Volume I Part 49 (1/2)

In a place no chart nor s.h.i.+p can show Under the sky's dome.

This world is wild as an old wives' tale, And strange the plain things are, The earth is enough and the air is enough For our wonder and our war; But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings And our peace is put in impossible things Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings Round an incredible star.

To an open house in the evening Home shall men come, To an older place than Eden And a taller town than Rome.

To the end of the way of the wandering star, To the things that cannot be and that are, To the place where G.o.d was homeless And all men are at home.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton [1874-1936]

THE FEAST OF THE SNOW

There is heard a hymn when the panes are dim, And never before or again, When the nights are strong with a darkness long, And the dark is alive with rain.

Never we know but in sleet and snow The place where the great fires are, That the midst of earth is a raging mirth, And the heart of the earth a star.

And at night we win to the ancient inn, Where the Child in the frost is furled, We follow the feet where all souls meet, At the inn at the end of the world.

The G.o.ds lie dead where the leaves lie red, For the flame of the sun is flown; The G.o.ds lie cold where the leaves are gold, And a Child comes forth alone.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton [1874-1936]

MARY'S BABY

Joseph, mild and n.o.ble, bent above the straw: A pale girl, a frail girl, suffering he saw; ”O my Love, my Mary, my bride, I pity thee!”

”Nay, Dear,” said Mary, ”all is well with me!”

”Baby, my baby, O my babe,” she sang.

Suddenly the golden night all with music rang.

Angels leading shepherds, shepherds leading sheep: The silence of wors.h.i.+p broke the mother's sleep.

All the meek and lowly of all the world were there; Smiling, she showed them that her Child was fair, ”Baby, my baby,” kissing Him she said.

Suddenly a flaming star through the heavens sped.

Three old men and weary knelt them side by side, The world's wealth forswearing, majesty and pride; Worldly might and wisdom before the Babe bent low: Weeping, maid Mary said, ”I love Him so!”

”Baby, my baby,” and the Baby slept.

Suddenly on Calvary all the olives wept.

Shaemas OSheel [1886-

GATES AND DOORS A Ballad of Christmas Eve

There was a gentle hostler (And blessed be his name!) He opened up the stable The night Our Lady came.

Our Lady and St. Joseph, He gave them food and bed, And Jesus Christ has given him A glory round his head.

So let the gate swing open However poor the yard, Lest weary People visit you And find their Pa.s.sage barred.