THE SPIRIT AND THE MUSE.

55

CHRISTMAS.

“ A babe lying in a manger."

Think not that babe, so weak and small,

Thou seest in yonder cattle-stall. Is, like the most of human race,

Destined for some inglorious place :

Hid by a veil of flesh, behold

The Christ, whom prophets have foretold, Come now at last, the world to save

From sin, from Satan, and the grave.

His holy empire shall extend

Throughout the earth from end to end, Throughout vast regions of the sky

Unviewed as yet by mortal eye:

Therefore it was that shepherds came

To see the babe of Bethlehem; Therefore the wise men from afar Followed the leading of the star;

Therefore all Christian people raise

From year to year glad hymns of praise To him, who, though high Lord of all, Was born and cradled in a stall.

Man of the world, headstrong and wild, Despise not thou this heavenly child; If thou hereafter would'st be great, Thine too must be a low estate.

THE SHEPHERDS OF BETHLEHEM.

“The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God."

When Christ was born and laid

In a rude manger-bed,

Poor shepherds of the fold

Were first the tidings told:

From Heaven a glorious light
Shone through the dark of night,

And angels from above

Sang out the Father's love;

Heaven heard the joyful cry,

Earth gave the glad reply:

"Glory to God in highest realms be given,

"Peace upon earth, good will to men from Heaven."

Scarce had the angels gone,
The shepherds every one

Set out to see the sign
Of him of David's line;
With utmost speed they came
That night to Bethlehem ;
They saw him in the stall,
A babe, the Lord of all;

They told the listening crowd
What angels sang aloud,

And much the people wondered at the word,

But Mary mused the more, the more she heard

No gifts those holy men
Took to their folds again;
No rich and sumptuous fare
Broke for a while their care;
The cold and dewy night—
The stars to give them light—
A weary watch to keep
Over a flock of sheep-

Poor shepherds still, the same

As when the angels came;

Yet, as from Bethlehem they homeward went,

They praised the Lord their God, and were content.

A PRAYER FOR LENT.

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved."

lie ;

Lord, pardon me before I die,
That I at peace with thee may
Then, though my body waste and wane,
Though every joint be racked with pain,
Though life be loathsome, death a gain,
Yet will I not thy love arraign.

Lord, pardon me before I die,

That I at peace

Then Hell may yawn, the grave devour,

Gehenna's flames in torrents pour,

Legions of devils round me lour,

Yet will I not mistrust thy power.