Thoughts in Verse :: :: University of Virginia Library

Almost two thousand years ago,
There was born in Bethlehem's manger,
A little child, who, as we well know,
Was to save us from sin and danger.
His face was fair, his eyes were bright,
And to his care was given
A sceptre, and a crown of light;
For he was the child of Heaven.

His name was Jesus Christ, the Lord;
His parents, Joseph and Mary,
To save his life and fulfil the Word,
Took a mid-night journey dreary,
Into a lone and distant land,
Where hearts were warm, tho' midnight
Darkness was on every hand,
And very few rays of God's sunlight.

There they remained until warned of God
That the wicked king's reign was over,
Then retraced their step to their native sod;
But when they found that a lover

Of sin, held in his hand
The sceptre of his father,
They turned aside to another land,
And there remained out of danger.

This little babe became a man,
And began his work of preaching
And showing to men their lost estate;
But few gave heed to His teaching.
Still He persevered, till many came
To hear His words of wisdom;
And twelve were chosen to help Him on
In His work for the fettered soul's freedom.

He was tempted and tried on every hand,
And He cast out the savage devil
From the poor afflicted of that land,
And found for each man his level;
Caused the blind to see, and the lame to walk,
Gave food to thousands hungry;
The tongue of the dumb He made to talk,
Healed the sick, and gave rest to the weary.

Thus time passed on, and the hour came
When His work for men was completed—
When He was taken by cruel men,
And tried for crimes never committed.
He was cruelly whipped and condemned to die,
For thus had the prophets written:
And one of His followers told a lie
When accused of being with Him

He was forsaken and much despised
By many, when nothing but love
Should have filled their hearts, for they realized
He was Son of the Father above.
He was led as a lamb, to the slaughter grim,
And never a thought of compassion
Entered the hearts of those wretches for Him,—
They were filled with hatred and passion.

They crucified Him upon a cross,
Between two thieves they hung Him;
But He died to save men from lasting loss,
And not because they nailed Him
Upon the cruel, cruel tree,
Between the vilest of sinners:
For we know that He died for you and for me;
Yes, He is our blessed Redeemer!

To-day, as we listened to the words
Of one of God's chosen preachers,
We thought of those who have never heard
Of that noblest and wisest of teachers,
Who, though despised by sinful men,
Came down from His throne in glory,
And suffered and died to rescue them
And give to the world a story—

A lovely example, a perfect life,
The most precious ever given,—
To guide men upward into light,
To guide them safe to Heaven.

He said, “Go work in my vineyard, all;
Work with thy might, and never
Despair, and when I shall call
Thou shalt live in My home forever.”

And now, my friends, let each of us strive
To live in the year before us,
Nobler and purer and better lives,
That we, too, may join the chorus
Which the angels shouted o'er Bethlehem,
When the “star” was shining brightest;—
“Peace on earth, good will to men!
Glory to God in the highest!