The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-21
CHRISTMAS EVE.

! ~ : sudden beralds yester-night
s !; ami ,xfnred winds in eager night;
rhe frees drew deeper breath and sped
4 murmer on white overhead
Dark clouds like startied yuitures peat
Their sullen way ia slow retreat;
Along lar moors OF sky that WOKE
nd :, soft blooms of silver broke;
Teened All the air With mystic tone
a wonderous glory snohe
ITnoo the shepherds aud psalm
n, s,lrges melted through the calm.
That quickened fervent souls 10 them
TO hasten forth to Bethlehem,
nd in mslodious volume iloats
From o,ir te u thousand belfry-throats
Across the mighty ages sIlii-
80 God the praise, to men goou WILL
Far back across the years we pressed
To ioin the shepherds 10 their quest;
II card in their impetus tale unioio
OF all the gracious Angel told
FLED to and past the SWARM and din
About the old Judeau inn
And to the humble manger erept
Where Christ. the Holy Infant, slept,
From whom paid mothers eyes
Rose In stare OF dumb surprise
Wherein a mist OF gladness grew,
As the meek sheph erds told anew
TIL. maryels both Of song and words
Revealed to them amid their herds;
And she, across the hangers rim
Outreached tender arm 10 MIN
While in her JosepL's mien she sought
Sole answer to her burdencd thought!
And then. somehow. the stable there
Became dwelling anywhere
And in her features we cOulu trace
A different Mary's love-lit face.
Each moment changing to another
As gentle with the zeal OF motner,
| And creeping from some dreaming chiio
About whose lips the morrow smiled.
To gather with velvet stealth
Her covert store of Christmas wealth
Where on the morn should sound the hearth
With laughter at the common mirth.-
And while the boy may from his drum
| Wake prowess for all wars to come,
! And DER her doll the girl may brood
Tn the sweet zest oil motherhood.
| The motbe rhood, all cen then betrays
| Despite her smile, the anxious gaze
| OF Mary. as her hopes and fears
| Explore the dusks of future years
The stockings. laden with their pelf.
! Awaiting dawn along the shell
| And ali the tunults yet to leap
! From children, lay enlocked III sleep;
The Goals were hushed in ashen white
| To the deep silence OF the Night
Though now and then dolefui gaze
| Rreathed down the chimney-tops its vale.
Or s,note the panes with htful might
| AS if it were the homeless spirit
OF Peter. eager with desire
To warm its numhness al hre
AS when he sought the grateful blaze
The soldiers woke 10 oiden days.
And 10 deluded by noon
OF radiance from the risen moon,
:. cock gave forth sudden call
AS shrill as when within the hall
! RAISE Peter heard and from rebuke
pent in his captive Masters look,
Recoiled and into darkness stole
!, To weep the anguish OF his soul!
And vet, what swarms OF Peters lay
Asleep. denying every day
e The Christ no marvel steeples moan
Above those whom He calls His own!
Z Yet in the tones yearnlng dwelis
n OF benediction from the bells
With tremors of His tender plea,
5 ssLet little children come 10 Me
And Marys are where'er tn ir knees
< Uphold for Ne the least OF these"
on people, may this Day be dear
; And all the Christians once year
: Let prayer and loving laughter slip
Il With equal warrant from the iip;
And where Want yearns for food and Goa
HIS footfall feel beat in your souls,
Till gentle April rams shall race
Der the December in its lace
n The earth is His.--it's spent and lone
AS His guests are no less your own,
J. And down Ines lOWiy ways ne ieaus
, In token of the best of creeds;
l. Glieyes over such as bend their broWs
, To mumbles OF mere Sabbath vows
Meanwhile their avid thought begins
N Another week of wonted sins;
Demands our homage In search
a For neighbors 'yond the ponps of churc
Reminds us that nor worm nor sheep
'e Wherein our dainty svestures sleep
# Nor weight of purse alone can be
A warrant for gentilfty,
70 Nay, that but vulgar folk are those
Who on such single claims repose
al And look askant beneath frown
On those Privatlon boweth down
Like her whose mangered son that Morn
ID Was of all men the Noblest born
at Around your heartstones gather. store
The generous logs to wake their roar
is OF forest RACES till outflow
q Old summers in their feryent glow;
- And then recall their heats. like oak,
as Though long exposed to winters stroke
Retain warmth that expands
IN To greet the outreach Of your hands.
!. Man Christ in our frank service sway
IT, AN EARTH ALL BETHLEHEM TO-DA