Christmas Eve
Author Unknown
Christmas is here - time to be glad!
Alas! I seldom am so sad;
And bitter tears have fallen on
The cedar cross which will adorn
The rooms that we'll try to make gay,
In honor of Christ's natal day.
Give me some cedar for the clock;
It struck the hours when Ma did rock
Upon her breast my brothers dear.
Where are they now? Alas! I fear
If I could know, I'd be more sad,
And Christmas is time to be glad.
Give me some bright vines for these frames,
Whose inmates looked upon our games
When we were children, one in glee -
Now we are one for liberty.
My heart tells me this Christmas Eve
My brothers sigh their arms to leave,
And hasten home the feast to keep;
But they must sigh and I must weep.
O'er this door hang an ivy wreath,
For ere Lent comes may pass beneath
My brothers, worthy to be crowned.
They come! They come! Oh, joyous sound!
This we believe. Our tyrants try
To brag when Southerner is by,
But we can see they are in fear;
Soon our deliverers will be here.
Ere they'll have much more time to goad
Our helplessness, avenging sword
May free us from their cruel power.
If Christmas could wait till that hour!
I look upon mahonia cross
And shudder: what if brothers' loss
Should be the cross appointed me?
"By Thy tears," Savior, pity me!
"By Thy birth and early years,"
Have pity on a sister's fears!
For shame, my heart, so sad to be!
Think what thy Father's done for thee;
When balls have fallen thick as hail,
His arms were as a coat of mail
To those whom He had made His care,
Thus answering a sister's prayer.
So rouse thee, heart, and gladly keep
The festival. Know thy God can
Feel all thy woes, for He was man.
