A Christmas Carol

It chanced upon the merry merry Christmas eve,
    I went sighing past the church across the moorland dreary -
'Oh! never sin and want and woe this earth will leave,
    And the bells but mock the wailing round, they sing so cheery.
How long, O Lord! how long before Thou come again?
    Still in cellar, and in garret, and on moorland dreary
The orphans moan, and widows weep, and poor men toil in vain,
    Till earth is sick of hope deferred, though Christmas bells be cheery.'

Then arose a joyous clamour from the wild-fowl on the mere,
    Beneath the stars, across the snow, like clear bells ringing,
And a voice within cried - 'Listen! - Christmas carols even here!
    Though thou be dumb, yet o'er their work the stars and snows are singing.
Blind!    I live, I love, I reign; and all the nations through
    With the thunder of my judgments even now are ringing.
Do thou fulfil thy work but as yon wild-fowl do,
    Thou wilt heed no less the wailing, yet hear through it angels singing.'

Eversley, 1849.