It was as if an earthquake rent The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men!" Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [1807–1882] A CHRISTMAS CAROL THE Christ-child lay on Mary's lap, His hair was like a light. (O weary, weary were the world, But here is all aright.) The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast, His hair was like a star. (O stern and cunning are the kings, But here the true hearts are.) The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart, His hair was like a fire. (O weary, weary is the world, But here the world's desire.) The Christ-child stood at Mary's knee, His hair was like a crown, And all the flowers looked up at Him, And all the stars looked down. Gilbert Keith Chesterton [1874 The House of Christmas THE HOUSE OF CHRISTMAS THERE fared a mother driven forth In the place where she was homeless The crazy stable close at hand, With shaking timber and shifting sand, For men are homesick in their homes, And they lay their heads in a foreign land Here we have battle and blazing eyes, And chance and honor and high surprise, A Child in a foul stable, Where the beasts feed and foam, Only where He was homeless Are you and I at home; We have hands that fashion and heads that know, But our hearts we lost-how long ago! In a place no chart nor ship can show Under the sky's dome. This world is wild as an old wives' tale, And strange the plain things are, The earth is enough and the air is enough For our wonder and our war; But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings And our peace is put in impossible things Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings To an open house in the evening Home shall men come, 213 To an older place than Eden And a taller town than Rome. To the end of the way of the wandering star, To the things that cannot be and that are, To the place where God was homeless And all men are at home. Gilbert Keith Chesterton [1874 THE FEAST OF THE SNOW THERE is heard a hymn when the panes are dim, And never before or again, When the nights are strong with a darkness long, And the dark is alive with rain. Never we know but in sleet and snow And at night we win to the ancient inn, The gods lie dead where the leaves lie red, Gilbert Keith Chesterton [1874 MARY'S BABY JOSEPH, mild and noble, bent above the straw: A pale girl, a frail girl, suffering he saw; "O my Love, my Mary, my bride, I pity thee!" "Nay, Dear," said Mary, "all is well with me!" "Baby, my baby, O my babe," she sang. Suddenly the golden night all with music rang. Gates and Doors Angels leading shepherds, shepherds leading sheep: Suddenly a flaming star through the heavens sped. 215 Three old men and weary knelt them side by side, Suddenly on Calvary all the olives wept. Shaemas OSheel [1886 GATES AND DOORS A BALLAD OF CHRISTMAS EVE THERE was a gentle hostler The night Our Lady came. Не gave them food and bed, So let the gate swing open And find their passage barred. There was a courteous hostler (He is in Heaven to-night) He held Our Lady's bridle And helped her to alight. He spread clean straw before her Unlock the door this evening And let your gate swing wide, What if your yard be narrow? What if your house be small? There is a Guest is coming There was a joyous hostler Who knelt on Christmas morn Beside the radiant manger Wherein his Lord was born. Unbar your heart this evening The barrier of doubt. To humble folk and weary Give hearty welcoming, Your breast shall be to-morrow The cradle of a King. Joyce Kilmer [1886 THE THREE KINGS THREE Kings came riding from far away, Three Wise Men out of the East were they, |