IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR. 



INTERMEDIATE. 



It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, 

 From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold ; 

 "Peace to the earth, good will to men, From heav'n's all gracious King !' 

 The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing ! 



Still thro' the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; 

 And still their heav'nly music floats, O'er all the weary world; 

 Above its sad and lowly plains, They bend on heav'nly wing ; 

 And ever o'er its Babel sounds, The blessed angels sing. 



And ye, beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, 

 Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow, 

 Look now ! for glad and golden hours, Come swiftly on the wing ; 

 O rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing! 



For lo ! the days are hast'ning on, By prophet bards foretold, 

 When with the ever circling years, Comes round the age of gold ; 

 When Peace shall over all the earth, Its ancient splendors fling, 

 And the whole world send back the song, Which now the angels sing. 



CHRISTMAS CAROL. 



INTERMEDIATE. 



I. 



The bells of time ring out the chime Of merry, merry greeting; 

 And o'er the earth in joyous mirth, All hearts with love are beating. 

 In heaven far the blessed star Of Bethlehem shines o'er us, 

 And sing again, "Good will to men!" Floats from the angel chorus. 



II. 



The earth and air all seem to share The olden Christmas glory ; 



And now once more glad hearts tell o'er Christ's sweet and wondrous story. 



So let us raise to Him our praise, Whose love still hovers o'er us, 



And sing again, "Good will to men !" With heaven's angel chorus. 



III. 



Sing o'er and o'er the glory song, Once sung by angel voices ; 

 Let all the thrilling strains prolong, Till all the earth rejoices. 

 Till all shall love the Manger King, And join the angel chorus; 

 And unto Him sweet praises bring, Whose love aye hovers o'er us. 



(43) 



