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THE NATIVITY.
"Lo, the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was."
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."
"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child, with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him."
Matthew ii. 9-11.
Far in the desert east it shone,
A guiding-star, and only one;
The other planets left the sky,
Trembling, as if rebuked on high.
The moon forsook her silvery height,
Abash'd before that holier light:
The storm clouds that on ether lay
Melted before its glorious ray;
Till half the heaven shone pure and clear,
Like some diviner atmosphere
Than ours, where heavy vapours rise
From the vile earth, to dim the skies;
Meet herald of that promised day,
When soul shall burst the bond of clay,
