CHRISTMAS DAY, 1850.

Beautiful stories wed with lovely days

Like words and music:— what shall be the tale

Of love and nobleness that might avail

To express in action what this sweetness says —

The sweetness of a day of airs and rays

That are strange glories on the winter pale?

Alas, O beauty, all my fancies fail!

I cannot tell a story in thy praise!

Thou hast, thou hast one — set, and sure to chime

With thee, as with the days of “winter wild;”

For Joy like Sorrow loves his blessed feet

Who shone from Heaven on Earth this Christmas-time

A Brother and a Saviour, Mary's child!—

And so, fair day, thou hast thy story sweet.