Dark beyond all the dark! Deep Heart of Eternity, Whence streameth the starlight divine, from bounds of infinity! Love that beats in the dark--beats and breaks through from afar! Passionate purpose of God, breaking through in the signalling star! Omnipotent Love, finding voice in evangel insistent as strong, Streaming forth for our earth in angelical presence and song! Child, with the out-stretched arms and heaven-uplifted eyes! To Thy pure heart alone comes the message of the skies. Yet out of thy joy shalt thou speak; yea, to all the world shalt thou cry: "Turn ye, O perishing fools! O turn ye, why will ye die? See, 'yond the rolling clouds shines the coming kingdom of peace, Where all men shall mingle as brothers and wars and discords shall cease!" Child! Nay, Prophet! we hail thee--Lord of the future age! In a world of the sightless, seeing; in a world of the foolish, sage! Faint not nor fail in thy witness, though the world around thee grow old; Let not thy faith grow feeble; O let not thy love grow cold! Interpret the times to our time; interpret thy hope to the race. That the glory which shines in thine eyes may illumine humanity's face! * * * * * Watchman, what of the night? Cometh the dawn from afar! Dreams pass away and clouds scatter. We will trust the voice of the Star. VI. Through the Windows _Some children from within a bare and comfortless room are looking forth upon a wintry night. The world outside is bleak and pitiless. The very church seems empty of suggestion till one notes how the spire with silent finger is pointing to the Christmas Star._ Through the Windows "_It came and stood over where the young Child was._" Winter--and winter's gloom--without, within-- The ice on heart and hearth and sunless earth! Cling close, ye hapless victims of man's sin-- Companions sad of misery and dearth! Cold church, thy heavenward-pointing spire appeals To empty skies, all heartless, voiceless, dumb. No clang of bells through all the city peals. O grieving ones, your very griefs are numb. Yet see! Thank God for windows! From afar, Sweet envoy from a world where all is bright, Behold, in silver radiance shines the star, Distilling through the dark its healing light. Over the place where hearts are sore and lone; Over the place where priests and creeds of late Have stammered news of God and man at one, And seen men doubt and sleep, and wake to hate. O windows, made for light to enter in! The Light is there, beyond the darkened sky. To reach, impinge, and pass your barrier thin, To lift our captive, earth-bound souls on high! Come to the windows! There adoring kneel! Beyond your aching hearts the Heart Divine! Heart seeking heart, beyond where systems wheel, Seeking, yea, finding! Lo, the starry sign!