From ev­ery spire on Christ­mas Eve,
The Christ­mas bells ring clear­ly out
Their mes­sage of good­will and peace,
With ma­ny a call and sil­ver shout.
For faith­ful hearts, the an­gels’ song
Still ech­oes in the fros­ty air,
And by the al­tar low they bow,
In ado­rat­ion and in pray­er.

A thou­sand bless­èd me­mo­ries throng,
The stars are ho­ly signs to them,
And from the eyes of ev­ery child
Looks forth the Babe of Beth­le­hem;
But there are oth­ers, not like these,
Whose brows are sad, whose hopes are crossed,
To whom the sea­son brings no cheer,
And life’s most gra­cious charm is lost.

To whom that sto­ry, old and sweet,
Is but a fa­ble at the best,
The Christ­mas mu­sic mocks their ears,
And life has naught of joy or rest.
Oh! for an an­gel’s voice to pierce
The clouds of grief that o’er them rise,
The mists of doubt and un­be­lief
That veil the blue of Christ­mas skies.

That they, at last, may see the light
Which shines from Beth­le’em, and un­fold
For Christ the trea­sures of their hearts,
Richer than spi­ce­ry or gold.
O Hope of Ag­es, draw Thou near,
Till all the earth shall own Thy sway,
And when Thou reign’st in ev­ery heart
It will, in­deed, be Christ­mas Day.