A CHRISTMAS LAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2026, 22 December 1892, Page 22

A CHRISTMAS LAY.

Once more, as fly the wings pf Time, Our thoughts ascend to realms sublime. So let our tuneful Musees9ay Commemoration of the day On which the Christ our Lord waa born To ease the pain of those who mourn, And those who are forlorn protect And all the erring ones collect Within the Shepherd's fold again, m Where He in peace o'er them shall reign. And what the story wo are told About this birth in days of old ? That nineteen centuries ago The wise and learned, bending low, To worship Him (whose star so bright Illumed the darkness of the night), Had come .1 journey to the East, Where He, tho' greatest, like the least Had but a manger for a bed, Wherein to lay His infant head. Angelic voices, chanting then, Sang " Peace on earth ! Goodwill to men I" And they are singing, singing still, " Be peace on earth I To men goodwill ! Yet with their gladness mingle tears Of sadness, that, thro' all these years, The wayward ones refuse to hear The joyiul tidings of good cheer Vouchsaf'd to all by God above, If they will just accept His love. The child grew up into a youth, Whin all the elders cried, " forsoofch ! Comes here a boy who us would teach ! Who should, instead, be taught by each And ev'ry one of us so wise ; " Then marv'ling stood with wide-oped eyes. His questions, too, surprised their ears» Appearing much beyond his years. "• • And yet this simply was the sign He waß the Son of Man divine. Then, last, His manhood He assumed, And died, as He to die was doomed. By.death our Saviour he became, So let us glorify His name, And ne'er forget that, dying thus, oHe gave His life for each of us, That we from sin should be set free, And so for ever happy be. And now, may all, for far and wide, Be merry at this Christmas-tide ! Dunedin, Christmas 1892. — Arteb Mabt.

Spielberger (who came in late Christmas Evo, having forgotten the stocking business): Vot I ged you, mine leedle sohn? Ha! I gife you dot nise drompet yon haf daig soocb, good care ohf since der lasd Grisdmat, You pc goot poy dis year, unt you ged hia» again next years I— Pack. :

Don't mark yonr things, cards or otherwise, with names or initials ; suoh markings interfere with the receiver's arrangements for giving away surplus and duplicate articles, and diaws down anethcma* on your devoted head.

The Druids were accustomed on certain days to cut the sacred mistletoe with a golden knife, in a forest dedicated to the gods, and to distribute its branches with much ceremony as New Year's gifts among -the people. _^ THEN HE DIED. The poet wrought with might and main, To earn his bite and suplet, Until he due from his throbbing brain This scintillating couplet : THE COUPLET. From frozen Maine to sunburned Texas, We're all preparing now for Xmas. —Indianapolis Journal.