XVII THE GLAD EVANGEL A Christmas Carol * There's a mother's deep prayer And the star rains its fire while the Beautiful sing, For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a king. There's a tumult of joy Ay! the star rains its fire and the Beautiful sing, For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a king! In the light of that star Has swept over the world. From "The Poetical Works of J. G. Holland." Copy right, 1881, by Charles Scribner's Sons. The Every hearth is aflame, and the Beautiful sing Glad In the homes of the nations that Jesus is king. Evangel We rejoice in the light, And we echo the song That comes down through the night From the heavenly throng. Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, King! JOSIAH GILBERT HOLLAND. The Angels Run, shepherds, run where Bethlehem blest ap pears. We bring the best of news; be not dismayed: In a poor cottage inned, a virgin maid, A weakling did him bear, who all upbears; In which the power of Satan broken is: In heaven be glory, peace unto the earth! Thus singing, through the air the angels swarm, Like small curled feathers, white and soft, The little clouds went by, Across the moon, and past the stars, The shepherds slept; and, glimmering faint, Only their fire's crackling flames The tender silence broke Save when a young lamb raised his head, With finger on her solemn lip, Night hushed the shadowy earth, And only stars and angels saw The Glad Evangel The Glad Evangel Then came such flash of silver light The wondering shepherds woke, and hid And all their gentle sleepy flock Looked up, then slept again, Nor knew the light that dimmed the stars "The Christ is born! the Lord has come, Good-will on earth to bring!" Then o'er the moonlit, misty fields, Dumb with the world's great joy, The shepherds sought the white-walled town, Where lay the baby boy And oh, the gladness of the world, The glory of the skies, Because the longed-for Christ looked up In Mary's happy eyes! MARGARET DELAND. The Star Song Tell us, thou clear and heavenly tongue, |