Selected Poetry.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1579, 4 March 1887, Page 4

Selected Poetry.

THE OLDEST CHRISTMAS HYMN.

Id book HI of Clement of Alexandria i> giro (in Gnek) the meat ancient hymn of the primitive church. It ie there (150 jean after the Apoatlee) asserted to be of much earlier orifin. The following ronton will pre aome imperfect idee of ita spirit: Shepherd of tender routh, Guiding in love and truth, Through devious : Christ, our triumphant King! We come thy name to sing, And here our children bring To shout thy praise. Thou art our holy Lord! The all subduing Word, Healer of strife! Thou didst thyself abase! That from sin's deep disgrace Thou mighteit sure oar race And gire us life. Thou art wisdom's High Priest! Thou has prepared the feast Of holy lore, And in our mortal pain None calls on thee in Tain. Help thou doat not disdain, Help from above. E*er be thou our guide, Our Shepherd and our pride, Our staff and song. Jesus, thou Christ of God! By the perennial word, Lead as where thou hut trod, Make our faith strong. 80 now, until we die, Sound we thy pnise on high, And joyful sing. Infants, and the glad throng, Who to thj church belong, Unite and swell the song To Christ, our King. TO . Do you remember that blest time When lore was young and doubt wjs o'er ? We listened to the sleepy chime Of water on the weed-strewn show ; Blithe birds wen busy in the wood, When close and thick the moss bad grown, And round us sa we musing stood The lilies' fragrant breath waa blown; And then a cloud's soft shadow passed— The alow sweep of aenphic wing— And here you found for me the last Pale primrose of a tardy spring. I see it all: the winding road Whs re hand in hand we strolled along, The lock that like a sapphire glowed. The trees whence came a linnet's song. And dearer still, I see the eyes, 80 deep and tender with fond thought— The atan that light life's dearest skies With lore that changeth not in aught, 0, dearest, long indeed may we With jo;fulness such days recall! And through all changes may we be Each other's life and all in all! Mart.