Christmas Day, 1850

Beautiful stories wed with lovely days Like words and music:—what shall be the tale Of love and nobleness that might avail To express in action what this sweetness says— The sweetness of a day of airs and rays That are strange glories on the winter pale? Alas, O beauty, all my fancies fail! I cannot tell a story in thy praise! Thou hast, thou hast one—set, and sure to chime With thee, as with the days of "winter wild;" For Joy like Sorrow loves his blessed feet Who shone from Heaven on Earth this Christmas-time A Brother and a Saviour, Mary's child!— And so, fair day, thou hast thy story sweet.