Chapter 10

I feel the day; I see the field; The quivering of the leaves; And good old Jacob, and his horse,-- Binding the yellow sheaves! And at this very hour I seem To be with Joseph in his dream!

I see the fields of Bethlehem, And reapers many a one Bending unto their sickles' stroke, And Boaz looking on; And Ruth, the Moabitess fair, Among the gleaners stooping there!

Again, I see a little child, His mother's sole delight,-- God's living gift of love unto The kind, good Shunamite; To mortal pangs I see him yield, And the lad bear him from the field.

The sun-bathed quiet of the hills, The fields of Galilee, That eighteen hundred years ago Were full of corn, I see; And the dear Saviour take his way 'Mid ripe ears on the Sabbath-day.

Oh golden fields of bending corn, How beautiful they seem! The reaper-folk, the piled-up sheaves, To me are like a dream; The sunshine, and the very air Seem of old time, and take me there!

Mary Howitt.

_Little Christel_

I

Slowly forth from the village church,-- The voice of the choristers hushed overhead,-- Came little Christel. She paused in the porch, Pondering what the preacher had said.

_Even the youngest, humblest child Something may do to please the Lord;_ "Now, what," thought she, and half-sadly smiled, "Can I, so little and poor, afford?--

_"Never, never a day should pass, Without some kindness, kindly shown,_ The preacher said"--Then down to the grass A skylark dropped, like a brown-winged stone.

"Well, a day is before me now; Yet, what," thought she, "can I do, if I try? If an angel of God would show me how! But silly am I, and the hours they fly."

Then the lark sprang singing up from the sod, And the maiden thought, as he rose to the blue, "He says he will carry my prayer to God; But who would have thought the little lark knew?"

II

Now she entered the village street, With book in hand and face demure, And soon she came, with sober feet, To a crying babe at a cottage door.

It wept at a windmill that would not move, It puffed with round red cheeks in vain, One sail stuck fast in a puzzling groove, And baby's breath could not stir it again.

So baby beat the sail and cried, While no one came from the cottage door; But little Christel knelt down by its side, And set the windmill going once more.

Then babe was pleased, and the little girl Was glad when she heard it laugh and crow; Thinking, "Happy windmill, that has but to whirl, To please the pretty young creature so."

III

No thought of herself was in her head, As she passed out at the end of the street, And came to a rose-tree tall and red, Drooping and faint with the summer heat.

She ran to a brook that was flowing by, She made of her two hands a nice round cup, And washed the roots of the rose-tree high, Till it lifted its languid blossoms up.

"O happy brook!" thought little Christel, "You have done some good this summer's day, You have made the flowers look fresh and well!" Then she rose and went on her way.

* * * * *

William Brighty Rands.

_A Child's Prayer_

God make my life a little light, Within the world to glow-- A tiny flame that burneth bright, Wherever I may go.

God make my life a little flower, That bringeth joy to all, Content to bloom in native bower, Although its place be small.

God make my life a little song, That comforteth the sad, That helpeth others to be strong, And makes the singer glad.

M. Betham Edwards

XI

BELLS OF CHRISTMAS

_Then let the holly red be hung,_ _And all the sweetest carols sung,_ _While we with joy remember them--_ _The journeyers to Bethlehem._

_Frank Dempster Sherman._

BELLS OF CHRISTMAS

_The Adoration of the Wise Men_

Saw you never in the twilight, When the sun had left the skies, Up in heaven the clear stars shining, Through the gloom like silver eyes? So of old the wise men watching, Saw a little stranger star, And they knew the King was given, And they follow'd it from far.

Heard you never of the story, How they cross'd the desert wild, Journey'd on by plain and mountain, Till they found the Holy Child? How they open'd all their treasure, Kneeling to that Infant King, Gave the gold and fragrant incense, Gave the myrrh in offering?

Know ye not that lowly Baby Was the bright and morning star, He who came to light the Gentiles, And the darken'd isles afar?

And we too may seek his cradle, There our heart's best treasures bring, Love, and Faith, and true devotion, For our Saviour, God, and King.

Cecil Frances Alexander.

_Cradle Hymn_

Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber; Holy angels guard thy bed; Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head.

Sleep, my babe, thy food and raiment, House and home, thy friends provide; All without thy care, or payment, All thy wants are well supplied.

How much better thou'rt attended Than the Son of God could be, When from heaven He descended, And became a child like thee!

Soft and easy is thy cradle; Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay, When His birthplace was a stable, And His softest bed was hay.

See the kindly shepherds round him, Telling wonders from the sky! When they sought Him, there they found Him, With his Virgin-Mother by.

See the lovely babe a-dressing; Lovely infant, how He smiled! When He wept, the mother's blessing Soothed and hushed the holy child.

Lo, He slumbers in His manger, Where the honest oxen fed; --Peace, my darling! here's no danger! Here's no ox a-near thy bed!

Mayst thou live to know and fear Him, Trust and love Him all thy days; Then go dwell forever near Him, See His face, and sing His praise!

I could give thee thousand kisses, Hoping what I most desire; Not a mother's fondest wishes Can to greater joys aspire.

Isaac Watts.

_The Christmas Silence_

Hushed are the pigeons cooing low On dusty rafters of the loft; And mild-eyed oxen, breathing soft, Sleep on the fragrant hay below.

Dim shadows in the corner hide; The glimmering lantern's rays are shed Where one young lamb just lifts his head, Then huddles 'gainst his mother's side.

Strange silence tingles in the air; Through the half-open door a bar Of light from one low-hanging star Touches a baby's radiant hair.

No sound: the mother, kneeling, lays Her cheek against the little face. Oh human love! Oh heavenly grace! 'Tis yet in silence that she prays!

Ages of silence end to-night; Then to the long-expectant earth Glad angels come to greet His birth In burst of music, love, and light!

Margaret Deland.

An Offertory

Oh, the beauty of the Christ Child, The gentleness, the grace, The smiling, loving tenderness, The infantile embrace! All babyhood he holdeth, All motherhood enfoldeth-- Yet who hath seen his face?

Oh, the nearness of the Christ Child, When, for a sacred space, He nestles in our very homes-- Light of the human race! We know him and we love him, No man to us need prove him-- Yet who hath seen his face?

Mary Mapes Dodge.

_Christmas Song_

Why do bells for Christmas ring? Why do little children sing?

Once a lovely, shining star, Seen by shepherds from afar, Gently moved until its light Made a manger-cradle bright.

There a darling baby lay Pillowed soft upon the hay. And his mother sang and smiled, "This is Christ, the holy child."

So the bells for Christmas ring, So the little children sing.

Lydia Avery Coonley Ward.

_A Visit from St. Nicholas_

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap-- When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave a lustre of midday to objects below; When what to my wondering eyes should appear But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick! More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled and shouted and called them by name. "Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!-- To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky, So, up to the housetop the coursers they flew, With a sleigh full of toys--and St. Nicholas, too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound: He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot: A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack. His eyes, how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump--a right jolly old elf: And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings: then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere they drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Clement C. Moore.

_The Christmas Trees_

There's a stir among the trees, There's a whisper in the breeze, Little ice-points clash and clink, Little needles nod and wink, Sturdy fir-trees sway and sigh-- "Here am I! Here am I!"

"All the summer long I stood In the silence of the woods. Tall and tapering I grew; What might happen well I knew; For one day a little bird Sang, and in the song I heard Many things quite strange to me Of Christmas and the Christmas tree.

"When the sun was hid from sight In the darkness of the night, When the wind with sudden fret Pulled at my green coronet, Staunch I stood, and hid my fears, Weeping silent fragrant tears, Praying still that I might be Fitted for a Christmas tree.

"Now here we stand On every hand! In us a hoard of summer stored, Birds have flown over us, Blue sky has covered us, Soft winds have sung to us, Blossoms have flung to us Measureless sweetness, Now in completeness We wait."

Mary F. Butts.

_A Birthday Gift_

* * * * *

What can I give him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man I would do my part,-- Yet what I can I give him, Give my heart.

Christina Rossetti.

_A Christmas Lullaby_

Sleep, baby, sleep! The Mother sings: Heaven's angels kneel and fold their wings. Sleep, baby, sleep!

With swathes of scented hay Thy bed By Mary's hand at eve was spread. Sleep, baby, sleep!

At midnight came the shepherds, they Whom seraphs wakened by the way. Sleep, baby, sleep!

And three kings from the East afar, Ere dawn came, guided by the star. Sleep, baby, sleep!

They brought Thee gifts of gold and gems, Pure orient pearls, rich diadems. Sleep, baby, sleep!

But Thou who liest slumbering there, Art King of Kings, earth, ocean, air. Sleep, baby, sleep!

Sleep, baby, sleep! The shepherds sing: Through heaven, through earth, hosannas ring. Sleep, baby, sleep!

John Addington Symonds.

_I Saw Three Ships_

I saw three ships come sailing in, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; I saw three ships come sailing in, On Christmas day in the morning.

* * * * *

Pray whither sailed those ships all three On Christmas day, on Christmas day? Pray whither sailed those ships all three On Christmas day in the morning?

Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem On Christmas day, on Christmas day; Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the angels in heaven shall sing On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the angels in heaven shall sing On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the souls on earth shall sing On Christmas day in the morning.

Old Carol.

_Santa Claus_

He comes in the night! He comes in the night! He softly, silently comes; While the little brown heads on the pillows so white Are dreaming of bugles and drums.

He cuts through the snow like a ship through the foam, While the white flakes around him whirl; Who tells him I know not, but he findeth the home Of each good little boy and girl.

His sleigh it is long, and deep, and wide; It will carry a host of things, While dozens of drums hang over the side, With the sticks sticking under the strings. And yet not the sound of a drum is heard, Not a bugle blast is blown, As he mounts to the chimney-top like a bird, And drops to the hearth like a stone.

The little red stockings he silently fills, Till the stockings will hold no more; The bright little sleds for the great snow hills Are quickly set down on the floor. Then Santa Claus mounts to the roof like a bird, And glides to his seat in the sleigh; Not the sound of a bugle or drum is heard As he noiselessly gallops away.

He rides to the East, and he rides to the West, Of his goodies he touches not one; He eateth the crumbs of the Christmas feast When the dear little folks are done. Old Santa Claus doeth all that he can; This beautiful mission is his; Then, children, be good to the little old man, When you find who the little man is.

Unknown.

_Neighbors of the Christ Night_

Deep in the shelter of the cave, The ass with drooping head Stood weary in the shadow, where His master's hand had led. About the manger oxen lay, Bending a wide-eyed gaze Upon the little new-born Babe, Half worship, half amaze. High in the roof the doves were set, And cooed there, soft and mild, Yet not so sweet as, in the hay, The Mother to her Child. The gentle cows breathed fragrant breath To keep Babe Jesus warm, While loud and clear, o'er hill and dale, The cocks crowed, "Christ is born!" Out in the fields, beneath the stars, The young lambs sleeping lay, And dreamed that in the manger slept Another, white as they.

* * * * *

These were Thy neighbors, Christmas Child; To Thee their love was given, For in Thy baby face there shone The wonder-light of Heaven.

Nora Archibald Smith.

_Cradle Hymn_

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay-- The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Martin Luther.

_The Christmas Holly_

The holly! the holly! oh, twine it with bay-- Come give the holly a song; For it helps to drive stern winter away, With his garment so sombre and long; It peeps through the trees with its berries of red, And its leaves of burnished green, When the flowers and fruits have long been dead, And not even the daisy is seen. Then sing to the holly, the Christmas holly, That hangs over peasant and king; While we laugh and carouse 'neath its glittering boughs, To the Christmas holly we'll sing.

* * * * *

Eliza Cook.

Said I to myself, here's a chance for me The Lilliput Laureate for to be! And these are the Specimens I sent in To Pinafore Palace. Shall I win?

William Brighty Rands.

INDEX

Adoration of the Wise Men, The, 257

All Things Bright and Beautiful, 237

Angel's Whisper, The, 139

Answer to a Child's Question, 62

Ant and the Cricket, The, 78

April, In, 8

Auld Daddy Darkness, 221

Baby Corn, 93

Baby Seed Song, 88

Beau's Reply, 112

Bed-Time, 232

Bells of Christmas, 255

Birdies with Broken Wings, 133

Birds in Spring, The, 54

Birds in Summer, 65

Bird's Song in Spring, 102

Birthday Gift, A, 267

Blessing for the Blessed, A, 129

Blind Boy, The, 160

Bluebird, The, 68

Blue Jay, The, 74

Boy and the Sheep, The, 114

Boy, The, 128

Boy's Song, A, 165

Breeches, Going Into, 174

Bunch of Roses, A, 155

Butterflies, White, 78

By Cool Siloam's Shady Rill, 244

Camel's Nose, The, 240

Chanticleer, 72

Child, A Sleeping, 132

Child at Bethlehem, The, 155

Child's Fancy, A, 95

Child's Grace, A, 241

Child's Laughter, A, 145

Child's Prayer, A, 252

Child's Thought of God, A, 241

Children, Little, 137

Children, Other Little, 123

Chill, A, 144

Christmas Holly, The, 273

Christmas Lullaby, A, 267

Christmas Silence, The, 260

Christmas Song, 261

Christmas Trees, The, 265

City Child, The, 173

Cleanliness, 126

Clouds, 40

Corn-Fields, 248

Cottager to Her Infant, 230

Cow-Boy's Song, The, 217

Cradle Hymn (Watts), 258

Cradle Hymn (Luther), 272

Daffy-Down-Dilly, 91

Daisy's Song, The, 103

Dandelions, 98

Day, A, 28

Deaf and Dumb, 159

Dear Little Violets, 101

Discontent, 193

Doll, Dressing the, 167

Doll, The Lost, 166

Dolladine, 167

Elf and the Dormouse, The, 213

Elf, The Little, 188

Fable, 206

Fairies of the Caldon-Low, The, 209

Fairies' Shopping, The, 204

Fairies, The Child and the, 187

Fairies, The Last Voyage of The, 184

Fairy Folk, The, 181

Fairy in Armor, A, 183

February, In, 5

Fern, A New, 186

Fern Song, 90

Flax Flower, The, 99

Flower Folk, The, 81

Fountain, The, 34

Garaine, Little, 140

Garden, In a, 151

Good Luck, For, 105

Good-Morning, 29

Good-Night and Good-Morning, 136

Grass, The Voice of the, 36

Guessing Song, 45

Hie Away, 176

High and Low, 244

How the Leaves Came Down, 17

Hunting Song, 176

Infant Joy, 129

I Remember, I Remember, 135

I Saw Three Ships, 268

Jack Frost, 47

Kitten and Falling Leaves, The, 121

Lady Moon, 30

Lamb, The, 242

Lamb, The Pet, 116

Lambs in the Meadow, 115

Land of Story-Books, The, 172

Lark and the Rook, The, 56

Letter, A, to Lady Margaret Cavendish Holles-Harley, when a Child, 141

Little Christel, 250

Little Dandelion, 97

Little Gustava, 152

Little Land, The, 148

Little White Lily, 83

Lobster Quadrille, A, 202

Love and the Child, 142

Lucy Gray, 156

Lullaby of an Infant Chief, 226

Lullaby, Old Gaelic, 228

Magpie's Nest, The, 198

March, 6

Marjorie's Almanac, 3

May, 13

Meg Merrilies, 214

Midsummer Song, A, 207

Milking Time, 113

My Pony, 109

Nearly Ready, 7

Neighbors of the Christ Night, 271

Night, 232

Night and Day, 243

Nightfall in Dordrecht, 233

Nightingale and the Glowworm, The, 195

Now the Noisy Winds Are Still, 33

Offertory, An, 261

O Lady Moon, 31

Old Gaelic Lullaby, 228

"One, Two, Three," 188

Owl, The, 70

Owl and the Pussy-Cat, The, 201

Pedlar's Caravan, The, 170

Piping Down the Valleys Wild, 131

Play-Time, 163

Polly, 143

Rain, Signs of, 41

Rivulet, The, 46

Robert of Lincoln, 75

Robin Redbreast, 54

Robin Redbreast, An Epitaph on a, 67

Rockaby, Lullaby, 224

Romance, 215

St. Nicholas, A Visit from, 262

Sandman, The, 228

Santa Claus, 269

Sea-Song from the Shore, A, 171

Seal Lullaby, 113

September, 16

Seven Times One, 133

Sheep and Lambs, 245

Shower, A Sudden, 43

Singer, The, 73

Sleep, A Charm to Call, 231

Sleep, My Treasure, 225

Snowbird, The, 57

Snowdrops, 89

Snowflakes, 49

Song (Keats), 69

Song (Peacock), 104

Spaniel, On a, Called Beau, Killing a Young Bird, 111

Spring, 9

Spring and Summer, 14

Spring Song, 7

Spring, The Coming of, 11

Spring, The Voice of, 10

Storm, After the, 156

Strange Lands, 44

Summer Days, 15

Swallows, The, 53

Sweet and Low, 227

Thank You, Pretty Cow, 114

Thanksgiving Day, 196

Thanksgiving Fable, A, 197

The Water! the Water! 49

There's Nothing Like the Rose, 89

Thimble, What May Happen to a, 190

Titmouse, The, 64

To His Saviour, a Child; A Present by a Child, 246

Tree, The, 102

Violet Bank, A, 88

Violet, The, 90

Violets, 85

Voice, The Still Small, 238

Waterfall, The, 35

What Does Little Birdie Say? 69

What the Winds Bring, 29

What Would You See? 247

Where Go the Boats? 125

Who Stole the Bird's Nest? 59

Wild Geese, 71

Wild Winds, 32