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Show I The Gift Divine I , I By WM. BRADFORD DICKSON I At this fair Chrlstmaatlde, When joy bells ring out 1 The Bong of plenty and ring In i The reign of peace throughout ; This wonderful land of oura ; The while across the sea j Old Mother Earth is drenched with blood ! And hate and carnage reign supreme; j While sucklings wail for milk J And children faint for lack of food; While strong men fall beside the way And homeless women kneel In prayer I do not ask for gifts Of frankincense and myrrh, Of gold, of Ophir or of either Ind. Of Jewels rare or priceless merchandise. Of marble halls or vast estates, Nor e'en the costly homage of mankind; But this II. That I may give each day Hull meed Unto the willing mind and heart, Of light of Truth and warmth of Love, Of matchless skill- in comfort's art " That magic all transforming touch Which heals the leper's spots And turns to naught the wounds and scars Deep seared upon the heart of man On life's great battlefield; That I may- bind earth's broken hearts. Lifting up the drooping heads Of the oppressed and burdened ones, That I may plant within young heart A deeper longing for the Right Of mercy for the hapless' weak And those who suffer daily throe Of hunger, pain, disease, neglect; That I may know forgetfulnesa For daily Blights and wrongs; That I may hourly grow In love of liberty, of friend and foev And all the world May grow in love a fruitful love For all the beauty and true In nature, art, the heavenly realm And for the noble deeds of all mankind; That I may fill the widening hours of life . With courage, cheerfulness, and hope; That I may help my fellow man JBehold the dawn beyond the night. The gentle calm beyond the storm. These are the gifts I crave Above the blind world's treasure trove Of gaud and gilt. J ! Who gives hi better self the whole year j ! through j ; Gives life's own priceless gift to all the j : world and you the gift divine. , - Chicago Evening Post. . I |