The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-06-14

- SdllIe DUCK IN sweet refrain.
Ihe winged messengers had flown;
80. Good tidings they had told;
The newborn shepherd Of the sheep
Will care for all His fold.
The trusting shepherds leave their f1ocks;
They haste to Bethlehem
10 worship there the newborn Babe,
.u BY God made known to them.
They skirt the mountain, pass the town,
Directly reach the inn,
Where Joseph and his Wearied wife
No room could find within.
The man on watch they, GREATNESS. hail,
Their story him to tell;
The dazzling light he, too. had seen,
Nor could his fears dispel.
What thinkest thou?" the Waterman
cried,
What caused the wondrous light
From out the sky, that we have seen,
Who do not sleep this night?"
''The Christ is born Our King is comet"
The Christ! Can it be so?'
.,n, Come. to the cave we 60
1.-THE ca Chi;d why there?" ITO see the
mo child you there will find."
well. come wit hus, the Saviour see,
And free your doubling mind.
For W in m ma ger. He e! doth 9th l a;,
The angel OF the Lord came down
And this to US revealed.
The cave alone, in Bethlehem,
Hath hangers; hence you see
lis there we go the Babe to find;
He surely there must be-
With faith increased and hope enlarged,
The Waterman leads the way;
That they may find the Holy Child
They all devoutly pray.
The cavern now thew quickly reach
A lantern burns within.
The door, unguarded, stands ajar;
Unbidden they go in.
And by the DIM uncertain light
Can scarcely see their way,
But presently voice they hear:
What would you, friends. I pray?"
II give thee peace" the Waterman said,
For we this night would find
A newborn Babe, in swaddling clothes,
The Saviour of mankind"
Twas Joseph's voice the shepherds heard,
And as they then drew near,
With much emotion he replied:
1.-THE Child you seek Is here
They then in wonderment were led
f. Unto a. manger low,
And there they saw, on bed of straw,
The Christ they fain would know.
And Mary, too, was with her child,
While in her guileless face
A holy mother love is seen,
1llumined with sanity grace.
Now, speechess with establishment.
The shepherds stand about;
1T is the Christ" they whisper low;
(The sight hath vanquished doubt).
ut is the Lord!" they all exclaim,
"And wondrous are His ways"
Down on their knees they quickly fall
In silent, fervent praise.
These simple men, now doubling not,
Devoutly kiss the hem
OF Mary's robe. and hasten forth
To tell all Bethlehem
The gladstone news; and, as they go.
They greet the coming morn
With songs OF praise to God on high.
For Christ the Saviour born.
All they to whom the shepherds told
Were greatly moved, with anxious hearts.
Their hopes and fears between.
But some there were who knew the law,
Whose souls must have been thrilled
With JOY that Micah's prophecy
Was thus at last fulfilled.
And, when the Babe was eight days old.
They piously conformed
To precepts of the Jewish law
The sacred rites performed.
They took Him to the temple, to
Present Him to the Lord;
And by an humble sacrifice
Their fervent faith record.
In santitied Jerusalem
There dwelt righteous man.
To whom the Holy Ghost revealed
The Messanic plan.
God told the aged Simeon
That nought should intervene
To end his life on earth until
The Saviour he had seen.
Drawn by the Spirit. he within
The temple sought q place.
And when the parents brought the Child
I, He saw Him face to face.
Then took he Him up In his arms;
His voice in prayer was heard:
Lord. let me now depart in peace,
According to Thy Word:
Mine eyes have Thy salvation seen,
Which Thou. before the face
OF all the people, hast prepared
That all may share Thy grace.
"For Gentle and for Jew alike
Thy mercy Thou hast shown;
That whatsoever will, may come,
Through Jesus. to Thy throne.''
This righteous man most tenderly
The Child and parents blessed;
To Mary. in prophetic words,
His faith in Christ expressed.
And then the aged Anna came:
Likewise her thanks she gave
Unto the Lord. and spake of Christ
AS born with power to save.
And Joseph and his holy wife
Were wondrously impressed:
They marveled much that these two
So soon saa'S the Christ confessed.