LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 u iujping]^ f a. 
 
 Shelf 11. 
 
 SLhl^ 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
A CHRISTMAS SONG 
 
 THE SORROWING, 
 
 6 
 
 By£L1ZBETH BftOMINS. 
 
 BOSTON, U. S. A. 
 L. PRANG & COMPANY 
 
 Copyright, 1S90, by L. Prang & Co., Uoston, U. S. A. 
 
= 6 13^ 
 
f\ <$f7ri3t:mas ^ot)(^ for tf^e Sorrou/lp*^. 
 
 
 Oh, you to whom tlie Christmas' time 
 
 Brings only l)itter tears, 
 And agonizing" memories 
 
 (Jf joys ol by-gone-years ! 
 
Whose ears the merry greetings strike 
 With discords, sharp as pain; 
 
 Who steal away to hide yonr grief, 
 And weep, and weep again. 
 
What better oft'ering can you bring 
 
 To sanctify the day, 
 Than hrm resolve for others' sake 
 
 To lay your grief away? 
 
To let no shadow from vour past 
 Their happy present chill ; 
 
 With true, unselhsh cheerfulness, 
 The whole long day to hll. 
 
It is no easy thiii^- to do — 
 
 To smile and let no trace 
 
 Of all the sorrow in your heart 
 Be mirrored in your face. 
 
It is no easy thing*, and yet, 
 li done for others' sake. 
 
 Some echoes of the jov around 
 Must in your heart awake 
 
Anrl who shall say, that in the realm 
 
 Of immortality, 
 Your loved ones may not thrill with joy, 
 
 This Sacrifice to see t 
 
Then courage, courage, fainting heart. 
 
 Be equal to the test ; 
 So shall you find your Christmas time 
 
 With sacred Peace is blest. 
 
 LiZBKTH B. CoMINS. 
 
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