Seen and Unseen

By Frances Chesterton
The Parents’ Review, 1918, p. 722

CHRISTMAS, 1918.

The Child lay nestled in the hay,

Sweet scented hay;

Through the gaping door props

Peeped in the day.

St. Joseph held the tiny hand

Fast in his own;

“What will life hold for Him

When He is grown?”

“Life holds dread death for Him,”

His Mother said;

Her loving fingers stroked

The downy head.

St. Joseph kissed the little mouth;

“When He grows old

Our undying love is His;

Our love untold.”

“And the black hate of cruel men,”

His Mother cried,

And folded in the woollen wrap,

Fallen aside.

St. Joseph warmed the tiny feet

Against his breast.

“Millions shall fight and die

That He may rest.”

And Mary hushed the Babe that wept.

“He will bring peace;

He burns the chariots in the fire

And wars shall cease.”

“How wonderful this mortal Babe,

Here where He lies;”

And Joseph watched the starry smile

In the sweet eyes.

His Mother moved across the floor;

A-tip-toe she trod;

“Hush! that we may not wake

The Son of God.”

Editor’s Note: The formatting of the above article was optimized for online viewing. To access a version which is formatted more similarly to the original, and which includes the original page numbers, please click here.