Page:Our American Holidays - Christmas.djvu/60

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32
CHRISTMAS

For lo! the world's great Shepherd now is born,
   A blessed Babe, an Infant full of power:
After long night uprisen is the morn,
   Renowning Bethlem in the Saviour.
      Sprung is the perfect day,
         By prophets seen afar:
      Sprung is the mirthful May,
         Which winter cannot mar.
In David's city doth this Sun appear
Clouded in flesh, yet, shepherds, sit we here!


A CHRISTMAS CAROL

They leave the land of gems and gold,
   The shining portals of the East;
For Him, the woman's Seed foretold,
   They leave the revel and the feast.

To earth their sceptres they have cast,
   And crowns by kings ancestral worn;
They track the lonely Syrian waste;
   They kneel before the Babe new born.

O happy eyes that saw Him first;
   O happy lips that kissed His feet:
Earth slakes at last her ancient thirst;
   With Eden's joy her pulses beat.