Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-12-22
The Cross upon the Thresh-
old.

Little lOHe one WOulust tuOu sO
But che hears.not, and the snow-drift
browns the voice that bids her stay;
And, afar along the pathway
Speed those little feet away.
Hurrying whthers blessed Saviour
Speed those little feet away!
Yeet and hands are cracked and bleeding,
Feet and hands, and head are bare,
And the frozen sleet like jewels,
Clusters IN her golden hair;
Tattered garments futter round her,
Battling with the bitter air.
All how shrinks the covering infant,
As the fierce gust chills her through;
Feebly dies her voice of wailing,
For her lips are stiff and blue,
And the tears cling to her eyelidf,
Frozen there In Icy dew.
Onward, through the gathering darkness.
Still she tottcrs in her flight;
Weary, lonely, like a Pleiad
Wandering in the outer night.
10 there no ones Is there no one,
Keeping Tor her warmth and light2
Ia there CLEANS athwart the corner
Ruddy glow from happy homes,
And sweet, merry, childish laughter
Ringing on the bleak wind comes;
For tonight they sport all hopeful,
With the Christmas elves and gnomes.
Happy chldren' Happy parents
Blcst the roof that shields you here'
Tender fatheri Gentle motheri
Loving sisterl Brother dear
Not n trown to mar your pleasure,
Every JOY and comfort near
Christmas-eye' the freight dances
on the pictured parior-wall,
And apart in coy chambers,
Gifts are ranged for one and all;
While. below, the blazing kitchen
Sends its cheer throug court and hall.
And. there, cleaning past the curtain.
See the gittcring Christmas.tree
Hung with golden fruits and trinketS
For the fun that is to be
., the candles q, tie trcasuresl
On that glorious Christmas,tree
Then, the tables spread for feasting,
Iies, and cakes, and ooniits piled
Rosy apples, nuts, and raisins,
Grapes whe:eon the Tropic smiled
ileapad togcther-wllat an Eden,
For that homeless, starving child
Now look on her, where she crouches,
ctose beside the friendly door,
While she counts the dancing footsteps
As they ciatter Ger the floor
They are singing Christmascarols,
singing ill their hearts briin DER
And she watches through the window,
Little faces like her own,
Boauiing with celestial pleasure
Glossy ringlcts backward thrown;
A. The father clasps his darlings,
With sweet words She too has anown.
Tiowcry wrcathS that deck the inantcl
Frame this picture, aS she peers,
Holly tWiued with buds and roses
Ttpes of happy by-g4ne years
For her. too, they worc gay garlands,
In the happy by-sone years
O, dear father-O sweet mother,
Where are You who loved ne 50
And her littt heart ouibursting
Walls aloud rs worthless woe;
For alas they sleep together,
This wild night, beneath the snow.
Ter upon the heavy easement,
Tap, her hands woa'd make sign,
Take me in, kind Christian people,
All these joys, they once were minet
Here die OF cold and hunger"
Heeds her but the Ear Divine.
Now, the curtain drawn more closely,
And the splcndor fading too,
Drowsy bells in hidden steeples
Toll the heavy midnight through;
All il hushed save distant revel
And the tormiiing's noisy crew,
Now, the bride dreams of her bridegroom,
And the bridegroom, too, is best;
Now, the mother hugs her bantling
Where il nestles ON her breast,
Age and childhood both are happy
In that heavenly Christmas rest.
p,t Nh homo rece;vcs the ,one one.
And no mothers fond caress
All no fathnr,. hand NAV b,ess
That lost fcdgng on the doorstep.
Io! behold sudden glory!
List soft music in the air.
And she rises radiant, lovely,
Clasps her hands and kneels in prayer.
See! an infant form resplendent
On its head, crown OF starlight
Shedding lusfre DER Its face!
Heavenly mildness every feature;
All its bearing sweetest grace;
White robes, pure and bright as silver, ]
From its brow the tresses parted,
Float aside in sunny sheen,
And its eyes-the deepest, elearest,
That our mortal sight hath seen.
Full of tendercst love-light beaming
Hark, il speaks. Its arms extended
Beckon to that lonely one:
"Come TO me, poor little stranger,
For thy pilgrimage is done"
Tones of heayeni can she linger
,
"My Fathers House mas many mansions,
Far more peaut'lui thah ,hesei
Pastures green oy que, WaIers,
Flowers OF glory, hidden trees
No more.M intet; phiy ou.",,,er
~
"There, on golden harps, the seraphs
Sound eternal anthems HIGH,
And the songs OF angel.myriads
Echo all along the sky,
Blessed hosts are there forever.
"There comes neither care nor sorrow
In that glad, unending day
But the hand of love uEdying
Wipes the tear of grief away.
Though the dark world here reject thee,
81 am He who, in manger
Lay helpless little child;
Swaddled there in rags and tatters
While the heather lands rcvilsd,