Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-12-31
Christmas Eve.

village small company had assembled to
spend the hours until Christmas should dawn.
In reading extracts from various authors
Near the close of the evening one said. who
can say that the spirits OF those from whose
works We have read Tonight have not been
with US. silent, unseen and unlimited guests:"
Inc questioning voice is silent now, but the
questioner has learned, through the mystery
or death, more than we can know of the great
er mystery OF life.
UNLIMITED GUESTS.
Whose faces beam with more than mortal
Upon whose brows the laurel wreaths are
From whose deep eyes the fire of genius
CLEAN:
Are they but strangers from some unknown
shore,
Or friends whom we have known and loved
beforeg
Who come to us clad in some fair disguise
To hide their features from our wondering
eyes.
Strangers they cannot be we greet them here
As friends we long have known and held most
dear;
We know the classic places where they dwelt
And worship at the shrines whereat they knelt.
One wore the laurel OF the Mother Isle,
With humble heart untouched by pride or
guile,
Whose song was ever pure and sweet and
clear
AS are the waters Of his "Rydal Mere"
One dropped the poets Tyre and grasped the
sword,
To lead the Greek against the Moslem horde ;
Now Newstead Abbey holds his sacred dust.
And guards it well, an ever honored trust.
But bark what stirs tonight the heather-bel
On Scottish heath: the bard who loved il well
Has slumbered long beside the winding
Ayr"
Free from the pangs of want and pain and
care.
List once sgsin from the far Scottish bills
The pibroch's notes float down the Highland
ris,
As once again the Wizard OF the North"
From DR., burgh's towers sends his sweet song
birds forth.
From Abbotsford's fair halls hear again
Ring through the glen the soul inspiring strain
That called the mountain clans 10 guard that
shore
Sacred TO song and story. evermore.
And he is here tonight who told 50 well
The story OF The death of little Nell,''
And walked with diving Paul beside the sea
Whose sad-voiced waves told OF eternity.
Long as that sea shall guard hi native Isle.
liis fame will live and brighten all the while !;
Westminster's pile holds but the crumbling
The soul still speaks alike in calm and storm
And thou. whose voice i heard the world
around
Who cen could chill the blood or make it
bound
Like mountain torrents iespng to the sea
Whose are the forms that come tonight with
thee:
BY Shylock's side see gentle Portia stand.
And Gloster, too, W no made hI, native land
Grosn with despair. till on red Bosworth's
plain
The sword Of Richmond cleft the tyrant'-
brain.
With melancholy men the '.princelv Dane"
Comes to avenge hi fathers death again;
W hie fair Ophelia plucks anew the flower
That decks the burial-not the bridal hour.
Again Macbeth hath kingly Duncan slain.
W bile Blrnam wood re,isits pun>inane:
And Desdemona. pure and >poile>s wife
! ield> meath Othello> hsnd her fair Young
lie.
Titania leads once more her fairy train
TO dance a, night upon the Greciau plain
And Puck. bright Ell OF music and Of mirth.
Winds a. Of Old his girdle round III. earth.
List ye once more while Romeo's voice .hsll
Tell
In ,Iuet'> ear the story loved 80 WELL
oh sadde.t tale thy master hand hath wrough,
Since death was found where fonde-t love
was sought
Unrivalled bard thy name will never die
While sun or star shall light fair England's
sky;
And STAFFORD church shall be sacred fame
While Avons waters lave the fertile plain
And one is here upon whose pale brow CLEAN,
The brightness caught from fair Glen Mary's
streams,
Who calmly sank to rest by Hud,on's wsye.
Upon whose shore there is no greener grave
But who is this within whose hand i seen
The Irish harp wreathed with the shamrock
green:
Around whose presence seems to lnger near
The breath OF roses blown from far Cashmere :;
Who learned in all the o. 4nt's mystic lore.
Told DER her legends on hi native shore.
And brought TO us the brightness OF the lands
hose perfumed waters roll DER golden sands :;
W ~ caught INC music OF DeT bTlgnl-W lDge1
birds
And linked their song-notes to his own sweet
words
Who spread the treasures OF the storied East
As howers are scattered at Persian feast.
Last OF the desthless band we greet tonight:
Thy songs have filled the wide world with
delight.
Whether thou sang in praise OF Heaven above
Or told the story OF some earthly love.
All. friends, most noble guests we entertain:
Nor have the waiting hours been spent in vain
II from their presence we have caught one
ray
To shed its light upon our Christmas day.
But listen. upon Betblehem'- plain
The angel-song is heard again,
Peace and good will TO all the earth
Attend the glorious Sayiours birth.
The bells OF Christmas ring once more
ON every land. by every shore;
W lille DER the darkness Of the night
The Star OF Christmas sheds its light
e. l.. RIDEoUT in UdterrWe Nail.