The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-12-18
Written for the standard.
CHRISTMAS.


When the bells tones from high church tower
/ are trembling.
Proclalning Wide the holy Christmas night
Then rec we thousands at the church assem-
bling.
Towards holy halls and shrines without dis
sembling
To call upon the Lord OF wondrous might
Then Is the soul upraised with pure devotion
And highest hopes awake within the breast;
Through winiery night aud the Wild storm .
commotiOn
Shines clear ray from heavens exhanstless
ocean,
rest
o say what fills the heart with Joyous feel
ing,
And stlrs within us a new glow Of llfei
What Is IL that each anxious care Is stiling.
And every grief with gentle power Is healing
And working peace within the heart Of
strife?
II Is the star from Jacobs land bright beam
Ing,
Youths surest guide, Of age the vision blest
Il shines anew In happy radiance streaming
From countless lights on Christmas trees now
cleaning
And wakes remembrance ln the aged breast
Remembrance Of the loved who'ye long been
sleeping.
OF youths bright dreams that vanished
Remembrance dear OF Him who Gains our
weeping,
And. when Deaths angels our llast hopes are
reaplng,
Unto our fainting hearts will still he true.
Through Him 10 earth sweeter song Is
ringing
Who saves us by His life and death sublime;
And what the angels, In the advent singing,
Proclaimed to men, goodwill and concord
bringing,
Spreads wider through the world with lapse
Of time
Where distant Jordan's peaceful waves are
flowing
And virgin palm trees wave their froads In
air.
Where gentle gales from Lebanon are blowing
And ir trees In the quiet wales are growing.
And roses bloom Ia Sharou's meadows fair.
At Bethlehem. IN Judeas proud dominion,
virgins babe. OF deity now shom.
In lowly stall, despising mans opinion.
That with the humblesI He might hold com
Christ. a"t4e' the Rossemer of the world, was
born.
Such love will mortais ne'cr again discover,
Nor human wisdom e'er It's mystery solve
II dwells alone within the heavenly lover,
Aud cvermore DER earth's dark scenes will
hover.
And from life's miseries endless jOy evolve
To faith alone the priceless boon Is given.
Faith. which abides within the humble
breast,
To know the life and taste the Joy. Of heaven.
To hud a calm, whenecr by tempests driven,
For every weary woe balm and rest.
Here halts thy heart and droops thy faith
oerclouded,
That thou reaemptions mystery can'st not
solve?
Zen in the minds by nlsts OF earth unclouded
Ii rests. as In thine own with gloom en-
And shall while endless years their course
rcvOlye.
sun stands the truth so grand by ages tested
Gods greatest gift, His sons dear life for
man;
And thousands who on Him their hopes have
rested
Have found life with brighter joys invested.
And death the point where endless life be-
gan.
What IS too grea, for Him, that meets His
pleasure
Who guides the spheres upon their course
Who In Ills mind all wisdom vast doth treas
urc,
And with His hand the realms Of space can
measure
Aud In breath can distant worlds uulte'
Can'st comprehend the power of Him who
sifteth
wES 10 asSyg asSyg'ey day idS ss's and Ger world
shifteth
To paint the morning sky His finger lifieth.
Aud hangs the azure with Its fringe Of gold!
Yet He, the Lord, such wondrous power pos
Abode on earth, the friend Of suffering man;
With human woe His brotherhood cOnfessing
! To waywaTd earth the eternal love expressing.
The love He purposed ere our race began.
On wounded souls He poured the balm Of
| healing.
OF stricken hearts He felt the pain and loss.
| lie bore earth's heavy griefs with tendorest
feeling
His world-inspiring life upon the cross.
Aud this dear friend who, through thy cruel
sighting.
Within tbs breast hath never found place
| Wilt thou not, with the Shepherds glad uniting,
| To Him thy grateful heart in love now plight
| ing.
Begin this holy Christmas morn TO praise
Wilt thou not seek Him, till lfe's brief dream
| ended.
Thou com'st 10 stand before him face 10 face,
In that bright world. by countless throngs
From which the angel. with loud songs de-
ecended
To bear TO earth the wonderous news OF
grace
List TO those strains that echo on forever,
And let thy harp take up the glad refrain
| Nor life nor death our hearts from Him shall
sever,
OF hls dear love the world shall rob us never
Nor by iis lower joys our souls gnchain.
| Loud praise u Him the Christmas bells re-
| peating
Fling out their happy tones upon the air
| Nights shadows Zee away, and, fast retreat
ing.
The clouds OF error at His words are heeilng
And bursts DER all the earth Ills glory fair