Afterwhiles | Page 3

a magic signal of his stubbly little thumb,?I saw the fireplace changing to a bright proscenium.
And looking there, I marvelled as I saw a mimic stage?Alive with little actors of a very tender age;?And some so very tiny that they tottered as they walked,?And lisped and purled and gurgled like the brooklets, when they talked.
And their faces were like lilies, and their eyes like purest dew, And their tresses like the shadows that the shine is woven through; And they each had little burdens, and a little tale to tell Of fairy lore, and giants, and delights delectable.
And they mixed and intermingled, weaving melody with joy,?Till the magic circle clustered round a blooming baby-boy;?And they threw aside their treasures in an ecstasy of glee, And bent, with dazzled faces and with parted lips, to see.
'Twas a wondrous little fellow, with a dainty double-chin?And chubby-cheeks, and dimples for the smiles to blossom in; And he looked as ripe and rosy, on his bed of straw and reeds, As a mellow little pippin that had tumbled in the weeds.
And I saw the happy mother, and a group surrounding her?That knelt with costly presents of frankincense and myrrh;?And I thrilled with awe and wonder, as a murmur on the air?Came drifting o'er the hearing in a melody of prayer--:
By the splendor in the heavens, and the hush upon the sea,?And the majesty of silence reigning over Galilee,?We feel Thy kingly presence, and we humbly bow the knee?And lift our hearts and voices in gratefulness to Thee.
Thy messenger has spoken, and our doubts have fled and gone As the dark and spectral shadows of the night before the dawn; And in kindly shelter of the light around us drawn,?We would nestle down forever in the breast we lean upon.
You have given us a shepherd-- You have given us a guide,?And the light of Heaven grew dimmer when You sent him from Your side--, But he comes to lead Thy children where the gates will open wide To welcome his returning when his works are glorified.
By the splendor in the heavens, and the hush upon the sea,?And the majesty of silence reigning over Galilee--,?We feel Thy kingly presence, and we humbly bow the knee?And lift our hearts and voices in gratefulness to Thee.
Then the vision, slowly failing, with the words of the refrain, Fell swooning in the moonlight through the frosty window-pane; And I heard the clock proclaiming, like an eager sentinel?Who brings the world good tidings--, "It is Christmas-- all is well!"
Anselmo
Years did I vainly seek the good Lord's grace--,?Prayed, fasted, and did penance dire and dread;?Did kneel, with bleeding knees and rainy face,?And mouth the dust, with ashes on my head;?Yea, still with knotted scourge the flesh I flayed,?Rent fresh the wounds, and moaned and shrieked insanely;?And froth oozed with the pleadings that I made,?And yet I prayed on vainly, vainly, vainly!
A time, from out of swoon I lifted eye,?To find a wretched outcast, gray and grim,?Bathing my brow, with many a pitying sigh,?And I did pray God's grace might rest on him--.?Then, lo! A gentle voice fell on mine ears--?"Thou shalt not sob in suppliance hereafter;?Take up thy prayers and wring them dry of tears,?And lift them, white and pure with love and laughter!"
So is it now for all men else I pray;?So is it I am blest and glad alway.
A Home-Made Fairy Tale
Bud, come here to your uncle a spell,?And I'll tell you something you mustn't tell--?For it's a secret and shore-'nuf true,?And maybe I oughtn't to tell it to you--!?But out in the garden, under the shade?Of the apple-trees, where we romped and played?Till the moon was up, and you thought I'd gone?Fast asleep--, That was all put on!?For I was a-watchin' something queer?Goin' on there in the grass, my dear--!?'Way down deep in it, there I see?A little dude-Fairy who winked at me,?And snapped his fingers, and laughed as low?And fine as the whine of a mus-kee-to!?I kept still-- watchin' him closer-- and?I noticed a little guitar in his hand,?Which he leant 'ginst a little dead bee-- and laid?His cigarette down on a clean grass-blade,?And then climbed up on the shell of a snail--?Carefully dusting his swallowtail--?And pulling up, by a waxed web-thread,?This little guitar, you remember. I said!?And there he trinkled and trilled a tune--,?"My Love, so Fair, Tans in the Moon!"?Till presently, out of the clover-top?He seemed to be singing to, came k'pop!?The purtiest, daintiest Fairy face?In all this world, or any place!?Then the little ser'nader waved his hand,?As much as to say, "We'll excuse you!" and?I heard, as I squinted my eyelids to,?A kiss like the drip of a drop of dew!
The South Wind and the Sun
O The South Wind and the Sun!?How each loved the other one?Full of fancy--- full folly--?Full of jollity and fun!?How