The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-12-20
ADVERTISER ENTs.
THE CHRISTMAS PRAYER.

sbcd fCnthcry snow-fakcs on their way;
And all the city streets among
\ trnupc of brCeHes danced and sung.
INF though the frost was keen and bold,
And though the air was biting cold,
A Thousand gayly stepping feet
Wont up aud down the lighted street:
A thousand hands with pressure tight
Were VrnSping presents rich and bright
i thousand hearts were hasting home
~ hearts that longed to see them come;
For wondrOus gludnCss filled the air,
And Chrstmas-cve was everywhere.
sr-rrt ChriStmas-cvc, sCrencly gladl
when all the love that Jesus had
For little ones. as smiling, He,
with bending head, in kindness said:
Forbid them not to come to Me-;
when this sweet love, with little lack,
seems all at once reflected back.
Asthc great sun, though long time set,
Against the clouds in splCndor crowds,
And leaves Il trace of glory yet!
When all the kind thoughts of the year
Each leaves the day wherein ii lay,
Aud to one blessed time draws near!
There is no space that can possess
So many smiles of happiness;
II days and nights could feel and see,
How happy Christmas eve would be!
But il has not so sweet a sound
in homes where children are not found:
And in one mansion rich and grand
\ wife aud husband hand in hand
Were sitting by the fIe-lights glow,
And gazing on the streets below,
AMI. with sad hearts unreConciled,
We're thinking of Il long-loSt child.
Grief can its heaviest hand employ
When all around Is heard the sound
OF sycry mirth and golden joy;
And hearts that mourn oft heavier weigh
When hearts that laugh are over-g2y.
So on the Christmas cheer without
This lonely couple gaZed about,
While hunGcring once again to greet
The reckless rIsh'of childish feet
InStudiCd ease was all aDlOOm
About the richly furnished room:
The cUal-tirc'S soft and languid glare
Wrote Comfort" ON the tempered air;
into the walls great pictures hung,
And treasures everywhere were flung;
High mirrors, free of stain or flaw,
We're telling over what they saw;
No place the pleased eye could explore
but wealth bad fingered there before.
And yet, in many II humber room,
\ warmer comfort fought the gloom,
And Happiness more visits made,
Iclt more ut home, and longer stayed.
Ont in the country, near wood,
The little old brown sChOO-hOuse stood,
And waited whil" the winter day
Looked darker from its eyes of gray,
Tor The rough door to open wide.
And 70 Sy youngsters rush outside.
Awhile came sharply from within
The country schools peculiar din;
Then with glad shouts the children strode
Through the dim day their winding way
Along tie white hard-bcdtpn road.
To where farm-housCs chccrci the sight,
And Iani already gnmered bright.
And pleasure dancing on each face,
ThcF brought the pr SCENTS all to mind
Winch they that eve were TO receive
Or in the early morning find.
Old Santa Claus" that famous King
Of childish lore, was handled DER
And all the treasures he IN ght bring.
Bur look! with shouts and faces gay,
They passed rOor-hOusc on their way,
And II sweet homeless looking child
From ont u window ga2cd and smiled
TO see the Other chi idrCn glad:
But her poor wsttul heart was sad.
You children who, with laughter gay,
And joy that CLEANS cen through you
dreams,
Have presents on each festal day,
And, guarded by the etforts true
or those who love AMI cherish you,
Look forward TO the winters primo
zAS TO sweet and joyful time,
Till in your calendar enrolled,
Each Christmas-day is marked with gold,
Ilty poor children who must gri"vc
BCcauSC no presents they receive,
Ihcy look at yours with wiStful eye,
They smile to view each token new,
Eut i'll their hearts they moan and sigh.
That njght our little fricnIlcss one,
When her poor evening meal was done,
Howed low in grief her childish head
Upon the raggel pOor-houSc bed,
And in sweet 4 ID pleading tone
Shc made Shori prayer, all her own:
q Jesus! You who loved so well
The little oacS of whom they tell
That when these came to You one day,
You would not have them sent away:
You said to all those who be iCVc,
il they would ask they should receive.
oJeSus! please for me to find
TWO good nice parents, sweet and kind,
And ask them if they will not spread
some Little presents by my bed,
That they my heart may cheerful make
Tomorrow morning when wake,
And he made as happy so
rs thrr children that j know"
Shc said Amen with reverence deep,
tlcs- d her blue eyes, and sank asleep.
still sat the childlcss couple where
IhC lights of luxury were fair,
And still, with thoughts al tempest-tossed,
Each silent muScd with sad heart bruised,
pon the child tha they had lost
But listen. with Il sudden clang.
1he lOudy-speakng d3or-bell rang,
And detectives face they viewed,
WIN patient lines deep marked and shrewd;
And scarce the parents questioning eye
Was met before he made reply:
= come at last with tiGingS new.
Ihe c.ltid I've sought so long for you,
The child you lost five years ago,
Has livci and lives. Her place know.
The beggar who, with Satans aid
Stole her TO help his piteOus trade,
ned IN country poor-housc where
He left the child, and she is there.
Mistake or doubt can not beIall:
Hrrt are the proofs; | have them all.
she Is not very far away;
And And you, if bold to bear the cold,
May see her ere another day"
-, ITO bear the cod!' What has she horne?
ne shall not longer friendless mourn.
me Tors 2S-quick!" And soon, in spite
" cold and sleet, the champing feet
or swift steedS dashed into the night,
Until they halted just before
Inc great poor-houSe'S dingy door.
AND soon the parents softly crcpt
into the gloom of one small room,
And watched their darling while she slept,
NNnd, weeping, listened to the prayer
" nich she that night had offered there,
tfOr the old matrOn overheard.
ana told 1t to them, every word1.
Iier sleeping face appeared TO them
As some faIr flower at evenings hour
Low dropping on its weary stem;
nut that soft prayer-in Heaven now
1i9d lett its touch upon her brow;
rs grief and comfort they could trace
tpon the well-remembered face.
The mother yearned the child to press
IN All her pitcous loveiness,
nut would not yet her slumber break,
and said: My daring shall not wake
htll hcr prayer we answered see
AS "ell ana nearly as may be-"
And soon the sleek swift horses flew
naek where proud presents, rich and new,
Hung in the lamp-lignt's brilliant rays,
Ihn envy of all children's gaze;
W men, ere another hour had fled,
mands softly bore, and placed before
Inc httle sleepers lOwly bed.
She woke at last; and, wondering, threw
"a swift glance keen upon the scene
ihat burst upon her startled view.
"A vast ana2ement filed her face:
Inc room was like fairy place.
no toy she wished but it was there;
nilSht presents glittered everywhere.
no DO GIT her thought had learned TO prize
put IT was spread before her eyes:
And presents made her young heart glow
whose very names she did not know.
BUT look! a man with step of pride,
ANA sweet lady by his side
more beautiful and high of mien
Ihan any she had ever seen,
Ndiile, ana above her went and smiled,
And called her their nOof. IonC-loSt chiIdl