At midnight came the shepherds, they Whom seraphs wakened by the way. Sleep, baby, sleep! And three kings from the East afar, Ere dawn, came, guided by the star. Sleep, baby, sleep! They brought Thee gifts of gold and gems, Pure orient pearls, rich diadems. Sleep, baby, sleep! But Thou who liest slumbering there, Art King of kings, earth, ocean, air. Sleep, baby, sleep! Sleep, baby, sleep. The shepherds sing: Through heaven, through earth, hosannas ring. Sleep, baby, sleep! --_John Addington Symonds_. {390} THE STAR They followed the star the whole night through; As it moved with the midnight, they moved, too; And cared not whither it led, nor knew, Till Christmas day in the morning. We have followed the star a whole long year, And watched it beckon, now faint, now clear, And now it stands still as we draw near To Christmas day in the morning. And just as the wise men did of old, In the hush of the winter's dawning, cold, We come to the stable, and we behold The Child on the Christmas morning. And just as the wise men deemed it meet To offer Him gold and perfumes sweet, We would lay our gifts at His holy feet, Our gifts on Christmas morning. O Babe, once laid in the oxen's bed, With never a pillow for Thy head, Now throned in the highest heaven instead, O Lord of the Christmas morning! Because we have known and have loved Thy star And have followed it long and have followed it far From the land where the shadows and darkness are To find Thee on Christmas morning,-- Accept the gifts we dare to bring, Though worthless and poor the offering, And help our souls to rise and sing On Christmas day in the morning. {391}{392} [Illustration] MADONNA AND CHILD By Sichel "All my heart this night rejoices As I hear, far and near, Sweetest angel voices: 'Christ is born!' their choirs are singing, Till the air everywhere Now with joy is ringing." --_Paul Gerhardt_ [End illustration] {393} A CHRISTMAS CAROL What sweeter music can we bring, Than a carol for to sing The birth of this our heavenly King? Awake the voice! A wake the string! Heart, ear, and eye, and everything Awake! the while the active finger Runs divisions with the singer. Dark and dull night, fly hence away, And give the honor to this day, That sees December turned to May. If we may ask the reason, say The why, and wherefore all things here Seem like the springtime of the year? Why does the chilling winter's morn Smile like a field beset with corn? Or smell like to a mead new shorn, Thus on the sudden? Come and see The cause why things thus fragrant be: 'Tis He is born, whose quickening birth Gives light and luster, public mirth, To heaven and the under earth. {394} THE GUIDING STAR