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Show :K'.SSS'.'-SS; jrCHTMASli I T Oil" in the east, tigainst a white, i col'l dawn. .The black-lined silhouette of woods j was drawn. And on the wintry wa.-:te Of frosted streams and hillsides bare j and brown. ! Through thin cloud-films a pallid i ghost looked down. The waning moon half-fox:ed! In. that pale sky and sere, snow-wailing snow-wailing earth, What sign was there of tlie immortal immor-tal birth. What herald of this one? Lol swift as thought the heavenly radiance came, A rose-red splendor swept the sky like flame. Up rolled the round, bright sun! And all was changed. From a transfigured trans-figured world The moon's ghost fled, the smoke of home-hearths curled Up the still air unblown. In Orient warmth and brightness, did thai morn O'er A'ain and Nazareth when Christ was bom. Break fairer than our ownf The morning's promise noon and eve fulfilled In warm, soft sky and landscape hazy-hilled And sunset fair as they; A sweet reminder of His holiest time. A summer miracle in our winter clime, God gave a perfect day. The near was blended with the old and far, And Bethlehem's hillside and the Magi's star Seemed here as there and then Our homestead pine tree was the Syrian palm. Our heart's desire the angel's midnight mid-night psalm, Peace, and good will to men! John Gr-cnleaf Wh it-tier. ' |