Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE HAPPIEST CHRISTMAS DAY, by FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HAPPIEST CHRISTMAS DAY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sybil, my little one, come away
Last Line: To have the happiest christmas day!
Subject(s): Christmas; Jesus Christ; Nativity, The


SYBIL, my little one, come away,
I have a plan for Christmas Day:
Put on your hat, and trot with me,
A dear little suffering girl to see.

'Tis not very far, and there's plenty of time,
For the bells have not begun to chime;
So Sybil, over the sparkling snow
To dear little Lizzie let us go.

Dear little Lizzie is ill and weak,
Only just able to smile and speak.
Yesterday morning I stood by her bed;
Now, shall I tell you what she said?

'Christmas is coming to-morrow,' said I.
'I shall be happy!' was Lizzie's reply;
'Happy, so, happy!' I wish you had heard
How sweetly and joyously rang that word.

'Dear little Lizzie, lying in pain,
With never a hope to be better again,
Lying so lonely, what will you do?
Why will the day be so happy to you?'

Lizzie looked up with a smile as bright
As if she were full of some new delight;
And the sweet little lips just parted to say,
'I shall think of Jesus all Christmas Day!'

How would you like to take her the spray
Of red-berried holly I gave you to-day?
And what if we give her the pretty wreath too
That Bertha has made with ivy and yew?

The green and the scarlet would brighten the gloom
Of dear little Lizzie's shady room;
And, Sybil, I know she would like us to sing
A Christmas song of the new-born King.

Sybil, my little one, if we do,
It will help us to 'think of Jesus' too;
And Lizzie was right, for that is the way
To have the happiest Christmas Day!





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