Page:Poems Kimball.djvu/36

THE CHRISTIAN YEAR.

ADVENT: now begins the year,
Opening with holy fear.
Haste, ye faithful, to prepare
For the coming in the air
Of the Lord with angels bright
Thronging from the heavenly height
He shall come our Judge to be;
Haste, ye faithful; bow the knee;
Watch ye all, and watching pray:
"Jesus, spare us in that Day!"

Christmas: time of exultation,
Joy, and peace, and adoration,
Telling how of old He came,
Sinless Babe of Saving Name;
How the shepherds, angel-sent,
Swift to Bethlehem's manger went,
There to find the Child foretold
By all Prophet-tongues of old;
Little King, no sceptre bearing,
But the meanest shelter sharing;

18