The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-08
EAlsa1RR PAUI,s oHRnsr,rAs EVE

The Light ahone out through the windows bare
,,,S1.s!a UI me lanorer's cottage over the way,
e shone in the eyes Of Farmer Paul,
Taking his ease by his chimney wall.
mother dandlinR her babe on her knee,
father Joining his boy in shout,
As the bells Of the Christmas eve rang out.
1 Inns vision, and more, saw Farmer Paul,
resting his head gainst the chimney wall.
His eyes they fingered over the way
over the mother and the babe ON her knee;
NY boy may be sick and dying to-day
whose breast will he rest on over the sea7'
Unessily murmured Farmer Paul.
As tears to his lap began to fall.
brave young lad and maiden fair
hneit meath the palm, at the laborer's feet,
The hope Of their new life telling there,
=. In their bushes warm and young love sweet.
. Al me, ah me, - moaned Farmer Paul.
" On my poor, lost boy no blessings fall"
Looked out and thought, while the laborer now
Ladened each stocking upon the wall
.. Nlt5. NTH tokens Of love. and every bough,
The gift OF crust my boy may need"
Bending his head 'eainst the chimney wall,
And bending his eyes TO the moldering blaze,
With many sigh he thought of it all,
Just as it was in those olden days
Just as it was when Farmer Paul
Had son Of his own to hear his call,
BE may have treated him too severe.
Keeping him wear1ly bending low
At constant toll, in terror and fear
OF his passionate words and smartipg blow.
But then, pitiless iron sway
With beast and creature was ever his way.
The tender touch of the delicate lad,
The Womanish look of his handsome face,
The patient glance which his soft eyes had,
Angered him till he forgot the place
The boy should have in his heart, and then
Well, who ia no faukless he may condemn?
The boy passed out from his fathers home.
But sadder than all things that may come
Out with him followed q fathers curse.
First, however, It seemed to fail
On the blighted life of Farmer Paul.
The farmer worked in his fael6s alone
And wealth he reaped in giittering maze,
prosperous sun upon him shone,
5s But 9h th. THEY 3eIIo we're long and weary days.
Sitting alone by his chimney wall.
Weary with seeing the morning dew
Weary with bearing the MONDAY heat
Weary with living the long days through
Most weary Of all, to Farmer Paul,
Taking his ease by the chimney wall.
Sad the crickets beneath the sill,
Sad the crows in the locust lane,
Sad in the garden the whippoorwin
All earth sad and full Of pain
To the childless life of Farmer Paul,
Seated each eve by the chimney wall.
Bending his head ;gainst the chimney wall,
And bending his eyes to the smoldering blaze,
he tried to imagine he heard . call,
A step familiar in olden days,
Before there came to Farmer Paul
This waiting life by the chimney wall.
Fearing to look, 2nd trembling deep,
He thought his boys breath famed his cheek
he thought his boys step tried to creep
:. Ss1t Softly near, and his boys voice speak:
Win you hear my pleading cAll7"
No, not dream, for there stood his boy,
brave, bronzed man with bearded chin
Oh, how he chung to him in his joy,
As the bells fair Christmas morn rang in.
This was the gift to the farmer born
Out of the call of the Christmas morn
-Fireside Friend