A Christmas Fancy

　　 A Christmas Fancy

　　 Early on Christmas Day,

　　 Love, as awake I lay,

　　 And heard the Christmas bells ring sweet and clearly,

　　 My heart stole through the gloom

　　 Into your silent room,

　　 And whispered to your heart, `I love you dearly.'

　　 There, in the dark profound,

　　 Your heart was sleeping sound,

　　 And dreaming some fair dream of summer weather.

　　 At my heart's word it woke,

　　 And, ere the morning broke,

　　 They sang a Christmas carol both together.

　　 Glory to God on high!

　　 Stars of the morning sky,

　　 Sing as ye sang upon the first creation,

　　 When all the Sons of God

　　 Shouted for joy abroad,

　　 And earth was laid upon a sure foundation.

　　 Glory to God again!

　　 Peace and goodwill to men,

　　 And kindly feeling all the wide world over,

　　 Where friends with joy and mirth

　　 Meet round the Christmas hearth,

　　 Or dreams of home the solitary rover.

　　 Glory to God! True hearts,

　　 Lo, now the dark departs,

　　 And morning on the snow-clad hills grows grey.

　　 Oh, may love's dawning light

　　 Kindled from loveless night,

　　 Shine more and more unto the perfect day!

　　 by Robert Fuller Murray

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