A Christmas Hymn.

It was the calm and silent night!

Seven hundred years and fifty-three Had Rome been growing up to might,

And now was queen of land and sea;
No sound was heard of clashing wars,
Peace brooded o'er the hushed domain;
Apollo, Pallas, Jove and Mars

Held undisturbed their ancient reign,
In the solemn midnight,

Centuries ago!

"Twas in the calm and silent night!
The Senator of Haughty Rome
Impatient urged his chariot's flight,
From lordly revel rolling home.

Triumphal arches, gleaming, swell

His breast with thoughts of boundless sway;

What recked the Roman what befel

A paltry province far away,

In the solemn midnight,
Centuries ago!

Within that province far away,

Went plodding home a weary boor;

A streak of light before him lay,

Fallen through a half-shut stable-door

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A CHRISTMAS HYMN.

Across his path. He passed; for naught
Told what was going on within.

How keen the stars! his only thought:
The air, how cold, and calm, and thin!
In the solemn midnight,
Centuries ago!

O strange indifference!-low and high
Drowsed over common joys and cares;
The earth was still, but knew not why;
The world was listening unawares.
How calm a moment may precede

One that shall thrill the world forever!

To that still moment none would heed
Man's doom was linked, no more to sever,
In the solemn midnight,

Centuries ago!

It is the calm and silent night!

A thousand bells ring out, and throw
Their joyous peals abroad, and smite
The darkness-charmed and holy now!
The night that erst no name had worn,

To it a happy name is given ;

For in that stable lay, new-born,

The peaceful prince of earth and heaven,
In the solemn midnight,

Centuries ago!

Alfred Dommett.

Christmas.

CAROL Christians! Christ is here!

Carol for this baby dear!

This is man, but God, the more;

Sing beside the stable door!

This, our King without a crown,
In a manger is laid down,

When the maid with meekest hands,
Wrapped him all in swathing bands.

Ages long ago He came,

Lived and died, yet is the same :
He who slain ere things were made
In this stall a babe is laid!

Sing good Christians! Come and sing!
Praise our Christ, and praise our King!
Gladdest night! Most happy morn!

Christ our Lord this day is born!

Sing our best, both young and old!

Never heart this time be cold!

Never eye of love be dim!

Who love others, they love him.

Robert Lowell.

:

The Nativity.

WHEN Jordan hushed his waters still,

And silence slept on Zion's hill;

When Bethlehem's shepherds through the night Watched o'er their flocks by starry light,—

Hark! from the midnight hills around,

A voice of more than mortal sound

In distant halleluiahs stole,

Wild murm'ring on the raptured soul.

Then swift to every startled eye,

New streams of glory light the sky;
Heaven bursts her azure gates to pour
Her spirits to the midnight hour.

On wheels of light, on wings of flame,

The glorious hosts of Zion came.

High heaven with songs of triumph rung

While thus they struck their harps and sung:

O, Zion! lift thy raptured eye,
The long-expected hour is nigh:
The joys of nature rise again,

The Prince of Salem comes to reign.

THE NATIVITY.

See Mercy from her golden urn

Pours a rich stream to them that mourn;
Behold, she binds with tender care
The bleeding bosom of despair!

He comes to cheer the trembling heart,
Bids Satan and his host depart;
Again the Day-Star gilds the gloom,
Again the flowers of Eden bloom!

O Zion! lift thy raptured eye!
The long-expected hour is nigh;
The joys of nature rise again,

The Prince of Salem comes to reign.

Campbell.

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