People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1893 — THE BLESSED HRISTMAS TREE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE BLESSED HRISTMAS TREE.

" ry IFAIR may fall the V Y. 18 springtime, vrtth £ M banners all •y si f 1§ E ablow ! * V_# With blossom on the branch and w.th daisy on the lea: Tae hawthorn bush above and the primrose fair below, But the fairest bloom of all is the bonny Christmas tree. Pair the hillside orchards with apple blossoms sweet That fail m snows of promise, while young birds sin." in glee; O-ad the shining meadows where little lambs do bleat, But the gladdest stem that groweth is the merry Christmas tree For its golden root of love uplifts to human ken The stately trunk of charity, that riseth bravo and free; With fruit of holy deeds done by One who died for men, And the cross of Christ doth bourgeon In the happy Chrismas tree; With fruit of holy deeds, that whoso eats shall know That Joy divine ot helpfulness that causeth grief to floe: The radiance loaned from Heaven to the dreary land below, That sparkles in the leaves of the precious Christmas tree. Nor where its branches rise, the blight of earth shall pass Like dark before the dawning, till every man may see Life’s hidden virtues shining as violets in the grass, Mado fragrant by the shadow of tho holy Christmas tree. And springtime of the soul at its coming draweth near, Wilh hope and peace and melody, with all delights that be— O shout, ye little cliildron, and carol loud and clear, Jr For tho dearest gift the #ear doth bring, the blessed Ohrstmas tree! —Mary E. Bluko, In N. Y. Independent