The Christmas Tree

She wandered through the city,
A lonely poor man's child ;
The hardest heart would pity
That face so sad and mild.

She heard the joy of voices,
For they kept their Christmas-tide
But o'er that girl rejoices
Her God and none beside.

It had pleased the Lord to gather
Her parents to their rest ;
Her mother and her father,
And all who loved her best.

She saw them gaily bringing
Gifts for the Christmas-tree ;
She heard sweet children singing,
But lone and sad was she !

" Alas ! " she cried, " I only
Am shut out from their mirth ;
O ! why am I so lonely ?
Thou Saviour of the Earth ! "

Behold ! her hand she raises,
With wonder and affright ;
On a fair strange Child she gazes,
Clothed as in robes of light !

" I was, like thee, a stranger,
A solitary birth ;
I have gone through childhood's danger,
And sorrows of the earth."

" My name is Jesus ! yonder
Those starry branches see ;
No longer, lonely, wander,
It is thy Christmas-tree ! "

Then came an angel, gladly,
Forth from the silvery leaves ;
Down where the maiden sadly,
Among the joyful, grieves.

" Seek thou," He said, " none other,
Thou wanderer of the wild ;
Thy father and thy mother
Is Jesus, Mary's child ! "