Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-12-24
Selected Miscellany.
CHRISTMAS TIDE.

By A. W. BELLAw.
EVE.
TBEY say tonight is Christmas Eve and, high as
we hung my stockings on the wall, and left kiss
on each.
He never came before, but o, I'm sure He will to-
night
And tomorrow II be the day our blessed Christ
Who came on earth to pity me, whom many others
scorn.
And why it is they treat me SO indeed ! cannot
But'while love Him next to you, then all seems
wise and well.
long have looked for Christmas, Mother-waited
And very strange it is indeed to feel its dawn so
near;
Bufto-morrow' n be the day i so have prayed 10
And Hong TO sleep and wake, and find what 1t will
bring to me. A.4 4 qSF4Sia
The snow is in the street. and through the window
I've watched the little children pass: they seemed
go glad and gayi i...,. ------.--
And gayly did they talk about the gifts they would
o. all the world is glad tonight for this is Christ
mas Eve
And, Mother, on the cold, cold floor I've put my
q, little shoe. %s;.iaHa "
The others torn across the toe, and things might
- there slip through;
rye set my little shoe, Mother, and 1t for You shall
For know that He'll remember you while He re-
membersime.f ~ f1.t- H ~ f't
solay me in my bed, Mother, and hear.my prayers
''r Alright. 81"
He never came before, but o, I'm sure He viii to-
night 1,. .s. .....
Mother, is it the morning YETI 1 dreamed that it
1 thought the sun shone through the pane SO
dreamed my little stockings there were full as they
But it's hardly morning yet, Mother-it is so dark
and cold. ... ~
L dreamed the bells irang from the church where
the happy people go,
And they rang goodwill to all men in language
that know.
Thought took from off the wall my little stockings
And on the floor emptied them-such sights there
never werel
A doll was in there, meant for me- just like those
little girls
who always turn away from me /; and o. it had such
curlsi u.
kissed 1t on its painted cheek; my own not so
Though people used to stop TO pat and praise them
in the street.
And, Mother there were many things that would
have pleased you too;
For He who had remembered me had not forgotten
q you. r.. +- f,tf.f' '..
But only dreamed t morning, and yet It is far
Though we'll know that He will come before the
early day. f
Sol win put my dream aside, though know my
dream was true,
And sleep, and dream my dream again, and rise at
morn with you. ..t -.
ast tt.i CHRISTMAS MORN.
THE MOTHER.
All night have walked with weeping till the bells
AL night have walked with my sorrow, and lain in
my tears, like child.
For over against the wall as empty as they can
The limp little stockings hang and my heart is break
Your vision was false as the world, o darling
And how can bear you to wake, and find no
Christmas here?
Better you and + were asleep in the slumber
whence none may start
And o, those empty stockings l could fill them
out OF my hearth
No Christmas for you or for me- darling your kisses
have given your kisses back to you over and over
again; E lt.i T,
1 have folded you to my breast with a moaning no
one hears:
Your heart is happy in Dreams though your hair is
- damp with my tears.
am out of heart and hope am almost out of my
mind; ..-
The world is cruel and cold, and only Christ is
kind: -.ttti
And much must be borne and forborne; but the
heaviest burden of all
That ever hath lain on my life those little light
things on the wall.
-HushI Bells, you'll waken my dreamerl o children
SO full of cheerl
Christmas here.
Go'tenderly over the stones, light feet tripping
-tInei
The sghted thing sleeps in my arms-she'll II waken
- too soon, too sooni 81 ~ Z. Est