,,! ,,la/ ,,*ri/mas ,,tree ,illu/ration3 ,james ,lane ,all5 ,,! ,,la/ ,,*ri/mas ,,tree ,,an ,,idyl ,,( ,,immortality ,,by ,,james ,,lane ,,all5 ,,portl& ,,ma9e ,,?omas ,,bird ,,mo%] ,,mdccccxiv ,,copyright ,,james ,,lane ,,all5 #aiad ,,to ,,^? ,,:o ,,"k ,,!y ,,h ,,no ,,solution ,,( ,,! ,,univ]se ,,yet ,,hope ,,= ,,! ,,be/ ,,& ,,live ,,= ,,x ,,! ,,la/ ,,*ri/mas ,,tree ,9 a some:at diff]5t & 9 a mu* brief] =m ,! ,la/ ,*ri/mas ,tree appe>$ sev]al ye>s ago 9 ,! ,saturday ,ev5+ ,po/4 ,,! ,,la/ ,,*ri/mas ,,tree ,life on ?is e>?1 my *ildr51 means w>m?4 ,d n =get t3 :atev] else x may be1 life z we "k x is w>m?4 ,e liv+ e>?ly ?+ is on fire & e fire is p]petually go+ out4 ,:5 ! w>m?1 :5 ! fire1 :i* is )9 u & :i* is p]petually go+ out1 goes out = good1 t is ! end ( u4 ,x is ! end ( u z f> z ! life :i* we d]ive f ! planet is ourselves4 ,if our planet>y life is our only life1 :5 ! planet>y fire )9 u dies out1 all ( u dies out4 ,if planet>y fire be n our only vital flame1 vital en]gy1 !n planet>y du/ & a%es are n ! complete end ( u1 n ! la/ ^w ( our t]rible lovable human /ory4 ,& if ?is be true1 :at next may come1 :at k9d ( /ory w !n beg9 ) ourselves z its *>act]s1 :at sort ( exi/5ce = u w em]ge f planet>y ext9ction--t has always be5 ! "o greate/ "q1 solicitude1 hope1 help1 song1 pray] ( our race4 ,x has nev] be5 m a problem ?an n[ :5 we "k m ab\t _m o!r ?+s ?an we h ev] kn[n yet c f9d out no?+ ab\t ?is ?+ & 7 nev] s impati5t ( our ignorance4 ,b meantime life on ?is e>? implies w>m? & c>ries w>m?3 t at lea/ we positively h f\nd out ?\gh )\t kn[+ :at w>m? is4 ,e liv+ t]re/rial creature is a c&le1 is a lamp4 ,! rose is a p]fum$ lamp & :5 its b[l is )\t oil1 t inimitable lamp s sil5tly built to give (f = a little :ile a few s]5e rays ( ve/al beauty z sil5tly falls to pieces4 ,! p9e tree is a wild c&le pois$ on a m\nta9 table4 ,! eagle is a w+$ c&le burn+ to c9d]s on a peak ( air4 ,! albatross is a float+ conflagration ) all ! ineffectual sea dr5*+ its back & brea/4 ,! pol> be> is a f\r-bran* c&le 9 a c&le/ick ( sn[4 ,we human be+s are laugh+ & te>-dripp+ c&les1 desc5d+ swiftly to our sockets4 ,! sun & ! />s are c&les1 :irl+ gold5 c&les 9 ! night ( ! univ]se1 a long1 long night4 ,"o by "o !y too burn d[n at ^? brief int]vals :i* we ) our puny measurem5ts call ages4 ,! :ole myriad-light$ />ry inf9ite1 z f> z we "k1 is a m]e ballroom arrang$ = somebody's pleasure1 somebody's danc+4 ,! c&les may la/ z long z ! ma/] ( ! revels requires !m2 & !n p]haps at "s /range daybreak ( :i* we c conceive naught1 !y w g out to ! f9al "o--all g out at ! com+-on ( day4 ,a /range day inde$ )\t any suns1 )\t any />s1 ^! hav+ be5 consum$ dur+ ! anci5t night4 ,:at our human race has always mo/ wi%$ to "k1 mo/ lik$ to believe1 is t ,nature1 ! :ole univ]se ( ,nature1 is itself b a tr\bl$ night ( be+2 & t :5 ,nature has come to "s k9d ( end1 ! night ( exi/5ce w h come to an end also4 ,beyond w h to be "s k9d ( day1 endless day4 ,our human race has always believ$ or has tri$ to believe t on ! ,naturew>d conf9es ( t day x w be discov]$1 assembl$ !re1 wait+ !re1 hav+ j\rney$ ?i!r someh[3 no matt] h[1 s x arrive4 ,= h[ev] dull & petty man may be1 h[ev] despicable1 bruti%1 ab&on$1 !re has be5 no lack ( sublimity 9 8 vision1 9 8 fai?1 ( :at he is to be3 t aft] ! la/ /> has gone out 9 ! night ( ,nature1 ! orb ( 8 s\l w h b begun to fla% ! immortality ( its dawn4 ,once & = an immeasurable "t ! :ole e>? 0 w>m1 & life on x be+ w>m?1 ! life on x 0 ev]y:]e4 ,t 0 ,nature's p>ticul> h\r ( ! night j !n--x call$ = a w>m e>? completely cov]$ ) life4 ,!n "o day some?+ took place t _h nev] tak5 place be=e4 ,= ! fir/ "t1 = ! v fir/ "t 9 ! exp]i5ce ( ! e>?1 out ( "o ( its cl\ds !re began to fall1 n :at _h always fall5 9 ! pa/1 drops ( ra91 b t9y :ite cry/als4 ,at fir/ !y 7 few2 !n m & m2 !n myriads1 myriads1 myriads1 until ! air grew grey ) ! ?ick ho/ ( !m4 ,f9ally ! sc5e became z if ! sky 7 ! floor ( ! des]t1 an upp] inv]t$ des]t floor cov]$ ) f9e :ite s&1 ) s&-dunes2 & ! w9ds1 sweep+ & ro>+ across ?is des]t floor1 lift$ ! dunes1 scatt]$ !m & swept !m along3 avalan*es ( :ite s&1 cl\dy l&slides ( :ite s&--bl[n t[>d ! e>? und]nea?4 ,no creature !re bel[ _h ev] se5 ! l2 & z ^? avalan*es slid$ d[n on _! heads & backs1 tumult1 fe>1 flight foll[$4 ,p]haps caught 9 ! rag+1 ro>+ tempe/1 p]haps hav+ lo/ its way1 "s bird ( brilliant-r$ plumage flew r\nd & r\nd l a w&]+ ball ( fire1 utt]+ its cry ( bewild]m5t1 ( helplessness1 ( its fate--! prophetic note ( ! fate ( ev]y?+4 ,:5 ! fir/ ( ^! /range cold :ite cry/als /ruck ! w>m e>?1 at once !y vani%$4 ,s t = a :ile ! va/ cata/rophe look$ l "s unfeel+ prank ( ! cl\ds1 "s too grave a trick1 he>tless deception4 ,b fa/] ?an ! fir/ c\ld melt1 o!rs came1 m1 m1 until ! lat] ones arriv$ be=e ! e>li] ones _h disappe>$4 ,& !n !y began to /ay :]e !y fell4 ,!y began to /ay & to pile up "o on ano!r2 !y began to make a :ite spot1 a froz5 spot4 ,we "k no?+ z to h[ & :5 & :]e2 yet we are b\nd to und]/& t "s "t !re 0 ! fir/ sn[cl\d1 some:]e ! fir/ sn[/orm1 ! fir/ sn[bank4 ,no human eye beheld x3 !re 0 to be no human eye = untold ages yet4 ,b !re 0 "o :o saw1 "o :o 0 pres5t1 "o :o _h br\ght x to pass--,"t2 & n[ t ! fir/ :ite spot 0 prep>$ & ready l "s new flat m>ble slab1 bord]$ r\nd ) ! e>?'s gre5 & await+ humanwise its due inscription1 ,"t glanc$ at x1 approv$ x1 /epp$ =w>d & /oop+ d[n wrote ?ree words 9 ! s&--9 ! :ite s& ( ! sky3 ,,hic ,,jacet ,,t]ra4 ,s9ce ! unkn[n day ( ! fir/ unkn[n sn[bank1 ! e>? has made no revolution1 has n once turn$ ov] f side to side )\t keep+ undeviat+ly 9 ! /raight road t[>d ! fulfilm5t ( t epitaph1 ,"t's epitaph4 ,nev] s9ce !n1 ?\gh fight+ ) all its fires1 has x be5 able to drive (f t pallid visitant f out] space1 nev] has x be5 able to prev5t ! p]si/5t return ( t appall+ /rang]4 ,= ! little :ite spot w\ld n out1 w\ld n out = good4 ,if x disappe>$ 9 "o place1 x reappe>$ 9 ano!r place4 ,& x inv>iably br\ght along m ( its k9d3 ea* visitant seem$ to br+ a mate1 a family1 a tribe4 ,9 ! blossom+ zones ( ! e>?'s surface :]e we sp5d our dream-life ( pa9 & joy1 if a solit>y bee f9d its way to a new field 9 spr+1 ! summ] w be likely to br+ ! sw>m4 ,if a migratory bird by "s deviation ( r\te alight on a /range cont95t or isl&1 ! species may "s day cov] t cont95t or isl&4 ,& ^? fir/ d[nw>d flights f ! cl\ds began to be foll[$ by o!r flights1 by va/] flocks & flights4 ,& ! e>? began to h a new tr\ble4 ,%e1 our v human ,"m1 _h f ! fir/ _h en\gh tr\bles ( h] own1 z )\t exception we h] v human *ildr5 h _h en\gh ( ours4 ,sometimes h] /ories _h begun well b ea* ( !m z x end$ end$ badly4 ,z we n[ look back ^u any "o ( ^! f9i%$ /ories ( h]s1 we may d]ive "s satisfaction f see+ t x possess$ ! art1 ! logic1 ( be+ inevitable4 ,b t w be our only joy4 ,h] great novels1 h] great epics1 h uni=mly be5 /up5d\s1 immeasurable cataclysms1 e>?-trag$ies4 ,b among !m all n "o has possess$ ! awful beauty1 ! *a/e spl5dor1 ! univ]sality1 ( ?is new tr\ble ( h]s ) ! t9y cry/al4 ,we are well accu/om$ z we look out ^u ,nature at close range to see great creatures h>rass$ by little creatures4 ,! lot ( ea* big "o seems to be 9 ! keep+ ( "s little "o1 :i* nev] quits x1 nags x1 /+s x1 we>s x out1 drives x desp]ate1 makes life some:at a burd5 to x & dea? some:at a relief4 ,b no "o ( u has ev] se5 s huge & p[]ful a ?+ z a :ole r\nd _w pitilessly /alk$ f age to age1 run d[n1 ov]come in* by in*1 r\t$ out ( a fair de/9y by su* a mite ( a torm5tor z a cry/al4 ,n[h]e h we witness$ s disproportionate a conflict z t betwe5 a sph]e & a sn[flake4 ,:y1 "s w9try day :5 y 9 ov]coat & gloves are tramp+ com=tably across y\r fields on :i* sn[ is fall+1 /op & draw (f "o ( y\r gloves1 & hold+ out y\r h&1 cat* "o ( ^! little t]rors1 "o ( ^! dread arr[s f ! unse5 quiv] ( all :it5ess4 ,int]cept x 9 its passage t[>ds ! e>? & let x /rike y1 /rike y\r palm1 in/ead ( /rik+ ! ,"m :o has be5 /ruck s (t54 ,"o in/ant aft] x has rea*$ y\r palm x has dropp$ its disguise & has turn$ into its old famili> self1 a ra9drop1 a drop ( dew4 ,t is1 "u ! influ5ce ( ! w>m? ( y\r planet>y fire1 x has return$ to its y\?4 ,= sn[ is ! old age ( wat]4 ,cl\d1 mi/1 ra91 dew--^! all are "y3 _! old age is ice4 ,:5 a dewdrop arranges itself = p]petuity1 disposes itself 9 ord]ly fa%ion nev] to *ange aga91 /ret*es itself out 9 its rigor mortis1 x has become a cry/al4 ,x has giv5 up ! gho/ & has become a gho/--x has become sn[1 ! gho/ ( ! brook1 ! gho/ ( ! ra94 ,n[ ?is--j ?is--0 ! ,e>?'s new tr\ble2 & ?is ev] s9ce has be5 h] increas+ tr\ble & h] los+ fight3 t ov] va/] & va/] regions ( h] surface %e has lo/ ! p[] to "w ! miracle ( ! resurrection--to bid ! dead arise1 take back its life1 & hav+ bur/ f its :ite sepul*re asc5d aga9 to ! heav5s4 ,?is is ! tr\ble ( our great ,"m--t %e has be5 fight+ aga9/ old age z we h] *ildr5 fight aga9/ x4 ,old age has be5 desc5d+ ^u h] f ! cl\ds2 & :]ev] %e has n be5 able to give back to old age its y\?1 !re old age has /ay$2 & :]ev] on ! e>? old age has /ay$1 !re ! e>? itself has become old4 ,& n[ = u :o live on ! e>? to-day1 look+ out ^u ! battle betwe5 ! planet & ! sn[flake1 h[ f>es ! fight+8 ,if y %\ld />t f y\r home 9 our nor?-temp]ate latitude & travel nor?w>d /eadily on & on1 aft] a :ile y w\ld f9d t ! air gradually gr[s cold]1 myriads ( liv+ ?+s beg9 to be left beh9d2 few] & few] rema92 ^? t d rema91 :e!r animals or birds or fl[]s1 beg9 to lose gorge\s color1 beg9 to become :ite4 ,! c\ntless s\nds ( liv+ ?+s beg9 to die out4 ,ev]y?+ is *ang$1 colors are gone1 songs h ceas$4 ,on & on y j\rney & always y are travel+ t[>ds sil5ce1 t[>d ! :ite4 ,& at la/ y come to ! k+dom ( ! cry/al1 to ! reign ( ! sn[flake1 to ! old age ( ! e>?2 y come to "o ( ! battlefields :]e ! sn[flake has conqu]$ ! planet4 ,p]haps on ?is nor?w>d j\rney ! la/ liv+ ?+ y saw 9 ,nature 0 ! ev]gre5--?riv+ !re 9 unconqu]able y\? on ! m>g9 ( unconqu]able dea?4 ,if y %\ld />t f y\r home & travel s\?w>d1 y w\ld at fir/ cross l& aft] l& :]e x grew w>m]2 b if y kept on1 y w\ld at la/ beg9 to recognize all t y _h se5 on y\r nor?w>d j\rney3 life fail+1 colors fad+1 ! liv+ h>monies ( ! e>? replac$ by ! discords ( ,nature's lifeless =ces3 p9nacles ( ice1 des]ts ( sn[4 ,aga9 on ^? b\nd>ies ( desolation y w\ld see ! sign ( ! _w's y\?--its ev]gre53 only t sign4 ,if1 />t+ f y\r home = ! ?ird "t1 y c\ld rise /raight into ! air1 high]1 high]1 z ?\gh y 7 climb+ ! side ( an a]ial m\nta91 y w\ld at la/ f9d t y _h asc5d$ ! a]ial m\nta9 to a height :]e1 7 x a real m\nta91 x w\ld be capp$ ) sn[1 capp$ ) p]petual sn[4 ,= all r\nd ! e>? :]ev] its actual m\nta9s are high en\gh1 _! summits pi]ce ! level ( et]nal cold3 above u ev]y:]e lies ! unse5 l& ( et]nal cold4 ,& !re aga9 ne> ^? summits y\r eye1 se>*+ = "s mitigation ( ! solitude1 w\ld come ^u ! ev]gre54 ,"s "t 9 ! future1 we d n "k :51 b "s "t ! cold at ! nor? w h mov$ s f> s\?w>d2 ! cold at ! s\? w h mov$ s f> nor?w>d2 ! cold 9 ! upp] air w h mov$ s f> d[nw>d1 t ! ?ree w meet & :5 !y meet !re w be = ! e>? "o :it5ess1 "o sil5ce--re/3 all tr\bl$ or untr\bl$ ?+s w be at re/4 ,a great "t _h pass$1 h[ great no "o knew2 !re 0 none to measure x4 ,x 0 twilight & x 0 sn[+4 ,on a /eep m\nta9's side ne> its bald summit ?\s&s ( feet above ! l9e t any o!r liv+ ?+ _h ev] cross$1 /ood two glori\s fir trees1 /ronge/ & la/ ( _! race4 ,!y _h climb$ out ( ! valley bel[ to ?is height & _h s root$ !mselves 9 rock & soil t ! wilde/ gales _h nev] be5 able to dislodge !m4 ,n[ ! two occupi$ t beetl+ cliff z ! f9al s5t9els ( ,nature4 ,!y 7 l two soldi]s /ation$ at ! f>!/ outpo/ aga9/ ! enemy & rema9+ fai?ful aft] all !y /ood = _h p]i%$4 ,! two firs look$ out t[>d ! l& 9 "o direction4 ,at ! foot ( ! m\nta9 9 old human times a village _h ?riv51 _h work$ & play$2 *ur* spires _h ris51 bridal c&les _h tw9kl$ at twilight1 *ildr5 _h play$ at sn[ball4 ,9 ! opposite direction ! trees look$ out ^u ! ocean1 once ! roll+ blue ocean s++ its great song b level n[ or ice-r\gh5$ & :ite & /ill--its voice hu%$ ) all o!r voices1 ! ro> ( its battle%ips sil5c$ long ago4 ,! two comrade trees _h ! /range wisdom ( _! race1 ages old & ga!r$ into !m ?r\gh untold g5]ations4 ,!y _h _! memories1 _! sympa?ies2 !y rea*$ "o ano!r ) language pa/ our und]/&+4 ,"o fir grew l[] on ! m\nta9side ?an ! o!r2 x 0 l a man s /ation$ on a declivity t 8 head b>ely rea*es to ! %\ld] ( ano!r man high] up4 ,a sl[ bitt] w9d w&]$ ?r\gh _! b\ghs1 smote _! delicate b\ghs z ?\gh ^! 7 /r+s ( h>ps4 ,! two firs became l h>p]s ( old ) :it5$ locks & long ho>y be>ds1 h>p]s :o nev] tire ( ! pa/1 ( great days gone by4 ,! fir bel[1 z ! sn[flakes became ?ick] on its locks & sift$ 9 m closely ab\t its neck1 %ook itself loose f !m & spoke3 8,comrade1 ! end = u draws ne>2 ! sn[ creeps up4 ,to-night x w place its cap on my head4 ,i %all close my eyes & foll[ all ?+s into _! sleep40 8,yes10 respond$ ! fir above1 8foll[ all ?+s into _! sleep4 ,if all ?+s 7 ?us to sleep at la/1 :y 7 !y ev] awak5$8 ,x is a my/]y40 ,! sl[ w9d caught ! words & bore !m outw>d across ! l& & outw>d across ! sea3 8,my/]y--my/]y--my/]y40 ,twilight deep5$4 ,! cl\ds trail$ ?r\gh ! trees2 ! flakes 7 =m$ amid ! bran*es2 x 0 no long] ! fall ( ! sn[3 ! ice-drops re/$ :]e !y 7 =m$4 ,at int]vals1 surr\nd$ by cl\ds & d>kness1 ! l[ commun+s ( ! two trees w5t on3 8,:]e n[ is he1 ! /range human "o1 he ( ! long ?\ghts & ! brief %ad[80 8,he ?\ght he 0 immortal2 to him ev]y?+ else on ! e>? p]i%$ b he 0 immortal4 ,:]e is he n[80 8,once :5 he 0 v pr\d he said t he _h a ,creator :o made him to lie d[n 9 gre5 pa/ures40 8,he lies 9 :ite pa/ures4 ,all ! millions ( 8 race lie 9 :ite pa/ures1 n gre5 pa/ures40 8,our fa!rs1 ! ev]gre5s1 came =? on ! e>? c\ntless ages be=e he appe>$2 & we are /ill "h untold ages s9ce he disappe>$--leav+ n a trace ( himself beh9d40 8,! mo/ fragile ( ! mosses 0 born be=e he 0 born & x outla/$ him40 8,! fraile/ f]n 0 n s p]i%able40 8,yet he believ$ t he %\ld h et]nal y\?40 8,t 8 race w\ld return to "s ,p[] :o _h s5t x =?40 8,t he 0 ev] be+ borne onw>d to "s f> (f div9e ev5t :]e !re 0 ju/ice40 8,:]e !re 0 ju/ice = all40 8,he s lov$ ju/ice yet s )held ju/ice40 8,x 0 ! fir/ ?+ he dem&$ & ! la/ ?+ he met$ out40 ,d>kness n[ ov]hung ! m\nta9 top1 deep night above4 ,at int]vals ! firs1 be+ fa/ cov]$ ) sn[1 w5t on ) _! brok5 talk :i* w&]$ back & =? along ! track ( ages4 ,!y _h b a few m9utes = _! ?\ghts ( ! ages & !y l+]$ "h & !re z !y will$4 8,?is is "p ( ! my/]y3 if he 7 b ! e>?'s du/ & a%es1 l ev]y?+ else1 h[ c\ld x be s8 ,h[ c\ld ! e>? :i* is )\t s9 bre$ 9 8 race s _m s9n]s8 ,h[ c\ld ! e>?1 s9ce x speaks only ! tru?1 h be5 ! fa!r ( all 8 lies8 ,h[1 )\t sorr[1 c\ld x h be5 ! "m ( 8 sorr[s8 ,! e>? nev] felt joy2 h[ c\ld x h made him joy inc>nate8 ,:at does ! e>? "k ( greatness yet x made him great4 ,h[ c\ld t be80 8,x is "p ( ! my/]y40 8,_h !y realiz$ h[ alone 9 ! univ]se !y 71 w\ld !y n h turn$ to ea* o!r = happ9ess80 8,w\ld n all h help$ ea*80 8,w\ld n ea* h help$ all80 8,! longe/ ( _! riv]s 0 ! riv] ( _! own blood40 8,if !y c\ld h caught x 9 ! bas9 ( "s empty sea1 !y c\ld h float$ on x all _! fleets ( battle%ips40 ,once 9 ! night !y spoke toge!r3 8,& all 8 gods1 8 _m gods 9 _m l&s ) _m faces--!y all sleep n[ 9 _! anci5t temples2 x is at la/ ! true twilight ( ! gods40 8,!y set %eph]ds ov] !m4 ,!n ! %eph]ds decl>$ !mselves appo9t$ by ! ,creator ( ! univ]se to lead o!r m5 z _! %eep3 n[ :at diff]5ce is !re betwe5 ! %eep & ! %eph]ds80 8,! %eph]ds lie ) ! %eep 9 ! same :ite pa/ure4 ,!y 7 all %eep3 !y _h no %eph]d40 8,& _! s9s 7 ! s9s ( %eep1 b ! s9s ( silly %eep40 8,/ill1 :at ?9k y became ( all t m5 did8 ,h[ c\ld all t p]i%8 ,x 0 s solid1 s endur+2 x 0 s spl5did2 x seem$ wor?y to be immortal40 8,:at became ( ,sci5ce8 ,h[ c\ld all t ,sci5ce 0 come to naught80 8,& 8 ,art--t inn] light ( himself :i* 0 ,art8 ,d 8 pictures hang n[h]e8 ,is 8 music nev] to be he>d aga980 8,& ! love t 0 9 him--0 x b a bl9d =ce ris+ into him z ! p[] ( ! cl\ds80 8,:at became ( ! woman :o ?rew h]self away = love3 did %e f9d no "o at la/ to weep at ! feet (1 no "o :o w\ld free h] s\l f h] body80 8,:at became ( ! man :o 0 false3 did he ev] f9d a ,p[] t c\ld make him true80 8,:at became ( ! man :o ?rew himself away 9 be+ true3 did any ,p[] ev] make good to him 8 ru980 8,! "y soldi] :o p\r$ out 8 life's blood = 8 c\ntry3 0 he nev] to h any c\ntry80 ,on ! long road ( ! ages "h & !re !y loit]$ ) _! ?\ghts3 8,b he did fill ! _w ) a great light ( himself1 ) ! spl5dor ( :at he 040 8,& yet x 0 b half 8 life1 half 8 glory4 ,he =ev] dwelt 9 less ?an half ( ! light ( 8 race3 ! re/ he himself put out yet nev] knew ! d>kness x left him 94 ,m ?an half 8 light he put out 9 neglect$ *ildhood & 9 y\? sla9 on ! battlefield40 8,all ! greate/ names up & d[n ! t]rible field ( 8 hi/ory--!re 7 j z _m t he ?rew away3 he dwelt 9 half ! light ( 8 race40 ,if !re _h be5 a clock to measure ! h\r x mu/ n[ h be5 ne> midnight z x 0 reckon$ 9 old human times4 ,sudd5ly ! fir bel[ spoke out hopefully3 8,may !y n aft] all be ga!r$ else:]e1 /rangely alt]$ yet ! same8 ,is "s o!r /> _! safe habitation8 ,7 !y "r1 %eep t !y 71 9 ?9k+ !mselves immortal8 ,are !y n[ 9 "s o!r _w80 8,:at "k we8 ,:at knew he8 ,t 0 ! my/]y40 ,! w9ds caught ! ^w & c>ri$ x away3 8,my/]y--my/]y--my/]y40 8,our fa!rs rememb]$ ! day :5 he w5t into ! woods & cut d[n "o ( our p & took x into 8 h\se4 ,on ! ev]gre5 he set ! />3 !y 7 = 8 y\? & 8 immortality4 ,ar\nd ^? emblems *ildr5 press$ _! faces & rea*+ out pluck$ gifts f ! bran*es4 ,! myriads & myriads ( ! *ildr56 ,:at became ( !m80 8,be /ill60 :isp]$ ! fir tree above4 8,at t mom5t1 :ile y spoke1 ,i felt ! s(t f+]s ( a *ild se>*+ my b\ghs4 ,0 n ?is :at 9 human times !y call$ ,*ri/mas ,eve8 ,!re !y are aga91 ! f+]s ( a *ild60 8,he>k560 :isp]$ ! fir bel[4 8,d[n 9 ! valley elf9 horns are bl[+ & elf9 drums beat4 ,d y n he> !m--fa9t & f> away4 ,& t s\nd--0 x n ! bells ( ! re9de]6 ,x pass$3 x 0 a w&]+ s\l ( ,*ri/mas40 8,b !y are all ar\nd me6 ,!y are all ar\nd y6 ,myriads & myriads are com+1 are on ! way t[>d u1 ! la/ ( _! ,*ri/mas trees4 ,! s\ls ( all *ildr51 wide-awake1 are ga!r+ ab\t u ere we pass into ! e>?'s sleep40 8,! s\ls ( ! *ildr5 visit u ere we sleep40 ,n long aft] ?is ! fir /&+ bel[ spoke = ! la/ "t3 8,comrade1 x is ! end = me4 ,! cap ( sn[ is on my head4 ,i foll[ all ?+s40 ,! sn[ clos$ ov] x4 ,! o!r fir n[ /ood alone4 ,! sn[ crept high] & high]4 ,late 9 ! long night x commun$ once m1 solit>y3 8,i1 !n1 close ! tra9 ( e>?ly ?+s4 ,& ,i 0 ! emblem ( immortality2 let ! highe/ be ! la/ to p]i%6 ,p[]1 t put =? all ?+s = a purpose1 y h fulfill$1 )\t expla9+ x1 t purpose4 ,i foll[ all ?+s into _! sleep40 ,! sun rose cle>3 all ! m\nta9 tops 7 :ite & cold & at peace4 ,! long w> betwe5 ! cry/al & ! planet 0 ov]3 ! sn[flake _h conqu]$4 ,! e>? 0 dead4 ,,n9e ,,hundr$ ,,& ,,fifty ,,copies ,,( ,,?is ,,book ,,pr9t$ ,,on ,,van ,,geld] ,,h&-,,made ,,pap] ,,& ,,! ,,type ,,di/ribut$ ,,9 ,,! ,,mon? ,,( ,,octob] ,,mdccccxiv