Ontario Readers Third Book, The

<h2><SPAN name="Christmas" id="Christmas"></SPAN>A CHRISTMAS CAROL</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span>"What means this glory round our feet,"<br/></span> <span class="i1">The Magi mused, "more bright than morn?"<br/></span> <span>And voices chanted clear and sweet,<br/></span> <span class="i1">"To-day the Prince of Peace is born."<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>"What means that star," the Shepherds said,<br/></span> <span class="i1">"That brightens through the rocky glen?"<br/></span> <span>And angels, answering overhead,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Sang, "Peace on earth, good-will to men!"<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>'Tis eighteen hundred years and more<br/></span> <span class="i1">Since those sweet oracles were dumb;<br/></span> <span>We wait for Him, like them of yore;<br/></span> <span class="i1">Alas, He seems so slow to come!<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>But it was said, in words of gold<br/></span> <span class="i1">No time or sorrow e'er shall dim,<br/></span> <span>That little children might be bold<br/></span> <span class="i1">In perfect trust to come to Him.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>All round about our feet shall shine<br/></span> <span class="i1">A light like that the wise men saw,<br/></span> <span>If we our living wills incline<br/></span> <span class="i1">To that sweet Life which is the Law.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>So shall we learn to understand<br/></span> <span class="i1">The simple faith of shepherds then,<br/></span> <span>And, clasping kindly, hand in hand,<br/></span> <span class="i1">Sing, "Peace on earth, good-will to men."<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span>And they who do their souls no wrong,<br/></span> <span class="i1">But keep at eve the faith of morn,<br/></span> <span>Shall daily hear the angel song,<br/></span> <span class="i1">"To-day the Prince of Peace is born!"<br/></span></div> </div> <p class="citation"><span class="smcap">Lowell</span></p> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />