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  And thou too, ancient festival, whose name
A word of joy through centuries hath lived—
Christmas! thou com'st with carols as of old
When angels chanted 'neath the midnight sky,
"Glory to God on high, good will to men!"
Methinks angelic choirs beyond the stars
Still warble round Messiah's throne the strain.
Earth well may lift her voice in jubilant praise
And all true hearts exulting greet the day
That tells the world anew the Christ is born!
Let holly, box, and fir tree lend their boughs,
Symbols of life immortal, to adorn
Each Christian temple. Ring, ring out, ye bells,
Sweet chimes that shall afar glad echoes start!
Then while the very air with love and peace
Seems all surcharged, within thee, happy Home,
Childhood and youth and hoary age may tell,
With many a gift and many a token kind,
With chastened merriment and generous cheer,
How beat in holy unison all hearts.
O Babe of Bethlehem! to Thee we owe