I'm

poor

CHRISTMAS CAROL.

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."

CHRISTMAS CAROL.

FELICIA HEMANS.

O LOVELY Voices of the sky,

Are

That hymned the Saviour's birth!
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 shepherds' 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 we still gaze on thee?

In heaven thou art not set,

Thy rays earth might not dim

Send them to guide us yet!

O star which led to Him!

CHRISTMAS DAY.

1

SAMUEL RICKARDS.

THOUGH rude winds usher thee, sweet day,
Though clouds thy face deform,
Though nature's grace is swept away

Before thy sleety storm;

E'en in thy sombrest wintry vest,

Of blessed days thou art most blest.

Nor frigid air nor gloomy morn
Shall check our jubilee ;

Bright is the day when Christ was born,
No sun need shine but He;

Let roughest storms their coldest blow,
With love of Him our hearts shall glow.

Inspired with high and holy thought,

Fancy is on the wing;

It seems as to mine ear it brought
Those voices carolling:

Voices through heaven and earth that ran,
Glory to God, good-will to man.

I see the shepherds gazing wild

At those fair spirits of light;

CHRISTMAS DAY.

I see them bending o'er the child

With that untold delight,

Which marks the face of those who view

Things but too happy to be true.

There, in the lowly manger laid,

Incarnate God they see,

He stoops to take, through spotless maid,
Our frail humanity;

Son of high God, creation's Heir,

He leaves His heaven to raise us there.

Through Him, Lord, we are born anew,
Thy children once again,

Oh, day by day our hearts renew,
That Thine we may remain;

And angel-like, may all agree,

One sweet and holy family.

Oft as this joyous morn doth come

To speak our Saviour's love,

Oh, may it bear our spirits home

Where He now reigns above;

That day which brought Him from the skies,
So man restores to Paradise.

Then let winds usher thee, sweet day,

Let clouds thy face deform,
Though nature's grace is swept away

Before thy sleety storm;

E'en in thy sombrest wintry vest,

Of blessed days thou art most blest.

W. J. BLEW.

NIGHT is set in, the stars their lamps are raising;
Each dewy flower hath closed its perfumed chalice ;
O'er the blue hills the city lights are blazing,

And the gay cressets gleam in cot and palace.
Down the green sheep-tracks rest the flocks enfolden,
Round their still cotes the hinds their fires are waking,

While in the homes of Bethlehem lie holden

Eyes all unconscious of the mystery breaking.

Oh, wonder of all wonders,

The hinds their watch are keeping,

A babe is in the manger

Christ Jesus there is sleeping;

The oxen round him lowing,

The ass his forehead bowing,

The maiden mother kneeling,

While night is o'er them stealing.

Soon shall a fire-flood kindle up the horizon,
Paling the night stars in their fairy shining,

Paling the broad sun at his first uprising,

Paling the bright moon at his red declining.
Hark, through the opened lattice of Heaven's portals
Soundeth-" To God be glory in the highest,

Peace be on earth; Good will to loving mortals."
Peace to thee, Christian, while with joy thou criest.

Oh, wonder of all wonders,

The hinds their watch are keeping,

A babe is in the manger

Christ Jesus there is sleeping;

EDWARD MOXON.

OW holier thoughts awake my rhyme,
The village bells with pealing chime;
And sweeter far their notes to me
Than those of loudest revelry.
To yonder heaven-pointing spire
Is bent the charitable Squire,