Poems (Bushnell)/The Child's Star
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XI
THE CHILD'S STAR
The Christmas night fell softly down,
And closed the crimson West;
And lighting on the snow-clad town
Dropped peace upon its breast.
And closed the crimson West;
And lighting on the snow-clad town
Dropped peace upon its breast.
A happy party, homeward bound,
Drove down the lighted street;
Their horses skimmed the ivory ground
With swift and dainty feet.
Drove down the lighted street;
Their horses skimmed the ivory ground
With swift and dainty feet.
The tinkling sleigh-bells spurred their pace
The downy furs were heaped;
And from its nest a little face
With winter roses peeped.
The downy furs were heaped;
And from its nest a little face
With winter roses peeped.
The sparkling crescent in the sky
Swung on its silver rim,
And as the child flew quickly by
It seemed to fly with him.
Swung on its silver rim,
And as the child flew quickly by
It seemed to fly with him.
"O, see that pretty star!" and thus
His growing thought did come:
"Mamma, it's going home with us—
It's going to its home!"
His growing thought did come:
"Mamma, it's going home with us—
It's going to its home!"
Oh! happy child, your words went far;
Yes, farther than you guessed;
And high upon the horned star
You hung a fancy blest.
Yes, farther than you guessed;
And high upon the horned star
You hung a fancy blest.
Long, long ago some pilgrims had
The thought that pleases you,
And all the world to-night is glad
Because the thought was true.
The thought that pleases you,
And all the world to-night is glad
Because the thought was true.
And when, dear boy, your fancies sweet
To certainties have grown,
You'll reach the star that leads your feet,
Nor find the fancy flown.
To certainties have grown,
You'll reach the star that leads your feet,
Nor find the fancy flown.