THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL. DEAREST, I never lacked from thee a gift, When more than Summer's wreckèd treasures hide Beneath the stainless, smooth, wind-sculptured drift. What largess once love's least bestowal brought! But change has come since thou art wandered hence ; How can I reach thee in thy affluence? Can Earth bestow when Heaven requireth naught? All blessedness is thine, thou still canst give, For me, the gift of patience while I live. And come thou when the red dawn-fire is blown, And rocking fir-trees shed the snow's light fleece; Come with the Christmas angels, singing peace, They to the wide world, thou to me alone! ANGEL CHORUS. Be peace on earth! Clear peace, That hath its springs in love, 76 THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL. Descend, and flow through earth The broodings of the Dove. A VOICE ALONE. Peace in thy heart! Pure peace, Amid the angels' song God lets thee hearken mine. Thy own in years of time, Before our Maker's throne; I am not reft of thee, Nor bidest thou alone. ANGEL CHORUS. Good-will on earth! Good-will Among well-pleasured men, Who carve the ways whereby Their King shall come again, THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL. Who carve and wait, nor ask How He shall come, or when. The rose shall then spring up, To conquer waste and wild, The lion and the lamb A VOICE ALONE. Good-will be in thy heart, To all who thee surround! Bear balm to others' hurt And this shall close thy wound; So thou on earth and I In heaven be closer bound. For all my life is love, And love thy life should be; Oh, let love's shadow, grief, Divide not thee and me; Look where the dawn-rose blooms, And there my signal see. 77 MONITORS. THE pure heart looked upon the midnight skies, "God's pity for the soul who feels the eyes Of all these heavenly censors flash reproof For sin that keepeth him from Thee aloof! The foul heart looked upon the midnight skies, Behold! guilt's hardihood this guerdon earns, And therefore pray, pure heart, God's pity be THE QUIET PILGRIM. What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, and Himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. ISAIAH XXXviii. 15. WHEN on my soul in nakedness Whenso my quick, light-sandaled feet Since neither words nor ways unsweet Youth shuns me not, nor gladness fears, Whenso I come where Griefs convene, |