seek the mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.
--_William C. Dix_.

{395}{396}

[Illustration]
THE HOLY NIGHT
By Correggio (1493-1534)

Antonio Allegri Correggio, named from the Italian town in which he
was born

"We sate among the stalls at Bethlehem;
The dumb kine from their fodder turning there,
Softened their horned faces
To almost human gazes
Toward the newly born.
The simple shepherds from the starlit brooks
Brought visionary looks,
As yet in their astonied hearing, rung
The strange, sweet angel tongue;
The Magi from the East in sandals worn
Knelt reverent, sweeping round
With long pale beards, their gifts upon the ground,
The incense, myrrh, and gold,
These baby hands are impotent to hold;
So let all earthlies and celestials wait
Upon thy royal state:
Sleep, O my kingly One!"
--_Elizabeth Barrett Browning_
[End illustration]

{397}

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

God rest ye, merry gentlemen; let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas day.
The dawn rose red o'er Bethlehem, the stars shone through the gray,
When Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas day.

God rest ye, little children; let nothing you affright,
For Jesus Christ, your Saviour, was born this happy night;
Along the hills of Galilee the white flocks sleeping lay,
When Christ, the child of Nazareth, was born on Christmas day.

God rest ye, all good Christians; upon this blessed morn,
The Lord of all good Christians was of a woman born:
Now all your sorrows He doth heal, your sins He takes away;
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on Christmas day.

--_Dinah Maria Mulock_.

{398}

HAIL THE NIGHT! ALL HAIL THE MORN!

Hail the night! All hail the morn!
When the Prince of Peace was born;
When, amid the watchful fold,
Tidings good the angel told.

Now our solemn chant we raise
Duly to the Saviour's praise;
Now with carol hymns we bless
Christ the Lord, our Righteousness.

While resounds the joyful cry,
"Glory be to God on high,
Peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Gladly we respond "amen!"