In joy she grew from year to year;
    And sorrow made her sweeter;
  And every comfort, still more kind;
    And every loss, completer. 
  Her children came to love her name,—­
    “Christina,”—­’twas a lip’s caress;
    And when they called, they seemed to bless.

  No more they call, for she is gone
    Too far away to hear them;
  And yet they often breathe her name
    As if she lingered near them;
  They cannot reach her with love’s speech,
    But when they say “Christina” now
    ’Tis like a prayer or like a vow: 

  A vow to keep her life alive
    In deeds of pure affection,
  So that her love shall find in them
    A daily resurrection;
  A constant prayer that they may wear
    Some touch of that supernal light
    With which she blossoms in God’s sight.

THE BARGAIN

  What shall I give for thee,
    Thou Pearl of greatest price? 
  For all the treasures I possess
    Would not suffice.

  I give my store of gold;
    It is but earthly dross: 
  But thou wilt make me rich, beyond
    All fear of loss.

  Mine honours I resign;
    They are but small at best: 
  Thou like a royal star wilt shine
    Upon my breast.

  My worldly joys I give,
    The flowers with which I played;
  Thy beauty, far more heavenly fair,
    Shall never fade.

  Dear Lord, is that enough?
   Nay, not a thousandth part.
  Well, then, I have but one thing more: 
    Take Thou my heart.

TO THE CHILD JESUS

I

THE NATIVITY

  Could every time-worn heart but see Thee once again,
  A happy human child, among the homes of men,
  The age of doubt would pass,—­the vision of Thy face
  Would silently restore the childhood of the race.

II

THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

  Thou wayfaring Jesus, a pilgrim and stranger,
    Exiled from heaven by love at thy birth,
  Exiled again from thy rest in the manger,
    A fugitive child ’mid the perils of earth,—­
  Cheer with thy fellowship all who are weary,
    Wandering far from the land that they love;
  Guide every heart that is homeless and dreary,
    Safe to its home in thy presence above.

BITTER-SWEET

    Just to give up, and trust
      All to a Fate unknown,
    Plodding along life’s road in the dust,
      Bounded by walls of stone;
  Never to have a heart at peace;
  Never to see when care will cease;
  Just to be still when sorrows fall—­
  This is the bitterest lesson of all.