A CHRISTMAS CAROL

God rest ye, merry gentlemen; let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas day.
The dawn rose red o'er Bethlehem, the stars shone through the gray,
When Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas day.
God rest ye, little children; let nothing you affright,
For Jesus Christ, your Saviour, was born this happy night;
Along the hills of Galilee the white flocks sleeping lay,
When Christ, the child of Nazareth, was born on Christmas day.
God rest ye, all good Christians; upon this blessed morn,
The Lord of all good Christians was of a woman born:
Now all your sorrows He doth heal, your sins He takes away;
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas day.
--Dinah Maria Mulock.

[{398}]

HAIL THE NIGHT! ALL HAIL THE MORN!

Hail the night! All hail the morn!
When the Prince of Peace was born;
When, amid the watchful fold,
Tidings good the angel told.
Now our solemn chant we raise
Duly to the Saviour's praise;
Now with carol hymns we bless
Christ the Lord, our Righteousness.
While resounds the joyful cry,
"Glory be to God on high,
Peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Gladly we respond "amen!"
--Old German Carol.

[{399}]

[{400}]

THE NATIVITY

"Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes,
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long;
And then, they say, no spirit can walk abroad;
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike;
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm;
So hallowed and so gracious is the time."
--Shakespeare.

[{401}]

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

There's a wonderful tree, a wonderful tree,
The happy children rejoice to see,
Spreading its branches year by year,
It comes from the forest to flourish here;
Oh! this beautiful tree, with its branches wide,
Is always blooming at Christmas-tide.
'T is not alone in the summer's sheen
Its boughs are broad and its leaves are green,
It blooms for us when the wild winds blow,
And earth is white with feathery snow:
And this wonderful tree with its branches wide,
Bears many a gift for the Christmas-tide.
'T is all alight with its tapers' glow,
That flash on the shining eyes below,
And the strange sweet fruit on each laden bough
Is all to be plucked by the gatherers now.
Oh! this wonderful tree, with its branches wide,
We hail it with joy at the Christmas-tide.
And a voice is telling, its boughs among,
Of the shepherds' watch and angels' song;
Of a holy babe in a manger low,
The beautiful story of long ago,
When a radiant star threw its beams so wide
To herald the earliest Christmas-tide.
Then spread thy branches, wonderful tree,
And bring some dainty gift to me,
And fill my heart with a burning love
To Him who came from His home above--
From His beautiful home with the glorified,
To give us the joys of the Christmas-tide.