. Christmas day. Toward the peakswhich flood the ancient Nile,t> To free a tyrants captives ? How- to those — CHRISTMAS DAY. I 3 New patriarchs of the new-found underworld — Who stand, like Jacob, on the virgin lawns, And count their flocks increase ? To them that day Shall dawn in glory, and solstitial blaze Of full midsummer sun : to them that morn Gay flowers beneath their feet, gay birds aloft Shall tell of naught but summer: but to them, Ere yet, unwarned by carol or by chime, They spring into the saddle, thrills may come From that great heart of Christendom which beats Round all the w
. Christmas day. Toward the peakswhich flood the ancient Nile,t> To free a tyrants captives ? How- to those — CHRISTMAS DAY. I 3 New patriarchs of the new-found underworld — Who stand, like Jacob, on the virgin lawns, And count their flocks increase ? To them that day Shall dawn in glory, and solstitial blaze Of full midsummer sun : to them that morn Gay flowers beneath their feet, gay birds aloft Shall tell of naught but summer: but to them, Ere yet, unwarned by carol or by chime, They spring into the saddle, thrills may come From that great heart of Christendom which beats Round all the worlds ; and gracious thoughts of youth ; Of steadfast folk, who worship God at home ; Of wise words learnt beside their mothers knee ; Of innocent faces, upturned once again In awe and joy to listen to the tale Of God made man, and in a manger laid : May soften, purify, and raise the soul From selfish cares, and growing lust of gain, 14 CHRISTMAS And phantoms of this dream,which some call life, Toward the eternal facts ; forhere or there, Summer or winter, twill beChristmas day Blest day, which aye remindsus, year by year, CHRISTMAS DAY. I 5 To serve, not rule ; to nourish, not devour ; To help, not crush ; if need, to die, not live. Oh, blessed day, which givest the eternal lie To self, and sense, and all the brute within ; Oh, come to us, amid this war of life; To hall and hovel, come; to all who toil In senate, shop, or study ; and to those Who, sundered by the wastes of half a world, Ill-warned, and sorely tempted, ever face Natures brute powers and men unmanned to brutes. Come to them, blest and blessing, Christmas day. Tell them once more the tale of Bethlehem ; The kneeling shepherds, and the Babe Divine ; And keep them men indeed, fair Christmas day.
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