Page:Our American Holidays - Christmas.djvu/178

150 To the praise of the Crucified. Sweeter than tones of the ocean's shells Mingle the chimes of the Christmas Bells!

The years come not back that have circled away With the past of the Eastern land, When He plucked the corn on the Sabbath day And healed the withered hand; But the bells shall join in a joyous chime For the One who walked the sea, And ring again for the better time Of the Christ that is to be! Then ring! — for earth's best promise dwells In ye, O joyous Prophet Bells!

Ring out at the meeting of night and morn For the dawn of a happier day! Lo, the stone from our faith's great sepulchre torn The angels have rolled away! And they come to us here in our low abode, With words like the sunrise gleam, — Come down and ascend by that heavenly road That Jacob saw in his dream. Spirit of love, that in music dwells, Open our hearts with the Christmas Bells!

Help us to see that the glad heart prays As well as the bended knees;