Part 31

Their faces towards the future, They longed to hail the light That in the after centuries Would rise on Christmas night.

But still the Saviour tarried, Within His father's home And the nations wept and wondered why The promised had not come.

At last earth's hope was granted, And God was a child of earth; And a thousand angels chanted The lowly midnight birth.

Ah! Bethlehem was grander That hour than Paradise; And the light of earth that night eclipsed The splendors of the skies.

Then let us sing the anthem The angels once did sing; Until the music of love and praise, O'er whole wide world will ring.

Gloria in excelsis! Sound the thrilling song; In excelsis Deo! Roll the hymn along. Gloria in excelsis! Let the heavens ring; In excelsis Deo! Welcome, new-born King Gloria in excelsis! Over the sea and land, In excelsis Deo! Chant the anthem grand. Gloria in excelsis! Let us all rejoice; In excelsis Deo! Lift each heart and voice. Gloria in excelsis! Swell the hymn on high; In excelsis Deo! Sound it to the sky. Gloria in excelsis! Sing it, sinful earth, In excelsis Deo! For the Saviour's birth.

Thus joyfully and victoriously, Glad and ever so gloriously, High as the heavens, wide as the earth, Swelleth the hymn of the Saviour's birth.

Lo! the day is waking In the east afar; Dawn is faintly breaking, Sunk in every star.

Christmas eve has vanished With its shadows gray; All its griefs are banished By bright Christmas day.

Joyful chimes are ringing O'er the land and seas, And there comes glad singing, Borne on every breeze.

Little ones so merry Bed-clothes coyly lift, And, in such a hurry, Prattle "Christmas gift!"

Little heads so curly, Knowing Christmas laws, Peep out very early For old "Santa Claus".

Little eyes are laughing O'er their Christmas toys, Older ones are quaffing Cups of Christmas joys.

Hearts are joyous, cheerful, Faces all are gay; None are sad and tearful On bright Christmas day.

Hearts are light and bounding, All from care are free; Homes are all resounding With the sounds of glee.

Feet with feet are meeting, Bent on pleasure's way; Souls to souls give greeting Warm on Christmas day.

Gifts are kept a-going Fast from hand to hand; Blessings are a-flowing Over every land.

One vast wave of gladness Sweeps its world-wide way, Drowning every sadness On this Christmas day.

Merry, merry Christmas, Haste around the earth; Merry, merry Christmas, Scatter smiles and mirth.

Merry, merry Christmas, Be to one and all! Merry, merry Christmas, Enter hut and hall.

Merry, merry Christmas, Be to rich and poor! Merry, merry Christmas Stop at every door.

Merry, merry Christmas, Fill each heart with joy! Merry, merry Christmas To each girl and boy.

Merry, merry Christmas, Better gifts than gold; Merry, merry Christmas To the young and old.

Merry, merry Christmas, May the coming year Bring as merry a Christmas And as bright a cheer.

"Far Away"

"Far Away!" what does it mean? A change of heart with a change of place? When footsteps pass from scene to scene, Fades soul from soul with face from face? Are hearts the slaves or lords of space?

"Far Away!" what does it mean? Does distance sever there from here? Can leagues of land part hearts? -- I ween They cannot; for the trickling tear Says "Far Away" means "Far More Near".

"Far Away!" -- the mournful miles Are but the mystery of space That blends our sighs, but parts our smiles, For love will find a meeting place When face is farthest off from face.