New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
jim.
A CHRISTMAS RHYME

Never were sweeter eyes
Than the eyes OF our Jim,
And blue with the delicate dyes,
Dreamy and dim
OF harebells that are seen
On dusty strip OF green
BY the highroad's rim,
Watching him there
In his little chair,
You only thought how sweet they wcrvs
How pure and kind.
It was not til you him rise and 90
Coasting by couch and table so,
With fingers falling as light as snow,
That ever thought would cross your nina
The beautiful eyes were blind.
Once they had looked on the skies,
Blue through the smoke clouds black.
Had seen the thin moon rise
Over the chimney stack,
Had watched the raIn-drops patter DOWN
Laying the dust of the droughty town.
And when on few and favored days,
/ had led the child country ways,
Had grown all dim with soft delight,
To see the wonderful hawthorn white,
And the great crows black on the dusty road
And the merry sparrows, pert ana quick,
Flirting away with single flick
Into the hedgerows green and thick,
Where they and their chattering friends abodet
And the delicate country smoke wrcathS cured
Once they had looked on the happy world, -'.
Once they had looked on face that bent
With soft brown hair on thoughtful brows
Had scanned each line with full content
Each line and shadow that came and went
Alas that the hands must feel IL now!
ALI beautiful ST hts were left behind,
For Jim was blind.
Seven nights he lay,
. And tossed on his bed
The curls shOrn away
That laughed round his head
All the tears Shed
All the prayers saldl
As through the long night
We moved with footsteps lighes
Dr. sat by ms bed
ic spoke I'm wandering worde
OF hedgerows In spring,
Of wildfowers and birds,
And OF many sweet thing
He talked about his games,
Ills plans and his aims,
His little playmaes names
In turn he would speak
But he did not know his mother,
When with sobs she could not smoe00
She kissed his hot cheek,
Or sang. his pet hymn
Or called him her Jim.
Ever the fever siren gthcned;
lie toIled hard for breath;
Over him ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Tho thick shadow of death.
And ever up to the sky
Rose an agonized cry
"Father. Father of mercy,
Blessed Father on high,
Don't let Jim dIe!"
Somewhere in tho blue
0pes little gate;
Prayois gn 10 through
And are not made 10 waits
And the shouts of Joy,
rho Father could hear,
And think OF our boy
Yes, our Father heard,
And snake the saving word:
lowly slowly backward tho dark shadow eeUUS
And jim slept:
woke very weak
But quite clear and calm
Wholesome pale check
And sweet cold palm.
Sitting up In bed,
In his nght-gown whtct
Mother,' Jim said,
"'Ts dark night
No star, no moon
VIII IL be morning soon
l want to soc the lght.s
We knew II all then
We let the tears run;
We whispered Amen!
His viii be done.'
Our own little jim,
Our own little sonl
Chenceforth for ever,
Till all things were done,
Gold light and gray lighS
Midnight and daylight,
TO him one
All &c him.
All dark TO Jim
For cen while he spoke,
After gusts OF RAIN
The glad sun broke
Through the shroudcd panel
And one dusty ray
Found q chink and lay
over Jim's shoulder,
Ana another yet holder,
Settled on his hair
And made glory there-
And Jim did not know.
All Woe woe
Till the last sand was run,
Till the last hour was done
Thenceforh for ever
''' Gold Gold light and gray nsht
Midnight and daylig
All one 20 him
All dark TO jim.