Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1865-12-22

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As< bsk.,'1, tkrs 81 81 ~ lspress. =
oIIies amy, ehII6Iiks fssn3
wsssy. wandering, without shelter.
Lost 10 cold, and night, and storm.
"whsnss AT thou, poor little stranger,
Througb the slxht aud thro' the sssrms''
Butshs hears not, an a the snowdrifs
prewts the voIes that bids her stsyI
Asd, sfsr aioss the pa thwsy
speed those little feet away.
Hurrying whithsrf Blessed 81 vlor--
Speed those little feet awayi
Feet an,I hands are cracked and Wedding,
Feet. end dhssds, and head are bare,
s.And tho frossn siset, like, Jeweis,
i cisstsr IN her EsIdsn halrg
Tstfersd. garments na tier 'rsand her,
Battling with the bitter air.
-onwaf'i, through the gathering darkness,
sun sks tetsersin her aishiI
Weary. lonely, iiks risiad
Wandering In the sestsr night.
IL there no ons7 fsih,re no one,
Keeping for her warmth and iixhis
Hal usrs Eissms aihwsrt theeerner
Raddy glow from hsrIy homes,
Apd.sweet, N srry, ehlidish laughter,
kisging on She. bleak wisd semsss
For ie.night they ,psrt. all hopsiul,
VITA the chrIssmas. elves and gnouss.
HsppyehiIdrsnl Happy paIenbi
niea the rsof that shlslds yoa hsret
Tender faiheri Gentle methsIi
Loving sisieri brother dssri
Neia ffown TO mar yeur pleasure,
Every joy aud comfort near.
Christmas svel the arelighf dances
On the pietared parIor wall.
-And.aP art In cosy chambers,
Gif,s ara ranged for one and all,
while bell ", the blazing kitchen
Sends its cheer through court and hall.
Asd, there, cleaning past the curtain,
SEQ the xiIttsriss chr;stnas-ssss
Hung with golden fruits and trinksh
Fertile fun that Is TO bel
o, The easdissi o, the a nsasure,i
On that glorious Christmas trssi
New, look on her, where she erouehss,
Close beside the fric ndIy dsor,
While she counts the dancing footsteps
As they elstter Ger the foor;
They are singing christmas.csrois,
Singing 'tiIi their hearts brim e'eri
And she watches through the window,
Little faces like her swn,
Bssming with celestial pleasure
Glossy ringfsts backward thrown;
Az the father clasps his darlings,
With sweet words she has TO own.
%, dear fAther-0, sweet mother,
Where are you who loved me soy
And her little heart outbuyting
Walls aieud its werdless woe;
For aiasi they sleep together,
This Wild night beneath the snow.
Tapi .pon the heavy Basement,
Tspl her hands would mn he sigs,
"rske me In kind Christian peeriei
All these joys they once were minsi
Here ] die Of cold an hunger"
ueeds her but the Ear Divinei
Nov, the curtain drawo more closely,
And the spisndor fading too,
Drowsy bells In hidden stseples
Toll the heavy lnidn ight through;
All is hushed save distant revel,
And the Storm Kings noisy crew.
Now, the bride dreams Of her bride groom !,
And the bridegroom, too, is biest;
Nov, the mother hugs her baniling,
Where II nestles on her breast,
Age and childhood both are happy
Ia that Heavenly Christmas rest.
Bat no home receives the lone one,
And no noth er's fond address
smeo'hs her pillow in the snow drift,
And no faith er's hand nay bless
That 10 st nedgiipg on TIE doorstep,
Yielding there to Deaths earem.
Lo! behold . sudden gIoryf
Listi ssft music in the airf
AID she rises radiant, lovely,
Clasps her hands and knsels In prayer.
Sect an infant form resplendent
Standing right before her thersi
On ITS head, crown Of starlight
Shedding lustre Ger its facei
Heavenly mildness every feature,
All bearing sweetest grace;
White robes, pure aud bright as silver,
LightiDgup that gloomy pIacei
Harki II speaksl its arms extended
b Beekon to that lonely one;
"coms to me, poor little stranger,
Forthy pilgrimage is donei"
Ton % Of heavenl can she Iinger
when the thrssho Id thus Is won2
my Fathers house has many mansisns,
Far more beautiful than these;
Pastures green by.quist waters,
Flowers Of glory, living trees.
No via ter, only summer,
Whore His children rest at ease.
Cherry christnas- bells were Ginning,
AID the nsrry crowd swept past,
There u lay, like Gods own blessing,
On that happy doorsiii east,
whore the little barefoot pilssin
found her Heaven ana Uams Al f.sp