CHRISTMAS VERSE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 303, 23 December 1933, Page 8

CHRISTMAS VERSE

CHRISTMAS EVERYWHERE. Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight! Christmas in lands of the fir-tree and pine, Christmas in lands of the palm tree and vine, Christmas where snow peaks stand saleinn and white, Christmas where cornfields stand sunny and bright. Christinas where children are hopeful and gay, Christinas where old men are patient and gray, Christmas where peace, like a dove in his flight, Broods o’er brave men in the thick of the fight; Every, everywhere. Christmas to-night’. For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all; z Io palace too great, no cottage too small. —Phillips Brooks. THREE GIFTS. Gold and frankincense and myrrh, Lord, they brought to Thee; And myrrh was death, and incense prayer, And gold was victory. But firat is last as last was first; The myrrh they gave Thee in Thy thirst Upon the tree. And through the solemn centuries The prayers of saints have risen From hearth and chancel, crypt azid tomb, From pyre and from prison. Now never was the mystic power Of the gold fulfilled; Yet draweth on the mighty hour By the Father willed When every knee shall bows to Him Who on the cross was lift. And every tongue acclaim Him King; This is the golden gift. —Edward Judson Hanna. THE CHRISTMAS SYMBOL. Only a manger, cold and bare, Only a maiden mild, Only some shepherds kneeling there, Watching a little child; And yet that maiden’s arms enfold The King of Heaven above; And in the Christ-Child we behold Th c Lord of Life and Love. Only an altar high and fair, Only a white-robed priest, Only Christ’s children kneeling there Keeping the Christmas feast; Ai.a yet beneath thc outward sign Thc inward grace fa given, His presence, who is Lord Divine And K'ng of earth and heaven. —Author unknown