A CHRISTMAS GREETING. 545 



Who sang to him night and day 

 The rhymes of the universe. 



And whenever the way seemed long, 



Or his heart began to fail, 

 She would sing a more wonderful song, 



Or tell a more marvelous tale. 



So she keeps him still a child, 



And will not let him go, 

 Though at times his heart beats wild 



For the beautiful Pays de Vaud ; 



Though at times he hears in his dreams 



The Ranz des Vaches of old, 

 And the rush of mountain streams 



From glaciers clear and cold ; 



And the mother at home says, " Hark ! 



For his voice I listen and yearn ; 

 It is growing late and dark, 



And my boy does not return ! " 

 May 28, 1857. 



Longfellow had an exquisite touch for oc- 

 casions of this kind, whether serious or mirth- 

 ful. Once, when some years after this Agassiz 

 was keeping 1 Christmas Eve with his children 

 and grandchildren, there arrived a basket of 

 wine containing six old bottles of rare vint- 

 age. They introduced themselves in a charm- 

 ing French " Noel " as pilgrims from beyond 



35 



