Poems (Frances Elizabeth Browne)/To a friend, for Christmas day
TO A FRIEND,FOR CHRISTMAS DAY, WITH A PRESENT OF A NETTED PURSE.
Accept this trifling mark of love,—
Affection's hand its meshes wove;
May silken cords, as closely twined,
Our hearts and souls together bind.
Affection's hand its meshes wove;
May silken cords, as closely twined,
Our hearts and souls together bind.
May Heaven its blessings on thee pour,
Thy purse contain a golden store,
And love and truth, those gems divine,
More bright than gold, be ever thine!
Thy purse contain a golden store,
And love and truth, those gems divine,
More bright than gold, be ever thine!
But all earth's treasures still must fade,
The true, the loved, be lowly laid;
Then be thy surest riches stored
In brighter worlds, with Christ the Lord.
The true, the loved, be lowly laid;
Then be thy surest riches stored
In brighter worlds, with Christ the Lord.
This day we hail his heavenly birth,
This day a babe he came on earth,
Forsook the glories of the skies
To win for man the heavenly prize.
This day a babe he came on earth,
Forsook the glories of the skies
To win for man the heavenly prize.
Then may we lay up treasures there,
In heaven's blest courts so bright and fair,—
That world of peace and joy above,
Eternal as the Saviour's love!
In heaven's blest courts so bright and fair,—
That world of peace and joy above,
Eternal as the Saviour's love!