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.