The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-12-25
OF the Sunday Morning Bizoo.
SIMON GRAY'S CHRISTMAS GIFT.
VILLAGE STORY TOLD IL RHYME.

Cold and ard as the hardest rock,
Was the heart of Simeon Gray;
And he hadn't been known 10 laugh or smile
For many and many day
He hsd lived there wears and years they said,
They knew not whence he came,
And they knew not why so long he stald,
They only knew his name.
And that he was always hard and cold
And ugly of mein and cross,
And whoever entered 8 trade with him
Was sure to suffer a loss
And SO in their simply wOrded way
The villagers spoke of the man;
VIII lie swift and sure the golden sand
Adown Times hour glass ran.
Till one cold Christmas morning davHed,
When field and height and hedge
Were dreped in snow and lcy fri &c,
Bedecked the swamp's low sedge.
And through the still and frosty air
With strange exultant thrill,
The Christmas iells rang out their peace
On earth, 10 men good Will.
Old Simeon Gray-as oft he'd done
Arose that morn, but gave
No thought 10 Him whose sacred blr.k
A world had been 20 save.
For wear had dimmed the happy scenes
And Christmas dreams and Christmas hopes
Had persisted with his youth.
And all the gIadness now he craved
Was to increase his store,
OF worldly gains, and 10 ais lands
Add just one acre more.
But as the cage, unguaried, frees,
0ftimes the p.isoned bird,
So hearts long frozen sometimes feel
Thu heart within them stirred.
Just Sd old Simeon moody, cross,
He ate his morning meal,
And sneered as now and then the bells
Rang out loader peal.
And when at las, he started out
To duties Of the day,
He found within the doors wide arch
strange intruder lay.
Twas but basket, long and deep,
And Simeon quick 10 wra'h,
Had rdly viewed, ere iron heeled,
He hurled il from his path.
But 10, rsiead of wood, or stone,
Some neighbours trick TO wound,
A little b ue-eyed baby rolled
Upon the snOw-clsd ground.
And two wee rose-leaf hands uprose,
And mingled with the snow,
Some tiny rings of golden HAIR,
Made loving Il mt and glow.
And Simeon stood IN speeches. rage,
But when the baby's wall
OF fright, and helplessness broke forth
His anger gan TO fail.
And something stirred within his heart,
And brought a vague surprise
So new and strange a thing IL was
And something dimmed his eyes.
And bending low, with gentle hand,
The waif he raised, and pressed
With strong and tender clasp against
The shelter of his breast.
Then hack he hurri with his charge
To where the fires red line,
Within the chimney, made the room
A dream Of summer time.
And calling to the kindly dame,
Who long his house had kept,
He told her how he found the babe
That in a basket slept.
And did they ever know her name,
Or why she thus was lett?
Or what, or whence, from mother love,
Her life had been bereft I?
know not but the neigh bors say,
One thing was sure, if strange,
From that lime on old Sim on Gray
Had somehow seemed TO change.
His voice was softer, and his laugh,
Though rare, was sometimes heard
And to the erring oft ne gave,
cheering, kindly word.
And when the needy at his door
Asked help, twas not in vain
And, in his dealings, honesty
Was more 10 him than gain.
And winsome, sweeter, as she grew,
The "baby," cay by day,
Brought song and sunshine TO the heart
And home of Simeon Gray.
And when well honored, full of years,
The hand of death was laid
Upon his breast maiden fair
Beside him vept and prayed.
And while the shadows from his soul
One moment seemed 20 life,
HIS grateful thanks went up to God
For her, his CHRISTMAS GIFT.
Rosa PEARLE