The Star

THE STAR.

The world was wrapped in darkest night,
Men groped about in search of light;
And feeling oft like one that's blind,
They sought a glimpse of light to find.

And while they sought with mind intense,
The darkness seemed to grow more dense
When, sudden, in the heavens afar,
Appeared a brilliant, trembling star.

It threw such light upon the earth,
The planet seemed to have new birth;
It shone on mountain, vale and brook,
And penetrated every nook.

It drove men from their sinful lair,
They could not brook its steady glare;
But gave to timid souls a sense
Of safety, rest and peace intense.

And it was warmth as well as light,
It brought much cheer and stayed much blight;
It gave us food and raiment too,
And fell upon the earth like dew.

Sweet flowers sprang up to greet its birth,
A rainbow spanned the wondering earth;
The angels sang with mighty voice,
" There's light on earth, let all rejoice;
This is the star of Bethlehem!"
And earth replied, Amen ! Amen ! 

Christmas Bells

 CHRISTMAS BELLS.

The earth is robed in garments white,
And hearts are singing with delight
To greet the Christmas morn;
This is the day of all the year,
Because it brings such goodly cheer,
This day when Christ was born.

Let all the bells ring merrily
To greet its advent cheerily,
This merry Christmas day;
May open hands and hearts be found
To scatter brightness all around,
In one effulgent ray.

Let's hasten to the hungry poor,
To drive the wolf from off the door,
That they may merry be;
Let's scatter blessings far and near,
To every hearthstone bring some cheer,
That Jesus Christ may see.

We hail the day with joyous heart,
We bid the world with us take part,
And celebrate His birth.
So ring, sweet bells, your silvery song,
Commemorating all day long,
The gladdest day on earth.

The Birthday Of Christ

THE BIRTHDAY OF CHRIST.

Early on the Christmas morn,
Night her veil had just withdrawn;
Angels chanted loud and clear,
" Wake ! awake ! the Lord is near!"

Now the wise men's weary feet,
Hastened on with step more fleet,
As the voices swelled their lay,
" Christ the Lord is born to-day."

With their eyes fixed on the star
Onward gazed the men afar;
Sweet the angels sang again,
" Peace on earth, good will to men.'

Now the wise men's footsteps stay,
Angels hush their chanting lay;
Joy and adoration blend,
As above the stall they bend.

Think you, in the infant wail,
Heard they echo of the nail
Driven in His tender form?
Did they think for that He's born?

Nay! the halo round His head
Fixed their steadfast gaze instead;
Not alone for death and shame,
Ridicule and scorn and blame;

But as royal Prince of Peace,
Medium of sin's release;
To be glorified He came,
And to glorify God's name. 

Prepare The Way

 PREPARE THE WAY.

Bring evergreen and cedar bough,
Fresh gathered from the mountain brow;
Bring holly branch and berries red
To strew upon the path He'll tread;
He's sure to come in by and bye,
Unseen, perchance, by mortal eye,
But if we'll listen, as we pray,
We'll hear His sweet voice softly say,
"Lo, Jesus comes your soul to save,
To overcome death and the grave;
To cheer your hearts and calm your fears,
To give you blessings, wipe your tears;
To rescue all from sin and strife
To purchase you eternal life.

'Tis well you greet my natal day
With emblems green in bright display;
I'm glad my footsteps hither came,
I'm glad to meet here, poor and lame, 
These little ones, the aged too,
Whom you have bid to share with you
This festival of joy and mirth,
You have prepared to greet my birth:
For this you've done for me in love,
I'll share with you my home above."
And then so silently He'll go,
He'll leave no footprint on the snow,
But on our hearts He'll leave a trace
Of His sweet peace and loving grace.

Reap And Gather

REAP AND GATHER.

The Savior's heart is yearning
With true compassion deep
For all His wandering children
Who are in sin asleep;
He prays His faithful followers
Their labors to renew,
To reap and glean and gather
The many, not the few.

The path that leads to glory
You have in love been taught;
From ways of death and darkness
To life and light been brought;
You have received so freely
Of love and power and light,
Extend your hand in mercy
And rescue with your might.

Go to the work with gladness
And count it joy to do
With willing heart and purpose
What God requires of you;
Call sinners to repentance,
His kingdom is at hand,
Prepare their souls to meet Him
And in His presence stand.

Ruth

RUTH

A gentle maid with lowly mien
In harvest fields went out to glean;
In sweet humility she thought
" I will be satisfied with aught.

I'll wait until the gleaner's done,
Then I will slowly follow on,
And one by one as each one leaves
I'll gather up neglected sheaves."

With happy smile and head bent low,
Softly she followed to and fro;
Meanwhile the Master rich and kind
Was watching her not far behind.

He bade the gleaners drop more grain,
Until there lay a golden train; 
And all the ground was richly spread
Along the path where she would tread.

Her arms were amply filled with food,
Her heart with joyous gratitude;
Just then she heard the Master call,
And found he loved her more than all.

Along life's pathway, here and there,
Are sheaves neglected, needing care;
And there must be some maids like Ruth,
Or they'll be lost, in very truth.

Then do not mind to follow on
And glean as she did, one by one,
Neglected sheaves, for, seeking such,
Our God will love us very much. 

Inasmuch

 INASMUCH

Our Lord is the Vine in the garden of God, -
The tender young branches are we;
Those who have thus labored for. us in His name,
Said Jesus, " Have done it to me."

Those guiding our footsteps in flower-bordered paths
Of rectitude, virtue, and truth,
Are training the branches to cling to the Vine
In the trying temptations of youth.

No service in life you can render the Vine,
Comes nearer its warm, loving heart,
Than leading the tendrils upon it to lean,
For strength, from life's earliest start.

Then store our young minds with the fruit of His love,
Fresh vigor in us to recruit;
And when to maturity grown every branch,
Will yield Him abundance of fruit.

Brotherhood

 BROTHERHOOD.

Love will work no ill to neighbor,
But will do him good;
God will know His true disciples
By their brotherhood.

Now, look at the white fields yonder,
See the grain so ripe to reap;
Then say if you're going to help them,
Or to fold your hands and sleep.

There are children by the thousand
That have never heard God's name,
On the street or round the hearth-stone,
Save in cursing or blaspheme.

His dear name, the gentle Jesus
Who loved children, oh, so much!
Ever waiting but to bless them
With divine and loving touch.

His kind heart in tender pity
For his lambs is yearning still,
And their souls are in our keeping; -
Shall we save, or shall we kill ?

Like a Cain we may not slay them,
But with thoughtless, cold neglect;
Is this true, my Christian hearers,
Stop a moment and reflect.

If God asks you for your brother,
At His judgment bar some day,
Will you say, " I'm not his keeper,"
Hide your face and turn away?

If you do, the rocks and mountains
Will not shield you from his wrath;
For He is a God of justice,
Though He tender mercies hath.

'Tis a sad and gloomy picture
Drawn with heavy heart and bowed;
But, thank God! the silver lining's
Just behind the darkened cloud.

You who have been blessed with plenty,
Homes of love and Christian grace;
Can, with generous heart consenting,
Swiftly this sad scene erase.

All the cloud may be one splendor,
Radiating floods of light,
If our love for one another
Is but measured in God's sight.

The Mission of The Flowers

THE MISSION OF THE FLOWERS.

God made a tiny flow'ret,
As pure and white as snow,
And said, "This modest lily
Must in the valley grow,
And send forth sweetest fragrance
With meekly drooping head,
And teach the world humility
From out its lowly bed."

And then He made a red rose,
With lovely, blushing face,
And said, "To you, my fair one,
I'll give a higher place;
But you must teach a lesson
Upon your little mound,
By breathing love and perfume
Upon the world around."

And thus they grew in beauty
Not many rods apart,
While each fulfilled its mission
With glad and willing heart;

And when the frost of Autumn came,
And chilled their hearts with fear,
God laid them gently down to rest
Upon a snow-white bier.

The Fullness of His Presence

The Fullness of His Presence

 I think, as I gaze on this beautiful scene,
That Jesus must be very near,
And eagerly catching each word and each song,
As it falls on His listening ear.

His far-seeing eyes must be glancing about,
And searching with diligent care,
The hearts of these children, to see if indeed
His name is in truth written there.

He loves little children! has given them this day
To be altogether their own, -
A type of that glorious Sabbath when we
Shall assemble around His great throne;

Shall crown Him the King of all Kings evermore;
Shall, worshipping, kneel at His feet; -
And again He will place His dear hands on our heads,
And bless us with thrilling words sweet.

Moreover, I think, as I gaze on this scene,
That heaven's a place much like this,
Except that, instead of the Presence we feel,
We'll see Jesus just as He is.