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But, 'mid the thoughts of high and holy things,
The sacred memories which this season brings,
How clear again before the mental eye
Rise long-past scenes, and happy days gone by!
How swiftly crowd upon our hearts again,
Kindred and friends who met together then!
Yes, all are there;—familiar faces come
To fill with life our childhood's happy home,
And well-known voices ring upon the ear,
Whose blended tones earth ne'er again may hear.
Those once close bands are broken: never more
Shall meet below, that group who met of yore:
No more shall mingle round the Christmas blaze,
The laughing voices of those merry days.
Oh, never more! some fill their quiet graves,
And all, wide scattered on the world's rough waves,
Share in the common lot of toil and strife,
And bravely battle 'mid the war of life;
Yet turn perchance like me, on this glad day,
To long-past years, and loved ones far away,
And, 'mid the mirth around them, breathe a sihh
O'er hopes departed, and bright dreams gone by.
The sacred memories which this season brings,
How clear again before the mental eye
Rise long-past scenes, and happy days gone by!
How swiftly crowd upon our hearts again,
Kindred and friends who met together then!
Yes, all are there;—familiar faces come
To fill with life our childhood's happy home,
And well-known voices ring upon the ear,
Whose blended tones earth ne'er again may hear.
Those once close bands are broken: never more
Shall meet below, that group who met of yore:
No more shall mingle round the Christmas blaze,
The laughing voices of those merry days.
Oh, never more! some fill their quiet graves,
And all, wide scattered on the world's rough waves,
Share in the common lot of toil and strife,
And bravely battle 'mid the war of life;
Yet turn perchance like me, on this glad day,
To long-past years, and loved ones far away,
And, 'mid the mirth around them, breathe a sihh
O'er hopes departed, and bright dreams gone by.
Yet think not that we murmur; if those dreams
Of morn have vanished, yet the midday beams
Fall bright and calm around us; other ties,
Far dearer, closer,—sweetest charities
Entwine our heart of hearts, and bind us here,
With all the purest joys that make life dear.
Our loved ones cluster round us, and once more
We see renewed in them our days of yore;
Of morn have vanished, yet the midday beams
Fall bright and calm around us; other ties,
Far dearer, closer,—sweetest charities
Entwine our heart of hearts, and bind us here,
With all the purest joys that make life dear.
Our loved ones cluster round us, and once more
We see renewed in them our days of yore;
