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148       MARIA JAMES.

THE TWILIGHT HOUR.

The hues of parting day
Are fading in the west,
And now the twilight gray
Invites the swain to rest;
A welcome pause, a moment given
To lift the thoughts from earth to heaven.

Now memory wakes the grief,
The joys long, long gone by;
Nor heeds the rustling leaf
The breeze's gentle sigh:
Dreams of the past, that come with power,
To haunt us at the twilight hour.

Rise, grov'ler! stay no more,
But stretch thy feeble wings,
And strive by faith to soar
Above terrestrial things;
Where morn, and noon, and twilight gray,
Are lost in one eternal day.

CHRISTMAS.

Let us chaunt the solemn lay,
Let us celebrate the day,
Hail with joy the auspicious morn,
When the Son of Man was born. 

Eastern sages, journeying far,
Saw ye nor the beauteous star
Shed its brightest, purest ray,
Where the King of Glory lay?

MARIA JAMES. 149

Shepherds on Judea's plain,
Heard ye not the blissful strain,
When the messengers of light
Broke the silence of the night?

Babe of Beth'lem, lowly laid!
Angles hover round thy bed,
Pausing o'er the tuneful lyre,
As they wonder and admire.

Hope of Israel! welcome thou!
Every tribe to thee shall bow,
Every tongue thy right proclaim,
Every land adore thy name.

Prince of peace! thy reign shall be 
Wide as earth from sea to sea;
Where is now nor love nor fear,
There thy glorious standard rear.

Where the western wilds have lain,
Ages bound in error's chain,
There, thy saving power they prove,
There they chaunt redeeming love

Ethiopia's vail is riven;
Lo, she lifts her hands to heaven.
See her raise the imploring eye!
Here her sable offspring cry:ー

"Pour, oh pour the matchless strain,
Sounded once on Judah's plain!
Sweetest song since time began:
'Peace on earth,ーgood-will to man!' "

13*

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-28 14:29:40