Christmas Light

Christmas Light
BY ETHEL CALVERT PHILLIPS
With Illustrations
BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge 1922
COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY ETHEL CALVERT PHILLIPS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Riverside Press CAMBRIDGE MASSACHUSETTS PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
TO MY MOTHER
Light of the world, the world is dark about Thee; Far out on Judah's hills the night is deep. Not yet the day is come when men shall doubt Thee, Not yet the hour when Thou must wake and weep; O little one, O Lord of Glory, sleep! Love of all heaven, love's arms are folded round Thee, Love's heart shall be the pillow for Thy cheek. Not yet the hour has come when hate shall wound Thee, Not yet for shelter vainly must Thou seek. Rest, little one, so mighty and so weak. Lie still and rest, Thou Rest of earth and heaven; Rest, little hands—our Hope of bliss ye keep; Rest, little heart—one day shalt Thou be riven; O newborn Life, O Life eternal, sleep! Far out on Judah's hills the night is deep.

IT was in a little garden in the village of Bethlehem, many and many a year ago, that four scarlet poppies stood side by side and swayed gently back and forth upon their slim green stalks in the soft afternoon wind.

A little girl came running over the grass and halted before the poppies.
How beautiful you are! said the little girl, whose name was Naomi, and who was eight years old.