The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-24
THE END OF THE PLAY.

The play is done: the curtain drops,
SLOW falling 20 the promptsr's bell;
A moment yet the actor stops
Aud looks around TO say farewell
IL 10 an irxsome word ana task
And when he's laughed and said his say,
He shows, as he removes the mask,
face that's anything but gay.
One word, ere yet tie evening ends,
Let's close IL with a parting rhyme,
And pledge q hand to all young friends,
As it's the merry Christmas time.
On HES wide scene you, too, have parts,
That fate ere long shaIl bid jon play:
Good night, With honest gentle hearts
kindly greeting 20 Away.
Good night I'd say, the griets. the joys,
Just limited IN this mimic page,
The trinmphs and defeats of boys,
Are but repeated in our age.
Ia say your woes were not less KEEN
Your hopes more vain than those oil men;
Your pangs or pleasures OF fifteen
At forty five played DER again.
I'd say we suffer and we strive,
Not iess nor more - men than boys;
With grizzled boards at forty five,
And erst at twelve In corduroys.
And ii. I'm time OF sacred youth,
We learned at home to love aud pray,
Pray heaven that early love and truth
May never wholly pass away.
And in this world as In the school,
I'd say. how late 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 vulgar clown,
The knave be lifted over all,
The kind cast pitllessly down.
Who knows the inscrutable design
Blessed be He who took and gave;
Why should your mother. Charles, not mine,
BE weeping at her dariing's gravas
We bow 20 heaven that Wild itso,
That darkly rules the fate OF all;
That sends the respite or the blow
That's free TO give or 10 recall
This crowns his feast with wine or wit:
Who brought him TO that mirtn and statee
His betters, see. below him Sit
Or hunger hopeless at the gate.
Who babe the mud from Dives wheel
To spuru the rags of Lazarus
Come, brother, In that dust wen kreel,
Confessing heaven that ruled II thus.
So each shall mourn, in life's advance,
Dear hopes, dear friends, untimeiy killed;
Shall grieve for many a forfeit chance,
Aud longing passion unfulflled.
Amen whatever fate be sent,
Pray God the heart may kindly glow,
Although the head with cares be bent,
And whltened with the winter snow.
Como wealth or want, come good or i'll,
Let young and old accept their part,
Aud bow before tho Awini Will.
And bear 10 with an honest heart.
| " no misses or who wins the prize,
Go, lose or conquer as you can;
| But II you fail. or II YOU rise,
BE each, pray God, gentleman.
A gentleman, or old or young!
Dear kindly with my humble laysl
| The sacred chorus first was sung
Upon the first of Christmas days;
The shepherds heard IL overhead
| The jOytu angels raised IL then,
| Glory TO Heaven on high. IL said,
And peace on earth TO gentle men.
| My song. save this. il little worth;
Lay the weary pen aside,
| And wish you health, and love. and mirth,
As fits the solemn ChrstmAs-tide.
| As It's the holy Christmas birth.
BE this, good friends, our carol still
! BE peace on earth, be peace on earth,
10 men OF gentle will
-Wiiliom HakSpeGce Thaekvsy.