Hail Christmas! beacon ever bright;
Athwart the way-worn years;
Full lustred of celestial light,
Thy white-robed dawn appears.
Blest season! when our much beloved
Around one altar meet;
When voices from the spirit-land
Our longing spirits greet.
In tender memories arise,
Sunlit, the days of old,
When radiant vistas oped the skies
And streaked earth's grey with gold.
Beneath a lofty castle dome
Three fair young dreamers smile;
And, fraught of love, the light of home,
The flitting hours beguile.
They wander by the river side,
They rest in woodland bowers;
Pure joy flows like the rippling tide
Through all the sunny hours.
They climb the purple mountain crest,
They list the vesper call;--
Ah me! gay life, then quiet rest;
Earth's shadows! darksome pall!
Yet, lo! seraphic vision breaks;--
That beauteous band I see,
Where glory-dawn in gladness wakes;
Where all the ransomed be.
High-seated in Immanuel's land,
'Yond shadow of the tomb;
Safe-nurtured 'neath a Father's hand
Immortal youth doth bloom.
Oh! happy, happy hearted!
Who tread the golden floor;
Oh! sinless, early parted!
Who live, to die no more.
Bright land, where none may sever!
Where life is life for aye;
Where, through the long forever,
No night shall veil the day.
Within the grand, orchestral throng
They harp, with crownèd brow;
While sadness mingles with our song,
We at His footstool bow.
Hail Christmas! light to weary eyes!
Light thou the years along;
Till, all as one in Paradise,
We sing our Christmas song.