CHRISTMAS BELLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7583, 23 December 1902, Page 4

CHRISTMAS BELLS.

. o Ho! for the mvsbletce, ivy -and holly! Ring Uio sweet Ohiistiinae 'bella! This is the season ol joy and of .blessing, Now their glad music telte. Gatlher tits loved ones, wherever they're ficattered, Homo to -iho glowing he^arth; Hang up the mistieloe, ivy and iholiy, ; ' Echo tilie Chxistm'as imirth. • Wh'tTe the red -holly gleams, young hearts . ara beating, • ■ Measrimicoit filds the ladr. _ * ' Under ihe miistktos, fresh lips are meeting — Chidstmiais comes «nee a year. Sweetly this ibells sound their musicail tidiaigs Over the snow to-night ; " Peace goodwill" is the message they carjy, '..■.,. So let each, heart be light. Undiear . the misbleto«i Dorotihy iingerSi Fixing the branch, in place ; SofUy ajwivnld iher Ih© firelight fliokenssi, ■Lighting her ifadr. young iace. Noiselessly 'Roger conies stealing behind fear, Oaffl'antly takes a kiss : "All's 'fair in ilo\'o," he pleads, while she's • -chiding — • • ' Wiho much, a ohianco would imj«s? Grandmotiher sits in. faer clhair *by the fire, Warm: dn its) ruddy glow, , Dreaming of daya tlhat la-re past and ifox- — Christnaafl of l-ong ago-, Ecgor and D«"w>t!liy, daffloing togeiibeaf, Seem to her dim. did, «ye« ; Only a part of ihor meanoriea olden, Sweiefc Christmas ghost-s that irise. Far in ; iha vanished years, islho and Gnandfather . Danced in tihe uwnuet, Lonely 'and long are the years oimc© he left her; ' ' .•■ • . No' ex can hvr iheart forget. . Christmias belongs to the young and ligiht!hoairbed, . „„ Sadly she muses I«w, 1 Dreaming of "days tbat tare long sinoe. det>a«rT©d— : Christinas of -long ago. ■ One day the planted shall be reunited Tliero cm +he other .sitde, Hand .shall claisp hand' in th« World, of the Blessed, ■_ . Witere joy and peace abide. , f Tlhen shall the brigiht season) %ring us no sadness — . ,'.... Teaaa be for ever, dried — So .let us hail them, sweet heralds of gladness, Bells of the Chrdstmasiide! - . .. . • J.JL. GLOVEIR.