.PoETRYl p o

A Christmas Hymn.
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II was the calm and silent nighu
Seven hundred years and 6fty-lhree oe
Had Rome been growing uptoimight, a
And now was queen Of land and sea; lD
No sound was heard Of clashing wars K /
Peace brooded DER the hushed domain; Il
Apollo, PalIas, Jove, and Mars, .s
Held undisturbed their ancient reign,
H &ga In the solemn midnight,
ifsaa & Centuries ago! a9laiat0 0i,qeia
Twas in the calm and silent night! s
The Senator Of naughty Rome ~ 3 tl
Impatient urged his chariot's fight,
From lordly revel fastening home; Val
Triumphal arches cleaning swell


His breast with thoughts Of boundless sway
What rocked the Roman what belell
A paltry province far away,
a In The solemn midnight, @


Centuries agol a sea
Within that province far away, @
Went plodding home q weary boor;
"A streak oflight before him lay,


Fallen through halfshut stable door
Across his path. He paused, for nought
Told what was going on within;
How keen the stars, his only thought,


The air, how calm, and cold, and thin,


In the solemn midnight,
(. Centuries ago!
o, strange indifference! low and high


Drowsed over common joys and cares;
The earth was still but knew not why,
The world was listening, -unawares! afi
How calm moment may precede


One that shall thrill the world for everb
To that still moment none would heed,
Mans doom was linked no more to sever,


In the solemn midnight,


Centuries ago.!
It is the calm and silent night aisj ia iiHa
A thousand bells ring out and throw
Their joyous peals abroad, and smits, s
The darkness, charmed and holy now! 5
The night that erst no shame had worn,
To ita happy name is given; le.s4aa
For in that stable lay, newborn,
The peaceful Prince of earth and heaven,
In the solemn midnight,
Centuries ago!