The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-12-25
!!.lkea aaaea 9 aasis 81
H'lT'IllT-I I'M Cdt-IIT1 I'-i'0T-Fl'IJ''

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The play is done, the curtain drops
Slow falling to the prOmpter's bell;
A moment yet the actor stops,
And looks around to say farewell
It is an irksome word and task;
And when he's laughed and said his say,
He shows. as he removes the mask,
A face that's anything but gay.
One word ere yet the evening ends
Let's close it with parting rhyme
And pledge a hand to all young friends,
As fits the merry Christmas time
On LIES wide scene you, too, have parts
That fate ere long shall bid you play;
Good nightl-with honest, gentle hearts
A kindly greeting go Away
Good nignt,-Td say the griefs, the joys,
Just limited in this mimic page
The triumphs and defeat OF boys
Are but repeated in our age;
I'd say your woes were not less keen,
Your hopes more vain than those OF men;
Your pangs or pleasures OF fifteen
At forty-dve played Ger again.
I'd say we suffer and we strive
Not less nor more as men than boys;
With grizzled boards at fOrty-hve,
As erst at twelve in corduroys;
And if. in time of sacred youth,
We learned at home TO love and pray,
PRAY Heaven that early love and truth
May never wholly pass away.
And In the world, as in the school,
I'd say how fate may change and shift
The prize be sometimes with the fool,
The race not always 10 the swift;
The strong may yield, the good may fall,
The great man be a vulgar clown,
The knave be lifted over all,
The kind cast pitilessly down.
Who knows the inscrItable design
Blessed be He who took and gave!
Why should your mother Charles, not uiihe'
BE weeping at her darling grayey
We bow TO Heaven that wllled IL So
That darlly rules the fate OF all,
That sends the respite or the blow,
That's free TO give or TO recall
This crowns his feast with wine ana wit.
Who brought him to that nirth and state'
His betters. see, below him ST.
Or hunger hopeless at the gate.
Who babe the mud from Dives wheel
To spurn the rags of Lazarus?
Come. brother, in that dust well kneel,
Confessine Heaven that ruled It thus.
So each shall mourn; in life 5 advance,
Dear hopes. dear friends untimely killed
Shall greve for many forfeit chance
And longing passion uniullilled.
Amen!-whatever fate be sent
Pray God the heart may kindly glow
Although the head with cares be bent
And whitened with the winJer snow
Come wealth or want come good OF H.
let old and young accept their part
And bow before the awful WILL
And bear it with an honest heart
Who misses, or who wins the prize
Go. lose or conquer, as you can;
But if you fail, or if you rise,
Be each, prag God, gentleman
A gentleman, or old or young
Dear kindly with my humble lays
The sacred chorus first was sung
Upon the first of Christmas days;
The shepherds heard il overhead,
The joyful angels raised 1t then;
Glory 10 Heaven on high, * said,
And peace on earth to gentle men.
Ny song. save this, is little worth;
lay the wee 3 pen aside,
And wish you health, and love and mirth'
As fits the solemn Christmastde,-
AS fits the holy Christmas birth.
Be this. good friends, our carol still
Be peace on earth be- peace on earth,
To men Of gentle viii.
WILLIAM MAKEPEAcE THAcKERAY