The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-12-23
Christmas FancieS !!

CnF1SC111dS T dI1C1OS
On bleak and lonely hillside, in country weird
and Wild
Where the in all the funess of his glory seldom
smird,
Where the shadows seem to hover with delight above
the spot
Lives the solitary miner, his dull and lowly cot
fore the blast,
And with Wild foreboding music, the storm in
fury past;
Now with peals of merry laughter rushing through
the creaking door,
Now with sound of dancing footsteps falllpg on tne
cabin floor,
Where he SITS the lonely miner, lost in meditation
meek
While the gances from the embers on his face play
hide-and-seek.
Quick And eager lsteues to the WEIRD fan
tastic sounds
That across his humble threshold seem to rush with
leaps and bounds,
Till at last there comes whisper, falling softly on
the ear,
And sweet, angelic seems to hover gently
Back, through gloomy years of sorrow, that have
dragged with troublous span,
Swift tonight that gentle whisper bears the strong
and bearded man,
Back along the weary journey, through Times thick
and misty veil,
By the palace of the tempter, where unnumbered
BY the ray of merry sunshine, gently laving bush
and tree,
Where the song-birds gaily carol in chorus wild
and free,
Till at last there stands cottage with surroundings
rich and rare,
And the sound of childish laughter dancing the
Summer air;
There's vision of loved one, bursting on the rap
One who guided that glad household with purpose
brave and true;
There's crystal fountain flowing where the willows
softly wave,
grave.
As he sees, the lonely dreamer, those sweet joys of
long ago,
On the hearth the fading embers settle with dim
glow,
And from out the narrow chimney creeps presence,
dark and grim,
Pointing, with fierce -exultation through the shad-
ows dull and dim.
There wave of mighty sorrow sweeps above life
of sin
And the young tender plants earth roughly
gathered in;
Far above mans resolution hangs a dark, foreboding
cloud,
And the harsh laugh of a Demon sounds above the
snowy shroud;
There the dearest of earths treasures lie deep-hid
den in the grave,
While assuring comforter proclams power to
lent room,
As ray of cheering fame springs up, to drive away
the gloom;
Down through the battling elements tender
sage falls,
And far beyond earth's chilling storm that angel
whisper calls
Life is a fitting vision, where ftful gances
play.
busy day;
Hearts filed with tender yearning yet the bright
ened hope hath sped
And what came to cheer the living, hath been num-
bered with the dead;
One swift day of joy and sorrow, sinful thought and
noble aim,
Where is mingled troubles bitterness and loves eng
chanting flame;
Where amid the brightest offerings righteous love
can give
Death will claim his helpless victim, the soul be-
gins to live.
IT'S fight of warning passions oer heavng of
i'll,
Where the waiing of despairng hearts the saddened
moments fill
Yet beyond the thck'n shadows of that madly-
heaving sea
Shines the Christians of triumph-sounds the
chorus of the free;
There, through all the circling ages shall glad
some chorus ring:
"a meek and lowly child of earth reigns Right
eous Kingn;
And when, through Deaths dim shadows, his won
drous truths unfold,
Man throws aside the pick and spade to take harp
of gold"
Thus he sits, the dreaming miner, needing not the
flight of time,
Till the little clock upon the shelf proclaims the
midnight chime;
All the past has shone before him a painted
dream
Now the promise of the future dazzles with bright
gleam
Over there are loved ones waiting, where of
trouble rolls,
And no lines of wealth beauty divide the
somd souls
Where earths weary Christian toiler, who hath lain
him down to rest,
Shall awake to dwell forever in the the
blest,
Where the words of wondrous beauty glow above
lifes narrow span:
1.-THE glory of the Saint is but the spirit of the -
Where the Master of the Universe will never bid
part
Such bring up to the Judgment Bar brave and
honest heart.
Rushing through his varied dreaming, the miner
hears "Well Done.'
The busy clock upon the shelf rings out the echo
"One.n
Across the shadows of the there CLEANS cheer
full ray.
And the glad soul feels the precious truththis is the
Christmas Day.