Classic Poem

They come to us but once in life,
The holidays of Yule;
When, wild as captives from the cage,
We bounded home from school.
Unshackled by the dreary task—
All lessons put away;
The world a bright revolving mask
Of pantomime and play.

What welcome shall we ever have
Till this long journey ends,
Like that which marked the merry time
From sisters and from friends?
When presents given and received,
Brought heart to heart in view,
And every day was golden-leaved,
With wonders rich and new!

The Christmas sights, the Christmas lights,
The Christmas nights, how grand
To us who walked the glittering lanes
Of boyhood's fairyland!
Remote among its spangled bowers
Old memories parade,
And watch the gorgeous bubbling hours
All rise, and burst, and fade.

We will not sigh to see them pass—
To know them was enough;
Nay, Father, let us joy that we
Were made of sterner stuff.
Who then enjoyed the Yule Log's blaze
In retrospect enjoys:
So, welcome to your holidays,
My merry girls and boys!

Be blissful in the time of bliss,
Unloosed from toil and school:
They come to you but once in life,
These holidays of Yule.
For us, among the world's dark ways,
Our eyes are on one star,
Beyond which shine our holidays,
Though dim, and distant far.