The place of the children's last retreat,
They called it, the Pied Piper's Street—
Where any one playing on pipe or tabor
Was sure for the future to lose his labor.
Nor suffered they hostlery or tavern

To shock with mirth a street so solemn;
But opposite the place of the cavern

They wrote the story on a column,
And on the great church-window painted
The same, to make the world acquainted
How their children were stolen away,
And there it stands to this very day.
And I must not omit to say

That in Transylvania there's a tribe
Of alien people who ascribe.

The outlandish ways and dress

On which their neighbors lay such stress,
To their fathers and mothers having risen
Out of some subterraneous prison
Into which they were trepanned
Long time ago in a mighty band

Out of Hamelin town in Brunswick land,
But how or why, they don't understand.

XV

So, Willy, let me and you be wipers

Of scores out with all men-especially pipers!
And, whether they pipe us free from rats or fróm mice,
If we've promised them aught, let us keep our promise!
Robert Browning [1812-1889]

THE GLAD EVANGEL

A CAROL

HE came all so still

Where His mother was,

As dew in April

That falleth on the grass.

He came all so still

Where His mother lay,

As dew in April

That falleth on the spray.

He came all so still

To His mother's bower,

As dew in April

That falleth on the flower.

Mother and maiden

Was never none but she!

Well might such a lady
God's mother be.

Unknown

"GOD REST YOU, MERRY GENTLEMEN”

GOD rest you, merry gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
Was born upon this day,

To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy!
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
Was born on Christmas Day.

In Bethlehem, in Jewry,

This blessed babe was born, And laid within a manger,

Upon this blessèd morn; The which His mother, Mary, Nothing did take in scorn.

From God our Heavenly Father,
A blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds

Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.

"Fear not," then said the angel, "Let nothing you affright, This day is born a Saviour

Of virtue, power, and might, So frequently to vanquish all The friends of Satan quite."

The shepherds at these tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessed babe to find.

But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this infant lay,
They found Him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay,
His mother Mary kneeling,

Unto the Lord did pray.

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface.

"O Little Town of Bethlehem "

O tidings of comfort and joy!
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,

Was born in Christmas Day.

197

Unknown

"O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM”

O LITTLE town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by;

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee to-night.

For Christ is born of Mary,

And, gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together

Proclaim the holy birth!

And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently,

The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
Be born in us to-day.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell;
Oh come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Emmanuel!

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893]

A CHRISTMAS HYMN

Old Style: 1837

It was the calm and silent night!

Seven hundred years and fifty-three Had Rome been growing up to might,

And now was Queen of land and sea.
No sound was heard of clashing wars;
Peace brooded o'er the hushed domain;
Apollo, Pallas, Jove and Mars,

Held undisturbed their ancient reign,
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago.

'Twas in the calm and silent night!
The senator of haughty Rome
Impatient urged his chariot's flight,
From lordly revel rolling home.
Triumphal arches gleaming swell

His breast with thoughts of boundless sway;

What recked the Roman what befell

A paltry province far away,
In the solemn midnight
Centuries ago!

Within that province far away

Went plodding home a weary boor:

A streak of light before him lay,

Fall'n through a half-shut stable door
Across his path. He passed-for naught
Told what was going on within;
How keen the stars! his only thought;

The air how calm and cold and thin,
In the solemn midnight

Centuries ago!