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A CAROL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Dark are the days, the nights are long
Last Line: "whose burden is ""rejoice."


DARK are the days, the nights are long,
Blithe Summer's joys are done,
Yet in our hearts we keep the Sun,
And raise a cheerful song.
Bare is the world, or deep in snow,
Yet are our souls aglow,
What spell is this, what still mysterious voice,
That calls "Rejoice! Rejoice!"

It is, that on the weary earth
With every dying year
A great hope dawns, a glorious birth,
Returns our souls to cheer.
Again, again, the Eternal Child,
The Virgin-Mother mild,
Ring, joy-bells, ring, clear through the frosty air,
Ring gladness everywhere.

Sound, gracious as that heavenly word
Of old in Bethlehem,
By night of wondering shepherds heard,
When angels spake with them.
"Peace, peace on earth to faithful men,"
This be our strain as then,
To-day, to-day let all rejoice indeed,
Whate'er their form of creed.

Peace be and joy! Ay, though it seem
To world-worn eyes and ears
Across dark gulphs of strife and tears
Only a heavenly dream,
Divine, divine our souls shall hold
Those precious words of old,
Goodwill and peace to men -- the halt, the blind,
The poor, nay, all mankind.

Therefore we raise our cheerful song,
A strain of solemn mirth,
Our hope is clear, our faith is strong,
In a regenerate Earth.
No doubt shall come our eyes to dim,
Or check our faithful voice,
To Peace on Earth, we raise our Christmas hymn,
Whose burden is "Rejoice."





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