The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-24
CHRISTMAS

Peal after peal went forth from the
 organs resounding, And clear across the earth reached
 the jubi1ant song, Chimes exquisite melodies rose and,
 from heaven rebounding, Stirred to it's depths in prayer the
 worshipping throng. Gilded domes Shone in Splendor, out
 dazzling the sunshine, And the altare in faces Of gold were bedecked;
 And of gold were the crosses, and
 many an ensign
 Was wrought of rare fabrics and sat-
 in select. And goIden-mouthed preachers gold
 sermons delivered, And gout aristocracy listened them
 through;
 Kings and Queens and their minions
 with purpose palavered AS they hynned of the Son of Man.
 faithful and true. It was Christmas the world OCT, ana
 millions unnumbered Rejoiced in the birth of the Man
 God, the Son! It was Christmas,-the earth with deep
 snow was encumbered, And the cold grew yet colder in spite
 of the sun. To earth's outermoet boundaries the
 bread-lines extended, Where ragged men begged all in
 vain for a crust! And where, man against man, hunger
 mad. they defended F Their last shreds of life, although
 crushed to the dust. Deep the pit yawned beneath them,
 like chasms unmeasured, And hell stood wide open to vel
 come them all! And the little ones whom the great
 Saviour treasured Were come to the brink where to
 stand is to fall. And the widows and orphans were lone
 in their sorrow,
 And hunger and grief Stalked Su-
 preme in the lands, A signal of yesterday, sign for the Despafr'e orninous footprints engrav-
 ed in the sands. But from Church and Cathedral re-
 sounded the story To the Saviour of men they sang Glory and Glory, While His image with diamonds and gold they adorn.
 on wings of the tempest Tn anger, 8 voice from the heavens descend,
 Which thus spake with the thunder:
 70 Satan, still temptest Thy Lord thou,-aud what can 1t
 bode or portend But destruction and death and the end of all things,
 And the, price thy rebellion and ar rogance brings? And ye men of the earth and ye wom- en of culture,
  shrine,
 Go, dwell with the wolf and be kin to But tempt not your God, lest His anger divine Shall devour you,-involve you in every disaster Though ye build me great temples of rare alabaster,
 And altars of gold ye erect unto me; me Yet the words of the Lord ana the works of the Master You consign to the depths of ODl1- vion's sea.
 And what of the. seed that I sowed with my blood? The Light and the Truth which, through centuries reaching. Was to circle the world like the primitive flood? , Thirsty, and give ye me drink? Al stranger with bleeding feet, And take ye me in? Naked, and Sick, and in prison. and visit ye me? And Ohi All the oceans of blood and the oceans of tears That these centuries past in my l name ye have she'd How anewer ye. vipers. beyond the l frontiers Of the countries that reek in their | garments of red! Shall I take for your answer the altars | of silver, The goId-embossed symbols of Rome and of Greece; The booty and plunder your pirates deliver As the price of your heaven, your ransome of Peace? Then woe to .ye, men, and your lost habitatiofs, For the Angel of Death shall inherit 1 the earthi'' And this is the word for the ear of all nations On the glcrious day of the Saviour's birth.
 LOUIS sMIRNow.