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Project Gutenberg Australia HomeReturn to Index of Poems
Christmas is come! We bring the shining laurel,
Sparkling with crystals of the feathery snow;
The glistening holly with its sprays of coral,
And opal berries of the mistletoe.
With such brave tapestry and jewels rare
Our simple homes shall look like halls of State,
And cottage walls, no longer blank and bare,
Smile into beauty at their brightened fate.
And let our hearts expand at Christmastide,
Striving in rich beneficence to prove
Their interest in claims and needs beside
The little circle where our comforts move.
Stir up the friendly logs into a flame,
And spread the ample board with generous fare,
Let our religion be no empty name;
But let the poor our heav'n-sent bounty share!
And should there be within our secret heart,
Sister or brother erring, unforgiven,
Haste we to do the pitying angels' part,
Lest our own souls at last be left unshriven.
Thus spake we in our distant Fatherland,
Thus dear Old England welcomes Christmas yet;
With eye averted, and with folded hand,
Shall we our ancient visitor forget?
And for that holly-wreaths and mistletoe
In this our Southern land are all too rare,
And that in vain we search for feathery snow,
Or icicles, to hang as pendants there.
Shall we omit the words and deeds of love,
That shed their lustre on the days gone by?
No! by the message sent from God above
To every land and clime beneath the sky.
By all the joys that these glad tiding show,
By all the sorrows they may chase away;
Let Christmas come in roses, or in snow,
We'll give a welcome glad to Christmas Day!
E. S. S
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