Poems (Merrill)/A Yule-Tide Missive

by Clara A. Merrill

A YULE-TIDE MISSIVE

To my dear friend:—E. L. F.

As onward Old Time is e'er rolling, And Summer again has gone by; The sweet bells of Christmas are ringing,  And wafting their music on high—Telling the same sweet old story,  That ever emotion awakes; Of Him who was born in a manger  And Who suffered and died for our sakes.

My wish is, that this day may bring you  Very rich and abundant good cheer; May yours be a bright happy Christmas,  With friends that are ever sincere. It is willed that I cannot be with you— As you still linger "down by the sea;"But my wish is—and may it be granted— That one thought-wave may reach you from me,

Ere the bells have ceased ringing the tidings  Of Peace and Good Will to all men," Old Santa will wake from his slumbers  And, hobbling forth from his den He will harness his fleet footed reindeer  To the sleigh, and away he will flee,—And eagerly on, he will hasten  To bring you this message from me!

Though this has no value, excepting  The love it contains in its fold,—Yet, love that is true and unfading  To me is more precious than gold. So, when you shall weigh in Worth's balance  The gifts you receive on this day; Surely mine will not be found wanting,  For Love will be sure to out-weigh.

Were I sure, that, receiving this missive  You should feel just one pang of regret That I cannot be with you this evening,  It would fully repay me, and yet I know you'll transmit one thought message  To me, from afar o'er the plain; While the sweet bells of Christmas are ringing  And telling their story again.

While the sweet bells of Christmas are ringing  In accents of joy and of praise; For the Babe in the manger, so blessed,  As they rang in the dear by-gone days,— May they ring as of yore,—And the blessing  Of Peace and Good Will" which they gave In the ringing decend o'er our Spirits,— Like music which wafts o 'er the wave.

Buckfield, Me., 1911.