Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

THE

BIRTH OF JESUS ANNOUNCED.

DEEP was the midnight silence in the fields

Of Bethlehem; hushed the folds; save that at times Was heard the lamb's faint bleat; the shepherds,

stretched

On the green sward, surveyed the starry vault.
The heavens declare the glory of the Lord,

The firmament shews forth thy handy work:

Thus they, their hearts attuned to the Most High ;

When suddenly a splendid cloud appeared,

As if a portion of the milky way

Descended slowly in a spiral course.

Near and more near it draws; then, hovering, floats High as the soar of eagle, shedding bright,

[ocr errors]

Upon the folded flocks, a heavenly radiance,

From whence was uttered loud, yet sweet, a voice,

Fear not, I bring good tidings of great joy ;

For unto

you is born this day a Saviour!
And this shall be a sign to you,-the babe,
Laid lowly in a manger, ye shall find.—
The angel spake; when, lo! upon the cloud,
A multitude of Seraphim, enthroned,
Sang praises, saying,-Glory to the Lord
On high; on earth be peace, good will to men.
With sweet response harmoniously they choired,
And while, with heavenly harmony, the song
Arose to God, more bright the buoyant throne
Illumed the land: the prowling lion stops,

Awe-struck, with mane upreared, and flattened head;
And, without turning, backward on his steps

Recoils, aghast, into the desert gloom.

A trembling joy the astonished shepherds prove,

As heavenward re-ascends the vocal blaze

Triumphantly; while, by degrees, the strain
Dies on the ear, that self-deluded listens,

As if a sound so sweet could never die.

BEHOLD

MY MOTHER AND MY BRETHREN.

WHO is my mother, or my brethren?

He spake, and looked on them who sat around,
With a meek smile, of pity blent with love,

More melting than e'er gleamed from human face,-
As when a sun-beam, through a summer shower,
Shines mildly on a little hill-side flock;

And with that look of love he said, Behold
My mother and my brethren; for I say,
That whosoe'er shall do the will of God,
He is my brother, sister, mother, all.

BARTIMEUS

RESTORED TO SIGHT.

BLIND, poor, and helpless BARTIMEUS sat,
Listening the foot of the wayfaring man,

Still hoping that the next, and still the next,
Would put an alms into his trembling hand.

He thinks he hears the coming breeze faint rustle
Among the
sycamores; it is the tread

Of thousand steps; it is the hum of tongues
Innumerable: But when the sightless man

Heard that the Nazarene was passing by,

He cried, and said," JESUS, thou son of David,

« ElőzőTovább »