Part 4
OUR Saviour Christ was born That we might have the Rose without the thorn. All through His desert life He felt the thorns of human sin and strife. His blessed feet were bare To every hurting brier. He did not spare One bleeding footstep on the way He came to trace for us, until the day The cruel crown was pressed upon the Brow That smiles upon us from His glory now.
And so He won for us Sweet, thornless, everlasting flowers thus. He bids our desert way Rejoice and blossom as the Rose to-day. There is no hidden thorn In His good gifts of grace. He would adorn The lives that now are His alone, With brightness and beauty all his own. Then praise the Lord who came on Christmas day To give the Rose and take the thorns away.
* * * * *
AGAIN the festive season’s here, With all that can delight and cheer; Oh! may you nothing lack each day, But find fresh blessings strew your way.
* * * * *
RING in, ring in the revelries, And let the feast be one Where not a single guest there is But Innocence and Fun! Let Christmas warmth keep winter out, And joy unbroken reign— From floor to roof-tree send the shout Till Christmas comes again!
* * * * *
A LITTLE bird comes singing, Singing a song to you; He sings of sun-tipped flowers, Bathed in a diamond dew. “The days are coming,” he warbles, “When the frost has flown away, When the earth will be sweet with flowers And the breath of new-mown hay.”
Oh bird so softly singing Your song of pleasant days, Go sing to her I fondly love, Through the wintry cold and bare. When the heart is light, the days are bright, And the sun seems ever near; So sing her your lay this Christmas Day, And through all the bright New Year.
* * * * *
OH! may thy Christmas happy be, And naught but joy appear, Is now the wish I send to thee, And all I love most dear.
* * * * *
NOW Christmas comes with hearty cheer May kindly thoughts go round, And bring to you a glad New Year, With peace and plenty crowned.
* * * * *
CHRISTMAS is coming, and what will it bring? Many a pleasant and gladdening thing! Meetings and greetings, and innocent mirth: All that is brightest and best on the earth.
* * * * *
CHRISTMAS comes, let every heart In Christmas customs bear its part: The “old” be “young,” the sad be gay, And smiles chase every care away.
* * * * *
SURE, Christmas is a happy time In spite of wintry weather, For laugh, and song, and jest go round When dear friends meet together: And hearts are warm, and eyes beam bright. In the ruddy glow of Christmas night!
* * * * *
FOR friends we strive to pierce The future, dense and dark, But not a ray of light We see, nor faintest spark; But yet while we have faith to cheer, We trusting wish “A bright New Year.”
* * * * *
HARK, the pearly air is trembling, Liquid music floats along; Angels, in sweet joy assembling, Thrill the skies with heavenly song. “Peace on Earth,” is their refrain, Oh, be it yours this peace to gain.
* * * * *
MAY piety with wishes placed above, And steady loyalty and faithful love, Be thy blessings this Christmas-tide.
* * * * *
O LIFE is but a river And in our childhood we, But a fair and running streamlet Adorned with flowers, see.
But as we grow more earnest, The river grows more deep, And where we laughed in childhood, We, older, pause to weep.
Each Christmas as it passes, Some change to us doth bring, Yet to our friends the closer, As time creeps on, we cling.
* * * * *
MAY health and joy, and peace be thine Upon this Christmas day, And happy faces round thee shine As plenteous as the flowers in May.
* * * * *
O BRIGHT be the day Sweet echoes resounding, Love lighting the way And warm hearts surrounding. May the breath of His peace In thy spirit remain, Till Christmas revisits The round world again!
* * * * *
LET the New Tear be to you As a childish playmate new, Stealing suddenly among Apple-boughs that overhung.
Greet him half in confidence, Half as ready for defence! Is he come to tease or play? Will he give or take away?
Let him come as friend or foe! No New Year can overthrow This our friendship that has grown From the years that now are flown.
* * * * *
O CHILDHOOD is a golden time, When all the world is bright, When sunshine comes with every morn, Sweet dreams with every night. Were I a fairy, I would give To thee a magic kiss, That should ensure for the New Year, As fair a time as this.
* * * * *
TAKE, my friend, this heartfelt greeting, Happy be thy Christmas day, Faith, and hope, and love here meeting, Speed thee on thy New Year’s way!
* * * * *
I CANNOT tell what thou wilt bring to me, O strange New Year, But tho’ thick darkness shrouds thy days and months I will not fear. Why should I fret my heart to know before What may befall? With this one thought content—I ask no more— God knows it all.
* * * * *
HEALTH and prosperity Your life to cheer, With every blessing For the bright New Year.
* * * * *
ON this New Year’s morning My wishes take their flight, And wing to thee a greeting That would make all things bright.
* * * * *
GLADLY now it is my pleasure, Joys to wish you, without measure, Happiness and peace attending, With pure heavenly blessings blending.
* * * * *
MAY the blessings of the old year follow in the new.
* * * * *
WE cannot look into the future, We cannot tell if the New Year, Will bring us fresh sorrows to mourn o’er, Or bring us new blessings to cheer.
But an all-seeing God is above us, Who knows-what for each one is best, Who in this world will care for and love us, And bring us at last to our rest.
A BAD BOY’S DIARY.
This is the most humorous book ever issued from the Press. _The One Hundredth Thousand_ has just been issued, and the demand for it is still increasing. One editor says of it: “It made us laugh till our sides ached and the tears came.” Another says: “It will drive the blues out of a bag of indigo. It is worth a dollar, but costs only ten cents.” One reader says of it: “I received the Bad Boy’s Diary you sent me, and as most of my family are killed by laughing over it, you may send another copy, so I can dispose of the rest of them in the same happy manner.”
It contains 48 pages and is handsomely illustrated. Sent by mail on receipt of Ten Cents.
DIARY OF A MINISTER’S WIFE.
“It excels Mark Twain for genuine humor.”
This is one of the most humourous books of the present day, showing in a manner pleasing to all readers the trials, tribulations, expectations, and actual experiences of a “minister’s wife” in a country parish. The characters represented are true to life, and will doubtless bring to the mind of the reader remembrances of events and individuals within their own knowledge. It contains 64 pages, with handsome engraved cover. Price Ten Cents.
“A BUSHEL OF FUN,”
gathered from the writings of authors of “A Bad Boy’s Diary.” Josh Billings, Mark Twain, Detroit Free Press Man, Burlington Hawkeye Man, Max Adeler, and other funny men and women.
This is, indeed, a whole bushel of funny things, well shaken down, and running over with fun and good humor. It contains 64 pages, and is handsomely illustrated. Price Ten Cents.
☞ The above books are for sale by Newsdealers and Booksellers. Either of them will be mailed on receipt of price by the Publishers.
Address,
J. S. OGILVIE & CO., Publishers, 25 Rose Street, New York.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Album Writer's Friend, by J. S. Ogilvie