 
 
 my fire but I. 
 My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel 
 
 wounding thorns. 
 Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes 
 
 shame and scorns ; 
 
 [119] 
 
|X( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The fuel Justice layeth on, and Mercy blows 
 
 the coals ; 
 The metal in this furnace wrought are men's 
 
 defiled souls ; 
 For which, as now on fire I am, to work them 
 
 to their good, 
 So w^ill I melt into a bath, to wash them in my 
 
 blood." 
 
 With this He vanished out of sight, and swiftly 
 
 shrank away. 
 And straight I called unto mind that it was 
 
 Christmas Day. 
 
 Robert Southwell. 
 
 Who Can Forget? 
 
 WHO can forget — never to be forgot — 
 The time, that all the world in slumber 
 lies, 
 Wlien, like the stars, the singing angels shot 
 To earth, and heaven awaked all his eyes 
 To see another sun at midnight rise 
 
 [120] 
 
^ THE . LIGHT • OF • THE • WORLD ^ 
 
 On earth? Was never sight of pareil 
 fame, 
 
 For God before man Hke Himself did 
 frame, 
 But God Himself now like a mortal man be- 
 came. 
 
 A Child He was, and had not learnt to speak, 
 That with His word the world before did 
 
 make; 
 His mother's arms Him bore, He was so weak, 
 That with one hand the vaults of heaven could 
 
 shake ; 
 See how small room my infant Lord doth take, 
 Whom all the world is not enough to 
 
 hold! 
 Who of His years or of His age hath 
 
 told? 
 Never such age so young, never a child so old. 
 
 And yet but newly He was infanted. 
 And yet already He was sought to die ; 
 Yet scarcely born, already banished; 
 Not able yet to go, and forced to fly ; 
 But scarcely fled away, when, by and by, 
 
 [121] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )^ 
 
 The tyrant's sword with blood is all 
 
 defiled, 
 And Rachel, for her sons with fury wild. 
 Cries, *'0 thou cruel king, and O my sweetest 
 
 child!" 
 
 Egypt His nurse became, where Nilus springs, 
 Who, straight to entertain the rising sun. 
 The hasty harvest in his bosom brings ; 
 But now for drought the fields were all un- 
 done, 
 And now with waters all is overrun; 
 
 So fast the Cynthian mountains pour'd 
 
 their snow, 
 When once they felt the sun so near them 
 glow. 
 That Nilus Egypt lost, and to a sea did grow. 
 
 The angels carolled loud their ^ong of peace, 
 
 The cursed oracles were stricken dumb ; 
 
 To see their Shepherd the poor shepherds 
 
 press ; 
 To see their King the kingly sophies come ; 
 And them to guide unto his ^Master's home, 
 
 [122] 
 
^ CHRIST . IS . BORX . TO-DAY ^ 
 
 A star comes dancing up the orient, 
 That springs for joy over the strawy tent, 
 Where gold, to make their Prince a crown, 
 they all present. 
 
 Giles Fletcher. 
 
 A Hymn of the Nativity 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 COME we shepherds whose blest sight 
 Hath met Love's noon in Nature's 
 night ; 
 Come, lift we up our loftier song, 
 And wake the sun that lies too long. 
 
 To all our world of well stol'n joy, 
 He slept and dreamt of no such thing, 
 
 While we found out heaven^s fairer eye 
 And kist the cradle of our King; 
 
 Tell him he rises now too late 
 
 To show us ought worth looking at. 
 
 Tell him we now can show him more 
 Than e'er he showed to mortal sight, 
 
 [123] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Than he himself e'er saw before, 
 
 Which to be seen needs not his light. 
 Tell him, Thyrsis, where th' hast been. 
 Tell him, Thyrsis, what th' hast seen. 
 
 Tit. Gloomy night embraced the place 
 
 Where the noble Infant lay ; 
 The Babe looked up and showed His face — 
 
 In spite of darkness it was day. 
 It was Thy day, Sweet, and did rise. 
 Not from the East, but from Thine eyes. 
 
 Chorus. — It was thy day, Sweet, etc. 
 
 Thyrs. Winter chid aloud, and sent 
 The angry North to wage his wars, 
 
 The North forgot his fierce intent. 
 And left perfumes instead of scars ; 
 
 By those sweet eyes' persuasive powers. 
 
 Where he meant frost he scattered flowers. 
 
 Chorus. — By those sweet eyes, etc. 
 
 Both. We saw Thee in Thy balmy nest, 
 Bright dawn of our eternal day ! 
 
 We saw Thine eyes break from their East 
 And chase the trembling shades away ; 
 
 [124] 
 
^ CHRIST . THE • LORD • OF • LOVE ^ 
 
 We saw Thee, and we blest the sight ; 
 We saw Thee by Thine own sweet light. 
 
 Tit. Poor world (said I), what wilt thou do 
 To entertain this starry Stranger? 
 
 Is this the best thou canst bestow — 
 A cold and not too cleanly manger? 
 
 Contend, ye powers of heaven and earth, 
 
 To fit a bed for this huge birth. 
 
 Chorus. — Contend, ye powers, etc. 
 
 Thyrs. Proud world (said I), cease your 
 contest, 
 
 And let the mighty Babe alone ; 
 The Phoenix builds the Phoenix' nest; 
 
 Love's architecture is all one. 
 The Babe whose birth embraves this morn 
 Made His own bed ere He was born. 
 
 Chorus. — The Babe whose birth, etc. 
 
 Tit. I saw the curl'd drops, soft and slow, 
 Come hovering o'er the place's head. 
 
 Offering their whitest sheets of snow 
 To furnish the fair Infant's bed. 
 
 [125] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Forbear (said I), be not too bold; 
 Your fleece is white, but 'tis too cold. 
 
 Chorus. — Forbear (said I), etc. 
 
 Thyrs. I saw the obsequious seraphins 
 Their rosy fleece of fire bestow, 
 
 For well they now can spare their wings, 
 Since heaven itself lies here below. 
 
 Well done (said I), but are you sure 
 
 Your down so warm will pass for pure ? 
 
 Chorus. — Well done (said I), etc. 
 
 Tit, No, no, your King's not yet to seek 
 Where to repose His royal head. 
 
 See, see, how soon His new-bloom'd cheek 
 'Twixt mother's breasts is gone to bed. 
 
 Sweet choice (said I), no way but so, 
 
 Not to lie cold, yet sleep in snow. 
 
 Chorus, — Sweet choice (said I), etc. 
 
 Both. We saw Thee in Thy balmy nest, 
 Bright dawn of our eternal day ! 
 
 We saw Thine eyes break from their East 
 And chase the trembling shades away ; 
 
 [126] 
 
^ ECCE . HOMO ! ^ 
 
 We saw Thee, and we blest the sight, 
 We saw Thee by Thine own sweet Hght. 
 
 Chorus. — We saw Thee, etc. 
 
 Full Chorus. — Welcome all wonder in one 
 sight, 
 
 Eternity shut in a span. 
 Summer in winter, day in night. 
 
 Heaven in earth and God in man ! 
 Great little One ! whose all-embracing birth 
 Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth, 
 
 Welcome, though not to gold nor silk, 
 To more than Csesar's birthright is : 
 
 Two sister seas of virgin milk, 
 
 With many a rarely-tempered kiss, 
 
 That breathes at once both maid and mother, 
 
 Warms in the one and cools in the other. 
 
 She sings Thy tears asleep and dips 
 Her kisses in Thy weeping eye; 
 
 She spreads the red leaves of Thy lips 
 That in their buds yet blushing lie; 
 
 She 'gainst those mother-diamonds tries 
 
 The points of her young eagle's eyes. 
 
 [127] 
 
|X( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Welcome, though not to those gay flies 
 Gilded i' the beams of earthly kings, 
 
 Slippery souls in smiling eyes. 
 
 But to poor shepherds' homespun things ; 
 
 Whose wealth's their flock, whose wit to be 
 
 Well read in their simplicity. 
 
 Yet when young April's husband-showers 
 Shall bless the fruitful Maia's bed, 
 
 We'll bring the first-born of her flowers 
 To kiss Thy feet and crown Thy head : 
 
 To Thee, dread Lamb, whose love must keep 
 
 The shepherds more than they their sheep. 
 
 To Thee, meek Majesty! soft King 
 Of simple graces and sweet loves. 
 
 Each of us his lamb will bring, 
 Each his pair of silver doves, 
 
 Till burnt at last in fire of Thy fair eyes, 
 
 Ourselves become our own best sacrifice. 
 
 Richard Crashaw. 
 
 [128] 
 
^ GLORY . TO . GOD • ON . HIGH ^ 
 
 The Shepherds Went Their Hasty Way 
 
 THE shepherds went their hasty way, 
 And found the lowly stable-shed 
 Where the Virgin-Mother lay ; 
 
 And now they checked their eager tread, 
 For to the Babe that at her bosom clung, 
 A mother's song the Virgin-Mother sung. 
 
 They told her how a glorious light, 
 Streaming from a heavenly throng. 
 
 Around them shone, suspending night ! 
 While sweeter than a mother's song. 
 
 Blest angels heralded the Savior's birth, 
 
 Glory to God on high ! and peace on earth ! 
 
 She listened to the tale divine. 
 And closer still the Babe she prest : 
 
 And while she cried, 'The Babe is mine !" 
 The milk rushed faster to her breast : 
 
 Joy rose within her like a summer's morn ; 
 
 Peace, peace on earth ! the Prince of Peace is 
 born. 
 
 Thou Mother of the Prince of Peace, 
 Poor, simple, and of low estate ! 
 
 [ 129 ] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 That strife should vanish, battle cease, 
 
 O why should this thy soul elate ? 
 Sweet music's loudest note, the poet's story, — 
 Didst thou never love to hear of fame and 
 glory ? 
 
 And is not War a youthful king, * 
 
 A stately hero clad in mail ? 
 Beneath his footsteps laurels spring ; 
 
 Him earth's majestic monarchs hail 
 Their friend, their playmate ! and his bold, 
 
 bright eye 
 Compels the maiden's love-confessing sigh. 
 
 "Tell this in some more courtly scene, 
 To maids and youths in robes of state ! 
 
 I am a woman poor and mean, 
 And therefore is my soul elate : 
 
 War is a ruffian all with guilt defiled, 
 
 That from the aged father tears his child. 
 
 *'A murderous fiend by fiends adored, 
 He kills the sire and starves the son ; 
 
 The husband kills, and from her board 
 Steals all his widow's toil had won ; 
 
 [130] 
 
|X^ CHRIST . THE • PRIXCE • OF . PEACE ^ 
 
 Plunders God's world of beauty; rends away 
 All safety from the night, all comfort from the 
 day. 
 
 *'Then widely is my soul elate, 
 
 That strife should vanish, battle cease ; 
 Tm poor and of a low estate. 
 
 The Mother of the Prince of Peace, 
 Joy rises in me, like a summer's morn : 
 Peace, peace on earth ! the Prince of Peace is 
 born !" 
 
 Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 
 
 The Mystic's Christmas 
 
 ** A LL hail !'^ the bells of Christmas rang, 
 r\ ''All hail!'' the monks at Christmas 
 sang, 
 The merry monks who kept with cheer 
 The gladdest day of all their year. 
 
 But still apart, unmoved thereat, 
 A pious elder brother sat 
 Silent, in his accustomed place, 
 With God's sweet peace upon his face. 
 
 [131] 
 
|Z( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )^ 
 
 ''Why sitt'st thou thus?" his brethren cried. 
 *'It is the blessed Christmas-tide; 
 The Christmas hghts are all aglow, 
 The sacred lilies bud and blow. 
 
 ''Above our heads the joy-bells ring, 
 Without the happy children sing, 
 And all God's creatures hail the morn 
 On which the holy Christ was born ! 
 
 ''Rejoice with us ; no more rebuke 
 
 Our gladness with thy quiet look.'' 
 
 The gray monk answered : "Keep, I pray, 
 
 Even as ye list, the Lord's birthday. 
 
 "Let heathen Yule fires flicker red 
 Where thronged refectory feasts are spread ; 
 With mystery-play and masque and mime 
 And wait-songs speed the holy time ! 
 
 "The blindest faith may haply save ; 
 The Lord accepts the things we have ; 
 And reverence, howsoe'er it strays, 
 May find at last the shining ways. 
 
 [132] 
 
^ CHRIST. THE. WORD. AND. THE. LIFE |X^ 
 
 *'They needs must grope who cannot see, 
 
 The blade before the ear must be ; 
 
 As ye are feeHng I have felt, 
 
 And where ye dwell I too have dwelt. 
 
 "But now, beyond the things of sense. 
 Beyond occasions and events, 
 I know, through God's exceeding grace, 
 Release from form and time and place. 
 
 *'I listen, from no mortal tongue. 
 To hear the song the angels sung ; 
 And wait within myself to know 
 The Christmas lilies bud and blow. 
 
 'The outward symbols disappear 
 From him whose inward sight is clear ; 
 And small must be the choice of days 
 To him who fills them all with praise ! 
 
 ''Keep while you need it, brothers mine, 
 With honest zeal your Christmas sign. 
 But judge not him who every morn 
 Feels in his heart the Lord Christ born !'' 
 
 John Greenleaf Whittier. 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 A Christmas Antiphone 
 
 THOU whose birth on earth 
 Angels sang to men, 
 While Thy stars made mirth, 
 Savior, at Thy birth, 
 This day born again. 
 
 As this night was bright 
 With Thy cradle-ray, 
 Very light of light. 
 Turn the wild world's night 
 To Thy perfect day. 
 
 God whose feet made sweet 
 
 Those wild w^ays they trod, 
 From thy fragrant feet, 
 Staining field and street 
 With the blood of God ; 
 
 God whose breast is rest 
 In time of strife, 
 In Thy secret breast 
 Sheltering souls opprest 
 From the heat of life ; 
 
 [134] 
 
^ ONWARD . CHRISTIAN • SOLDIERS ^ 
 
 God whose eyes are skies, 
 
 Love-lit as with spheres 
 By the lights that rise 
 To Thy watching eyes, 
 
 Orbe lights of tears ; 
 
 God whose heart hath part 
 
 In all grief that is, 
 Was not man's the dart 
 That went through Thine heart, 
 
 And the wound not his? 
 
 Where the pale souls wail, 
 Held in bonds of death, 
 Where all spirits quail. 
 Came Thy Godhead pale 
 Still from human breath — 
 
 Pale from life and strife, 
 
 Wan with manhood, came 
 Forth of mortal life, 
 Pierced as with a knife, 
 Scarred as with a flame. 
 
 [135] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )I^ 
 
 Thou the Word and Lord 
 
 In all time and space 
 Heard, beheld, adored, 
 With all ages poured 
 
 Forth before Thy face. 
 
 Lord, what worth in earth 
 Drew Thee down to die? 
 What therein was worth, 
 Lord, Thy death and birth ? 
 What beneath Thy sky? 
 
 Light above all love 
 
 By Thy love was lit. 
 And brought down the Dove, 
 Feathered from above 
 With the wings of it. 
 
 From the height of night, 
 Was not Thine the star 
 That led forth with might, 
 By no worldly light. 
 Wise men from afar? 
 
 [136] 
 
)^ FOREVER . DEAR . FOREVER . KIND ^ 
 
 Yet the wise men's eyes 
 Saw Thee not more clear 
 
 Than they saw Thee rise, 
 
 Who in shepherd's guise 
 Drew as poor men near. 
 
 Yet thy poor endure, 
 
 And are with us yet; 
 Be Thy name a sure 
 Refuge for Thy poor 
 Whom men's eyes forget. 
 
 Thou whose ways we praise. 
 
 Clear alike and dark, 
 Keep our works and ways, 
 This, and all Thy days, 
 Safe inside Thine ark. 
 
 Who shall keep Thy sheep. 
 
 Lord, and lose not one? 
 
 Who, save one, shall keep. 
 
 Lest the shepherds sleep? 
 
 Who beside the Son? 
 
 [137] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 From the grave-deep wave, 
 From the sword and flame, 
 
 Thou, even Thou, shall save 
 
 Souls of king and slave 
 Only by Thy Name. 
 
 Light not born with morn, 
 
 Or her fires above, 
 Jesus, virgin-born. 
 Held of men in scorn, 
 
 Turn their scorn to love. 
 
 Thou whose face gives grace 
 
 As the sun's doth heat, 
 Let Thy sunbright face 
 Lighten time and space 
 
 Here beneath Thy feet. 
 
 Bid our peace increase, 
 
 Thou that madest morn ; 
 Bid oppressions cease, 
 Bid the night be peace, 
 
 Bid the day be born. 
 
 Algernon Charles Swinburne. 
 
 [138] 
 
^ HEAVENLY . HOPE • SERENE ^ 
 
 A Hope Carol 
 
 ANIGHT was near, a day was near ; 
 Between a day and night 
 I heard sweet voices caUing clear, 
 
 CalHng me ; 
 I heard a whirr of wing on wing, 
 
 But could not see the sight ; 
 I long to see the birds that sing, 
 I long to see. 
 
 Below the stars, beyond the moon, 
 
 Between the night and day, 
 I heard a rising, falling tune 
 
 Calling me ; 
 I long to see the pipes and strings 
 
 Whereon such minstrels play; 
 I long to see each face that sings, 
 I long to see. 
 
 To-day, or maybe not to-day. 
 
 To-night or not to-night, 
 All voices that command or pray. 
 Calling me, 
 
 [139] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Shall kindle in my soul such fire, 
 
 And in my eyes such light, 
 That I shall see that heart's desire 
 I long to see. 
 
 Christina G. Rossetti. 
 
 Christmas Eve at St. Kavin's 
 
 TO the assembled folk 
 At Great S. Kavin's spoke 
 Young Brother Amiel on Christmas Eve : 
 I give you joy, my friends, 
 That as the round year ends 
 We meet once more for gladness by God*s 
 leave. 
 
 On other festal days. 
 
 For penitence or praise 
 Or prayer we meet, or fullness of thanksgiv- 
 ing; 
 
 To-night we calendar 
 
 The rising of that star 
 Which lit the old w^orld with new joy of living. 
 
 [140] 
 
1^ GOD . IS . LOVE . INDEED }^ 
 
 Ah, we disparage still 
 
 The Tidings of Good-will, 
 Discrediting Love's gospel now as then! 
 
 And with the verbal creed 
 
 That God is love indeed, 
 Who dares make Love his god before all men? 
 
 Shall we not, therefore, friends, 
 
 Resolve to make amends 
 To that glad inspiration of the heart ; 
 
 To grudge not, to cast out 
 
 Selfishness, malice, doubt. 
 Anger and fear ; and for the better part, 
 
 To love so much, so well. 
 
 The spirit cannot tell 
 The range and sweep of her own boundary? 
 
 There is no period 
 
 Between the soul and God : 
 Love is the tide, God the eternal sea. 
 
 To-day we walk by love ; 
 To strive is not enough. 
 Save against greed and ignorance and might. 
 
 [141] 
 
|Ji( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 We apprehend peace comes 
 Not with the roll of drums, 
 But in the still processions of the night. 
 
 And we perceive, not awe 
 
 But love is the great law 
 That binds the world together safe and whole. 
 
 The splendid planets run 
 
 Their courses in the sun ; 
 Love is the gravitation of the soul. 
 
 Love only, one or all ! 
 
 Measure no great and small ! 
 Love is a seed, life-bearing, undecayed; 
 
 And that immortal germ 
 
 Past bounds of zone and term 
 Will grow, and cover the whole world with 
 shade. 
 
 Sow love ; it cannot fail. 
 
 Adversity's sharp hail 
 May cut all else to ground ; fair love survives. 
 
 The black frost of despair 
 
 And slander's bitter air — 
 Love will outlast them by a thousand lives. 
 
 [142] 
 
^ FULFIL . love's • WAY ^ 
 
 Be body, mind and soul 
 
 Subject to love's control, 
 Each loving to the limit of love's power ; 
 
 And all as one, not three, 
 
 So is man's trinity 
 Enhanced and freed and gladdened hour by 
 hour. 
 
 Beauty from youth to age, 
 
 The body's heritage. 
 Love will not forfeit by neglect nor shame ; 
 
 And knowledge, dearly bought, 
 
 Love will account as naught. 
 Unless it serve soul's need and body's claim. 
 
 Let soul desire, mind ask, 
 
 And body crave ; our task 
 Be to fulfil each want in love's own way. 
 
 So shall the good and true 
 
 Partake of beauty, too. 
 And life be helped and greatened day by day. 
 
 Spend love^ and save it not; 
 In act, in wish, in thought, 
 Spend love upon this lifetime without stint. 
 
 [143] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Let not the heart grow dry, 
 As the good hours go by ; 
 Love now, see earth take on the glory tint. 
 
 Open the door to-night 
 
 Within your heart, and Hght 
 The lantern of love, there to shine afar; 
 
 On a tumultuous sea 
 
 Some straining craft, maybe. 
 With bearings lost, shall sight love's silver star. 
 
 Bliss Carman. 
 
 A Meditation for Christmas Day 
 
 CONSIDER, O my soul, what morn is this! 
 Whereon the eternal Lord of all things 
 made 
 For us, poor mortals, and our endless bliss, 
 Came down from heaven ; and, in a manger 
 
 laid. 
 The first, rich offerings of our ransom paid. 
 Consider, O my soul, what morn is this ! 
 
 Consider what estate of fearful woe 
 
 Had then been ours had He refused this 
 birth ; 
 
 [144] 
 
^ O . MY . SOUL . CONSIDER ^ 
 
 From sin to sin tossed vainly to and fro, 
 Hell's playthings, o'er a doomed and helpl-ess 
 
 earth ! 
 Had He from us withheld His priceless 
 worth. 
 Consider man's estate of fearful woe ! 
 
 Consider to what joys He bids thee rise, 
 Who comes, Himself, life's bitter cup to 
 drain ! 
 Ah ! look on this sweet Child, whose innocent 
 eyes, 
 Ere all be done, shall close in mortal pain, 
 That thou at last Love's Kingdom may'st 
 attain : 
 Consider to what joys He bids thee rise ! 
 
 Consider all this wonder, O my soul : 
 
 And in thine inmost shrine make music 
 sweet ! 
 
 Yea, let the world, from furthest pole to pole. 
 Join in thy praises this dread birth to greet ! 
 Kneeling to kiss thy Savior's infant feet! 
 
 Consider all this wonder, O my soul ! 
 
 Selwyn Image. 
 
 [145] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 A Morning Song for Christmas Day 
 
 {For Music.) 
 
 1. Wake, what unusual light doth greet 
 The early dusk of this our street? 
 
 2. It is the Lord ! it is the Christ ! 
 That hath the will of God sufficed ; 
 That, ere the day is born anew, 
 Himself is born a Child for you. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 The harp, the viol, and the lute. 
 To strike a praise unto our God ! 
 
 Bring here the reeds ! bring here the flute ! 
 Wake summer from the winter's sod ! 
 
 Oh, what a feast of feasts is given 
 
 To His poor servants by the King of 
 Heaven ! 
 
 3. Where is the Lord? 
 
 2. Here is the Lord, 
 
 At thine own door. 'Tis He, the Word ; 
 He at whose face the eternal speed 
 Of orb on orb was changed to song. 
 
 [146] 
 
^ CHRIST. IS. THE. LIGHT. OF. LIGHT ^ 
 
 Shall He the sound of viols heed 
 Whose ears have heard so high a throng? 
 Shall He regard the citherns strung 
 To whom the morning stars have sung ? 
 
 Chorus, 
 
 Then wake, my heart, and sweep the 
 
 strings, 
 The seven in the Lyre of Life ! 
 Instead of lutes, the spirit sings ; 
 
 With praise its quiet house is rife ! 
 Oh, what a feast of feasts is given 
 To His poor servants by the King of 
 Heaven ! 
 
 4. Who is the Lord ? 
 
 2. He is the Lord, 
 That Light of light, that Chief of all ! 
 
 3. Who is the Lord? 
 
 2. He is the Lord, 
 
 An outcast lying in a stall ; 
 For in the inn no room is left, 
 While the unworthy feast instead, 
 He of all welcome is bereft. 
 And hath not where to lay his head. 
 
 [147] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 1. What fitter place could I prepare, 
 What better cradle, say, is there 
 Than this, my heart, if that were fair? 
 
 2. Thou hast divined ! A nobler part 
 In man or angel, or of earth, or skies, 
 There is not, than a broken heart; 
 The which thy God may ne'er despise. 
 
 THE HYMN. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 Lord, in my heart a little child, 
 Now that the snows beat far and wide 
 While ever wails the tempest wild, 
 
 Good Lord abide. 
 Nor go Thou if the summer comes. 
 Nor if the summer days depart ; 
 But chiefly make Thy home of homes, 
 
 Lord, in my heart. 
 
 Herbert P. Horne. 
 
 [148] 
 
THE CHRISTMAS OF THE WANDERER 
 
 For All Poor Souls. 
 
 FOR all poor souls we'll strew the feast. 
 With kindly heart and free; 
 One Father owns us, and at least 
 To-day we'll brothers be. 
 Away with pride 
 This holy tide, 
 For it is Christmas morning ! 
 
 So God bless us one and all, 
 
 With hearts and hearthstones warm, 
 And may He prosper great and small, 
 And keep us out of harm ; 
 And teach us still 
 His sweet good-will 
 This merry Christmas morning. 
 
 Edwin Waugh. 
 
 .[ 149 ] 
 
J^ HOME . SWEET • HOME }^ 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 I 
 
 T chanced upon the merry, merry Christmas 
 
 Eve 
 
 I went sighing past the church, across the 
 moorland dreary, — 
 *'Oh! never sin and want and woe this earth 
 
 will leave, 
 And the bells but mock the waihng round they 
 
 sing so cheery. 
 How long, O Lord! how long before Thou 
 come again? 
 Still in cellar, and in garret, and on moor- 
 land dreary. 
 The orphans moan, and widows weep, and 
 poor men toil in vain, 
 Till earth is sick of hope deferred, though 
 Christmas bells be cheery." 
 
 Then arose a joyous clamor from the wildfowl 
 
 on the mere, 
 Beneath the stars, across the snow, like clear 
 
 bells ringing, 
 And a voice within cried, ''Listen ! Christmas 
 
 carols even here ! 
 
 [151] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS ■ TREASURY ^ 
 
 Though thou be dumb, yet o'er their work 
 the stars and snows are singing. 
 BHnd ! I Hve, I love, I reign ; and all the na- 
 tions through 
 
 With the thunder of My judgments even 
 now are ringing. 
 Do thou fulfil thy work but as yon wildfowl 
 do, 
 
 Thou wilt hear no less the wailing, yet hear 
 through it angels singing. 
 
 Chakles Kingsley. 
 
 Christmas Day — 1868 
 
 HOW will it dawn, the coming Christmas 
 Day? 
 A northern Christmas, such as painters love, 
 And kinsfolk, shaking hands but once a year, 
 And dames who tell old legends by the fire ? 
 Red sun, blue sky, white snow, and pearled 
 
 ice. 
 Keen, ringing air, which sets the blood on fire. 
 And makes the old man merry with the young, 
 
 [152] 
 
^ PRO . ARIS . ET . FOCIS ^ 
 
 Through the short sunshine, through the 
 
 longer night ? 
 Or southern Christmas, dark and dank with 
 
 mist, 
 And heavy with the scent of steaming leaves, 
 And rosebuds mouldering on the dripping 
 
 porch ; 
 One twilight, without rise or set of sun. 
 Till beetles drone along the hollow lane, 
 And round the leafless hawthorns, flitting bats 
 Hawk the pale moths of winter? Welcome, 
 
 then. 
 At best, the flying gleam, the flying shower. 
 The rain-pools glittering on the long white 
 
 roads, 
 And shadows sweeping on from down to down 
 Before the salt Atlantic gale : yet come 
 In whatsoever garb, or gay or sad, 
 Come fair, come foul, 'twill still be Christmas 
 
 Day. 
 
 How w^U it dawn, the coming Christmas 
 Day? 
 To sailors lounging on the lonely deck 
 Beneath the rushing trade-wind? Or to him 
 Who, by some noisome harbor of the East, 
 
 [153] 
 
^ 
 
 THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY 
 
 ^ 
 
 Watches swart arms roll down the precious 
 
 bales, 
 Spoils of the tropic forests ; year by year 
 Amid the din of heathen voices groaning, 
 Himself half heathen? How to those — brave 
 
 hearts ! — 
 Who toil with laden loins and sinking stride, 
 Beside the bitter wells of treeless sands 
 Toward the peaks which flood the ancient Nile, 
 To free a tyrant's captives? How to those — 
 New patriarchs of the new-found under- 
 world — 
 Who stand, like Jacob, on the virgin lawns. 
 And count their flocks' increase? To them 
 
 that day 
 Shall dawn in glory and solstitial blaze 
 Of full midsummer sun ; to them that morn. 
 Gay flowers beneath their feet, gay birds aloft. 
 Shall tell of nought but summer : but to them. 
 Ere yet, unwarned by carol or by chime. 
 They spring into the saddle, thrills may come 
 From that great heart of Christendom which 
 
 beats 
 Round all the worlds; and gracious thoughts 
 
 of youth; 
 Of steadfast folk, who worship God at home; 
 
 [154] 
 
^ DULCE . DOMUM • RESOXEMUS ^ 
 
 Of wise words, learnt beside their mothers' 
 
 knee ; 
 Of innocent faces upturned once again, 
 In awe and joy to Hsten to the tale 
 Of God made man, and in a manger laid : 
 May soften, purify, and raise the soul 
 From selfish cares, and growing lust of gain, 
 And phantoms of this dream which some call 
 
 Hfe, 
 Toward the eternal facts ; for here or there, 
 Summer or winter, 'twill be Christmas Day. 
 
 Blest day, which aye reminds us, year by 
 
 year. 
 What 'tis to be a man ; to curb and spurn 
 The tyrant in us : that ignobler self 
 Which boasts, not loathes, its likeness to the 
 
 brute. 
 And owns no good save ease, no ill save pain, 
 No purpose, save its share in that wild war 
 In which, through countless ages, living things 
 Compete in internecine greed. Ah, God ! 
 Are we as creeping things, which have no 
 
 Lord? 
 That we are brutes, great God, we know too 
 
 well : 
 
 [155] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 Apes, daintier- featured ; silly birds who flaunt 
 Their plumes unheeding of the fowler's step; 
 Spiders, who catch with paper, not with webs ; 
 Tigers, who slay with cannon and sharp steel, 
 Instead of teeth and claws — all these we are. 
 Are we no more than these, and born but to 
 
 compete — 
 To envy and devour, like beast or herb ; 
 Mere fools of nature ; puppets of strong lusts. 
 Taking the sword, to perish with the sword 
 Upon the universal battlefield. 
 Even as the things upon the moor outside? 
 
 The heath eats up green grass and delicate 
 
 flowers. 
 The pine eats up the heath, the grub the pine. 
 The finch the grub, the hawk the silly finch ; 
 And man, the mightiest of all beasts of prey, 
 Eats what he lists : the strong eat up the weak. 
 The many eat the few ; great nations, small ; 
 And he who cometh in the name of all — 
 He, greediest, triumphs by the greed of all ; 
 And, armed by his own victims, eats up all : 
 While ever out of the eternal heavens 
 Looks patient down the great, magnanimous 
 
 God, 
 
 [156] 
 
|Z( HAEC . TATRIA • EST ^ 
 
 Who, Maker of all worlds, did sacrifice 
 All to Himself! Nay, but Himself to one: 
 Who taught mankind on that first Christmas 
 
 Day 
 What 'twas to be a man ; to give, not take ; 
 To serve, not rule ; to nourish, not devour ; 
 To help, not crush ; if need, to die, not live. 
 
 Oh, blessed day, which giv'st the eternal lie 
 To self, and sense, and all the brute within; 
 Oh, come to us, amid this war of life ; 
 To hall and hovel, come; to all who toil, 
 In senate, shop, or study ; and to those 
 Who, sundered by the wastes of half a world. 
 Ill-warned, and sorely tempted, ever face 
 Nature's brute powers, and men unmanned to 
 
 brutes. 
 Come to them, blest and blessing, Christmas 
 
 Day. 
 Tell them once more the tale of Bethlehem ; 
 The kneeling shepherds, and the Babe Divine : 
 And keep them men indeed, fair Christmas 
 
 Day. 
 
 Charles Kixgsley. 
 
 [157] 
 
}^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 A Christmas Carmen 
 
 SOUND over all waters, reach out from all 
 lands, 
 The chorus of voices, the clasping of hands ; 
 Sing hymns that were sung by the stars of the 
 
 morn. 
 Sing songs of the angels when Jesus was born ! 
 With glad jubilations 
 Bring hope to the nations ! 
 The dark night is ending and dawn has begun : 
 Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun. 
 All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as 
 one! 
 
 11. 
 
 Sing the bridal of nations! with chorals of 
 
 love; 
 Sing out the war-vulture and sing in the dove, 
 Till the hearts of the peoples keep time in 
 
 accord. 
 And the voice of the world is the voice of the 
 
 Lord! 
 
 [158] 
 
)X^ BLOW . THE . MARCHES • OF • PEACE ^ 
 
 Clasp hands of the nations 
 
 In strong gratulations : 
 The dark night is ending and dawn has begun ; 
 Rise, hope of the ages, arise Hke the sun, 
 All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as 
 
 one! 
 
 III. 
 Blow, bugles of battle, the marches of peace ; 
 East, west, north and south, let the long quar- 
 rel cease : 
 Sing the song of great joy that the angels 
 
 began, 
 Sing of glory to God and of good-will to man ! 
 Hark! joining in chorus 
 The heavens bend o'er us ! 
 The dark night is ending and dawn has begun ; 
 Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun, 
 All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as 
 one! 
 
 John Greenleaf Whittier. 
 
 [159] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The Star of Bethlehem 
 
 WHERE Time the measure of his hours 
 By changeful bud and blossom keeps, 
 And, like a young bride crowned with floWers, 
 Fair Shiraz in her garden sleeps ; 
 
 Where, to her poet's turban stone. 
 
 The Spring her gift of flowers imparts, 
 
 Less sweet than those his thoughts have sown 
 In the warm soil of Persian hearts : 
 
 There sat the stranger, where the shade 
 Of scattered date trees thinly lay, 
 
 While in the hot, clear heaven delayed 
 The long and still and weary day. 
 
 Strange trees and fruits above him hung. 
 Strange odors filled the sultry air. 
 
 Strange birds upon the branches swung. 
 Strange insect voices murmured there. 
 
 And strange bright blossoms shone around, 
 Turned sunward from the shadowy bowers, 
 
 As if the Gheber's soul had found 
 A fitting home in Iran's flowers. 
 
 [i6o] 
 
^ YEA . A . GOODLY • HERITAGE ^ 
 
 Whate'er he saw, whatever he heard, 
 Awakened feelings new and sad : 
 
 No Christian garb, nor Christian word. 
 
 Nor church with Sabbath-bell chimes glad, 
 
 But Moslem graves, with turban stones. 
 And mosque spires gleaming white, in view, 
 
 And graybeard Mollahs in low tones 
 Chanting their Koran service through. 
 
 The flowers which smiled on either hand. 
 Like tempting fiends, were such as they 
 
 Which once, o'er all that Eastern land. 
 As gifts on demon altars lay. 
 
 As if the burning eye of Baal 
 
 The servant of his Conquerer knew, 
 
 From skies which knew no cloudy veil 
 The Sun's hot glances smote him through. 
 
 *'Ah me!" the lonely stranger said, 
 ''The hope which led my footsteps on, 
 
 And light from heaven around them shed. 
 O'er weary wave and waste, is gone! 
 
 [i6i] 
 
1^ . THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 *'Where are the harvest fields all white, 
 For Truth to thrust her sickle in? 
 
 Where flock the souls, like doves in flight, 
 From the dark hiding place of sin? 
 
 *'A silent horror broods o'er all — 
 The burden of a hateful spell — 
 
 The very flowers around recall 
 The hoary magi's rites of hell ! 
 
 ''And what am I, o'er such a land 
 The banner of the Cross to bear? 
 
 Dear Lord, uphold me with Thy hand. 
 
 Thy strength with human weakness share !' 
 
 He ceased, for at his very feet, 
 In mild rebuke, a floweret smiled ; 
 
 How thrilled his sinking heart to greet 
 The Star-flower of the Virgin's child! 
 
 Sown by some wandering Frank, it drew 
 
 Its life from alien air and earth, 
 And told to Paynim sun and dew 
 
 The story of the Savior's birth. 
 
 [162] 
 
 I 
 I 
 
^ GOD . IS . EVERYWHERE |X( 
 
 From scorching beams, in kindly mood, 
 The Persian plant its beauty screened, 
 
 And on its pagan sisterhood, 
 
 In love, the Christian floweret leaned. 
 
 With tears of joy the wanderer felt 
 The darkness of his long despair 
 
 Before that hallowed symbol melt, 
 
 Which God's dear love had nurtured there. 
 
 From Nature's face that simple flower 
 The lines of sin and sadness swept, 
 
 And Magian pile and Paynim bower 
 In peace like that of Eden slept. 
 
 Each Moslem tomb, and cypress old, 
 Looked holy through the sunset air, 
 
 And, angel-like, that Muezzin told 
 
 From tower and mosque the hour of prayer. 
 
 With cheerful steps the morrow's dawn 
 From Shiraz saw the stranger part. 
 
 The Star-flower of the Virgin-born 
 Still blooming in his hopeful heart ! 
 
 John Greenleaf Whittier. 
 
 [163] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 A Christmas Song 
 
 B' 
 
 > LOW, wind, blow ; 
 
 Sing through yard and shroud ; 
 
 Pipe it shrilly and loud, 
 
 Aloft as well as below ; 
 Sing in my sailor's ear 
 
 The song I sing to you, 
 
 ''Come home, my sailor true. 
 For Christmas that comes so near." 
 
 Go, wind, go ; 
 Hurry his home-bound sail. 
 Through gusts that are edged with hail. 
 
 Through winter, and sleet, and snow^ ; 
 Song, in my sailor's ear, 
 
 Your shrilling and moan shall be. 
 For he knows they sing him to me 
 And Christmas that comes so near. 
 
 William Cox Bennett. 
 
 [164] 
 
^ THE . LUXURY ^ OF • DOING • GOOD )X( 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 EVERYWHERE, everywhere, Christmas 
 to-night ! 
 Christmas in lands of the fir-tree and pine, 
 Christmas in lands of the palm-tree and vine, 
 Christmas where snow-peaks stand solemn and 
 
 w^hite, 
 Christmas where corn fields lie sunny and 
 bright. 
 Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to- 
 night ! 
 
 Christmas w^here children are hopeful and gay, 
 Christmas where old men are patient and gray, 
 Christmas where peace, like a dove in its flight, 
 Broods o'er brave men in the thick of the fight. 
 Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to- 
 night ! 
 
 For the Christ-child who comes is the Master 
 
 of all. 
 No palace too great and no cottage too small ; 
 
 [165] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 The angels who welcome Him sing from the 
 
 height, 
 'In the City of David a King in His might." 
 Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to- 
 night ! 
 
 Then let every heart keep its Christmas within, 
 
 Christ's pity for sorrow, Christ's hatred for 
 sin, 
 
 Christ's care for the weakest, Christ's courage 
 for right, 
 
 Christ's dread of the darkness, Christ's love of 
 the light. 
 Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to- 
 night ! 
 
 So the stars of the midnight which compass us 
 round 
 
 Shall see a strange glory, and hear a sweet 
 sound, 
 
 And cry, "Look! the earth is aflame with de- 
 light, 
 
 O sons of the morning, rejoice at the sight." 
 Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to- 
 night ! 
 
 Phillips Brooks. 
 
 [i66] 
 
^ WHERE . WE . LOVE • IS • HOME ^ 
 
 Outlanders, Whence Come Ye Last? 
 
 OUTLANDERS, whence come ye last? 
 The snow in the street and the wind on 
 the door. 
 Through what green seas and great have ye 
 passed ? 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 floor. 
 
 From far away, O masters mine, 
 
 The snozc in the street and the zcind on the 
 door. 
 We come to bear you goodly wine, 
 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 floor. 
 
 From far away we come to you, 
 
 The snozi' in the street and the ziind on the 
 door. 
 To tell of great tidings strange and true. 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 floor. 
 
 [167] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |X( 
 
 News, news of the Trinity, 
 
 The snozv in the street and the wind on the 
 door. 
 And Mary and Joseph from over the sea ! 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 floor. 
 
 For as we wandered far and wide, 
 
 The snozv i)i the street and the wind on the 
 door. 
 What hap do ye deem there should us betide ! 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 floor. 
 
 Under a tent, when the night was deep, 
 
 The snozv in the street and the wind on the 
 door. 
 There lay three shepherds, tending their sheep. 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 floor, 
 
 "O ye shepherds, what have ye seen, 
 
 The snozv in the street and the wind on the 
 door. 
 To slay your sorrow and heal your teen?'' 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 ■floor. 
 
 [i68] 
 
^ NEAREST. WAY • HOME . IS • BEST ^ 
 
 ''In an ox-stall this night we saw 
 
 The snow in the street and the zuind on the 
 door. 
 A babe and a maid without a flaw. 
 
 Minstrels and maids, stand fortli on tlie 
 floor, 
 
 "There was an old man there beside, 
 
 The snozi) in the street and the zvind on the 
 door. 
 His hair was white and his hood was wide. 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 floor, 
 
 "And as we gazed this thing upon, 
 
 The snozv in the street and the zvind on the 
 door. 
 Those twain knelt down to the Little One. 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 floor, 
 
 *'And a marvelous song we straight did hear, 
 The snozv in the street and the zi'ind on the 
 door. 
 That slew our sorrow and healed our care.'' 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 floor. 
 
 [169] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY |X( 
 
 News of a fair and a marvelous thing, 
 
 The snozv in the street and the zvind on the 
 door, 
 Nowell, nowell, nowell, we sing! ' 
 Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the 
 Hoar. 
 
 William Morris. 
 
 Christmas Eve 
 
 ALONE — with one fair star for company, 
 The loveHest star among the hosts of 
 night. 
 While the grey tide ebbs with the ebbing 
 
 light— 
 I pace along the darkening wintry sea. 
 Now round the Yule-log and the glittering 
 
 tree 
 Twinkling with festive tapers, eyes as bright 
 Sparkle with Christmas joys and young de- 
 light, 
 As each one gathers his family. 
 
 [170] 
 
^ THE . SWEET • VOICE • OF • JOY ^ 
 
 But I — a waif on earth where'er I roam — 
 Uprooted with Hfe's bleeding hopes and fears 
 From that one heart that was my heart's sole 
 
 home 
 Feel the old pang pierce through the severing 
 
 years, 
 And as I think upon the years to come 
 That fair star trembles through my falling 
 
 tears. 
 
 Mathilde Blind. 
 
 Christmas at Sea 
 
 THE sheets were frozen hard, and they cut 
 the naked hand ; 
 The decks were like a slide, where a seaman 
 
 scarce could stand ; 
 The wind was a nor'wester, blowing squally off 
 
 the sea, 
 And the cliffs and spouting breakers were the 
 only things a-lee. 
 
 They heard the surf a-roaring before the break 
 of day ; 
 
 [171] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 But 'twas only with the peep of light we saw 
 
 how ill we lay. 
 We tumbled every hand on deck instanter, with 
 
 a shout, 
 And we gave her the maintops'l, and stood by 
 
 to go about. 
 
 All day we tacked and tacked between the 
 
 South Head and the North ; 
 All day we hauled the frozen sheets, and got 
 
 no further forth; 
 All day as cold as charity, in bitter pain and 
 
 dread, 
 For very life and nature we tacked from head 
 
 to head. 
 
 We gave the South a wider berth, for there the 
 
 tide-race roared ; 
 But every tack we made we brought the North 
 
 Head close aboard : 
 So's we saw cliffs and houses, and the breakers 
 
 running high, 
 And the coastguard in his garden, with his 
 
 glass against his eye. 
 The frost was on the village roofs as white as 
 
 ocean foam ; 
 
 [172] 
 
^ HOME . HOME • HOME ^ 
 
 The good red fires were burning bright in 
 
 every 'longshore home ; 
 The windows sparkled clear, and the chimneys 
 
 volleyed out, 
 And I vow we sniffed the victuals as the vessel 
 
 went about. 
 
 The bells upon the church were rung with a 
 mighty jovial cheer; 
 
 For it's just that I should tell you how (of all 
 days in the year) 
 
 This day of our adversity was blessed Christ- 
 mas morn, 
 
 And the house above the coastguard's was the 
 house where I was born. 
 
 O well I saw the pleasant room, the pleasant 
 
 faces there, 
 My mother's silver spectacles, my father's silver 
 
 hair ; 
 And well I saw the firelight, like a flight of 
 
 homely elves, 
 Go dancing round the china plates that stood 
 
 upon the shelves. 
 
 [173] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 And well I knew the talk they had, the talk that 
 
 was of me, 
 Of the shadow on the household and the son 
 
 that went to sea ; 
 And O the wicked fool I seemed, in every kind 
 
 of way, 
 To be here and hauling frozen ropes on blessed 
 
 Christmas Day. 
 
 They lit the high sea-light, and the dark began 
 
 to fall. 
 *'A11 hands to loose topgallant sails," I heard 
 
 the captain call. 
 ''By the Lord, she'll never stand it," our first 
 
 mate, Jackson, cried. . . . 
 ''It's the one way or the other, Mr. Jackson," 
 
 he replied. 
 
 She staggered to her bearings, but the sails 
 
 were new and good. 
 And the ship smelt up to windward just as 
 
 though she understood. 
 As the winter's day was ending, in the entry 
 
 of the night. 
 We cleared the weary headland, and passed 
 
 below the light. 
 
 [174] 
 
^ CHRIST . IS . BEST |^ 
 
 And they heaved a mighty breath, every soul 
 
 on board but me, 
 As they saw her nose again pointing handsome 
 
 to the sea ; 
 But all that I could think of, in the darkness 
 
 and the cold, 
 Was just that I was leaving home and my 
 
 folks were growing old. 
 
 R. L. Stevenson. 
 
 Christmas Carol 
 
 WHOSO hears a chiming for Christmas 
 at the nighest. 
 Hears a sound like Angels chanting in their 
 glee. 
 Hears a sound like palm-boughs waving in the 
 highest. 
 Hears a sound like ripple of a crystal sea. 
 Sweeter than a prayer-bell for a saint in dying, 
 Sweeter than a death-bell for a saint at rest, 
 
 [175] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Music struck in Heaven with earth's faint re- 
 plying, 
 ''Life is good, and death is good, for Christ 
 is Best/' 
 
 Christina G. Rossetti. 
 
 Christmas in India 
 
 DIM dawn behind the tamarisks — the sky 
 is saffron-yellow — 
 As the women in the village grind the corn, 
 And the parrots seek the river-side, each call- 
 ing to his fellow 
 That the Day, the staring Eastern Day, is 
 born. 
 
 O the white dust on the highway ! 
 
 O the stenches in the byway ! 
 O the clammy fog that hovers over earth ! 
 
 And at Home they're making merry 
 
 'Neath the white and scarlet berry — 
 What part have India's exiles in their 
 
 mirth ? 
 
 [176] 
 
}^ CHRIST . THE • BINDER • OF . PEOPLES ^ 
 
 Full day behind the tamarisks — the sky is blue 
 and staring, 
 As the cattle crawl afield beneath the yoke, 
 And they bear One o'er the field-path who is 
 past all hope or caring, 
 To that ghat beow the curling wreaths of 
 smoke. 
 
 Call on Rama, going slowly, 
 As ye bear a brother lowly — 
 Call on Rama — he may hear, perhaps, 
 your voice ! 
 With our hymn-books and our psalters 
 We appeal to other altars, 
 And to-day we bid ''good Christian men 
 rejoice!'' 
 
 High noon behind the tamarisks — the sun is 
 hot above us, 
 As at Home the Christmas Day is breaking 
 wan. 
 They will drink our healths at dinner — those 
 who tell us how they love us. 
 And forget us till another year be gone ! 
 O the toil that knows no breaking ! 
 O the Hcimzuch, ceaseless aching! 
 
 [177] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 O the black dividing Sea and alien Plain! 
 
 Youth was cheap — wherefore we sold it; 
 
 Gold was good — we hoped to hold it ; 
 And to-day we know the fulness of our gain. 
 
 Gray dusk behind the tamarisks — the parrots 
 fly together — 
 As the sun is sinking slowly over Home ; 
 And his last ray seems to mock us shackled 
 in a lifelong tether 
 That drags us back however so far we roam. 
 
 Hard her service, poor her payment — 
 She in ancient, tattered raiment — 
 
 India, she the grim Stepmother of our kind. 
 If a year of life be lent her, 
 If her temple's shrine we enter, 
 
 The door is shut — we may not look behind. 
 
 Black night behind the tamarisks — the owls 
 begin their chorus — 
 As the conches from the temple scream and 
 bray. 
 With the fruitless years behind us, and the 
 hopeless years before us, 
 Let us honor, O my brothers, Christmas 
 Day! 
 
 [178] 
 
|X^ LET . REST . FOLLOW • LABOR ^ 
 
 Call a truce, then, to our labors, 
 Let us feast with friends and neighbors; 
 And be merry as the custom of our caste ; 
 For if ''faint and forced the laughter," 
 And if sadness follow after, 
 We are richer by one mocking Christmas 
 past. 
 
 RuDYARD Kipling. 
 
 At Christmas 
 
 (written in south AFRICA.) 
 
 STREW our green earth — flowers ! Our 
 blue skies — incense 
 Mount in wreath and spray ! 
 Set the Figures Three within the Rock-Cave 
 
 All a Christmas Day ! 
 And it's O to dream of Essex gables under 
 
 snow clouds gray — 
 And it's Ah to wake and know them years and 
 years away ! 
 
 [179] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Dark babe-burthened mothers, hail the Mother, 
 
 Fair as England's May ! 
 Let us back again to where we once clung 
 
 On a Christmas Day! 
 And it's O to dream those same mothers on 
 
 whose breasts we lay — 
 And it's Ah to wake and know them half the 
 earth away ! 
 
 Small brown goatherds, dance and sing to 
 Jesus 
 On His bed of hay ! 
 You to-day He heeds, as once He heeded 
 
 Me on Christmas Day ! 
 And it's O to dream of things we once saw, 
 
 ere we said God ''Nay!" 
 And it's Ah to wake and know them half a 
 life away ! 
 
 Poor-men brothers, up and hie to Joseph — 
 
 By the Crib to pray ! 
 Gentler hearts and sterner wills we'll ask for 
 
 On our Christmas Day ! 
 
 . ^ [ i8o ] 
 
^ JESUS . FLOWER • OF • THE • HEART ^ 
 
 And it's O to guess what man I might be, 
 
 would I but obey ! 
 Is it I that heed at last the Bidding? Wend at 
 
 last the Way? 
 
 Arthur Shearly Cripps. 
 
 [i8i] 
 
THE CHRISTMAS OF RELIGION 
 
 OUT of the Shadow of the Night 
 I come, led by the starshine bright, 
 With broken heart to bring to Thee 
 The fruit of Thine Epiphany, 
 The gift my fellows send by me, 
 The myrrh to bed Thine agony, 
 I set it here beneath Thy feet, 
 In token of Death's great defeat ; 
 And hail Thee Conqueror in the strife, 
 And hail Thee Lord of Light and Life. 
 
 All hail ! All hail the Virgin Son ! 
 
 All hail! Thou little helpless One! 
 
 All hail ! Thou King upon the Tree ! 
 
 All hail ! The Babe on Mary's Knee, 
 The center of all mystery ! 
 
 Michael Fairless. 
 
 [183] 
 
^ THE • SON . IS . BORN • TO-DAY ^ 
 
 The Nativity 
 
 1SING the Birth was born to-night, 
 The Author both of life and Hght; 
 The angels so did sound it ; 
 And hke the ravish'd shepherds said, 
 Who saw the Hght, and were afraid, 
 Yet searched, and true they found it. 
 
 The Son of God, the eternal King, 
 That did us all salvation bring. 
 
 And freed the soul from danger ; 
 He whom the whole world could not take, 
 The Word, which heaven and earth did make, 
 
 Was now laid in a manger. 
 
 What comfort by Him do we win, 
 Who made Himself the price of sin, 
 
 To make us heirs of glory ! 
 To see this Babe, all innocence, 
 A martyr born in our defense — 
 
 Can man forget this story? 
 
 Ben Jonson. 
 
 [185] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY ^ 
 
 Of The Nativity of Christ 
 
 T> ORATE Cecil de super! 
 
 Heavens distill your balmy showers, 
 
 For now is risen the bright daystar 
 From the Rose Mary, flower of flowers : 
 The clear sun, whom no cloud devours. 
 
 Surmounting Phoebus in the east. 
 Is comen of his heavenly towers; 
 
 Et nobis Puer natus est. 
 
 Archangels, angels, dominations, 
 
 Thrones, potentates, and martyrs seir,^ 
 
 And all the heavenly operations. 
 Star, planet, firmament and sphere, 
 Fire, earth, air, and water clear, 
 
 To Him give loving, most and least. 
 That come is in so meek maneir; 
 
 Et nobis Puer natus est. 
 
 Sinners be glad, and penance do, 
 And thank your Maker heartily, 
 
 For He, that ye might not come to, 
 To you is comen full humbly, 
 
 I Mary. 
 
 [i86] 
 
|X^ GLORIA • IX . EXCELSIS ^ 
 
 Your soules with His blood to buy, 
 And loose you of the fiend's arrest, 
 
 And only of His own mercy ; 
 Pro nobis Piicr natiis est. 
 
 Celestial fowles in the air. 
 
 Sing with your notes upon hight, 
 
 In firthes and forests fair. 
 
 Be mirthful now, at all your might. 
 For passed is your dully night; 
 
 Aurora has the cloudis perced, 
 
 The sun is risen with gladsome light, 
 
 Et nobis Pucr natiis est. 
 
 Now spring up flowres from the root, 
 
 Revert you upward naturally. 
 In honor of the blessed fruit 
 
 That rose up from the Rose iMary; 
 
 Lay out your leaves lustily, 
 From dead take life now, at the least, 
 
 In worship of that Prince worthy, 
 Qui nobis Pucr natiis est. 
 
 Sing heaven imperial, most of height, 
 Regions of air make harmony; 
 
 All fish in floud, and fowl of flight, 
 Be mirthful and make melody; 
 
 [187] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |X^ 
 
 All Gloria in Excelsis cry, 
 Heaven, earth, sea, man, bird and beast, 
 
 He that is crowned above the sky. 
 Pro nobis Piicr natus est. 
 
 William Dunbar. 
 
 Christ's Nativity 
 
 HOW gladdeth every living creature, 
 With bliss and comfortable gladness, 
 The heaven's King is clad in our nature, 
 Us from the death with ransom to redress ; 
 The lamp of joy, that chases all darkness, 
 Ascended is to be the world's light. 
 From every bale our boundes for to bliss, 
 Born of the glorious Virgin Mary bright. 
 
 Above the radiant heaven ethereal, 
 
 The Court of Stars, the course of sun and 
 
 moon. 
 The potent Prince of Joy Imperial, 
 The high surmounting European abone, 
 
 [i88] 
 
^ THIS • IS . THE . IIArPY • MORN ^ 
 
 Is coming from His mighty Father's throne 
 In earth, with an inestimable hght, 
 And praised of angels with a sweet intone ; 
 Born of the glorious Virgin jNIary bright. 
 
 Who ever in earth heard so blythe a story, 
 Or tidings of so great felicity? 
 As how the garthe of all grace and glory, 
 For love and mercy hath ta'en humanity ; 
 Maker of angels, man, earth, heaven and sea, 
 And t' overcome our foe, and put to flight, 
 Is coming a babe, full of benignity. 
 Born of the glorious Virgin Alary bright. 
 
 The sovereign senior of all celsitude, 
 That sits above the order'd Cherabin, 
 Which all things creat, and all things does in- 
 clude. 
 That never end shall, never did begin, 
 But W'hom is naught, from Whom no time 
 
 does rin. 
 With whom all good is, with Whom is every 
 
 wight, 
 Is with His wounds come for to wash our sin ; 
 Born of the most chaste Virgin J\Iary bright. 
 William Dunbar. 
 
 [189] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 On the Morning of Christ's Nativity 
 
 THIS is the Month, and this the happy 
 morn 
 Wherein the Son of Heav'n's eternal King, 
 Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born, 
 Our great redemption from above did bring; 
 For so the holy sages once did sing, 
 
 That He our deadly forfeit should release. 
 And with His Father work us a perpetual 
 peace. 
 
 That glorious Form, that Light unsufiferable, 
 And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty, 
 Wherewith he wont at Heaven's high Councel 
 
 Table, 
 To sit the midst of Trinal Unity; 
 He laid aside, and here with us to be 
 
 Forsook the Courts of everlasting Day, 
 And chose with us a darksom House of mortal 
 
 Clay. 
 
 Say, Heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein 
 
 Afiford a present to the Infant God? 
 
 Hast thou no vers, no hymn, or solemn strein, 
 
 [ 190 ] 
 
^ CHRIST . THE • MAN • OF • PEACE ^ 
 
 To welcome Him to this His new abode, 
 Now while the Heav'n by the Suns team 
 untrod, 
 Hath took no print of the approaching light. 
 And all the spangled host keep w^atch in squad- 
 rons bright? 
 
 See how from far upon the Eastern rode 
 The Star-led Wisards haste with odours sweet, 
 O run, prevent them with thy humble ode, 
 And lay it lowly down at His blessed feet ; 
 Have thou the honour first, thy Lord to greet. 
 And joyn thy voice unto the Angel Quire, 
 From out His secret Atar toucht with hallow'd 
 fire. 
 
 THE HYMN 
 
 I. 
 
 IT was the winter wild, 
 While the heaven-born child, 
 All meanly wrapt, in the crude manger lies ; 
 Nature in awe to Him 
 Had dofif'd her gaudy trim, 
 
 With her great IVIaster so to sympathize; 
 It was no season then for her 
 To wanton with the sun, her lusty paramour. 
 
 [191] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 II. 
 
 Only with speeches fair 
 She wooes the gentle air, 
 
 To hide her guilty front with innocent snow, 
 And on her naked shame, 
 Pollute with sinful blame. 
 
 The saintly veil of maiden white to throw ; 
 Confounded that her Maker's eyes 
 Should look so near upon her foul deformities. 
 
 III. 
 
 But He, her fears to cease, 
 Sent down the meek-eyed Peace ; 
 
 She, crowned with olive green, came softly 
 sHding 
 Down through the turning sphere, 
 His ready harbinger, 
 
 With turtle wing the amorous clouds divid- 
 ing; 
 And waving wide her myrtle wand, 
 She strikes a universal peace through sea and 
 land. 
 
 IV. 
 
 No war, or battle's sounds 
 Was heard the world around; 
 
 [ 192 ] 
 
^ CHRIST . THE . PRINCE • OF • LIGHT |^ 
 
 The idle spear and shield were high uphung, 
 The hooked chariot stood 
 Unstained with hostile blood, 
 
 The trumpet spake not to the armed throng. 
 And kings sat still, with awful eye. 
 As if they surely knew their sovereign Lord 
 was by. 
 
 V. 
 
 But peaceful was the night 
 Wherein the Prince of light 
 
 His reign of peace upon the earth began : 
 The winds, with wonder whist, 
 Smoothly the waters kist, 
 
 Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, 
 Who now hath quite forgot to rave. 
 While birds of calm sit brooding on the 
 charmed wave. 
 
 VI. 
 
 The stars, with deep amaze. 
 Stand fixed in steadfast gaze, 
 
 Bending one way their precious influence, 
 And will not take their flight. 
 For all the morning light. 
 
 Or Lucifer, that often warned them thence ; 
 
 [193] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 But in their glimmering orbs did glow 
 Until their Lord Himself bespake, and bade 
 them go. 
 
 VII. 
 
 And though the shady gloom 
 Had given day her room, 
 
 The sun himself withheld his wonted speed, 
 And hid his head for shame, 
 As his inferior flame 
 
 The new enlightened world no more should 
 
 need; 
 He saw a greater sun appear 
 Than his bright throne or burning axletree 
 
 could bear. 
 
 VIIL 
 
 The shepherds on the lawn, 
 Or e'er the point of dawn, 
 
 Sat simply chatting in a rustic row ; 
 Full little thought they then 
 That the mighty Pan 
 
 Was kindly come to live with them below ; 
 Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, 
 Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy 
 keep. 
 
 [194] 
 
^ heaven's . NEW-BORN • HEIR ^ 
 
 IX. 
 
 When such music sweet 
 
 Their hearts and ears did greet, 
 
 As never by mortal finger strook, 
 Divinely-warbled voice 
 Answering the stringed noise, 
 
 As all their souls in blissful rapture took : 
 The air, such pleasure loath to lose, 
 With thousand echoes still prolongs each 
 heavenly close. 
 
 X. 
 
 Nature, that heard such sound, 
 Beneath the hollow round 
 
 Of Cynthia's seat, the airy region thrilling. 
 Now was almost won 
 To think her part was done, 
 
 And that her reign had here its last fulfilling. 
 She knew such harmony alone 
 Could hold all heaven and earth in happier 
 union. 
 
 XI. 
 
 At last surrounds their sight 
 A globe of circular light, 
 
 [195] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 That with long beams the shamefaced night 
 arrayed ; 
 The helmed Cherubim, 
 And sworded ^eraphim, 
 
 Are seen in glittering ranks, with wings dis- 
 played, 
 Harping in loud and solemn quire, 
 With unexpressive notes, to Heaven's new- 
 born Heir. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Such music (as 'tis said) 
 Before was never made, 
 
 But when of old the sons of morning sung, 
 While the Creator great 
 His constellations set, 
 
 And the well-balanced world on hinges 
 hung. 
 And cast the dark foundations deep, 
 And bid the weltering waves their cozy chan- 
 nel keep. 
 
 xni. 
 
 Ring out, ye crystal spheres, 
 Once bless our human ears, 
 
 [196] 
 
^ CHRIST . OUR . REDEEMER ^ 
 
 If ye have power to touch our senses so; 
 And let your silver chime 
 Move in melodious time, 
 
 And let the base of heaven's deep organ 
 blow ; 
 And with your ninefold harmony 
 Make up full consort to the angelic symphony 
 
 XIV. 
 
 For if such holy song 
 
 Inwrap our fancy long, 
 
 Time will run back^ and fetch the age of 
 gold; 
 
 And speckled Vanity 
 
 Will sicken soon and die, 
 
 And leprous Sin will melt from earthly 
 mould ; 
 
 And Hell itself will pass away, 
 
 And leave her dolorous mansions to the peer- 
 ing day. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Yea, Truth and Justice then 
 Will down return to men, 
 
 [197] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Orbed in a rainbow ; and, like glories wear- 
 ing, 
 Mercy will sit between, 
 
 Throned in celestial sheen, 
 With radiant feet the tissued clouds down 
 steering ; 
 And heaven, as at some festival. 
 Will open wide the gates of her high palace 
 hall. 
 
 XVL 
 
 But wisest Fate says, No^ 
 This must not yet be so; 
 
 The Babe yet lies in smiling infancy, 
 That on the bitter Cross 
 Must redeem our loss, 
 
 So both Himself and us to glorify; 
 Yet first to those ychained in sleep 
 The wakeful trump of doom must thunder 
 through the deep. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 With such a horrid clang 
 As on Mount Sinai rang, 
 
 [198] 
 
^ THE . FULL . AND • PERFECT • BLISS ^ 
 
 While the red fire and smoldering clouds 
 outbrake, 
 The aged earth, aghast 
 With terror of that blast, 
 
 Shall from the surface to the centre shake. 
 When, at the world's last session, 
 The dreadful Judge in middle air shall spread 
 His throne. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 And then, at last, our bliss 
 Full and perfect is, 
 
 But now begins; for, from this happy day. 
 The old Dragon under ground, 
 In straiter limits bound, 
 
 Not half so far casts his usurped sway ; 
 And, wroth to see his kingdom fail. 
 Swinges the scaly horror of his folded tail. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 The oracles are dumb ; 
 No voice or hideous hum 
 
 [199] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Runs through the arched roof in words de- 
 ceiving. 
 Apollo, from his shrine. 
 Can no more divine — 
 
 With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos 
 leaving. 
 No nightly trance or breathed spell 
 Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic 
 cell. 
 
 XX. 
 
 The lonely mountains o'er. 
 And the resounding shore, 
 
 A voice of weeping heard, and loud lament; 
 From haunted spring and dale, 
 Edged with poplar pale, 
 
 The parting Genius is with sighing sent; 
 With flower-inwoven tresses torn. 
 The Nymphs in twilight shade of tangled 
 thickets mourn. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 In consecrated earth, 
 And on the holy hearth, 
 
 [ 200 ] 
 
^ THE . DESTROYER • OF • IDOLS ^ 
 
 The Lars and Lemures moan with midnight 
 plaint ; 
 In urns and altars round, 
 A drear and dying sound 
 
 Affrights the Flamens at their service 
 quaint ; 
 And the chill marble seems to sweat, 
 While each peculiar Power foregoes his won- 
 ted seat. 
 
 XXIL 
 
 Peor and Baalim 
 
 Forsake their temples dim, 
 
 With that twice-battered god of Palestine ; 
 And mooned Ashtaroth, 
 Heaven's queen and mother both, 
 
 Now sits not girt with tapers' holy shine ; 
 The Lybic Hammon shrinks his horn ; 
 In vain the Tyrian maids their wounded Tham- 
 muz mourn. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 And sullen Moloch, fled, 
 Hath left in shadows dread 
 
 [20T] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 His burning idol, all of blackest hue ; 
 In vain with cymbals' ring 
 They call the grisly king, 
 
 In dismal dance about the furnace blue : 
 The brutish gods of Nile as fast, 
 Isis and Orus, and the dog Anubis, haste. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Nor is Osiris seen 
 
 In ]\Iemphian grove or green, 
 
 Trampling the unshowered grass with low- 
 
 ings loud ; 
 Nor can he be at rest 
 Within his sacred chest ; 
 
 Nought but profoundest hell can be his 
 
 shroud ; 
 In vain with timbrelled anthems dark 
 The sable-stoled sorcerers bear his worshipped 
 
 ark. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 He feels from Judah's land 
 The dreaded Infant's hand; 
 
 [ 202 ] 
 
yZ^ THE . HIGHEST • IN • THE • MAXGER ^ 
 
 The rays of Bethlehem blind his dusky eyn ; 
 Xor all the gods beside 
 Longer dare abide ; 
 
 Not Typhon huge ending in snaky twine : 
 Our Babe, to show His Godhead true, 
 Can in His swaddling bands control the 
 damned crew\ 
 
 XXVL 
 
 So w^hen the sun, in bed, 
 Curtained wath cloudy red. 
 
 Pillows his chin upon an orient w^ave, 
 The flocking shadows pale 
 Troop to the infernal jail, 
 
 Each fettered ghost slips to his several 
 
 grave ; 
 And the yellow-skirted Fayes 
 Fly after the night-steeds, leaving their moon- 
 
 foved maze. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 But, see, the Virgin blest 
 Hath laid her Babe to rest; 
 
 [203] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Time is our tedious song should here have 
 ending ; 
 Heaven's youngest-teemed star 
 Hath fixed her polished car, 
 
 Her sleeping Lord with handmaid lamp at- 
 tending ; 
 And all about the courtly stable 
 Bright-harnessed angels sit in order service- 
 able. 
 
 John Milton. 
 
 Of the Epiphany 
 
 FAIR Eastern Star, that art ordained to run 
 Before the sages, to the rising sun. 
 Here cease thy course, and wonder that the 
 
 cloud 
 Of this poor stable can thy Maker shroud: 
 Ye heavenly bodies glory to be bright, 
 And are esteemed as ye are rich in light, 
 But here on earth is taught a different way, 
 Since under this low roof the Highest lay. 
 
 [204] 
 
^ FAIR . EASTERN • STAR |^ 
 
 Jerusalem erects her stately towers, 
 Displays her windows and adorns her bowers ; 
 Yet there thou must not cast a trembling 
 
 spark, 
 Let Herod's palace still continue dark; 
 Each school and synagogue thy force repels, 
 There Pride enthroned in misty error dwells ; 
 The temple, where the priests maintain their 
 
 quire. 
 Shall taste no beam of thy celestial fire, 
 While this weak cottage all thy splendor takes : 
 A joyful gate of every chink it makes. 
 Here shines no golden roof, no ivory stair, 
 No king exalted in a stately chair, 
 Girt with attendants, or by heralds styled, 
 But straw and hay enwrap a speechless Child- 
 Yet Sabse's lords before this Babe unfold 
 Their treasures, offering incense, myrrh and 
 
 gold. 
 
 The crib becomes an altar ; therefore dies 
 
 No ox nor sheep ; for in their fodder lies 
 
 The Prince of Peace, who, thankful for His 
 
 bed, 
 Destroys those rites in which their blood was 
 
 shed: 
 
 [205] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The quintessence of earth He takes, and fees, 
 And precious gums distilled from weeping 
 
 trees ; 
 Rich metals and sweet odors now declare 
 The glorious blessings which His laws prepare, 
 To clear us from the base and loathsome flood 
 Of sense, and make us fit for angels' food, 
 Who lift to God for us the holy smoke 
 Of fervent prayers with which we Him invoke, 
 And try our actions in the searching fire, 
 By which the seraphims our lips inspire : 
 No muddy dross pure minerals shall infect, 
 We shall exhale our vapors up direct; 
 No storm shall cross, nor glittering lights de- 
 face 
 Perpetual sighs which seek a happy place. 
 Sir John Beaumont. 
 
 And They Laid Him in a Manger 
 
 HAPPY crib, that wert alone 
 To my God, bed, cradle, throne ! 
 Whilst thy glorious vileness I 
 View with divine fancy's eye, 
 
 [206] 
 
^ THE . KING • OF . KINGS ^ 
 
 Sordid filth seems all the cost, 
 State, and splendor, crowns do boast. 
 See heaven's sacred majesty 
 Humbled beneath poverty; 
 Swaddled up in homely rags, 
 On a bed of straw and flags ! 
 He whose hands the heavens display'd, 
 And the world's foundations laid, 
 From the world almost exiled, 
 Of all ornaments despoil'd. 
 Perfumes bathe Him not, new-born, 
 Persian mantles not adorn ; 
 Nor do the rich roofs look bright. 
 With the jasper's orient light. 
 Where, O royal Infant, be 
 Th' ensigns of Thy majesty; 
 Thy Sire's equalizing state; 
 And Thy sceptre that rules fate? 
 Where's Thy angel-guarded throne. 
 Whence Thy laws Thou didst make known- 
 Laws which heaven, earth, hell obey'd ? 
 These, ah ! these aside He laid ; 
 Would the emblem be — of pride 
 By humility outvied? 
 
 Sir Edward Sherburne. 
 
 [207] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 An Ode to the Birth of Our Savior 
 
 IN Numbers, and but these few, 
 I sing Thy Birth, O Jesu ! 
 Thou prettie Babie, born here, 
 With superabundant scorn here: 
 Who for Thy Princely Port here, 
 Hadst for Thy place 
 Of Birth a base 
 Out-stable for Thy Court here. 
 
 Instead of neat Inclosures 
 Of interwoven Osiers ; 
 Instead of fragrant Posies 
 Of Daffodils, and Rosies ; 
 Thy cradle. Kingly Stranger, 
 
 As Gospel tells, 
 
 Was nothing els, 
 But, here, a homely manger. 
 
 But we with Silks (not Crewels), 
 With sundry precious Jewels, 
 And Lily-work will dresse Thee; 
 And as we dispossess Thee 
 
 [208] 
 
^ GLORY . TO . glory's • KING ^ 
 
 Of clouts wee'l make a chamber, 
 Sweet Babe, for Thee, 
 Of Ivorie, 
 
 And plaister'd round with Amber. 
 
 The Jewes they did disdaine Thee, 
 But we will entertaine Thee 
 With Glories to await here 
 Upon Thy Princely State here, 
 And more for love, then pittie. 
 From yeere to yeere 
 Wee'l make Thee, here, 
 A Free-born of our Citie. 
 
 Robert Herrick. 
 C'His Noble Numbers/') 
 
 The Shepherd's Song 
 
 SWEET music, sweeter far 
 Than any song is sweet : 
 Sweet music, heavenly rare. 
 Mine ears, O peers, doth greet. 
 
 [209] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 You gentle flocks, whose fleeces pearled with 
 dew, 
 Resemble heaven, whom golden drops make 
 bright. 
 Listen, Oh, listen, now. Oh, not to you 
 Our pipes make sport to shorten weary 
 night : 
 But voices most divine 
 
 Make blissful harmony; 
 Voices that seem to shine, 
 For what else clears the sky? 
 Tunes can we hear, but not the singers see, 
 The tunes divine, and so the singers be. 
 
 Lo, how the firmament 
 
 Within an azure fold 
 The flock of stars hath pent. 
 That we might them behold ! 
 Yet from their beams proceedeth not this light, 
 Nor can their crystals such reflection give. 
 What, then, doth make the element so bright ? 
 The heavens are come down upon earth to 
 live. 
 
 But hearken to the song, 
 Glory to glory's King, 
 
 [210] 
 
^ HE . LOVES . THAT . SERVE . HIM )^ 
 
 And peace all men among, 
 These quiristers do sing. 
 Angels they are, as also (shepherds) He 
 Whom in our fear we do admire to see. 
 
 Let not amazement blind 
 
 Your souls, said He, annoy : 
 To you and all mankind 
 My message bringeth joy. 
 For lo! the world's great Shepherd now is 
 born, 
 A blessed Babe, an Infant full of power : 
 After long night uprisen in the morn, 
 Renowning Bethlem in the Saviour. 
 Sprung is the perfect day, 
 By prophets seen afar; 
 Sprung is the mirthful May, 
 Which winter cannot mar. 
 In David's city doth this Sun appear 
 Clouded in flesh, yet, shepherds, sit we here? 
 
 Edmund Bolton. 
 
 [211] 
 
^ THE • CHRISTAIAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The Shepherds 
 
 SWEET, harmless lives! [up] on whose 
 holy leisure 
 Waits Innocence and pleasure — 
 Whose leaders to those pastures and clear 
 springs 
 Were Patriarchs, Saints, and Kings : 
 How happened it that in the dead of night 
 
 You, only, saw true light, 
 While Palestine was fast asleep, and lay 
 
 Without one thought of Day ? 
 Was it because those first and blessed swains 
 
 Were pilgrims on those plains 
 When they received the Promise, for which 
 now 
 'Twas there first shown to you? 
 Tis true He loves that dust whereon they go 
 
 That serve Him here below. 
 And therefore might, for memory of those, 
 
 His love there first disclose; 
 But wretched Salem, once His love, must 
 now 
 No voice nor vision know: — 
 
 [212] 
 
^ ADORE . THE • LAMB • OF • GOD ^ 
 
 Her stately piles, with all their height and 
 pride, 
 
 Now languished and died. 
 And Bethlem's humble cots above them stept, 
 
 While all her seers slept; 
 Her cedar, fir, hew'd stones and gold, were all 
 
 Polluted through their fall. 
 And those once sacred mansions were now 
 
 Mere emptiness and show. 
 This made the Angel call at reeds and thatch : 
 
 Yet where the shepherds watch. 
 And God's own lodging — though He could 
 not lack — 
 
 To be a common rack. 
 No costly pride, no soft-clothed luxury 
 
 In those thin cells could lie; 
 Each stirring wind and storm blew through 
 their cots, 
 
 Which never harbored plots; 
 Only Content and Love and humble joys 
 
 Lived there without all noise; 
 Perhaps some harmless cares for the next day 
 
 Did in their bosoms play, 
 As where to lead their sheep, what silent 
 nook. 
 
 What springs or shades to look; 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |X( 
 
 But that was all : And now with gladsome 
 care 
 They for the town prepare; 
 They leave their flock, and in a busy talk 
 
 i\ll toward Bethlem walk 
 To see their souls' great Shepherd, Who w^as 
 come 
 To bring all stragglers home ; 
 Where now they find Him out, and, taught 
 before. 
 That Lamb of God adore — 
 That Lamb Whose days great kings and 
 prophets wish'd 
 And long'd to see, but miss'd. 
 The first light they beheld was bright and gay, 
 
 And turn'd their night to day; — 
 But to this later light they saw^ in Him 
 Their day was dark and dim. 
 
 Henry Vaughan. 
 
 [214] 
 
^ GOD . WITH . US . WAS • BORN ^ 
 
 The True Christmas 
 
 SO, stick up ivie and the bays, 
 And then restore the heathen ways. 
 Green will remind you of the spring, 
 Though this great day denies the thing; 
 And mortifies the earth, and all 
 But your wild revels, and loose hall. 
 Could you wear flowers, and roses strow 
 Blushing upon your breast's warm snow. 
 That very dress your lightness will 
 Rebuke, and wither at the will. 
 The brightness of this day we owe 
 Not unto music, masque nor showe ; 
 Nor gallant furniture, nor plate, 
 But to the manger's mean estate. 
 His life while here, as v/ell as birth, 
 Was but a check to pomp and mirth ; 
 And all man's greatness you may see 
 Condemned by his humility. 
 
 Then leave your open house and noise, 
 To welcome him with holy joys. 
 And the poor shepherds' watchfulness ; 
 Whom light and hymns from heaven did 
 bless. 
 
 [215] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 What you abound with, cast abroad 
 To those that want, and ease your loade. 
 Who empties thus will bring more in ; 
 But riot is both loss and sin. 
 Dress finely what comes not in sight, 
 And then you keep your Christmas right. 
 Henry Vaughan. 
 (''Thalia Rediviva/') 
 
 Gloria in Excelsis 
 
 AS on the night before the happy morn, 
 A blessed angel unto shepherds told 
 Where (in a stable) He was poorly born, 
 Whom nor the earth nor heaven of heavens 
 can hold : 
 Through Bethlehem rung 
 
 This new^s at their return ; 
 Yea, angels sung 
 
 That God with us was born ; 
 And they made mirth because we should not 
 mourn. 
 
 [216] 
 
^ THE . GOD . OF • LOVE • IS • COME >^ 
 
 Their angel carol sing we then, 
 To God on high all glory be, 
 For peace on earth bestoweth He, 
 
 And sheweth favour unto men. 
 
 This favour Christ vouchsafed for our sake ; 
 
 To buy us thrones, He in a manger lay ; 
 Our weaknes took, that we His strength might 
 take; 
 And was disrobed that He might us array ; 
 Our flesh He wore. 
 
 Our sin to wear away ; 
 Our curse He bore. 
 That we escape it may ; 
 And wept for us that we might sing for aye. 
 With angels therefore, sing again. 
 To God on high all glory be, 
 For peace on earth bestoweth He, 
 And sheweth favour unto men. 
 
 George Wither. 
 
 [217] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^Z^ 
 
 Psalm for Christmas Day 
 
 FAIREST of morning lights appear, 
 Thou blest and gaudy day, 
 On which was born our Saviour dear; 
 Arise and come away ! 
 
 This day prevents His day of doom ; 
 
 His mercy now is nigh ; 
 The mighty God of Love is come, 
 
 The Dayspring from on high ! 
 
 Behold the great Creator makes 
 Himself an house of clay, 
 
 A robe of Mrgin-flesh He takes, 
 \Miich He will wear for ave. 
 
 Hark! hark! the wise Eternal Word 
 Like a weak infant cries : 
 
 In form of servant is the Lord, 
 And God in cradle lies. 
 
 [218] 
 
^ ETERXITY . SHUT • IX • A • SPAN ^ 
 
 This wonder struck the world amazed, 
 It shook the starry frame ; 
 
 Squadrons of Spirits stood and gazed, 
 Then down in troops they came. 
 
 Glad Shepherds ran to view this sight : 
 
 A choir of Angels sings ; 
 And Eastern Sages with delight 
 
 Adore this King of kings. 
 
 Join then, all hearts that are not stone, 
 
 And all our voices prove, 
 To celebrate this Holy One, 
 
 The God of peace and love. 
 
 Thomas Pestel. 
 
 At Bethlehem 
 
 COME, we shepherds, whose blest sight 
 Hath met Love's noon in Nature's night : 
 Come, lift we up our loftier song, 
 And w^ake the Sun, that lies too long. 
 
 [219] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )^ 
 
 Gloomy night embraced the place 
 
 Where the noble Infant lay : 
 The Babe look'd up, and show'd His face — 
 
 In spite of darkness, it was day. 
 It was Thy day, Sweet ! and did rise 
 Not from the East, but from Thine eyes. 
 
 We saw Thee in Thy balmy nest, 
 Young dawn of our eternal Day ; 
 
 We saw Thine eyes break from their East 
 And chase the trembling shades away; 
 
 We saw Thee (and we blest the sight), 
 
 We saw Thee by Thine own sweet light. 
 
 Welcome, all wonders in one sight ! 
 
 Eternity shut in a span ! 
 Summer in Winter ! Day in Night ! 
 
 Heaven in Earth ! and God in man ! 
 Great Little One, Whose all-embracing birth 
 Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to 
 Earth. 
 
 Richard Crashaw. 
 
 [ ^^o] 
 
^ TO-DAY • A . SAVIOR • IS • BORN }^ 
 
 The Nativity 
 
 SHEPHERDS, rejoice, lift up your eyes, 
 And send your fears away ; 
 News from the region of the skies ! 
 Salvation's born to-day. 
 
 ''Jesus, the God whom Angels fear, 
 Comes down to dwell with you; 
 To-day He makes His entrance here, 
 But not as monarchs do. 
 
 *'No gold, nor purple swaddling-bands, 
 Nor royal shining things ; 
 A manger for His cradle stands. 
 And holds the King of kings. 
 
 "Go, shepherds, where the Infant lies, 
 And see His humble throne: 
 With tears of joy in all your eyes 
 Go, shepherds, kiss the Son." 
 
 Thus Gabriel sang; and straight around 
 
 The heavenly armies throng; 
 They tune their harps to lofty sound. 
 
 And thus conclude the song: 
 
 [221] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 "Glory to God that reigns above, 
 Let peace surround the Earth ; 
 Mortals shall know their Maker's love 
 At their Redeemer's birth." 
 
 Lord ! and shall angels have their songs, 
 
 And men no tunes to raise ? 
 O may we lose these useless tongues 
 
 When they forget to praise! 
 
 Glory to God that reigns above. 
 
 That pitied us, forlorn! 
 We join to sing our Maker's love — 
 
 For there's a Saviour born. 
 
 Isaac Watts. 
 
 Christmas Eve 
 
 IT was the death-time of the year — 
 Sing, Gloria in Excelsis Deo! 
 How chill, how keen the stars appear ! 
 The frost is on each gray grass-spear. 
 And frozen white are river and mere. 
 
 [ 222 ] 
 
 J 
 
^ GLORIA • IN . EXCESIS • DEO ! ^ 
 
 All human folk are housed warm — 
 
 Sing, Gloria in Excelsis Deo! 
 With light and fire 'gainst night and storm. 
 And little children, safe from harm, 
 Each in its tender mother's arm. 
 
 Like the swan's plume the snow^s are spread- 
 Sing, Gloria in Excelsis Deo! 
 With Christ's dear mother lacking bed. 
 All doors are shut against her need, 
 Except the humble cattle-shed. 
 
 Shake down the grass for her to lie — 
 
 Sing, Gloria in Excelsis Deo! 
 And bid the quiet beasts draw nigh. 
 All Heaven shall now abase its eye, 
 Nor view the Birth so Heavenly. 
 
 Alone upon that holy ground — 
 
 Sing, Gloria in Excelsis Deo! 
 The ass and oxen knelt in swound. 
 While Bedlam lay in slumber bound, 
 The ass, the ox, were worthy found. 
 
 [ 223 ] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Before the Kings and Shepherds these — 
 
 Sing, Gloria in Excelsis Deo! 
 And Powers and Principalities. 
 With ass and oxen on their knees, 
 He doth exalt all lowliness, 
 
 Oh, dull and sin-clogged hearts of men — 
 
 Sing, Gloria in Excelsis Deo! 
 With frost upon the window pane, 
 God save ye, merry gentlemen: 
 For Christ, Our Lord, is born again. 
 
 Katharine Tynan. 
 
 [224] 
 
CHRISTMAS CAROLS 
 
 WHEN Christ was born of Mary free 
 In Bethlehem in that fair citie, 
 Angels sungen with mirth and glee, 
 In Excelsis Gloria! 
 
 Herdsmen beheld these angels bright 
 To them appeared with great light, 
 And said, God's son is born this night, 
 In Excelsis Gloria! 
 
 This King is comen to save kind 
 [Even] in Scripture as we find, 
 [There] fore this song have we in mind, 
 In Excelsis Gloria! 
 
 [Then, dear] Lord, for Thy great grace 
 [Grant us] in bliss to see Thy face, 
 Where we may sing to Thee solace, 
 In Excelsis Gloria! 
 
 Harleian MS,, A.D. 1500. 
 
 [225] 
 
1^ SIXG • PRAISES • TO • OUR • LORD ^ 
 
 The First Nowell 
 
 THE first Nowell the Angel did say, 
 Was to three poor shepherds in fields as 
 they lay ; 
 In fields where they lay keeping their sheep 
 In a cold winter's night that was so deep. 
 Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, 
 Born is the King of Israel. 
 
 They looked up and saw a star 
 Shining in the East beyond them far, 
 And to the earth it gave great light, 
 And so it continued both day and night. 
 
 Nowell, Nowell — 
 
 And by the light of that same star. 
 Three Wise Men came from country far. 
 To seek for a King was their intent, 
 And to follow the star wherever it went. 
 
 Nowell, Nowell — 
 
 The star drew night to the north-west, 
 O'er Bethlehem it took rest, 
 
 [227] 
 
|X^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 And there it did both stop and stay 
 Right over the place where Jesus lay. 
 
 Nowell, Nowell — 
 
 Then did they know assuredly 
 Within that house the King did lie ; 
 One entered in then for to see 
 And found the babe in poverty. 
 
 Nowell, Nowell — 
 
 Then entered in those Wise Men three 
 Most reverently upon their knee, 
 And offered there in His presence 
 Both gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. 
 
 Nowell, Nowell— 
 
 Between an ox stall and an ass. 
 This child truly there born He was ; 
 For w^ant of clothing they did Him lay 
 In the manger, among the hay. 
 
 Nowell, Nowell — 
 
 Then let us all with one accord 
 
 Sing praises to our heavenly Lord, 
 
 That hath made heaven and earth of nought, 
 
 And with his blood mankind hath bought. 
 
 Nowell, Nowell — 
 
 [228] 
 
^ LET . ALL . REJOICE • AMAIN ^ 
 
 If we in our time shall do well, 
 
 We shall be free from death and Hell, 
 
 For God hath prepared for us all 
 
 A resting-place in general. 
 
 Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, 
 Born is the King of Israel. 
 
 Old Ccr I 
 
 I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In 
 
 1SAW three ships come sailing in 
 On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; 
 I saw three ships come sailing in 
 On Christmas day in the morning. 
 
 And what was in those ships all three 
 On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; 
 
 And what was in those ships all three 
 On Christmas day in the morning? 
 
 Our Saviour Christ and his lady. 
 
 On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; 
 
 Our Saviour Christ and his lady, 
 On Christmas day in the morning. 
 
 [229] 
 
|X^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Pray whither sailed those ships all three 
 On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; 
 
 Pray whither sailed those ships all three 
 On Christmas day in the morning? 
 
 O they sailed into Bethlehem 
 
 On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; 
 O they sailed into Bethlehem 
 
 On Christmas day in the morning. 
 
 And all the bells on earth shall ring 
 On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; 
 
 And all the bells on earth shall ring 
 On Christmas day in the morning. 
 
 And all the angels in heaven shall sing 
 On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; 
 
 And all the angels in heaven shall sing 
 On Christmas day in the morning. 
 
 And all the souls on earth shall sing 
 On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; 
 
 And all the souls on earth shall sing 
 On Christmas day in the morning. 
 
 [230] 
 
^ TIDINGS . OF . COMFORT • AND • JOY ^ 
 
 Then let us all rejoice amain 
 
 On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; 
 Then let us all rejoice amain 
 
 On Christmas day in the morning. 
 
 Anonymous, 
 
 God Rest you, Merry Gentlemen 
 
 GOD rest you, merry gentlemen, 
 Let nothing you dismay, 
 For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
 
 Was born upon this day 
 To save us all from Satan's power 
 When we were gone astray. 
 O tidings of comfort and joy, 
 For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
 Was born on Christmas day. 
 
 In Bethlehem in Jewry 
 
 This blessed Babe was born, 
 
 And laid within a manger 
 Upon this blessed morn ; 
 
 The which his mother Mary 
 Nothing did take in scorn. 
 
 [231] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 O tidings of comfort and joy, 
 For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
 Was born on Christmas day. 
 
 From God our Heavenly Father 
 
 A blessed angel came. 
 And unto certain shepherds 
 
 Brought tidings of the same, 
 How that in Bethlehem was born 
 The Son of God by name. 
 
 O tidings of comfort and joy, 
 For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
 Was born on Christmas day. 
 
 Fear not, then said the angel, 
 
 Let nothing you affright. 
 This day is born a Saviour 
 
 Of virtue, power, and might; 
 So frequently to vanquish all 
 The friends of Satan quite. 
 O tidings of comfort and joy, 
 For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
 Was born on Christmas day. 
 
 The Shepherds at those tidings 
 Rejoiced much in mind, 
 
 [232] 
 
^ SING • BYBY . LULLAY ^ 
 
 And left their flocks a-feeding 
 In tempest, storm and wind, 
 And went to Bethlehem straightway, 
 This blessed Babe to find. 
 
 O tidings of comfort and joy, 
 For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
 Was born on Christmas day. 
 
 But when to Bethlehem they came, 
 
 Whereat this infant lay, 
 They found him in a manger 
 Where oxen feed on hay; 
 His mother Mary kneeling 
 Unto the Lord did pray. 
 
 O tidings of comfort and joy, 
 For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
 Was born on Christmas day. 
 
 Now to the Lord sing praises, 
 All you within this place, 
 
 And with true love and brotherhood 
 Each other now embrace ; 
 
 This holy tide of Christmas 
 All others doth deface. 
 
 [233] 
 
|X^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 O tidings of comfort and joy, 
 For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
 Was born on Christmas day. 
 
 Anonymous- 
 
 This Endris Night 
 
 r 
 
 ^HIS endris^ night 
 I saw a sight, 
 A star as bright as day; 
 And ever among 
 A maiden sung, 
 
 Lullay, byby, lullay. 
 This lovely lady sat and sang, and to her childe 
 
 said: 
 ''My son, my brother, my father dear, why liest 
 thou thus in hayd?^ 
 My sweete brid,^ 
 Thus it is betid 
 
 Though thou be King veray ; 
 But, nevertheless, 
 I will not cease 
 
 To sing byby, lullay." 
 
 I last; 2 hay; 3 bird. 
 
 [234] 
 
^ LET . ALL . FULFILL . THY • WILL )^ 
 
 The child then spake ; in his talking he to his 
 
 mother said : 
 "I bekid* am king, in crib though I be laid ; 
 For angels bright 
 Down to me light, 
 
 Thou knowest it is no nay. 
 And of that sight 
 Thou mayest be light, 
 To sing byby, lullay." 
 
 **Now, sweet son, since thou art king, why art 
 
 thou laid in stall? 
 Why not thou ordain thy bedding in some 
 great King's hall? 
 Methinketh it is right 
 That king or knight 
 
 Should be in good array; 
 And then among 
 It were no wrong 
 To sing byby, lullay." 
 
 ''Mary, mother, I am thy child, though I be 
 
 laid in stall; 
 Lords and dukes shall worship me, and so shall 
 
 kinges all. 
 
 4 known or signified. 
 
 [235] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Ye shall well see 
 That kinges three 
 
 Shall come on the twelfth day; 
 For this behest 
 Give me thy breast, 
 
 And sing byby, lullay." 
 
 *'Now tell me^ sweet son, I thee pray, thou art 
 
 my love and dear, 
 How should I keep thee to thy pay,^ and make 
 
 thee glad of cheer? 
 For all thy will 
 I would fulfil. 
 
 Thou weet'st full well in fay.^ 
 And for all this 
 I will thee kiss, 
 
 And sing byby, lullay." 
 
 "My dear mother, when time it be, take thou 
 
 me up aloft, 
 And set me upon thy knee, and handle me full 
 soft. 
 And in thy arm 
 Thou wilt me warm, 
 
 5 content; 6 faith. 
 
 [236] 
 
^ EARTH . WITH • JOY • IS • RINGING ^ 
 
 And keep night and day; 
 If I weep, 
 And may not sleep, 
 
 Thou sing byby, lullay/' 
 
 ''Now, sweet son, since it is so, all things are 
 
 at thy will, 
 I pray thee grant to me a boon, if it be right 
 and skill. 
 That child or man. 
 That will and can. 
 
 Be merry upon my day ; 
 To bliss them bring, 
 And I shall sing 
 
 Lullay, byby, lullay." 
 (Old Carol, reprinted from the Percy Society's 
 text.) 
 
 To-day in Bethlehem 
 
 TO-DAY in Bethlehem hear I 
 Sweet angel voices singing, 
 All glory be to God on high, 
 Who peace to earth is bringing. 
 
 [237] 
 
^ A • CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The Virgin Mary holdeth more 
 Than highest heaven most holy : 
 
 Light shines on what was dark before, 
 And lifteth up the lowly. 
 
 God wills that peace should be in earth, 
 
 And holy exultation : 
 Sweet Babe, I greet Thy spotless birth 
 
 And wondrous Incarnation. 
 To-day in Bethlehem hear I 
 
 Even the lowly singing : 
 With angel-words they pierce the sky ; 
 
 All earth with joy is ringing. 
 — From the Greek of John of Damascus 
 by Philip Schaaf, D.D. 
 
 The Cherry-Tree Carol 
 
 A 
 
 S Joseph was a-walking, 
 He heard an angel sing, 
 
 'This night shall be the birth-time 
 Of Christ, our heavenly King.'' 
 
 [238] 
 
yZ^ HEAVEN • OUR • GLORIOUS • HOME ^ 
 
 He neither shall be born 
 
 In housen nor in hall, 
 Nor in the place of paradise, 
 
 But in an ox's stall. 
 
 He neither shall be clothed 
 
 In purple nor in pall, 
 But in the fair white linen 
 
 That usen babies all. 
 
 He neither shall be rocked 
 
 In silver nor in gold. 
 But in a wooden manger 
 
 That resteth on the mould." 
 
 As Joseph was a-walking. 
 
 There did an angel sing, 
 And Mary's child at midnight 
 
 Was born to be our King. 
 
 Then be ye glad, good people. 
 
 This night of all the year. 
 And light ye up your candles, 
 
 For His star it shineth clear. 
 
 Old English Carol. 
 [239] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The Golden Carol 
 
 [Of ^lelchior, Balthazar, and Caspar, the 
 Three Kings of Cologne.] 
 
 WE saw the light shine out a-far, 
 On Christmas in the morning, 
 And straight we knew Christ's Star it w^as, 
 Bright beaming in the morning. 
 
 Then did we fall on bended knee, 
 On Christmas in the morning, 
 
 And prais'd the Lord, who'd let us see 
 His glory at its drawning. 
 
 Oh ! ever thought be of His Name, 
 On Christmas in the morning, 
 
 Who bore for us both grief and shame, 
 Aflfection's sharpest scorning. 
 
 And may we die (when death shall come). 
 On Christmas in the morning, 
 
 And see in heav'n, our glorious home, 
 The Star of Christmas morning. 
 
 Old English Carol, 
 [240] 
 
 I 
 
^ REJOICE . AND . BE . MERRY ^ 
 
 A Virgin Most Pure 
 
 A VIRGIN most pure, as the prophets do 
 tell, 
 Hath brought forth a babe, as it hath her befell, 
 To be our Redeemer from death, hell, and sin, 
 Which Adam's transgression hath wrapt us all 
 in. 
 Rejoice and be merry, set sorrow aside, 
 Christ Jesus, our Saviour, was born at 
 this tide. 
 
 In Bethlehem city, in Jewry it was, 
 Where Joseph and Mary together did pass. 
 And there to be taxed, with many one mo'. 
 For Caesar commanded the same should be so. 
 Rejoice and be merry — 
 
 But, when they had entered the city so fair. 
 The number of people so mighty was there. 
 That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was 
 
 small, 
 Could get in the city no lodging at all. 
 
 Rejoice and be merry — 
 
 [ 241 ] 
 
I 
 
 |X( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ |^ 
 
 Then they were constrain'd in a stable to he, 
 Where oxen and asses they used to tie ; 
 Their lodging so simple, they held it no scorn. 
 But against the next morning our Saviour was 
 born. 
 
 Rejoice and be merry — 
 
 The King of all Glory to the world being 
 
 brought, 
 Small store of fine linen to wrap him was 
 
 wrought ; 
 When Mary had swaddled her young son so 
 
 sweet. 
 Within an ox manger she laid him to sleep. 
 
 Rejoice and be merry — 
 
 Then God sent an angel from Heaven so high, 
 To certain poor Shepherds in fields where they 
 
 lie. 
 And bid them no longer in sorrow to stay, 
 Because that our Saviour was born on this 
 
 day. 
 
 Rejoice and be merry — 
 
 Then presently after, the Shepherds did spy 
 A number of Angels appear in the sky, 
 
 [242] 
 
|X( NIGHT . FLIE • HEXCE • AWAY ^ 
 
 Who joyfully talked, and sweetly did sing, 
 'To God be all Glory, our Heavenly King/' 
 
 Rejoice and be merry — 
 
 Three certain wise Princes, they thought it 
 
 most meek 
 To lay their rich off'rings at our Saviour's 
 
 feet; 
 Then the Shepherds consent, and to Bethlehem 
 
 did go, 
 And when they came thither they found it 
 was so. 
 Rejoice and be merry, set sorrow aside, 
 Christ Jesus, our Saviour, was born at 
 this tide. 
 
 Old Carol. 
 
 [243] 
 
}^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 CJionis: 
 
 WHAT sweeter music can we bring, 
 Than a Carroll for to sing 
 The Birth of this our heavenly King? 
 Aw^ake the voice ! awake the String ! 
 Heart, Ears, and Eye, and every thing 
 Awake ! the while the active Finger 
 Runs division wuth the Singer. 
 
 From the Flourish they came to the Song: 
 
 1. Dark and dull night, flie hence away, 
 And give the honour to this Day, 
 That sees December turn'd to May. 
 
 2. If we may ask the reason, say; 
 
 The why, and wherefore all things here 
 Seem like the Springtime of the yeere ? 
 
 3. Why do's the chilling Winters morne 
 Smile, like a field beset with corne? 
 Or smell, like to a meade new^-shorne, 
 Thus, on the sudden ? 4. Come and see 
 
 [244] 
 
^ THE . GLORIOUS • SOXG • OF • OLD |X< 
 
 The cause, why things thus fragrant be : 
 'Tis He is borne, whose quick'ning Birth 
 Gives Life and luster, pubHke mirth. 
 To Heaven, and the under-Earth. 
 
 Chorus: 
 We see Him come, and know Him ours, 
 Who, with His sunshine, and His showers, 
 Turnes all the patient ground to flowers. 
 
 I. The Darling of the World is come, 
 And fit it is, we find a roome 
 To welcome Him. 2. The nobler part 
 Of all the house here, is the heart. 
 
 Chorus: 
 Which we will give Him ; and bequeath 
 This Hollie, and this Ivie Wreath, 
 To do Him honour ; Who's our King, 
 And Lord of all this Revelling. 
 
 Robert Herrick. 
 CHis Noble Xumhcrsr) 
 
 [245] 
 
|X( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 IT came upon the midnight clear, 
 The glorious song of old, 
 From angels bending near the earth, 
 
 To touch their harps of gold : 
 ''Peace on earth, good-will to men 
 
 From heaven's all-gracious King/' 
 The world in solemn stillness lay 
 To hear the angels sing. 
 
 Still through the cloven skies they came, 
 
 With peaceful wings unfurled; 
 And still their heavenly music floats 
 
 O'er all the weary world : 
 Above its sad and lowly plains 
 
 They bend on hovering wing. 
 And ever o'er its Babel sounds 
 
 The blessed angels sing. 
 
 But with the woes of sin and strife 
 The world has suffered long; 
 
 Beneath the angel-strain have rolled 
 Two thousand years of wrong; 
 
 [2461 
 
^ GLORY . TO . GOD • ON . HIGH ^ 
 
 And man, at war with man, hears not 
 The love song which they bring: 
 
 Oh, hush the noise, ye men of strife, 
 And hear the angels sing. 
 
 And ye, beneath life's crushing load, 
 
 Whose forms are bending low. 
 Who toil along the climbing way 
 
 With painful steps and slow, 
 Look now, for glad and golden hours 
 
 Come swiftly on the wing: 
 Oh, rest beside the weary road. 
 
 And hear the angels sing. 
 
 For lo, the days are hastening on 
 
 By prophet bards foretold. 
 When with the ever circling years 
 
 Comes round the age of gold : 
 When Peace shall over all the earth 
 
 Its ancient splendors fling. 
 And the whole world give back the song 
 
 Which now the angels sing. 
 
 Edmund Hamilton Sears. 
 
 [247] 
 
^ 
 
 THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY 
 
 ^ 
 
 Christmas Carol 
 
 O'ER the world, in silence sleeping, 
 Countless stars shone clear and bright ; 
 Lonely, silent vigil keeping, 
 
 Shepherds watched their flocks by night. 
 
 Hour by hour the night was numbered, 
 'Neath the distant Eastern skies ; 
 
 Hour by hour their charges slumbered, 
 Guarded by their watchful eyes. 
 
 Suddenly the skies were rifted — 
 Heaven's curtain rent in twain — 
 
 On their startled gaze, uplifted, 
 Burst the wondrous angel-train. 
 
 Sweeping downward through the arches 
 
 Of the rent and cloven sky. 
 Grander than the grandest marches 
 
 Of earth's hosts, to victory ; 
 
 [248] 
 
■ ^ O . CLEAR . AXD . SHIXIXG . LIGHT ^ 
 
 Nobler than the greatest glory 
 
 Annalled on the page of time, 
 Sung in verse, or told in story, 
 
 Came the angel host, sublime! 
 
 All the vault of heaven, ringing 
 
 To the music of the sky ; 
 Golden lyres, and angels singing: 
 
 ''Glory be to God on high !" 
 
 Voices that before creation 
 
 Rang the anthems of His praise, 
 
 Now, in endless adoration, 
 
 Sang anew His wondrous grace : 
 
 Carolled forth the gracious story 
 Of God's love and pardon, then 
 
 Sang: 'To God on high be glory. 
 Peace on earth, good-will to men!" 
 
 Golden lyres, by angel fingers 
 
 Swept, rang forth the strain again; 
 
 Soft, angelic-sweet, it lingers — 
 
 ''Peace on earth, good-will to men!'' 
 
 Geo. Chaxning Thomas. 
 
 [249] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Christmas Carol 
 
 O LOVELY voices of the sky, 
 That hymned the Saviour's birth ! 
 Are ye not singing still on high, 
 Ye that sang "Peace on Earth!" 
 To us yet speak the strains 
 
 Wherewith, in days gone by, 
 Ye blessed the Syrian swains, 
 O voices of the sky ! 
 
 O clear and shining light ! whose beams 
 
 That hour heaven's glory shed 
 Around the palms, and o'er the streams, 
 And on the shepherd's head ; 
 
 Be near, through life and death. 
 
 As in that holiest night, 
 Of Hope, and Joy, and Faith, 
 O clear and shining light ! 
 
 O star ! which led to Him whose love 
 Brought down man's ransom free ; 
 
 Where art thou? — 'midst the hosts above 
 May \Ye still gaze on thee? 
 
 [250] 
 
|X^ OF . GLORY . AND • OF • PEACE ^ 
 
 In heaven thou art not set, 
 
 Thy ways earth might not dim, 
 
 Send them to guide us yet, 
 O star which led to Him ! 
 
 Felicia Hemans. 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 THE moon that now is shining 
 In skies so blue and bright. 
 Shone ages since on Shepherds 
 
 Who watched their flocks by night. 
 There was no sound upon the earth, 
 
 The azure air was still, 
 The sheep in quiet clusters lay 
 Upon the grassy hill. 
 
 When lo ! a white-winged Angei 
 
 The watchers stood before^ 
 And told how Christ was born on earth 
 
 For mortals to adore; 
 He bade the trembling Shepherds 
 
 Listen, nor be afraid, 
 And told how in a manger 
 
 The glorious Child w^as laid. 
 
 [251] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 When suddenly in the Heavens 
 
 Appeared an Angel band — 
 (The while in reverent wonder 
 
 The Syrian Shepherds stand), 
 And all the bright host chanted 
 
 Words that shall never cease — 
 Glory to God in the highest, 
 
 On earth good- will and peace! 
 
 The vision in the heavens 
 
 Faded, and all was still, 
 And the wondering shepherds left their flocks 
 
 To feed upon the hill : 
 Toward the blessed city 
 
 Quickly their course they held, 
 And in a lowly stable 
 
 Virgin and Child beheld. 
 
 Beside a humble manger 
 
 Was the Maiden Mother mild. 
 And in her arms her Son divine, 
 
 A newborn Infant, smiled. 
 No shade of future sorrow 
 
 From Calvary then was cast, 
 Only the glory was revealed. 
 
 The suffering was not past. 
 
 [252] 
 
|X( SING . TILL . THE • NIGHT • EXPIRE ^ 
 
 The Eastern kings before Him knelt, 
 
 And rarest offerings brought ; 
 The shepherds worshipped and adored 
 
 The wonders God had wrought : 
 They saw the crown for Israel's King, 
 
 The future's glorious part — 
 But all these things the Mother kept 
 
 And pondered in her heart. 
 
 Now we that Maiden Mother 
 
 The Queen of Heaven call, 
 And the Child we call our Jesus, 
 
 Saviour and Judge of all — 
 But the star that shone in Bethlehem 
 
 Shines still, and shall not cease, 
 And we listen still to the tidings 
 
 Of Glory and of Peace. 
 
 Adelaide A. Procter. 
 
 [253] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 A. Christmas Carol 
 
 I HEAR along our street 
 Pass the minstrel throngs ; 
 Hark! they play so sweet 
 On their hautboys, Christmas songs! 
 Let us by the fire 
 Ever higher 
 Sing them till the night expire. 
 
 In December ring 
 
 Every day the chimes ; 
 
 Loud the gleemen sing 
 In the streets their merry rhymes. 
 
 Let us by the fire 
 
 Ever higher 
 Sing them till the night expire. 
 
 Shepherds at the grange, 
 Where the Babe was born, 
 Sang, with many a change, 
 
 Christmas carols until morn. 
 Let us by the fire 
 Ever higher 
 
 Sing them till the night expire. 
 
 [ 254 ] 
 
|X( MAKE . GLAD • THE • HEART ^ 
 
 These good people sang 
 
 Songs devout and sweet; 
 
 While the rafters rang, 
 There they stood with freezing feet. 
 
 Let us by the fire 
 
 Ever higher 
 Sing them till the night expire. 
 
 Nuns in frigid cells, 
 
 At this holy tide, 
 
 For want of something else, 
 Christmas songs at times have tried. 
 
 Let us by the fire 
 
 Ever higher 
 Sing them till the night expire. 
 
 Washerwomen old. 
 To the sound they beat, 
 Sing by rivers cold, 
 
 With uncovered heads and feet. 
 Let us by the fire 
 Ever higher 
 
 Sing them till the night expire. 
 
 [255] 
 
|Z( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Who by the fireside stands, 
 Stamps his feet and sings ; 
 But he who blows his hands 
 Not so gay a carol brings. 
 Let us by the fire 
 Ever higher 
 Sing them till the night expire ! 
 
 Henry W. Longfellow. 
 (From The Noei Bourguignon De Gui 
 Barozai.) 
 
 Good King Wenceslas 
 
 GOOD King Wenceslas look'd out 
 On the Feast of Stephen, 
 When the snow lay round about, 
 
 Deep and crisp, and even ; 
 Brightly shone the moon that night, 
 
 Though the frost was cruel. 
 When a poor man came in sight, 
 Gathering winter fuel. 
 
 [256] 
 
^ BLESS . THE • POOR |^ 
 
 ''Hither, page, and stand by me, 
 
 If thou know'st it, telHng, 
 Yonder' peasant, who is he? 
 
 Where and what his dwelHng?" 
 ''Sire, he Hves a good league hence, 
 
 Underneath the mountain; 
 Right against the forest fence, 
 
 By Saint xA^gnes' fountain." 
 
 "Bring me fiesh, and bring me wine, 
 
 Bring me pine logs hither ; 
 Thou and I will see him dine, 
 
 When we bear them thither." 
 Page and monarch forth they went, 
 
 Forth they went together; 
 Through the rude wind's wild lament 
 
 And the bitter weather. 
 
 "Sire, the night is darker now, 
 
 And the wind blows stronger; 
 Fails my heart, I know not how, 
 
 I can go no longer." 
 "Mark my footsteps, my good page, 
 
 Tread thou in them boldly ; 
 Thou shalt find the winter's rage 
 
 Freeze thy blood less coldly." 
 
 [257] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY fl^ 
 
 In his master's steps he trod, 
 
 Where the snow lay dinted; 
 Heat was in the very sod 
 
 Which the saint had printed. 
 Therefore Christian men, be sure. 
 
 Wealth or rank possessing. 
 Ye who now will bless the poor, 
 
 Shall yourselves find blessing. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Neale. 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 IN the bleak midwinter 
 Frosty winds made moan, 
 Earth stood hard as iron, 
 
 Water like a stone ; 
 Snow had fallen, snow on snow, 
 
 Snow on snow, 
 In the bleak midwinter 
 Long ago. 
 
 Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him 
 
 Nor earth sustain ; 
 Heaven and earth shall flee away 
 
 When He comes to reign: 
 
 [258] 
 
^ GIVE . CHRIST . THY • HEART ^ 
 
 In the bleak midwinter 
 
 A stable-place sufficed 
 The Lord God Almighty 
 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 Enough for Him, whom cherubim 
 
 Worship night and day, 
 A breastful of milk 
 
 And a mangerful of hay ; 
 Enough for Him, whom angels 
 
 Fall down before. 
 The ox and ass and camel 
 
 Which adore. 
 
 Angels and archangels 
 
 May have gathered there, 
 Cherubim and seraphim 
 
 Thronged the air ; 
 But only His mother, 
 
 In her maiden bliss, 
 Worshipped the Beloved 
 
 With a kiss. 
 
 What can I give Him, 
 Poor as I am ? 
 
 [259] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 If I were a shepherd 
 
 I would bring a lamb ; 
 If I were a Wise Alan 
 
 I would do my part ; 
 Yet what can I give Him — 
 
 Give my heart. 
 
 Christina G. Rossetti. 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 LO ! new-born Jesus, 
 Soft and weak and small. 
 Wrapped in baby's bands 
 By His mother's hands, 
 Lord God of all. 
 
 Lord God of Mary, 
 Whom His lips caress 
 
 While He rocks to rest 
 
 On her milky breast 
 In helplessness. 
 
 [260] 
 
^ JESUS . THE . GUIDIXG • STAR ^ 
 
 Lord God of shepherds 
 
 Flocking through the cold, 
 
 Flocking through the dark 
 
 To the only Ark, 
 The only Fold. 
 
 Lord God of all things, 
 
 Be they near or far, 
 Be they high or low; 
 Lord of storm and snow, 
 
 Angel and star. 
 
 Lord God of all men — 
 
 My Lord and my God ! 
 Thou who lovest me, 
 Keep me close to Thee 
 
 By staff and rod. 
 
 Lo ! new-born Jesus, 
 
 Loving great and small. 
 Love's free Sacrifice, 
 Opening Arms and Eyes 
 
 To one and all. 
 
 Christina G. Rossetti. 
 
 [261] 
 
)X^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |X^ 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 THE Shepherds had an Angel, 
 The Wise Men had a star, 
 But what have I, a Httle child. 
 To guide me home from far, 
 Where glad stars sing together, 
 And singing Angels are ? 
 
 Lord Jesus is my Guardian, 
 
 So I can nothing lack : 
 The lambs lie in His bosom 
 
 Along life's dangerous track: 
 The wilful lambs that go astray 
 
 He bleeding fetches back. 
 
 Lord Jesus is my guiding star, 
 
 ]\Iy beacon light in heaven : 
 He leads me step by step along 
 
 The path of life uneven : 
 He, true light, leads me to that land 
 
 Whose day shall be as seven. 
 
 Those Shepherds through the lonely night 
 Sat watching by their sheep, 
 
 [262] 
 
^ GROW . HOLIER • DAY • BY • DAY ^ 
 
 Until they saw the heavenly host, 
 
 Who neither tire nor sleep, 
 All singing ''Glory, glory," 
 
 In festival they keep. 
 
 Christ watches me, His little lamb; 
 
 Cares for me day and night, 
 That I may be His own in heaven : 
 
 So angels, clad in white, 
 Shall sing their ''Glory, glory'' 
 
 For my sake in the height. 
 
 The Wise Men left their country 
 
 To journey morn by morn, 
 With gold and frankincense and myrrh, 
 
 Because the Lord was born: 
 God sent a star to guide them 
 
 And sent a dream to warn. 
 
 My life is like their journey, 
 Their star is like God's book ; 
 
 I must be like those good Wise Men 
 With heavenward heart and look: 
 
 But shall I give no gifts to God? 
 What precious gifts they took! 
 
 [263] 
 
|X( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )^ 
 
 Lord, I will give my love to Thee, 
 
 Than gold much costlier, 
 Sweeter to Thee than frankincense, 
 
 More prized than choicest myrrh : 
 Lord, make me dearer day by day, 
 
 Day by day holier ; 
 
 Nearer and dearer day by day, 
 
 Till I my voice unite, 
 And sing my ''Glory, glory'' 
 
 With angels clad in white ; 
 All "Glory, glory'' given to Thee 
 
 Through all the heavenly height. 
 
 Christina G. Rossetti. 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 WHAT means this glory round our 
 feet," 
 The Magi mused, ''more bright than morn ?" 
 And voices chanted, clear and sweet, 
 "To-day the Prince of Peace is born!" 
 
 [264] 
 
^ HE . CAME . TO • SET • AIEX • FREE ^ 
 
 "What means that star/' the Shepherds said, 
 "That brightens through the rocky glen?'' 
 
 And angels, answering overhead, 
 
 Sang, "Peace on earth, good-will to men!" 
 
 'Tis eighteen hundred years and more 
 Since those sweet oracles were dumb; 
 
 We wait for Him, like them of yore, 
 Alas ! he seems so slow to come ! 
 
 But it was said, in words of gold. 
 No time or sorrow e'er shall dim, 
 
 That little children might be bold — 
 In perfect trust to come to Him. 
 
 All round about our feet shall shine 
 A light like that the Wise ]\Ien saw, 
 
 If we our loving wills incline 
 
 To that sweet Life which is the Law. 
 
 So shall we learn to understand 
 
 The simple faith of shepherds then, 
 
 And, clasping kindly hand in hand, 
 
 Sing "Peace on earth, good-will to men!" 
 
 [265] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |X( 
 
 But they who do their souls no wrong, 
 But keep at eve the faith of morn, 
 
 Shall daily hear the angel song, 
 
 *'To-day the Prince of Peace is born!" 
 James Russell Lowell. 
 
 Masters, in this Hall 
 
 ^T^O Bethlem did they go, the shepherds 
 
 three: 
 To Bethlem did they go to see zvhe'r it were 
 
 so or no, 
 Whether Christ were horn or no 
 To set me ft free!' 
 
 Masters, in this hall, 
 
 Hear ye news to-day 
 Brought over sea. 
 And ever I you pray. 
 
 Nowell! Nowell! Now ell! Nowell! 
 
 Sing zve clear! 
 Holpen are all folk on earth, 
 Born is God's Son so dear, 
 
 [ 266 ] 
 
^ BORN . IS . god's . SOX • SO • DEAR ^ 
 
 Going over the hills, 
 
 Through the milk-white snow, 
 Heard I ewes bleat 
 
 While the wind did blow. 
 
 Nowell, etc. 
 
 Shepherds, many an one, 
 
 Sat among the sheep ; 
 No man spake more word 
 
 Than they had been asleep. 
 
 Nowell, etc. 
 
 Quoth I, ''Fellows mine. 
 
 Why this guise sit ye? 
 Making but dull cheer, 
 
 Shepherds though ye be? 
 
 Nowell, etc. 
 
 "Shepherds should, of right, 
 
 Leap and dance and sing; 
 Thus to see ye sit 
 
 Is a right strange thing.'' 
 
 Nowell, etc. 
 
 Quoth these fellows then : 
 ''To Bethlem town we go, 
 
 [267] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 To see a Mighty Lord 
 Lie in manger low." 
 
 Nowell, etc. 
 
 "His name ye this Lord, 
 
 Shepherds?" then said L 
 ''Very God," they said, 
 
 ''Come from Heaven high." 
 
 Nozvell, etc. 
 
 Then to Bethlem town 
 
 We went, two and two, 
 And in a sorry place 
 
 Heard the oxen low. 
 
 Nowell, etc. 
 
 Therein did w^e see 
 
 A sweet and goodly May, 
 And a fair old man ; 
 
 Upon the straw she lay. 
 
 Nowell, etc. 
 
 And a little Child 
 
 On her arm had she; 
 "Wot ye who this is?" 
 
 Said the hinds to me. 
 
 Nowell, etc. 
 
 [268] 
 
^ TO . THY . son's . FACE ^ 
 
 Ox and ass Him know, 
 
 Kneeling on their knee ; 
 Wondrous joy had I 
 
 This httle Babe to see. 
 
 Nowell, etc. 
 
 This is Christ the Lord, 
 
 Masters, be ye glad ! 
 Christmas is come in, 
 
 And no folk should be sad. 
 
 Nowell! Nowell! Nozvell! Nozvell! 
 
 Sing IV e clear! 
 Holpen are all folk on earth, 
 
 Born is God's Son so dear, 
 
 William ]\Iorris. 
 (From ''Ancient Christmas Carols/' edited by 
 Edmund Sedding.) 
 
 [269] 
 
jX^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 THREE damsels in the queen's chamber, 
 The queen's mouth was most fair ; 
 She spake a word of God's mother 
 As the combs went in her hair. 
 Mary that is of might, 
 Bring us to thy Son's sight. 
 
 They held the gold combs out from her, 
 
 A span's length ofif her head ; 
 She sang this song of God's mother 
 And of her bearing-bed. 
 
 Mary, most full of grace. 
 Bring us to thy Son's face. 
 
 When she sat at Joseph's hand, 
 She looked against her side ; 
 And either way from the short silk band J 
 
 Her girdle was all wried. a 
 
 Mary that all good may, 
 Bring us to thy Son's way. 
 
 Mary had three women for her bed, 
 The twain were maidens clean ; 
 
 [270] 
 
^ THY . son's . PEACE ^ 
 
 The first of them had white and red, 
 The third had riven green. 
 Mary that is so sweet, 
 Bring us to thy Son's feet. 
 
 She had three women for her hair, 
 Two were gloved soft and shod ; 
 The third had feet and fingers bare. 
 She was the Hkest God. 
 
 Mary that wieldeth land, 
 Bring us to thy Son's hand. 
 
 She had three w^omen for her ease, 
 
 The twain were good women; 
 The first two were the two Maries, 
 The third was Magdalen. 
 Mary that perfect is, 
 Bring us to thy Son's kiss. 
 
 Joseph had three w^orkmen in his stall, 
 
 To serve him well upon ; 
 The first of them were Peter and Paul, 
 The third of them was John. 
 Mary, God's handmaiden. 
 Bring us to thy Son's ken. 
 
 [271] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY )X( 
 
 *'If your child be none other man's, 
 
 But if it be very mine, 
 The bedstead shall be gold two spans, 
 The bedfoot silver fine." 
 
 Mary that made God's mirth, 
 Bring us to thy Son's birth. 
 
 *Tf the child be some other man's. 
 
 And if it be none of mine, 
 The manger shall bestraw two spans, 
 Betwixen kine and kine." 
 
 Mary that made sin cease. 
 Bring us to thy Son's peace. 
 
 Christ was born upon this wise. 
 
 It fell on such a night, 
 Neither with sounds of psalteries 
 Nor with fire for light. 
 
 Mary that is God's spouse, 
 Bring us to thy Son's house. 
 
 The star came out upon the east 
 
 With a great sound and sweet. 
 Kings gave gold to make Him feast 
 
 And myrrh for Him to eat. 
 
 [ ^7^ ] 
 
^ GLAD . TIDINGS • UXTO • ALL ^ 
 
 Mary, of thy sweet mood, 
 Bring us to thy Son's good. 
 
 He had two handmaids at His head, 
 
 One handmaid at His feet; 
 The twain of them w^ere fair and red, 
 The third one was right sweet. 
 Mary that is most wise, 
 Bring us to thy Son's eyes. 
 
 Amen. 
 Algernon Charles Swinburne. 
 
 The Child Jesus 
 
 A CORNISH CAROL. 
 
 WELCOME that Star in Judah's sky, 
 That voice o'er Bethlehem's palmy 
 glen: 
 The lamp, far sages hailed on high, 
 
 The tones that thrill'd the shepherd men: 
 Glory to God in highest heaven ! 
 
 Thus Angels smote the echoing chord ; 
 Glad tidings unto man forgiven ! 
 
 Peace from the presence of the Lord! 
 
 [ ^7Z ] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |X^ 
 
 The Shepherds sought that Birth divine, 
 
 The Wise Men traced their guided way ; 
 There, by strange light and mystic sign, 
 
 The God they came to worship lay. 
 A human Babe in beauty smiled, 
 
 Where lowing oxen round Him trod ; 
 A maiden clasped her Awful Child, 
 
 Pure offspring of the breath of God. 
 
 Those voices from on high are mute; 
 
 The Star the Wise Men saw is dim ; 
 But Hope still guides the wanderer's foot, 
 
 And Faith renews the angel hymn : 
 Glory to God in loftiest heaven ! 
 
 Touch with glad hand the ancient chord ; 
 Good tidings unto man forgiven, 
 
 Peace from the presence of the Lord ! 
 
 Robert Stephen Hawker. 
 
 [274] 
 
|X( BE . MY . LORD • AND . KING )^ 
 
 The Three Kings 
 
 THREE Kings went riding from the East, 
 Through fine weather and wet; 
 ''And whither shall we ride/' they said, 
 ''Where we have not ridden yet?" 
 
 "And whither shall we ride," they said, 
 
 "To find the hidden thing 
 That turns the course of all our stars 
 
 And all our auguring?" 
 
 They were the Wise Men of the East, 
 
 And none so wise as they ; 
 "Alas !" the King of Persia cried, 
 
 "And must ye ride away ? 
 
 "Yet, since ye go a-riding, sire, 
 
 I pray ye, ride for me, 
 And carry me my golden gifts 
 
 To the King o' Galilee. 
 
 "Go riding into Palestine, 
 
 A long ride and a fair !" 
 "Tis well," the jMagi answered him, 
 
 "As well as anywhere." 
 
 [275] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 They rode by day, they rode by night, 
 The stars came out on high — 
 
 And "Oh!" the King Balthazar said, 
 As he gazed into the sky. 
 
 We ride by day, we ride by night, 
 To a King in GaHlee ; 
 We leave a King in Persia, 
 And kings no less are we. 
 
 ''Yet often in the deep blue night. 
 When stars burn far and dim, 
 
 I wish I knew a greater King — 
 To fall and worship him. 
 
 "A King who should not care to reign, 
 
 But wonderful and fair ; 
 A King — a King that were a star, 
 
 Aloft in miles of air!" 
 
 "A star is good," said Melchior, 
 ''A high, unworldly thing; 
 
 But I would choose a soul alive 
 To be my Lord and King. 
 
 [276] 
 
|X( BEHOLD . THE • PLACE ! -^ 
 
 ''Not Herod, nay, nor Cyrus, nay, 
 
 Not any King at all ; 
 For I would choose a sinless child, 
 
 Laid in a manger stall/' 
 
 "'Tis well !'' the black King Caspar cried, 
 
 "For mighty men are ye ; 
 But no such humble King were meet 
 
 For my simplicity. 
 
 "A star is small, and very far ; 
 
 A babe's a simple thing : 
 The very Son of God Himself 
 
 Shall be my Lord and King!" 
 
 The King Balthazar sighed and smiled ; 
 
 ''A good youth," Melchior cried ; 
 And young and old, without a word. 
 
 Along the hills they ride. 
 
 Till lo ! among the western skies 
 There grows a shining thing — 
 
 "The Star ! Behold the star !" they shout. 
 "Behold Balthazar's King!" 
 
|X( THE • CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 And lo ! within the western skies 
 
 The star begins to flit; 
 The three Kings spur their horses on, 
 
 And follow after it. 
 
 And when they reach the King's castle 
 
 They cry, ''Behold the place!'' 
 But, like a shining bird, the star 
 
 Flits on in heaven apace. 
 
 Oh, they rode on, and on they rode, 
 Till they reached a lonely wold, 
 
 Where shepherds keep their flocks by night, 
 And the night was chill and cold. 
 
 Oh, they rode on, and on they rode. 
 
 Till they reach a little town. 
 And there the star in heaven stands still 
 
 Above a stable brown. 
 
 And through the open door the straw 
 
 And the tired beasts they see, 
 And the Babe, laid in a manger. 
 
 That sleepeth peacefully. 
 
 [278] 
 
^ FOLLOW . god's . EXAMPLE ^ 
 
 "All hail! the King of Melchior!'^ 
 
 The three Wise Men begin ; 
 King Melchior swings from his horse, 
 
 And he would have entered in. 
 
 But why do the horses whinny and neigh ? 
 
 And what thing ifills the night 
 With angels in a wheeling spire, 
 
 And streams of heavenly light? 
 
 King Melchior kneels upon the grass. 
 
 And falls a-praying there ; 
 Balthazar lets the bridle drop, 
 
 And gazes in the air. 
 
 But Caspar gives a happy shout, 
 
 And hastens to the stall : 
 ''Now hail," he cries, 'Thou Son of God, 
 
 And Saviour of us all !" 
 
 A. Mary F. Robinson. 
 
 [279] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 A Provengal Noel 
 
 THOU that seekest thy delight, 
 Thou that lovest only pleasure, 
 Wilt thou never own the leisure 
 From thy lusts to part aright? 
 
 Since that God, alas ! 
 Seeking nothing but His anguish — 
 
 Since that God, alas! 
 Suffers in a meager shed. 
 
 Insufficient thy domain 
 
 For thy vanity as dwelling, 
 
 Thou a palace shouldst be selling. . . . 
 
 Art thou not overwhelmed by pain, 
 
 Since that God, alas! 
 Is contented with a stable — 
 
 Since that God, alas! 
 Lodges in a meager shed? 
 
 Deep in newly furnished tower, 
 Curtains close around thee fitted — 
 Neither art nor paint's omitted 
 For the beauty of thy bower. 
 
 [ 280 ] 
 
^ THE . OLD . CLD • STORY ^ 
 
 Jesus, He^ alas ! 
 Is not to be found there present — 
 
 Jesus, He, alas ! 
 Bides within a meager shed. 
 
 Dishes exquisite indeed. 
 Wines most delicate of flavor — 
 None there be too choice of savor 
 For thy fancy or thy greed. 
 
 Jesus, He, alas ! 
 Tastes the wild wind and the breezes — 
 
 Jesus, He, alas ! 
 Fasts within a meager shed. 
 
 When that thou art well refreshed 
 To a beauteous couch thou hiest. 
 Fine and wide, wherein thou liest. 
 Decked with broidery deftly mesh'd. 
 
 But thy God, alas ! 
 On the scanty straw, most lowly — 
 
 But thy God, alas ! 
 Lies within a meager shed. 
 (Translated from the Provencal by Lady 
 Lindsay.) 
 
 [281] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Ancient French Carol 
 
 JOSEPH and Mary went their way 
 To Bethlehem full late one day. 
 The folks that had hostellerie 
 But little worth held them to be. 
 
 Thus all the town they wandered o'er, 
 And lodging sought from door to door. 
 'Twas at the hour Maid Mary should 
 Be nigh unto her motherhood. 
 
 A wealthy household they essayed, 
 And for some shelter humbly prayed. 
 The answer made their pleading vain : 
 *'Bring ye a rich and stately train?'' 
 
 ''We have one ox, one ass alone ; 
 Behold them here — the beasts we own." 
 ''Ye seem but vagrants to my mind. 
 And here no lodging shall ye find." 
 
 [282] 
 
^ SING . A . BLITHE • NOWELL ^ 
 
 Then to another host they hied, 
 And offered coin so they might bide; 
 But once again the speech was clear : 
 ''Get ye from hence ; ye house not here !'' 
 
 There came to Joseph one that hailed 
 Him as a wicked churl, and railed : 
 ''Where leadest her that hath in truth 
 But fifteen tender years of youth?" 
 
 Gazed Joseph then where stood apart 
 Mary, most dolorous of heart, 
 And to her quoth he : "Dear, my dear, 
 Come elsewhere, for we rest not here. 
 
 A stable shed I saw hard by ; 
 There may we present lodging try/' 
 'Twas at the hour Maid Mary should 
 Be nigh unto her motherhood. 
 
 At midnight to that Virgin mild. 
 The selfsame night, was born a Child; 
 In costly fur she was not gowned, 
 With which to wrap Him warmly round ; 
 
 [283] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY |^ 
 
 But in a manger did she lay 
 Him on a meager bed of hay, 
 With but a stone for pillowing 
 The head of Him, the mighty King. 
 (Translated from the Old French by Lady 
 Lindsay,) 
 
 A Burgundian Noel 
 
 WILLIE, take thy tamborin; 
 Thou, thy flute go bring, Robin. 
 Then to sound of these to-day — 
 Tooralooraloo, patapatapay — 
 To the sound of these to-day 
 I a blithe Nowell will say. 
 
 Custom was, in time gone by, 
 The King of kings to glorify ; 
 Then to sound of these to-day — 
 Tooralooraloo, patapatapay — 
 To the sound of these to-day 
 We will do the selfsame way. 
 
 [284] 
 
^ THE . STAR . OF • BETHLEHEM ^ 
 
 This morn the Devil smitten Hes; 
 Let our grace to Jesu rise ! 
 Then to sound of these to-day — 
 Tooralooraloo, patapatapay — 
 To the sound of these to-day 
 A grimace to Satan pay. 
 
 God and man attuned, we see, 
 More than flute and tabor be. 
 Then to sound of these to-day — 
 Tooralooraloo, patapatapay — 
 To the sound of these to-day 
 Sing and dance, and leap in play. 
 
 (Translated from the Old French by Lady 
 Lindsay,) 
 
 Carol of the Three Kings 
 
 HERE and away in good faith we pace : 
 A happy evening God give you in grace ; 
 A happy evening, a joyful new year. 
 That no misfortune to us come near. 
 
 [285] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY |X^ 
 
 And, firstly, God will we honor and praise, 
 We three holy kings, with the star of our ways. 
 We three holy kings, we are wearing the 
 
 crown. 
 And 'tis our purpose the best shall be done. 
 
 It happed, when Herod's house we neared, 
 Herod from out of the window peered ; 
 Herod spake, and in loudest tone : 
 *' Whence do ye come? Whither would ye be 
 gone ?'' 
 
 'Toward Bethlehem our mind we bend, 
 For that came we here, and to that we wend — 
 Toward Bethlehem, the city most fair — 
 Our Lord the Christ He was born there." 
 
 Then Herod quoth : ''Come in to me here, 
 For I will give ye both wine and beer ; 
 Straw and hay will I give to ye, 
 And all your need shall be granted free." 
 
 ''Oh, no ! Oh, no ! Now must we be gone. 
 For yonder a little young child we own, 
 A little young child, a God most great, 
 Who did both heaven and earth create." 
 
 [286] 
 
^ NOS . EX AUDI . DOMIXE ! ^ 
 
 And as we went upon our way 
 The star quite still a while would stay. 
 O star, thou must not tarry so ! 
 Thou must with us to Bethlehem go — 
 To Bethlehem, that city most fair — 
 Our Lord the Christ He was born there. 
 (Translated from the German by Lady Line 
 say.) 
 
 Bethlehem 
 
 w 
 
 HERE man was all too marred with sin, 
 The ass, the ox were bidden in. 
 
 Where angels were unmeet to come, 
 The humble entered Holydom. 
 
 Their innocent eyes, and full of awe, 
 Saw the fulfilment of the Law. 
 
 There, in the stable with the beast, 
 
 The Christmas Child hath spread His feast. 
 
 These gave their bed and eke their board 
 To be a cradle for their Lord. 
 
 [287] 
 
)X( THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Their honey breath, their tears all mild, 
 Warmed in the cold the new-born Child. 
 
 These His adorers were before 
 
 The Kings and Shepherds thronged the door. 
 
 And where no angels knelt there kneeled 
 The innocent creatures of the field. 
 
 O simple ones, much honored ; 
 He who oppresses you indeed, 
 
 Oppresses His kind hosts that lay 
 Once in the stable on the hay. 
 
 Katharine Tynan, 
 
 A Carol for Christmas Eve 
 
 WE are but of such mortal mold, 
 Nos exaudi, Do mine! 
 That the night can scarce withhold 
 In its shrouds our sins from Thee. 
 
 [288] 
 
^ THE . CHRIST • CHILD ^ 
 
 That night comes, when Thou shalt come 
 
 N^os ex audi, D online! 
 From Thy home to this sad home, 
 
 And die for us upon the tree. 
 
 If then the stars shine out so bright, 
 
 Nos exaiidi, Domine! 
 That Thou seest by their Hght 
 
 How great our sins and many be ; 
 
 Thou wilt come, as they were not, 
 
 Nos exaudi, Domine! 
 Or as they were all forgot, 
 
 Or forgiven, Lord, by Thee. 
 
 Herbert P. Horne. 
 
 A Christmas Carol 
 
 THE Christ-child lay on Mary's lap 
 His hair was like a light. 
 Oh, weary, weary were the world, 
 But here is all aright.) 
 
 [289] 
 
|X^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The Christ-child lay on Alary's breast, 
 
 His hair was Hke a star. 
 (Oh, stern and cunning are the kings, 
 
 But here the true hearts are.) 
 
 The Christ-child lay on ^Mary's heart, 
 
 His hair was like a fire. 
 (Oh, weary, weary is the world, 
 
 But here the world's desire.) 
 
 The Christ-child stood at IMary's knee. 
 
 His hair was like a crown. 
 And all the flowers looked up at Him, 
 
 And all the stars looked down. 
 
 G. K. Chestertox. 
 
 [290] 
 
 I 
 
CHRISTMAS HYMNS 
 
 ETERNAL Father, who didst create, 
 In whom we live and to whose bosom move, 
 To all men be Thy name known, which is Love, 
 Till its loud praises sound at heaven's high gate. 
 Perfect Thy kingdom in our passing state, 
 That here on earth Thou may'st as well approve 
 Our service as Thou ownest theirs above, 
 Whose joy we echo, and in pain await. 
 
 Grant body and soul each day their daily bread : 
 And should in spite of grace fresh woe begin, 
 Even as our anger soon is past and dead 
 Be thy remembrance mortal of our sin : 
 By Thee in paths of peace Thy sheep be led. 
 And in the vale of terror comforted. 
 
 Robert Bridges. 
 
 [291] 
 
1^ REDEEMER • WITH • LOVE • DIVINE ^ 
 
 Cradle Hymn 
 
 AWAY in a manger, no crib for a bed, 
 The little Lord Jesus laid down His 
 sweet head. 
 The stars in the bright sky looked down where 
 
 He lay— 
 The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. 
 
 The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, 
 But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes. 
 I love Thee, Lord Jesus ! Look down from 
 
 the sky, 
 And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. 
 
 Martin Luther. 
 
 Christmas 
 
 ABOVE our heads, from out the clear, deep 
 sky, 
 
 The stars look down 
 As when of old their mellow radiance shone 
 O'er Bethlehem's town. 
 
 [293] 
 
^ the: . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY )X^ 
 
 The midnight bells peal out with solemn tone 
 
 From every tower, 
 Bidding the world with gladness to await 
 
 The promised hour. 
 
 O lonely heart ! look up with faith renewed ; 
 
 Thy Lord is here ; 
 For now the anthem of the heavenly host 
 
 Breaks on the ear. 
 
 Emmanuel, Redeemer, once again 
 
 Comes to earth. 
 To change its darkness by the glorious light 
 
 That hails His birth. 
 
 Not now to Israel's race alone He comes 
 
 With love divine ; 
 To all the King of Glory shall descend, 
 
 God's promised sign. 
 
 Lift up each voice to greet the op'ning morn 
 
 Of this glad day; 
 The angels sing, and men with them rejoice. 
 
 And gladly say: 
 
 [294] 
 
 I 
 
1^ SON . OF . GOD . ALL • HAIL ! ^ 
 
 ''Glory to God, whose promise is fulfilled! 
 
 To man be peace ! 
 For Christ our Lord begins His holy reign, 
 
 To never cease." 
 
 Thomas Mair. 
 
 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 
 by Night 
 
 WHILE shepherds watched their flocks by 
 night. 
 All seated on the ground, 
 The angel of the Lord came down, 
 
 And glory shone around. 
 "Fear not!'' said he, for mighty dread 
 
 Had seized their troubled mind, 
 ''Glad tidings of great joy I bring 
 To you and all mankind. 
 
 ''To you, in David's town, this day 
 
 Is born, of David's line, 
 The Saviour who is Christ the Lord, 
 
 And this shall be the sign : 
 
 [295] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The heavenly Babe you there shall find, 
 
 To human view displayed, 
 All meanly wrapped in swaddling bands, 
 
 And in a manger laid/' 
 
 Thus spake the seraph ; and forthwith 
 
 Appeared a shining throng 
 Of angels, praising God, and thus 
 
 Addressed their joyful song: 
 "All glory be to God on high, 
 
 And to the earth be peace ; 
 Good-will henceforth from heaven to men 
 
 Begin, and never cease/' 
 
 N. Tate. 
 
 For Christmas Day 
 
 IMMORTAL Babe, who this dear day 
 Didst change Thine heaven for our clay, 
 And didst with flesh Thy godhead veil, 
 Eternal Son of God, all hail ! 
 
 Shine, happy star ; ye angels, sing 
 Glory on high to heaven's King : 
 
 [296] 
 
^ GLORY . TO . THE • NEW-BORX KING ^ 
 
 Run, shepherds, leave your nightly watch ! 
 See heaven come down to Bethlehem's cratch ! 
 
 Worship, ye sages of the east, 
 
 The King of gods in meanness dressed ! 
 
 O blessed maid, smile and adore 
 
 The God thy womb and arms have bore ! 
 
 Star, angels, shepherds, and wise sages. 
 Thou virgin glory of the ages. 
 Restored frame of heaven and earth, 
 Joy in your dear Redeemer's birth ! 
 
 Bishop Hall. 
 
 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing 
 
 HARK! the herald angels sing, 
 "Glory to the new-born King ! 
 Peace on earth and mercy mild, 
 God and sinners reconciled!'' 
 Christ, by highest heaven adored, 
 Christ, the everlasting Lord, 
 
 [297] 
 
)^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Late in time behold Him come, 
 Offspring of a Virgin's womb. 
 Hark ! the herald angels sing, 
 Glory to the new-born King ! 
 
 Veiled in flesh the Godhead see ; 
 
 Hail the incarnate Deity ! 
 
 Pleased as man with men to appear, 
 
 Jesus our Immanuel here. 
 
 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace ! 
 
 Hail the Son of Righteousness ! 
 
 Light and life to all He brings, 
 
 Risen with healing in His wings. 
 Hark ! the herald angels sing, 
 Glory to the new-born King ! 
 
 Mild He lays His glory by, 
 Born that man no more may die ; 
 Born to raise the sons of earth. 
 Born to give them second birth. 
 Come, Desire of nations, come. 
 Fix in us Thy humble home ; 
 Rise, the woman's conquering Seed, 
 Bruise in us the serpent's head. 
 Hark ! the herald angels sing, 
 Glory to the new-born King ! 
 
 [298] 
 
^ SALUTE . THE • HAPPY • MORN |X^ 
 
 Adam's likeness now efface, 
 Stamp Thine image in its place; 
 Second Adam from above, 
 Reinstate its in Thy love. 
 Hark ! the herald angels sing, 
 ''Glory to the new-born King! 
 Peace on earth, and mercy mild, 
 God and sinners reconciled!'' 
 
 Hark ! the herald angels sing, 
 Glory to the new-born King ! 
 
 Charles Wesley. 
 
 Christians Awake! Salute the Happy 
 Morn 
 
 CHRISTIANS, awake ! Salute the happy 
 morn 
 Whereon the Savior of mankind was born ; 
 Rise to adore the mystery of love. 
 Which hosts of angels chanted from above ; 
 With them the joyful tidings first begun 
 Of God incarnate and the Virgin's Son. 
 
 [299] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY |X( 
 
 Then to the watchful shepherds it was told. 
 Who heard the angelic herald's voice : "Be- 
 hold, 
 I bring good tidings of a Savior's birth 
 To you and all the nations upon earth ; 
 This day hath God fulfilled His promised word, 
 This day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord." 
 
 He spake; and straightway the celestial choir 
 In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire ; 
 The praises of redeeming love they sang, 
 And heaven's whole orb with alleluias rang ; 
 God's highest glory was their anthem still: 
 Peace upon earth and unto men good-will. 
 
 To Bethlehem straight the enlightened shep- 
 herds ran, 
 To see the wonders God had wrought for man ; 
 Then to their flocks, still praising God, return, 
 And their glad hearts with holy rapture burn ; 
 Amazed, the wondrous tidings they proclaim, 
 The first apostles of His infant fame. 
 
 Oh, may we keep and ponder in our mind 
 God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind; 
 
 [300] 
 
^ THE . DAYSTAR • GILDS • THE • GLOOM ^ 
 
 Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our 
 
 loss, 
 From the poor manger to the bitter cross ; 
 Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace, 
 Till man's first heavenly state again takes place. 
 
 Then may we hope, the angelic hosts among, 
 To join, redeemed, a glad, triumphant throng: 
 He that was born upon this joyful day 
 Around us all His glory shall display ; 
 Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing 
 Eternal praise to heaven's almighty King. 
 
 Dr. Byrom. 
 
 The Birth at Bethlehem 
 
 WHEN Jordan hushed his waters still, 
 And silence slept on Zion's Hill; 
 When Bethlehem's shepherds thro' the night 
 Watched o'er their flocks by starry light : 
 
 Hark ! from the midnight hills around, 
 A voice of more than mortal sound 
 
 [301] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 In distant hallelujahs stole, 
 
 Wild murmurings o'er the raptured soul. 
 
 On wheels of light, on wings of flame, 
 The glorious hosts of Zion came ; 
 High heaven with songs of triumph rung, 
 While thus they struck their harps, and sung ; 
 
 "O Zion, lift thy raptured eye. 
 The long-expected hour is nigh ; 
 Renewed, creation smiles again, 
 The Prince of Salem comes to reign. 
 
 '*He comes to cheer the trembling heart, 
 Bid Satan and his host depart ; 
 Again the Daystar gilds the gloom, 
 Again the bowers of Eden bloom." 
 
 Thomas Campbell. 
 
 f 
 
 1302] 
 
^ FROM . SIX • PRESERVE • US • FREE ^ 
 
 A Hymn for Christmas Day 
 
 HARK, the glad sound! the Savior comes. 
 The Savior promised long; 
 Let every heart prepare a throne, 
 And every voice a song! 
 
 He comes, the prisoners to release 
 
 In Satan's bondage held; 
 The gates of brass before Him burst, 
 
 The iron fetters yield. 
 
 He comes, the broken heart to bind, 
 
 The bleeding soul to cure, 
 And with the treasures of His grace 
 
 T' enrich the humble poor. 
 
 Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace, 
 
 Thy welcome shall proclaim, 
 And heaven's eternal arches ring 
 
 With Thy beloved name. 
 
 Philip Doddridge. 
 [303] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 Christmas Day 
 
 SAVIOR, whom this holy morn 
 Gave to our world below, 
 To mortal want and labour born, 
 And more than mortal woe ; 
 
 Incarnate Word ! by every grief, 
 By each temptation tried, 
 
 Who lived to yield our ills relief, 
 And to redeem us, died ! 
 
 If gaily clothed and proudly fed, 
 In dangerous wealth we dwell. 
 
 Remind us of thy manger bed 
 And lowly cottage cell ! 
 
 If, prest by poverty severe. 
 In envious want we pine. 
 Oh, may the Spirit whisper near 
 How poor a lot was Thine ! 
 
 [304] 
 
 I 
 
|X( LEND • US . THIXE • AID ^ 
 
 Through fickle fortune's various scene 
 
 From sin preserve us free ! 
 Like us Thou hast a mourner been, — 
 
 May we rejoice with Thee ! 
 
 Reginald Heber. 
 
 Brightest and Best of the Sons of the 
 Morning 
 
 BRIGHTEST and best of the Sons of the 
 morning, 
 Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine 
 aid: 
 Star of the East, the horizon adorning, 
 Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid ! 
 
 Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining ; 
 
 Low lies His head with the beasts of the 
 stall ; 
 Angels adore Him in slumber reclining, 
 
 Maker and [Monarch and Savior of all. 
 
 [305] 
 
)^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY A 
 
 Say shall we yield Him in costly devotion 
 Odors of Edom and offerings divine, 
 
 Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean, 
 Myrrh from the forests, or gold from the 
 mine ? 
 
 Saintly we offer each ample oblation. 
 
 Vainly with gifts would His favor secure ; 
 
 Richer by far is the heart's adoration, 
 Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. 
 
 Brightest and best of the Sons of the morning, 
 Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine 
 aid: 
 
 Star of the East, the horizon adorning. 
 Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid ! 
 
 Reginald Heber. 
 
 The Star of Bethlehem 
 
 WHEN marshal'd on the nightly plain, 
 The glittering host bestud the sky ; 
 One Star alone, of all the train, 
 Can fix the sinner's wandering eye. 
 
 [306] 
 
^ SALVATION . COMES • TO-DAY ^ 
 
 Hark ! hark ! to God the chorus breaks, 
 From every host, from every gem ; 
 
 But one alone the Saviour speaks, 
 It is the Star of Bethlehem. 
 
 Once on the raging seas I rode, 
 
 The storm was loud — the night was dark, 
 The ocean yawn'd — and rudely blow'd 
 
 The wind that toss'd my foundering bark. 
 Deep horror then my vitals froze, 
 
 Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem ; 
 When suddenly a star arose. 
 
 It was the star of Bethlehem. 
 
 It was my guide, my light, my all ; 
 
 It bade my dark forebodings cease, 
 And through the storm and danger's thrall 
 
 It led me to the port of peace. 
 Now, safely moor'd — my perils o'er — 
 
 ril sing, first in night's diadem. 
 For ever, and for evermore. 
 
 The Star !— The Star of Bethlehem ! 
 
 H. K. White. 
 
 [307] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY J^ 
 
 Christmas Day 
 
 CALM on the listening ear of night 
 Come heaven's melodious strains, 
 Where wild Judea stretches far 
 
 Her silver-mantled plains ; 
 Celestial choirs from courts above 
 
 Shed sacred glories there, 
 And angels, with their sparkling lyres, 
 Make music on the air. 
 
 The answering hills of Palestine 
 
 Send back the glad reply. 
 And greet from all their holy heights 
 
 The day-spring from on high : 
 O'er the blue depths of Galilee 
 
 There comes a holier calm, 
 And Sharon waves in solemn praise 
 
 Her silent groves of palm. 
 
 Glory to God! the lofty strain 
 
 The realm of ether fills ; 
 How sweeps the song of solemn joy 
 
 O'er Judah's sacred hills ! 
 
 [308] 
 
|X( THE . EVERLASTING • LIGHT ^ 
 
 ''Glory to God !'' the sounding skies 
 Loud with their anthems ring: 
 
 "Peace on earth, good-will to men, 
 From heaven's eternal King." 
 
 Light on thy hills, Jerusalem! 
 
 The Savior now is born : 
 More bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains 
 
 Breaks the first Christmas morn; 
 And brighter on ]\Ioriah's brow, 
 
 Crowned with her temple spires. 
 Which first proclaim the new-born light. 
 
 Clothed with its orient fires. 
 
 This day shall Christian tongues be mute, 
 
 And Christian hearts be cold? 
 O catch the anthem that from heaven 
 
 O'er Judah's mountains rolled! 
 When nightly burst from seraph harps 
 
 The high and solemn lay — 
 ''Glory to God, on earth be peace ; 
 
 Salvation comes to-day !" 
 
 Edmund Hamilton Sears. 
 
 [309] 
 
^ THE • CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 O Little Town of Bethlehem 
 
 O LITTLE town of Bethlehem, 
 How still we see thee lie ! 
 Above thy deep and dreamless sleep 
 
 The silent stars go by; 
 Yet in thy dark streets shineth 
 
 The everlasting Light; 
 The hopes and fears of all the years 
 Are met in thee to-night. 
 
 For Christ is born of Mary, 
 
 And, gathered all above, 
 While mortals sleep, the angels keep 
 
 Their watch of wondering love. 
 O morning stars, together 
 
 Proclaim the holy birth ! 
 And praises sing to God the King, 
 
 And peace to men on earth. 
 
 How silently, how silently. 
 The wondrous gift is given ! 
 
 So God imparts to human hearts 
 The blessings of His heaven. 
 
 [310] 
 
^ IN • THE . SOLEMN . MIDNIGHT ^ 
 
 No ear may hear His coming, 
 
 But in this world of sin, 
 Where meek souls will receive Him still, 
 
 The dear Christ enters in. 
 
 O holy Child of Bethlehem ! 
 
 Descend to us, we pray ; 
 Cast out our sin, and enter in — 
 
 Be born in us to-day. 
 We hear the Christmas angels 
 
 The great glad tidings tell ; 
 Oh, come to us, abide with us, 
 
 Our Lord Emmanuel! 
 
 Phillips Brooks. 
 
 A Christmas Hymn 
 
 IT was in the calm and silent night! — 
 Seven hundred years and fifty-three 
 Had Rome been growing up to might. 
 And now was queen of land and sea ! 
 
 [311] 
 
^ 
 
 THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY 
 
 ^ 
 
 No sound was heard of clashing wars, 
 
 Peace brooded o'er the hushed domain ; 
 Apollo, Pallas, Jove and Alars, 
 
 Held undisturbed their ancient reign, 
 In the solemn midnight, 
 Centuries ago! 
 
 11. 
 
 'Twas in the calm and silent night! 
 
 The senator of haughty Rome 
 Impatient urged his chariot's flight, 
 
 From lordly revel rolling home. 
 Triumphal arches gleaming, swell 
 
 His breast with thoughts of boundless sway ; 
 What recked the Roman what befell 
 
 A paltry province far away. 
 
 In the solemn midnight. 
 Centuries ago! 
 
 III. 
 
 Within that province far away 
 
 Went plodding home a weary boor; 
 
 A streak of light before him lay, 
 
 FalFn through a half-shut stable door 
 
 [312] 
 
^ CHRIST . THE • LORD • IS • BORN ^ 
 
 Across his path. He passed — for naught 
 
 Told him what was going on within. 
 How keen the stars ! his only thought ; 
 The air, how calm and cold and thin, 
 In the solemn midnight, 
 Centuries asro ! 
 
 IV. 
 
 O strange indifference ! — low and high 
 
 Drowsed over common joys and cares : 
 The earth was still — but knew not why ; 
 
 The world was listening — unawares ! 
 How calm a moment may precede 
 
 One that shall thrill the world for ever ! 
 To that still moment none would heed ; 
 
 Man's doom was linked no more to sever. 
 In the solemn midnight, 
 Centuries ago ! 
 
 It is the calm and solemn night ! 
 
 A thousand bells ring out, and throw 
 Their joyous peals abroad, and smite 
 
 The darkness, charmed and holy nozi'! 
 
 [313] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS • TREASURY ^ 
 
 The night that erst no name had worn, 
 
 To it a happy name is given ; 
 For in that stable lay, new-born, 
 
 The peaceful Prince of Earth and Heaven, 
 In the solemn midnight, 
 Centuries ago ! 
 
 Alfred Domett. 
 
 Carol, Carol, Tenderly 
 
 CAROL, carol, tenderly and sweetly, 
 Over the mountain, over the wold; 
 Let the jubilant message fleetly 
 Now in castle and cot be told: 
 
 Christ the Lord is born, and He 
 Dons our poor humanity. 
 
 Hark! the tidings of Christmas ringing 
 
 East and west, and from land to land ; 
 While we villager lads go singing, 
 Under the starlight, hand in hand : 
 Christ the Lord is born, and He 
 Dons our poor humanity, 
 
 [3H] 
 
^ PEACE . OX . EARTH ^ 
 
 Angels sang of the coming glory 
 
 Years ago, in far Bethlehem ; 
 Kings and shepherds retold the story — 
 We would echo it back to them : 
 
 Christ the Lord is born, and He 
 Dons oar poor humanity. 
 
 Lady Lindsay. 
 
 Happy Shepherds 
 
 HAPPY shepherds, pipe and trill ! 
 So your earth-tuned melody 
 Join the angels' harmony, 
 Far beyond yon snow-bound hill. 
 
 {Praise to God and peace on earth: 
 Christ is come of mortal birth.) 
 
 Happy shepherds, kneel and pray! 
 First to you the message given, 
 First for you the song from heaven, 
 On that blessed Christmas Day. 
 
 [315] 
 
1^ THE . CHRISTAIAS . TREASURY ^ 
 
 (Praise to God and peace on earth: 
 Christ is come of mortal birth,) 
 
 Set in silver^ as a gem, 
 Gleams among the stars yon star; 
 Ride the wise kings from afar 
 Toward the Babe in Bethlehem. 
 
 {Praise to God and peace on earth: 
 Christ is come of mortal birth,) 
 
 In a manger's grassy bed 
 He, the Lord of Life and Time, 
 Lord of each wide world and clime, 
 Meekly chose to lay His head. 
 
 {Praise to God and peace on earth: 
 Christ is come of mortal birth,) 
 
 Lady Lindsay. 
 
 [316] 
 
^ HAPPY . XIGHT ^ 
 
 Christmas, Prithee 
 
 CHRISTMAS, prithee, be thou drest 
 In thy best — 
 Snowy wimple, snowy gown — 
 
 Laying down 
 Flooring pure and white, to greet 
 Jesus's feet. 
 Gloria in Excelsis. 
 
 Bid thy frosty handmaids bear 
 
 Through the air 
 Cloth of silver for thy veil 
 
 Clear and frail. 
 While the robins welcome sing 
 
 To thy King. 
 Gloria in Excelsis, 
 
 Angels o'er thy radiant brow 
 
 Leaning low. 
 Joyous, carol once again 
 
 Sweet refrain, 
 Seeing our dark earth so fair : 
 ''Peace be there, 
 Gloria in Excelsis,'' 
 
 Lady Lindsay. 
 
 [317] 
 
|X( THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY ^ 
 
 Hymn for the Nativity 
 
 HAPPY night and happy silence downward 
 softly stealing, 
 Softly stealing over land and sea, 
 Stars from golden censors swing a silent eager 
 feeling 
 Down on Judah, down on Galilee ; 
 And all the wistful air, the earth and sky, 
 Listened, listened for the gladness of a cry. 
 
 Holy night, a sudden flash of light its way is 
 winging : 
 Angels, angels, all above, around; 
 Hark, the angel voices, hark, the angels voices 
 singing. 
 And the sheep are lying on the ground. 
 Lo ! all the wistful air and earth and sky 
 Listen, listen to the gladness of the cry. 
 
 Happy night at Bethlehem; soft little hands 
 are feeling. 
 Feeling in the manger with the kine : 
 
 [318] 
 
^ PEACE . ON . EARTH ^ 
 
 Little hands, and eyelids closed in sleep, while 
 angels kneeling, 
 Mary mother, hymn the Babe Divine. 
 Lo ! all the wistful air and earth and sky 
 Listen, listen to the gladness of the cry. 
 
 Wide, as if the light were music, flashes ador- 
 ation : 
 ^'Glory be to God, nor ever cease." 
 All the silence thrills, and speeds the message 
 of salvation : 
 'Teace on earth, good-will to men of peace." 
 Lo ! all the wistful air and earth and sky 
 Listen, listen to the gladness of the cry. 
 
 Holy night, thy solemn silence evermore en- 
 foldeth 
 Angel songs and peace from God on high : 
 Holy night, thy watcher still with faithful eye 
 beholdeth 
 Wings that wave, and angel glory nigh. 
 Lo ! hushed is strife in air and earth and sky, 
 Still thy watchers hear the gladness of the 
 cry, 
 
 [319] 
 
^ THE . CHRISTMAS . TREASURY |X^ 
 
 Praise Him, ye who watch the night, the silent 
 
 night of ages : 
 Praise Him, shepherds, praise the Holy 
 
 Child; 
 Praise Him, ye who hear the light, O praise 
 
 Him all ye sages ; 
 Praise Him, children, praise Him, meek and 
 
 mild. 
 Lo ! peace on earth, glory to God on high — 
 Listen, listen to the gladness of the cry. 
 
 Edward Thring. 
 
 THE END 
 
 [320] 
 
INDEX 
 
 All after pleasure as I rid one day (George Herbert), 
 III. 
 
 Ancient French Carol (Lady Lindsay), 282. 
 
 And they laid Him in a manger (Sir E. Sher- 
 burne), 206. 
 
 Angel's Story, The (A. A. Procter), 59. 
 
 As Joseph was a-ijualking (Old Carol), 238. 
 
 At Bethlehem (R. Crashaw), 219. 
 
 At Christmas (A. S. Cripps), 179. 
 
 At the Sign of the Jolly Jack (Geoffrey Smith), 107. 
 
 A Virgin Most Pure (Old Carol), 241. 
 
 Ballade of Christmas Ghosts (A. Lang), 89. 
 
 Balm on the listening ear of night (E. H. Sears), 
 
 308. 
 Barnes (William), Keep Old Christmas Up, 55. 
 Beaumont (Sir John), Of the Epiphany, 204. 
 Bennett (William Cox), A Christmas Song, 164. 
 Bethlehem (K. Tynan), 287. 
 Birth at Bethlehem (T. Campbell), 301. 
 Blind (Mathilde), Christmas Eve, 170. 
 Bolton (Edmund), The Shepherds' Song, 209. 
 Bridges (Robert), Eternal Father, who didst create, 
 
 291. 
 
 [321] 
 
1^ INDEX 1^ 
 
 Brooks (Phillips), Christmas Once Is Christmas 
 Still, 76. 
 
 The Voice of the Christ-Child, 79. 
 
 A Christmas Carol, 165. 
 
 O Little Town of Bethlehem, 310. 
 
 Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning 
 
 (R. Heber), 305. 
 Burgundian Noel, A (Lady Lindsay), 284. 
 Burning Babe, The (R. Southwell), 119. 
 Byrom (Dr.), Christians, Awake! Salute the Happy 
 
 Morn, 299. 
 
 Campbell (Thomas), The Birth at Bethlehem, 301. 
 Carman (Bliss), Christmas Eve at St. Kavin's, 140. 
 Carol, carol, tenderly (Lady Lindsay), 314. 
 Carol for Christmas Eve (H. P. Home), 288. 
 Carol of the Three Kings (Lady Lindsay), 285. 
 Ceremonies for Christmas (R. Herrick), 29. 
 Cherry-Tree Carol, The (Old Carol), 238. 
 Chesterton (Gilbert K.), ^ Christmas Carol, 289. 
 Child Jesus, The (R. S. Hawker), 2y2>' 
 Children's Christmas Eve (J. Keble), 52. 
 Christians, Awake! Salute the Happy Morn (Dr. 
 
 Byrom), 299. 
 Christmas (Lady Lindsay), 19. 
 Christmas (George Herbert), 113. 
 Christmas Hymn, A (Thomas Mair), 293. 
 Christmas Antiphone, A (A. C. Swinburne), 134. 
 Christmas at Sea (R. L. Stevenson), 171. 
 Christmas Bells (H. W. Longfellow), 68. 
 Christmas Bells (Anon.), S2. 
 
 [3^2] 
 
^ IXDEK ^ 
 
 Christmas Carmen, A (J. G. Whittier). 158. 
 Christmas Carol (W. Wordsworth), 38. 
 Christmas Carol (C. Dickens), 56. 
 Christmas Carol (J. G. Holland), y;^. 
 Christmas Carol (J. Ashb\' Sterry), 88. 
 Christmas Carol, A (C. Kingsley), 151. 
 Christmas Carol, A (Phillips Brooks), 165. 
 Christmas Carol (C. G. Rossetti), 175. 
 Christmas Carol (R. Herrick), 244. 
 Christmas Carol (E. H. Sears), 246. 
 Christmas Carol (G. C. Thomas), 248. 
 Christmas Carol (F. Hemans), 250. 
 Christmas Carol, A (A. A. Procter), 251. 
 Christmas Carol, A (H. W. Longfellow), 254. 
 Christmas Carol, A (C. G. Rossetti), 258, 260, 262. 
 Christmas Carol, A (J. R. Lowell), 264. 
 Christmas Carol, (A. C. Swinburne), 270. 
 Christmas Carol (G. K. Chesterton). 289. 
 Christmas Carol for Children (Luther), 25. 
 Christmas Chime, A (Kathleen Kavanagh), loi. 
 Christinas Communion (Katharine Tynan), 97. 
 Christmas Day (A. Tennyson), 48. 
 Christmas Day (R. Heber). 304. 
 Christmas Day (E. H. Sears), 308. 
 Christmas Day — 1868 (C. Kingsley), 152. 
 Christmas Eve — Another Ceremony (R. Herrick"). 30. 
 Another Ceremony to the Maids 
 (R. Herrick), 31. 
 Christmas Eve (Mathilde Blind), 170. 
 Christmas Eve (K. Tynan), 222. 
 Christmas Eve at St. Kavins (Bliss Carman), 140. 
 
1^ INDEX ^ 
 
 Christmas Greeting, A (Anon.), io6. 
 Christmas Hymn (A. Domett), 311. 
 Christmas in India (R. Kipling), 176. 
 Christmas Mistletoe, The (Barry Cornwall), 67. 
 Christmas of the Sorrowful (Lady Lindsay), 91. 
 Christmas Once Is Christmas Still (Phillips Brooks), 
 
 76. 
 
 Christmas, prithee, be thou drest (Lady Lindsay), 
 
 317. 
 Christmas Song, A (W. C. Bennett), 164. 
 Christ's Nativity (Henry Vaughan), 115. 
 Christ's Nativity (W. Dunbar), 188. 
 Coleridge (Samuel Taylor), The Shepherds Went 
 
 Their Hasty Way, 129. 
 Collingwood (W. G.), The Pedlar, 98. 
 Coming of Christmas, The (Lady Lindsay), 96. 
 Cornwall (Barry), The Christmas Mistletoe, 67. 
 Cradle Hymn (M. Luther), 293. 
 Cradle Song (L Watts), 42. 
 Crashaw (Richard), A Hymn of the Nativity, 123. 
 
 At Bethlehem, 219. 
 
 Cripps (Arthur Shearly), At Christm<is, 179. 
 
 December (C. G. Rossetti), 86. 
 
 Delights of Christmas (Anon.), 83. 
 
 De Vere (Aubrey), They Leave the Land of Gems 
 
 and Gold, 72. 
 Dickens (Charles), A Christm<is Carol, 56. 
 Doddridge (Philip), A Hymn of Christmas Day, 303. 
 Domett (Alfred), A Christmas Hymn, 311. 
 
 [324] 
 
^ IXDEX ^ 
 
 Drummond (William), The Shepherds, 28. 
 Dunbar (William), Of the Nativity of Christ, 186. 
 
 Christ's Nativity, 188. 
 
 End of the Play, The (W. M. Thackeray), 63. 
 
 Epiphany, Of the (S. J. Beaumont), 204. 
 
 Eternal Father, who didst create (R. Bridges), 291. 
 
 Fairless (Michael), Out of the Shadow of the Night, 
 
 183. 
 First Nowell, The (Old Carol), 227. 
 Fletcher (Giles), Who Can Forget? 120. 
 For All Poor Souls (Edwin Waugh), 149. 
 For Christmas Day, A Hymn (Bishop Hall), 296. 
 
 Gloria In Excelsis (G. Wither), 216. 
 
 God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen (Old Carol), 231. 
 
 Golden Carol, The (Old Carol), 240. 
 
 Good King Wenceslas (Rev. Dr. Neale), 256. 
 
 Hall (Bishop), For Christmas Day, A Hymn, 296. 
 Happy Shepherds (Lady Lindsay), 315. 
 Hark, the glad sound! the Savior comes (P. Dod- 
 dridge), 303 
 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (C. Wesley), 297. 
 Hawker (Robert Stephen), The Child Jesus, 273. 
 Heber (Reginald), Christmas Day, 304. 
 
 Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morn- 
 ing, 305. 
 
 Hemans (Felicia), Christmas Carol, 250. 
 
 [325] 
 
^ INDEX ^ 
 
 Herbert (George), All after pleasure as I rid one 
 day. III. 
 
 Christmas, 113. 
 
 Here and aivay in good faith we pace (German 
 
 Carol), 285. 
 Herrick (Robert), Ceremonies for Christmas, 29. 
 
 Christmas Eve — Another Ceremony, 30. 
 
 Another Ceremony to the Maids, 31. 
 
 Another Ceremony, 31. 
 
 Ode on the Birth of Our Savior, 208. 
 
 A Christmas Carol, 244, 
 
 Holland (Josiah Gilbert), A Christmas Carol, JZ- 
 Hope Carol, A (C. G. Rossetti), 139. 
 Home (Herbert P.), ^ Morning Song for Christmas 
 Day, 146. 
 
 A Carol for Christmas Eve, 288. 
 
 Hymn for Christmas Day (P. Doddridge), 303. 
 Hymn for the Nativity (E. Thring), 318. 
 Hymn of the Nativity (R. Crashaw), 123. 
 
 Image (Sehvyn), A Meditation for Christmas Day, 
 
 144. 
 
 In Bethlehem, That Noble Place, 26. 
 
 In Excelsis Gloria (Old Carol), 225. 
 
 / Sazi> Three Ships Come Sailing In (Old 
 
 Carol), 229. 
 
 It was in the calm and silent night (A. Domett), 311. 
 
 John of Damascus, To-Day in Bethlehem, 237. 
 Jonson (Ben), The Nativity, 185. 
 Joseph and Mary went their way (Old French 
 Carol), 282. 
 
 [326] 
 
 1 
 
>^ INDEX >J^ 
 
 Kavanagh (Kathleen), A Christmas Chime, loi. 
 Keble (John), Children's Christmas Eve, 52. 
 Keep Old Christmas Up (W. Barnes), 55- 
 Kingsley (Charles) A Christmas Carol, 151. 
 
 Christmas Day — 1868, 152. 
 
 Kipling (Rudyard), Christmas in India, 176. 
 
 Lang (Andrew), Ballade of Christmas Ghosts, 89. 
 Lindsay (Lady), Christmas, 19. 
 
 Christmas of the Sorrowful, 91. 
 
 Ring the Bells, 94. 
 
 The Coming of Christmas, 96. 
 
 • A Provengal Xoel, 280. 
 
 Ancient French Carol, 2S2. 
 
 A Burgundian Noel, 284. 
 
 Carol of the Three Kings, 285. 
 
 Lindsay (Lady), Carol, carol, tenderly, 314. 
 
 Happy Shepherds, 315. 
 
 Christmas, prithee, be thou drest, 317. 
 
 Longfellow (H. W.), Christmas Bells, 68. 
 
 A Christmas Carol, 254. 
 
 Lowell (James Russell), A^ Christmas Carol, 264. 
 Lullaby for Christmas (J. A. Symonds), 74. 
 Luther (Martin) Christmas Card for Children, 25. 
 
 Cradle Hymn, 293. 
 
 Mackay (Charles), Under the Holly Bough, 70. 
 Macleod (Fiona), St. Bride's Lullaby, 102. 
 Mahogany Tree, The (W. M. Thackeray), 60. 
 Mair (Thomas), Christmas, A Hymn, 293. 
 Masters, in this hall (W. Morris). 266. 
 
 [327] 
 
^ 
 
 INDEX 
 
 ^ 
 
 Meditation for Christmas Day (Selwyn Image), 144. 
 
 Merry Christmas (Anon.), 80. 
 
 Milton (John), On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, 
 
 190. 
 Moore (Clement C.) A Visit from St. Nicholas, 21. 
 Morning Song for Christmas Day (Herbert P. 
 
 Home), 146. 
 Morris (William), Outlanders, Whence Come Ye 
 
 Lastr 167. 
 
 Masters, in this hall, 266. 
 
 Mystic's Christmas, The (J. G. Whittier), 131. 
 
 Nativity, The (Henry Vaughan), 116. 
 
 Nativity, The (Ben Jonson), 185. 
 
 Nativity, The (I. Watts), 221. 
 
 Neale (Rev. Dr.), Good King Wenceslas, 256. 
 
 'Neath Mistletoe (J. Ashby Sterry), 87. 
 
 Ode on the Birth of Our Savior (R. Herrick), 208. 
 
 Of the Nativity of Christ (W. Dunbar), 186. 
 
 Old Christmas (G. Wither), 34. 
 
 Old Christmas-Tide (Sir W. Scott), 44. 
 
 O Little Town of Bethlehem (P. Brooks), 310. 
 
 On the Morning of Christ's Nativity (J. Milton), 
 
 190. 
 Ontlanders, Whence Come Ye Last? (W. Morris), 
 
 167. 
 Out of the Shadow of the Night (M. Fairless), 183. 
 
 Pedlar, The (W. G. Collingwood), 98. 
 
 Pestel (Thomas), Psalm for Christmas Day, 218. 
 
 [328] 
 
>^ INDEX ^ 
 
 Procter (Adelaide A.), The Angel's Story, 59. 
 
 A Christmas Carol, 251. 
 
 Provenqal Noel, A (Lady Lindsay), 280. 
 Psalm for Christmas Day (T. Pestel), 218. 
 
 Ring the Bells (Lady Lindsay), 94. 
 Robinson (A. Mary F.), The Three Kings, 275. 
 Rocking Hymn (G. Wither), 2)^. 
 Rossetti (Christina G.), December, 86. 
 
 A Hope Carol, 139. 
 
 Christmas Carol, 175. 
 
 A Christmas Carol, 258, 260, 262. 
 
 St. Bride's Lullaby (Fiona Macleod), 102. 
 
 Santa Claus (Anon.), 104. 
 
 Savior, whom this holy morn (R. Heber), 304. 
 
 Schaaf (Philip), To-day in Bethlehem, 22,7. 
 
 Scott (Sir Walter), Old Christmas-Tide, 44. 
 
 Sears (Edmund Hamilton), A Christmas Carol, 246. 
 
 Christmas Day, 308. 
 
 Smith (Geoffrey), At the Sign of the Jolly Jack, 107. 
 
 Southwell (Robert), The Burning Babe, 119. 
 
 Shepherds, The (W. Drummond), 28. 
 
 Shepherds, The (H. Vaughan), 212. 
 
 Shepherds' Song, The (E. Bolton), 209. 
 
 Shepherds Went Their Hasty Way (S. T. Cole- 
 ridge), 129. 
 
 Sherburne (Sir Edward), And they laid Him in a 
 manger, 206. 
 
 Star of Bethlehem (J. G. Whittier), 160. 
 
 [ 329 ] 
 
>^ 
 
 INDEX 
 
 ^ 
 
 Star of Bethlehem (H. K. White), 306. 
 Sterry (J. Ashby), 'Neath Mistletoe, 87. 
 
 A Christmas Carol, 88. 
 
 Stevenson (Robert Louis), Christinas at Sea, 171. 
 
 Symonds (John Addington), A Lullaby for Christ- 
 mas, 74. 
 
 Swinburne (Algernon Charles), A Christmas Anti- 
 phone, 134. 
 
 A Christmas Carol, 270. 
 
 Tate (N.), While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 
 
 by Night, 295. 
 Tennyson (Alfred, Lord), Christmas Day ('Tn Me- 
 
 moriam"), 48. 
 Thackeray (W. M.), The Mahogany Tree, 60. 
 
 The End of the Play, 63. 
 
 They Leave the Land of Gems and Gold (A. 
 
 De Vere), 72. 
 This Endris Night (Old Carol), 234. 
 Thomas (Geo. Channing), Christmas Carol, 248. 
 Thou that seekest thy delight (Provengal Noel), 280. 
 Three Kings, The (A. M. F. Robinson), 275. 
 Thring (Edward), Hymn for the Nativity, 318. 
 To-day in Bethlehem (John of Damascus), 237. 
 True Christmas, The (H. Vaughan), 215. 
 Tynan (Katharine), Christmas Co7nmunion, 97. 
 • Christmas Eve, 222. 
 
 Bethlehem, 287. 
 
 Under the Holly Bough (Charles Mackay), 70. 
 [ 330 ] 
 
^ INDEX |5 
 
 Vaughan (Henry), Christ's Nativity, 115. 
 
 The Nativity, 116. 
 
 The Shepherds, 212. 
 
 The True Christmas, 215. 
 
 Visit from St. Nicholas (C. C Moore), 21. 
 FoiV^ of the Christ-Child (Phillips Brooks), 79. 
 
 Watts (Isaac), The Nativity, 221. 
 
 Waugh (Edwin), For All Poor Souls, 149. 
 
 We Saw the Light Shine Out Afar (Old Carol), 
 240. 
 
 Wesley (Charles), Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, 
 297. 
 
 When Jordan hushed his waters still (T. Camp- 
 bell), 301. 
 
 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night 
 (N. Tate), 295. 
 
 White (H. Kirke), The Star of Bethlehem, 306. 
 
 Whittier (John Greenleaf), The Mystic's Christmas, 
 131. 
 
 • A Christinas Carmen, 158. 
 
 The Star of Bethlehem, 160. 
 
 Who Can Forget f (Giles Fletcher), 120. 
 
 Willie, take thy tamborin (Burgundian Noel), 284. 
 Wither (George), A Rocking Hymn, 32. 
 
 Old Christmas, 34. 
 
 Gloria In Excclsis, 216. 
 
 Wordsworth (William), The Christmas Carol, 38. 
 
 [331] 
 
i . 
 
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