Читать книгу Carols of Canada, Etc., Etc - E. S. MacLeod - Страница 16

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Hail Christmas! beacon ever bright;

Athwart the way-worn years; Full lustred of celestial light,

Thy white-robed dawn appears. Blest season! when our much beloved

Around one altar meet; When voices from the spirit-land

Our longing spirits greet.

In tender memories arise,

Sunlit, the days of old, When radiant vistas oped the skies

And streaked earth's grey with gold. Beneath a lofty castle dome

Three fair young dreamers smile; And, fraught of love, the light of home,

The flitting hours beguile.

They wander by the river side,

They rest in woodland bowers; Pure joy flows like the rippling tide

Through all the sunny hours. They climb the purple mountain crest,

They list the vesper call;— Ah me! gay life, then quiet rest;

Earth's shadows! darksome pall!

Yet, lo! seraphic vision breaks;—

That beauteous band I see, Where glory-dawn in gladness wakes;

Where all the ransomed be. High-seated in Immanuel's land,

'Yond shadow of the tomb; Safe-nurtured 'neath a Father's hand

Immortal youth doth bloom.

Oh! happy, happy hearted!

Who tread the golden floor; Oh! sinless, early parted!

Who live, to die no more. Bright land, where none may sever!

Where life is life for aye; Where, through the long forever,

No night shall veil the day.

Within the grand, orchestral throng

They harp, with crownèd brow; While sadness mingles with our song,

We at His footstool bow. Hail Christmas! light to weary eyes!

Light thou the years along; Till, all as one in Paradise,

We sing our Christmas song.