THE BIRTH OF JESUS. Now is the time completed, Now comes the appointed morn, Now death shall be defeated, Our promised Prince is born. Yet note of preparation, But over all the nation, A sleep profound has gone. The shades of midnight closing, No cheering ray afford; All nature is reposing, Unmindful of the Lord. Is this the welcome given. To God's eternal Son? And to the Prince of Heaven, Earth and her nations slumber, While angels without number, Throughout the Jewish region, And hark-the voice proclaiming, This mighty Prince is naming, the Lord. THE ORPHAN BOY. Alas! I am an orphan boy, With nought on earth to cheer my heart: No father's love, no mother's joy, Nor kin, nor kind, to take my part. And, when the kiss of love goes round, Yet once I had a father dear, A mother, too, I wont to prize, But, ah! there came a war, they say- But drums and fifes did sweetly play, And loudly rung our village bell. In troth, it was a pretty sound, I thought! nor could I thence foresee That, when the kiss of love went round, There soon should be no kiss for me. A scarlet coat my father took, And sword, as bright as bright could be! And feathers that so gaily look, All in a shining cap had he. Then how my little heart did bound; Nor dreamt that, when the kiss went round, My mother sighed, my mother wept, But soon the horsemen throng around, Then gave a kiss to all around; And, ah! how sweet a kiss to me! But when I found he rode so far, And came not home as heretofore, I said it was a naughty war, And loved the fife and drum no more. My mother oft in tears was drowned- At length the bell again did ring; But once again--but once again That once again-that once again The tale a heart of stone would melt; 'Twas when upon her death-bed laid,(Oh, God! oh, God! that sight to see!) My child-my child!' she feebly said, And gave a parting kiss to me. So, now, I am an orphan boy, With nought below my heart to cheer: No mother's love, no father's joy, Nor kin, nor kind, to wipe the tear. |