 | The Human Inheritance |  |
164
CHRISTMAS-EVE.
One eve, when the cold snow lay white
Along the silent street,
A little child, all clothed in light
And with a smile most sweet,
Along the silent street,
A little child, all clothed in light
And with a smile most sweet,
Did enter my dim lonely room
As chimed the midnight bell:—
“I am thy Life, thy Death, thy Doom,
For thee I entered Hell!”
As chimed the midnight bell:—
“I am thy Life, thy Death, thy Doom,
For thee I entered Hell!”
“O little child,” I said, “art thou
Some messenger divine?”
He pointed to his tender brow
Round which soft light did shine,
Some messenger divine?”
He pointed to his tender brow
Round which soft light did shine,
And there I saw a shadowy crown,
Of plaited thorns 'twas wrought,
And from each thorn there trickled down
A liquid crimson spot.
Of plaited thorns 'twas wrought,
And from each thorn there trickled down
A liquid crimson spot.
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And while I looked he faded slow
And vanish'd from my sight:
Only the gusty wind did blow
The wild snow through the night.
And vanish'd from my sight:
Only the gusty wind did blow
The wild snow through the night.
And when in after-dreams I lay
I heard the white hosts cry
“Hosanna! on this day
The Christ comes from on high!”
I heard the white hosts cry
“Hosanna! on this day
The Christ comes from on high!”
| The Human Inheritance | |