,illustration3 ,here is the well-spring of those sparkling1 saving waters-- ,here1 in the heart of ,mary's ,blessed ,boy6 7,see page #cc47 ,prince ,ragnal ,,and ,,other ,,holiday ,,verses ,,by ,,eleanor ,c4 ,,donnelly ,illustration ,,philadelphia ,h4 ,l4 ,kilner ,co4 ,,publishers ,copyright1 #ahih1 by ,eleanor ,c4 ,donnelly4 ,,to ,,my ,,revered ,,friend ,,of ,,many ,,years1 ,rev4 ,matthew ,russell1 ,s4 ,j41 ,editor of the 8,irish ,monthly10 ,dublin1 ,ireland1 ,,this ,,little ,,book ,,is ,,dedicated ,,by ,,his ,,special ,,permission4 ,,finding ,,list ,illustration ,,page ,,prince ,,ragnal #i ,,christmas ,,carol #bb ,,at ,,dame ,,no,l',s #bf ,a ,,murillo #bi ,,the ,,stable ,,of ,,bethlehem #ca ,,the ,,three ,,masses ,,on ,,christmas ,,day #cd ,,the ,,god-,,man #cg ,,bethlehem',s ,,queen #ch ,prince ,ragnal4 ,illustration ,a ,christmas ,legend of ,early ,christian ,ireland4 ,illustration ,,the ,,eve4 ,white and chill from the wintry skies1 ,the starlight falls upon ancient ,eire3 ,the wind makes moan thro' the leafless trees ,of ,devenish ,isle1 like a soul in fear1-- ,deep in the heart of its snowy woods1 ,fanning a peat-flame1 lone and drear4 ,illustration ,the ruined hut where that turf-fire glows ,hath never a roof of thatch or stone1 ,but bow and spear on the rude walls hang1 ,and a bed of skins on the floor is strewn1 ,where1 close to the embers1 stern and still1 ,ragnal the leper sits alone4 ,illustration ,ragnal of ,errigal1 prince of doom1 ,his face1 a death-mask of despair2-- ,the foul disorder's loathly scales ,lacquer his skin with their hideous glair3 ,dulling the blue of his brave young eye1 ,dimming the gold of his tangled hair4 ,illustration ,bowed like a churl of three-score ten1 ,his peakd chin in his wasted hands1 ,he watches the flames with a sluggish eye1 ,sparkle and glow in their fiery dance2 ,till1 deep in the embers1 pictured1 lie ,his life's lost hopes--its dead romance4 ,illustration ,a royal castle beside the sea1 ,on breezy cliffs1 exultant1 set3 ,a ,prince and ,princess1 young and fair1 ,pacing the grassy parapet1 ,the golden fringe of his long1 bright hair ,sweeping the maiden's locks of jet4 ,illustration ,thro' perfum'd air1 replete with peace1 ,the swallows skim the blue waves' flow3 ,the lovely ,dympna's hand1 at rest ,on her lover's arm 7a thing of snow7-- ,thrills1 as he bends his head1 and breathes ,in her blushing ear1 a whisper low4 ,illustration ,she gathers the fleece of her floating veil ,from the nodding shade of his raven plume1 ,as1 gravely pleading1 he bends again ,to hear those bright lips speak his doom4 --,why does she start and lift her head8 ,why are her cheeks devoid of bloom8 ,illustration ,he sees the flash of her wide1 dark eye1 ,he hears her clear voice rise and fall3 8,sooner than sell my faith in ,christ1 ,my life ,i'd yield--my love--my all6 ,content my bridal vows should prove ,a martyr's grave and a virgin's pall60 ,illustration ,then1 in the flames1 his other self ,he sees1 erect in scorn and pride3 8,sooner would ,i a leper be1 ,far from the world to crouch and hide1 ,than bend to a ,christian priest mine knee1 ,or take to mine arms a ,christian bride60 ,illustration ,the royal blood leaps in her face1 ,her voice rings out its golden knell3 8,o ,christ6 incline ,thy pitying grace1 ,and pardon this poor infidel60 ,then1 with averted1 shuddering gaze1 8,unhappy ,ragnal6 fare thee well60 ,illustration ,a sudden darkness shuts her in 444 ,the flutter of her snowy gown-- ,the sunlit towers--the sparkling waves ,in pallid embers1 crumble down2 ,as ,ragnal by the fire sits1 ,a leprous ,prince without a crown6 ,illustration 8,o lily1 nurtured by the sea6 ,sweet ,dympna1 long-lost1 promised bride6 ,thine unknown ,christ0--7he cries aloud73 8,this night hath triumph'd o'er my pride6 ,forgive me60--,lo6 a gust of song ,fills all the wintry world outside6 ,illustration ,,the ,,dawn4 ,a thrilling1 heavenly harmony ,from silvern harps and lutes divine3 ,the ,leper1 prostrate on his face1 ,drinks in the glorious draught like wine2 ,then1 rising1 reels like drunken wight1 ,into the starlight's wondrous shine4 ,illustration ,for strange1 unearthly lustres fill ,the frosty air4 ,to ,ragnal blown1 ,across ,lough ,erne1 there comes the breath ,of sweetest blossoms ever grown2 ,yet1 right or left1 above1 below1 ,no living thing or shape is shown4 ,illustration ,all wordless1 o'er the sparkling ,lough1 ,the music steals again--but hark6 8,gloria in excelsis60 sings ,a voice1 up-soaring like a lark2 ,while3 8,et in terra pax60 7strange words67 ,drop down to ,ragnal thro' the dark4 ,illustration ,his breast heaves with a mighty fear1 ,the strong man trembles like a reed3 ,the while the minstrels float before1 7,tho' ulcer'd feet and ankles bleed71 ,straight onward through the shining wood1 ,he needs must follow where they lead2 ,illustration ,and walks1 and walks1 and walks1 and walks1 ,his bare feet buried in the snow2 ,while flaming eyes of savage beasts ,from bog and thicket1 glare and glow4 ,he sees the stars slide down the east1 ,he hears the cocks begin to crow4 ,illustration ,yet walks1 and walks1 and walks1 and walks1 ,till ev'ry nerve and sinew aches1 ,and sweat and blood and loathly scales ,mark ev'ry painful step he takes-- ,when1 suddenly1 the rapturous sound ,that lured him on--his path forsakes6 ,illustration ,and with his burning forehead bared1 ,the hoar-frost on his yellow locks1 ,the ,leper finds himself before ,an open cave1 wherein an ox ,and ass are stalled--dumb1 placid brutes1-- ,their manger rooted in the rocks4 ,illustration ,and in the midst--,o ,vision strange6-- ,a ,woman glorious as the moon1 ,upon whose breast1 a radiant ,child ,lies1 like a rosebud blown in ,june1 ,his eyes 7twin-lamps of ,paradise67 ,making the night a brilliant noon4 ,illustration ,they look on ,ragnal sweet1 yet sad1 ,and ,ragnal bends his aching knee2 ,he stretches forth his wasted arms1 ,and cries3 8,eternal praise to ,thee6 ,o ,blessed ,christ6 ,thine hour is come-- ,complete the work begun in me60 ,illustration ,and then1 he swoons--how long--how short ,a space1 he knows not--till his eyes ,he1 languid1 opens to the dawn1 ,faint-blushing in the eastern skies2 ,and sees the cavern full of shapes1 ,and blazing with a glad surprise6 ,illustration3 ,and in the midst--,o ,vision strange6-- ,a ,woman glorious as the moon1 ,upon whose breast1 a radiant ,child ,lies1 like a rosebud blown in ,june4 7,see page #af47 ,illustration ,an altar cloth'd with pure samite1 ,adorned with gold and precious stones-- ,a ,christian priest in vestments white ,baptizing many little ones2 ,and all the people on their knees ,singing in full1 melodious tones6-- ,illustration ,whose hand on ,ragnal's shoulder lies8 ,whose sweet voice murmurs in his ear8 8,for such as thou1 the ,christ was born2 ,arise1 ,prince ,ragnal1 and draw near60 ,a veild woman leads him down ,to where the altar-lights shine clear4 ,illustration ,the ,hidden ,presence strong and sweet ,his erring son would closer draw4 ,in the warm glory of the shrine1 ,his icy blood begins to thaw3 ,yet ,ragnal dare not lift his eyes-- ,he trembles with delicious awe4 ,illustration ,what time the children yield him place1 7,without a look or sign of dread71 ,kneeling before the agd priest1 ,the sacred words are softly said2 ,and with a thrill of joy1 he feels ,the saving waters on his head4 ,illustration ,o miracle of purest faith6 ,the people shout and clap their hands-- ,like some foul mantle1 earthward1 cast1 ,down drop the ,leper's loathsome bands6-- ,ragnal1 the ,golden-hair'd1 once more1 ,in manly beauty1 perfect1 stands6 ,illustration ,while1 clear and strong to ,heaven's high court1 ,goes up the glorious ,christmas hymn-- ,the shrouded woman at his side ,flings back her veil from eyes that swim ,with happy tears--and ,dympna's face ,shines star-like1 from the shadows dim6 ,illustration ,forgiven the past--forgot the pains ,which made that face his bitterest dream2 ,a trusting smile is on its lips1 ,its eyes with glad affection beam1 ,while1 down the ,prince's waving beard1 ,the grateful tears1 unbidden1 stream4 ,illustration ,the priest hath joined their willing hands2 ,the day grows bright--the wind blows free-- ,as thro' the woods1 they go to seek ,their sunlit castle by the sea4 ,o ,ragnal of the ,golden ,hair6 ,the ,lord hath gracious dealt with thee6 ,christmas ,carol4 ,i4 ,o holy ,night6 ,o starry ,night1 ,that ushers in ,salvation's morn6 ,o blessed ,eve of rare delight1 ,whereon the ,christ was born6 ,thine angels flood the hills with song1 ,and rouse the shepherds from their sleep2 ,while past'ral pipes the lay prolong1 ,around the ,stable door1 they throng ,with votive lambs and sheep4 ,sing ,gloria1 sing ,gloria ,in excelsis ,deo6 ,,ii4 ,o solemn ,night6 ,o lustrous ,night1 ,that fills the earth with brightest ,day6 ,the ,wise ,men come in robes of white ,from kingdoms far away4 ,illustration3 ,this ,babe--the ,virgin's sinless ,boy-- ,shall sin and hell and death destroy1 ,and heaven's portals ope6 7,see page #be47 ,what time their weary journey ends1 ,they haste to worship ,judah's ,king2 ,in jewel'd zones and bazubends ,behold the three ,chaldean friends1 ,gold1 myrrh1 and incense bring6 ,sing ,gloria1 sing ,gloria ,in excelsis ,deo6 ,,iii4 ,o radiant ,night6 ,o ,night of nights6 ,thy bells ring sweet from ,paradise2 ,thine orient ,star1 eternal1 lights ,the ,crib where ,jesus lies6 ,wealth of the poor1 the mourner's joy1 ,the sinner's shield1 the captive's hope1 ,this ,babe--the ,virgin's sinless ,boy-- ,shall sin and hell and death destroy1 ,and heaven's portals ope6 ,sing ,gloria1 sing ,gloria ,in excelsis ,deo6 ,at ,dame ,nol's4 ,,an ,,old-,,world ,,tradition4 ,the clock strikes ,twelve6 ',tis ,christmas ,eve ,at old ,dame ,nol's farm2 ,beyond the house1 with holly wreathed1 ,the barn in mistletoe is sheathed4 7,god save us from all harm67 ,illustration ,the red cock to the manger springs1 ,and shrills its ,christmas prayer2 ,three times1 it flaps its shining wings1 ,then1 8,christus--natus--est60--it sings4 --,the ox roars 8,ubi8--,where80 ,illustration ,but1 soft thro' swaths of sun-dried grass1 ,it hears the lamb below1 ,from out the shimmering1 scented mass1 ,bleat3 8,beth'lem6 ,beth'lem60--,brays the ass3 8,eamus6--,let us go60 ,illustration ,and 'round about the hive 7whose zone ,shall summer sweets embalm71 ,the bees go floating as they drone1 ,go floating1 as they thus intone ,their honeyed1 midnight psalm3 ,illustration 8,let all ,creation praise the ,lord1 ,who comes to men this ,christmas morn3 ,the ,son of ,god1 th' ,incarnate ,word1 ,in ,bethlehem of ,mary born6 ,illustration 8,good ox1 good ass1 your brothers wait ,this hour beside ,his ,crib--,a sign ,there1 too1 is thine1 meek lamb2 thy ,mate ,is ,blessed ,mary's ,lamb divine6 ,illustration 8,and1 from thy seed1 bold ,chanticleer6 ,shall spring that bird of ,passiontide1 ,whose voice shall thrice to ,peter's ear ,proclaim3 #8,thou hast thy ,lord denied6' ,illustration 8,ah6 tho' we little bees may ne'er ,find in the ,holy ,babe1 our part2 ,nor1 with our sweetest honey1 dare ,to heal ,his tender1 bleeding heart2 ,illustration 8,tho' none of us may share ,man's grace1 ,nor claim his ,saviour newly-born1 ,yet do we still ,his mercies praise1 ,and bless ,his birth1 this ,christmas morn60 99 99 99 99 99 ,thus do the bonny creatures strive ,to hail ,love's mystery2 ,in comely shapes1 alert1 alive1 ,thus do they greet1 in stall and hive1 ,our ,lord's ,nativity6 ,illustration ,thus1 do the ,soulless keep the feast ,at old ,dame ,nol's farm2 ,the ,christmas star shines in the east1 ,soft chimes the bell--swift glides the priest-- ,god save us from all harm6 ,a ,murillo4 ,the lovely ,christ-,child1 like a lily1 lies ,within ,his ,maiden ,mother's pure embrace-- ,the azure depths of her adoring eyes1 ,the faithful mirrors of ,his glorious face6 ,illustration ,the while upon her bosom1 warm and white1 ,she shelters ,him1 with love and tender awe1 ,from the bleak darkness of the winter night1 ,from the rough manger and the bristling straw1 ,illustration ,the shepherds at the dazzling ,vision stare2 ,the gentle beasts1 at ,joseph's touch1 bow down2 ,and angel choirs in vibrant tones declare ,that ,christ is born a babe in ,david's town6 ,illustration ,o ,babyhood1 the harbinger of hope ,to every babe enthroned on woman's breast6 ,o ,motherhood1 within whose gracious scope ,all lesser motherhood is shrined and blessed6 ,illustration ,no sceptred ,csar can dispute your sway-- ,angels or men your golden mission claim-- ,for yours is ,christ--to-day and yesterday1 ,and thro' the eternal ages1 still the same6 ,illustration ,the ,stable of ,bethlehem4 ,there is no ante-chamber in this royal palace1 ,there are no waiting-rooms of haughty state3 ,no chamberlain austere1 no courtiers puff'd with malice1 ,to shut us out from where the ,king doth wait-- ,the new-born ,king1 unscepter'd and uncrown'd1 ,in swaddling-bands of lowly linen bound4 ,illustration ,open and wide to all1 are these old palace-portals-- ,the very beasts have found their way therein4 ,amid the thronging ,angels1 would ye seek for mortals8 ,behold the ,virgin without stain of sin1 ,and ,joseph1 her chaste spouse6--,thrice blessd pair6 ,they kneel before the ,babe in wordless prayer6 ,illustration ,the sweetest1 fairest ,babe e'er seen6 ,thro' ruined rafters1 ,the happy stars shine in upon ,his stall2 ,the keen wind1 blowing from the fields and mountain-pastures1 ,deepens the rose-tint of ,his visage small1 ,and bids ,his hands1 on ,mary's bosom1 glow ,like soft1 pink blossoms on a drift of snow4 ,illustration ,kneel and adore ,him6 ,bring your hearts1 as stainless lilies1 ,to cast before ,his darling1 dimpled feet6 ,soon shall the shepherds from the dusky hills and valleys1 ,in simple faith1 around ,his manger meet2 ,and stately ,kings1 on wondrous quest intent1 ,shall bring their gifts from out the ,orient4 ,illustration ,o ,love1 so free1 so royal1 yet so condescending-- ,so unpretentious in ,thy majesty6 ,as ,thy beginning1 even so shall be ,thine ending ,upon the open heights of ,calvary6 ,a fountain1 free to all beneath ,god's heaven1 ,wherein all sinners may be cleansed and shriven6 ,illustration ,here is the well-spring of those sparkling1 saving waters-- ,here1 in the heart of ,mary's ,blessed ,boy6 ,from out the ,saviour's fountains1 ,o earth's sons and daughters1 ,ye shall draw graces with exceeding joy2 ,and1 with the ,christmas ,angels1 rapturous1 sing3 ,glory and homage to the new-born ,king6 ,the ,three ,masses on ,christmas ,day4 ,i4 8,the ,lord hath said to me3 ,thou art my ,son1 this day have ,i begotten thee40--,ps4 ii1 #g4 ,deep in the bosom of the ,father lies ,his co-eternal ,word--the ,infinite1 ,whose generation's everlasting light ,illumes the unborn ages4444 ,lift your eyes1 ,and contemplate that ,home in ,paradise1 ,that first eternal ,dwelling of the ,word6-- ,before the angels were1--before the skies ,blush'd over ,eden1 or the waters stirred ,under the ,spirit's strong1 creative breath1-- ,uttered the ,father in ,his bosom blest ,this glorious ,word4444 ,what matter change or death8 ,amid the ,godhead's central fires expressed1 ,life lives in ,love4--,o men of vision dim1 ,here1 at ,his altars1 kneel1 and worship ,him6 ,,ii4 8,and they came with haste1 and they found ,mary and ,joseph1 and the ,infant lying in a manger40--,luke ii1 #af4 ,tho' midnight shadows wrap ,him in their pall1 ,the stars upon ,his rosy sweetness shine2 ,from ,mary's bosom to the cattle-stall1 ,he passes in ,his baby grace divine6 ,venite adoremus4 ,in this shrine1 ,our ,god appears1 our ,saviour1 and our ,all6 ,before the ,word made ,flesh1 adoring1 fall1 ,and praise the ,everlasting's blest design4 ,far1 o'er the hills1 the angel-chorus rings2 ,the ,shepherds1 thro' the dusk1 are drawing nigh2 ,st4 ,joseph's lantern glows4444 ,the ,eastern ,kings ,stand out1 like giants1 'gainst the bright'ning sky4 8,glory to ,god60--7the swelling strains increase7 8,and1 on the earth1 to men of good-will--peace60 ,,iii4 8,a child is born to us1 and a ,son is given to us1 and the government is upon his shoulders2 and his name shall be called the ,angel of great ,council40--,isaias ix4 ,within the ,bethlehem of these poor hearts1 ,the manger of our souls1 ,o ,prince of men6 ,come1 in ,thy pity1 and be born again6-- ,ere yet the golden ,christmas-tide departs1 ,love1 with its thousand sweet and tender arts1 ,shall emulate the ,shepherds' glowing zeal1 ,or1 like the ,magi from the ,orient marts1 ,shall gold1 and myrrh1 and frankincense reveal4 ,o ,babe1 so rich in ,thy great poverty1 ,give us ,detachment's grand1 divorcing grace6 ,o ,babe1 sublime in ,thy humility1 ,grant us1 in ,thee1 all pride to self-abase6 ,o suff'ring ,babe1 so blissful in ,thy woe1 ,a self-denying joy1 on us1 bestow6 ,the ,god-,man4 8,would ,i might be as ,god60 the first man cried1 ,when1 with forbidden fruits1 ,sin's reign began4-- ,lo6 to repair the ruin wrought by ,pride1 ,christ1 in the manger1 we behold as ,man6 ,bethlehem's ,queen4 8,and going into the house1 they found the ,child with ,mary1 his ,mother40--,matt4 iii1 #aa4 ,o what would this life be without our sweet ,mother8 --,a desert divested of well-springs and trees1 ,a land without music1 light1 fragrance1 or flowers1 ,a black1 sultry night1 without moonlight or breeze6 ,illustration ,no solace for souls in their struggles with ,satan1 ,no hope for the sinner engulf'd in despair1 ,no light for the saint in his doubts and temptations1 ,no stronghold of peace in a world full of care2 ,illustration ,dear ,cause of our joy6 bearing ,bliss in thy bosom1 ,clear ,mirror of justice6 resplendent with light1 ,rare ,mystical ,rose6 in thy glory a-blossom1 ,fair ,star of the morning6 dispelling our night1-- ,illustration ,tho' all the foul fiends of the regions infernal ,assail the sad spirit with clamorous din2 ,tho' earth and the earthy obscure the ,eternal1 ,and ,life's brightest promise be blighted by sin1-- ,illustration ,what bliss but to feel the cool print of thy sandal ,on fiery promptings and passions aglow2 ,to nestle1 like birds1 'neath thy sky-color'd mantle1 ,and calm our hot hearts on thy bosom of snow6 ,illustration ,what bliss thro' the darkness1 the heat1 and the clamor1 ,to fly to thy feet1 to thy virginal shrine1-- ,and there1 in thy presence1 releas'd from ,sin's glamor1 ,drink in deepest draughts of thy spirit divine6 ,illustration ,o drear would our life be without this fair ,flower1 ,this ,lily of ,israel1 blooming alone6 ,sweet ,christ6 how we bless ,thee for ,bethlehem's dower1 ,which made ,thy pure ,mother forever our own6 ,transcriber's ,notes ,italics are represented thus italic4