Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-09
Miscellaneous Reading.
r4E oRpBANs CHRISTMAS TREE.
Ry BAYARD TAYLOR.


In orphan boy, with weary feet,
IN christmas eve, alone, benighted,
went through the town from street TO street,
TO see the clustering candles lighted
In homes where happy children meet
Before each house he stood, to mark
80 The pleasant rooms that shone so iaify'
The tapers lighted, spark by spark,
rill all the trees were blazing rarely
And sad his heart was, in the dark.
IIe wept; he clasped his hands and CRED
All. every child to ght reJolces,
Their Christmas presents all diVloe,
Around their trees, Win merry fOieeor
Rut Christmas is to me Denied
.ss Once with my sister, hand in hand,
Al home how did my tree dellSnt me
No other tapers shore so grand;
But all forget me, rome invite me,
Here lonely, in the strangers lana:
evil no one let me in, to share
The lirht-tO take some corner nigh 1t
In all these houses can't they spare
2 spot where may sit in quiet
4 little seat among them there
x VIII 10 one let me in tonight -:
/ will not beg for gift or token;
I only ask - the sight
And hear the thanks of Others spoken,
And that will be my own delight"
He raped at window-pane and shutter;
But no one heard and babe HIM wait,
Or came the Welcome il y 10 utter;
Their ears were dull TO outer fare.
Each father looked with eyes that smiled
Upon his happy children only;
Their gifts the mothers heart bcgulled
To think of them none saw the lonely,
Forgotten boy, the orphan child,
80, Christ-chiId. holy. kind and dear
@m | have no father and no mother,
No friend save Thee, to give me cheer.
~ Be Thou my help, there is none other,
Sisce all forget me, wandering here =!
The poor boy rubbed his hands so blue,
His little hands, the frost made chilly;
His tattered clothes he closer drew
And ctouched within corner Silly,
And prayed, and knew not what to do.
Then, suddenly, there shone a light;
Along the street, approaching nearer,
Another child, in garments white,
Spake a he came-and clearer, dearer,
His Vol &c made music in the night:
III am the Christ; have thou no fear
| was child in my probation,
And children unto me are near;
| hear and heed thy suppiCation,
Though all the rest forget thee here.
~ssMv saving word to all | bear,
- And equally to each It's given,
bring the promise of my care,
Here in the street, beneath the heaven,
As we'll as in the chambers there.
- And here, p1or boy, thy Christmastree
~ VIII adorn, and so make glimmer
IS Through al this open space, for thee,
That those within shall twinkle DINNER,
ia For bright as thine they cannot be -
@ The Christ-Child, with his shining hand.
Then pointed up, and 10 the 1ustres
"a That sparilled there He it stand,
PSI a tree, O'erhung with starry clusters
on all its branches, wide and grand.
so far, and yet so near the night
Was blazing with the tapers' splendOr:
@ What was the orphan boys delight
How beaf his bosom, warm and tender,
To see his Christmas-tree so bright
it seemed to him happy dream:
Then, from the starry branches bending,
THE angels stopped, and through the CLEAN
They lifted him to peace amending,
Theg folded him III love supreme.
The orphan child is now at rest
No fathers care he needs, nor mothers,
L pom the Chrst-child's holy breast.
All that is here bestowed on others
lie there forgets, where all is best.