CHRISTMAS CAROLS.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS.

H

I.

ARK how all the welkin rings,
"Glory to the King of kings,

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled.”

Joyful all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

Universal Nature, say,

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Christ, the Lord, is born to-day!"

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,

Late in time behold Him come,

Offspring of the Virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,

Hail the Incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with men to appear,

Jesus, our Immanuel here!

Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by,
Born-that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of Nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman's conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head.

In heaven the rapturous song began, And sweet seraphic fire

Through all the shining regions ran,

And strung and tuned the lyre.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS.

Swift through the vast expanse it flew,
And loud the echo rolled;

The theme, the song, the joy was new,

'Twas more than heaven could hold.

Down through the portals of the sky,
The impetuous torrent ran;
And angels rushed with eager joy,
To bear the news to man.

Wrapt in the silence of the night,
The world in darkness lay,
When sudden, glorious, heavenly light,
Burst in a flood of day.

Hark, the cherubic armies shout,
And glory leads the song;
Goodwill and peace are heard throughout
The harmonious heavenly throng.

Oh for a glance of heavenly love,
Our hearts and songs to raise,
Sweetly to bear our souls above,
And mingle with their lays.

With joy the chorus we repeat,
Glory to God on high,

Goodwill and peace are now complete,

Jesus was born to die.

Hail, Prince of Life, for ever hail!

Redeemer, Brother, Friend!

Though earth, and time, and life shall fail, Thy praise shall never end.

G

LEAMED the red sun athwart the misty haze

Which veiled the cold earth from its loving gaze,

Feeble and sad as hope in sorrow's hour

But for thy soul it still had warmth and power;

Not to its cheerless beauty wert thou blind;
To the keen eye of thy poetic mind

ODE TO WINTER.

Beauty still lives, though Nature's flowerets die,
And wintry sunsets fade along the sky!

And nought escaped thee as we strolled along,
Nor changeful ray, nor bird's faint chirping song,
Blessed with a fancy easily inspired.

ODE TO WINTER.

HEN first the fiery-mantled Sun

W"

His heavenly race began to run,

Round the earth and ocean blue
His children four the Seasons flew :-

First, in green apparel dancing,
The young Spring smiled with angel grace;
Rosy Summer, next advancing

Rushed into her sire's embrace

Her bright-haired sire, who bade her keep

For ever nearest to his smiles,

On Calpe's olive-shaded steep,

Or India's citron-covered isles.

More remote, and buxom-brown,

The Queen of Vintage bowed before his throne;

A rich pomegranate gemmed her crown,

A ripe sheaf bound her zone.

But howling Winter fled afar

To hills that prop the Polar Star;
And loves on deer-borne car to ride,
With barren darkness at his side,