"Thou wert a babe in Bethlehem, a mother guarded Thee. I pray Thee now, for her dear sake, to hearken unto me! Remember how she held Thee close, and crooned Thee, sweet and low, The lullabies that mothers sang long centuries ago, And bared her snowy breast to Thee, And stroked Thy forehead tenderly.
"And kissed Thee oft, and told herself, again and yet again, To hold Thee thus one hour outweighed the travail and the pain! Dear Christ, this city is most fair; its glories thrill and move; O doth it grieve Thee that my heart cleaves to an earthly love? That on mine eyes heaven's beauties dim Because my heart is back with him?
"With him—the wandering son of mine, the wayward one—whose need Of patient love and guiding hand is very great indeed! Think not I love Thee not, dear Lord, nor long for heaven's rest; 'Tis only that the mother-heart throbs fiercely in my breast. On this glad morning of Thy birth, O grant me leave to visit earth!"
Lo! on her head she feels the touch of tender wounded hand, "Fear not," she hears, "a love like thine the Christ can understand. No mother prays in vain to Me on this day of the year, For when the faltering words she speaks fall on My waiting ear, I do remember that My cheek Lay on a bosom warm, I do remember Bethlehem, And Mary's cradling arm."
LOVE'S LESSON.
One lesson let us bear in mind— Be very gentle with our own, Be to their faults a little blind, Nor wound them by a look or tone.
Put self behind! turn tender eyes; Keep back the words that hurt and sting; We learn, when sorrow makes us wise, Forbearance is the grandest thing.
Be patient lest some day we turn Our eyes on loved one fast asleep, And whisper, as we lean and yearn, "How often I have made you weep!