OCR Text |
Show "THE LIGHTS UPON THE FIR-TREE." A correspondent writing from Ogden asks where a poem of the late Charles 0 'Malley, beginning with the line: "The lights upon the fir-tree gleam," may be found. The lamented Charles J. O 'Malley was editor of the Chicago World when he died. He was a poet, an essayest and a man of high and lofty impulses. He wrote a "History of the Knights of St. John" and a "Life of Bishop Ullathorne," and under, the titles of "Songs of Dawn" and "The Building of the Moon" published many of his charming verses. Of O 'Malley, we may repeat what Bulwer Lytton wrote of Mangan: "For his chaste muse emploj'ed her heaven-taught h're, None bu the noblest passions to inspire. Not one immoral, one corrupted thought, One line which, dying, he would wish to blot." O 'Malley had the versatility of Boyle O'Reilly and had as charming a personality as the stalwart and loveable author of "Undine." God be merci ful to his great Catholic soul. Here is his translation of the German poem "Weinachisleid,".. written by Franz von Heldu-mitac. Heldu-mitac. The lights upon the fir-tree gleam, Sweet laughter rings around the hearth; The Christmas bells, in golden stream Pour gladness o'er the happy earth; At home I know the candles burn With radiance soft as close of day, But O, my lonely heart must morn For I, alas, am far away! I see the happy faces glow With pleasure round the Christmas board ; I hear young voices murmur low In gladness, while the ale is poured; I see the aged grandsire kneel And in his humble cottage pray; But I who knows the pangs I feel f. Alone I wander far away! The wretched in their lowly cot Their fir-bough have this holy night, But, all unpitied is my lot, - , . My own beloved are far from sight. O Christ Child, Who on straw wast born, Seest Thou how desolate I stray f Thou hadst thy loved ones ; I, forlorn, In silence weep far, far away! |