49
The light of my home was darkened
By the shadow of my sin;
And want and woe unbarr'd the door,
And suffering entered in.
********
The streets were full one Christmas eve,
And alive with girls and boys,
Merrily looking through window-panes
At bright and beautiful toys.
By the shadow of my sin;
And want and woe unbarr'd the door,
And suffering entered in.
********
The streets were full one Christmas eve,
And alive with girls and boys,
Merrily looking through window-panes
At bright and beautiful toys.
And throngs of parents came to buy
The gifts that children prize,
And homeward trudged with happy hearts,
The love-light in their eyes.
The gifts that children prize,
And homeward trudged with happy hearts,
The love-light in their eyes.
I thought of my little Charley
At home in his lowly bed,
With the shadows around his life,
And in shame I bowed my head.
At home in his lowly bed,
With the shadows around his life,
And in shame I bowed my head.
I entered my home a sober man,
My heart by remorse was wrung,
And there in the chimney corner,
This little stocking was hung.
My heart by remorse was wrung,
And there in the chimney corner,
This little stocking was hung.
Faded and worn as you see it;
To me 'tis a precious thing,
And I never gaze upon it
But unbidden tears will spring.
To me 'tis a precious thing,
And I never gaze upon it
But unbidden tears will spring.
