The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-12-25
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''5I-l f,Hr'V flt- t+71 TH''rH|0TlI''"'
The play is done, the curtain drops,
SLOW falling ~ the prompter' s bell
A moment yet the actor stops,
And looks around to say farewell
IL IL an irlsom1 word and task;
And when he laughed and said his say,
H. shows rs ne removes the mask,
face that's anything but gay.
Cne word er, yet che evening ends
Let's close it with parting rhyme;
And pledge n hand TO all young friends,
As Gt3 the merry Christmas time;
Or iifc's wide scene you, too, have parts
That fate ere long shall bid you play;
Good Il! .ht - with honest, gentle hearts
a kindly greeting go Away.
Good u..ht;-rI say the grefs the joys,
.Ilst Limited in this mimic page
IN. tliumphs and defeat Of boys
Are bit repeated in Our age;
IA say y1ur woes were not less keen,
Your hopes more vain than those Of men;
Your Jaugs or pleasures Of fifteen
At for'yhyc played DER again.
I'll say We suffer and we strive
Not , nor more AS men than boys;
As,rf at twelve in cordnroys,
And H. ~ time Of sacred youth,
We EARNED at home TO love and pray,
PRAY Heaven that carly love and truth
Nay never wholly pass away.
And N the world s5 in the school,
III say how fate may change and shift
Tn pIlc b" sometimes with the fool,
The acc not always to the swift,
Thu strong may yield, the good may fall,
The -raat man be vulgar clown,
Tho Euqye be lifted over all,
Tho kind cast ptihssly down.
Who knows the nscrGtable design
Blessed Ice He who took and gave,
Why should your mother Charles, not mine,
IL weeping at her darling gravel
w bow b. Heaven that willed it So
That darbiy rules the fate Of all
Thnt lls the respite or the blow,
That's free 10 give Or 10 recall.
Tins crowns al, feast with wine and wit
no brought him 10 that mirth and state'
His bs't.rS, SIC below him sit
or hunger hopeless at the gate.
Who ha 10 the mad from Dives wheel
To spuru the rags Of Lazarus!
Come. brother, IN that dust we'll kneel,
CunfeSsing Heaven, that ruled IL thus
81 calh shall mourn; In life advance,
Dear hopes dear friends, untimely killed;
Shall ,rieye for many forfeit chance
And longing passion unfulilled.
Amen Whatever fate be- sent,
Pray God tine heart may kindly glow,
Although the head with cares be bent
And whitencd with the winter snow.
Come wealth or want, come good or Ill,
LIT Old aud ypnng accept their part,
And bow before the awful WILL
And bear il with an honest heart. -.
who misses, or ~ho wins tho prize, ..s'
Go lose or conquer, as you can;
But il you fail, Or IL you rise,
Be- each, pray God, a gentleman.
A gentleman, or I'D or young IN.
(}enr kindly with my humble lays ~.
The sacred chor1ls first was sung phs-
Upon the first Of Christmas days; ~
The shepherds heard il overhead, ~
The Joyful angels raised II then;
GLORY TO Heaven on high, II said,
And peace Ou earth to gentle men
Ny song, save this, Is little worth;
| lay the weary pen aside,
And wish you health, and love and mIrth,
As ITS the solemn Christmnstide,
AS Cts the holy Christmas birth.
De this, good friends, our carol still
BE- prure on earth, be peace on earth,
10 men ~ jfcnllr will
Nu.L.ta MAHEPEAcE THAcRrRAy