An Old-Fashioned Christmas

I thought of an old-fashioned Christmas

When the world was aglitter with snow.

When stars, in their blankets of velvet,

Their silvery beams rain below.

Where a Christmas tree stands in a corner

Decked out in the season’s attire.

With a pearl-white necklace of popcorn,

The stringing, the children’s desire.

The shutters unclosed at the windows

And friendly the light shining there,

Like the neighbors who linger when passing

For it is the hour of prayer.

I thought of an old-fashioned Christmas

And a church in the Valley of Peace,

And the bell with its silver chiming

That eased our cares ere it ceased.

The peals of the laughter of children

In toyland around the green tree;

Pleasing and happy with merriment,

How wonderful childhood must be.

The logs blaze bright in the fireplace,

As the hearts that are merry and gay,

As the sleigh bells I hear in the distance

And wish they were coming my way.

I wish you an old-fashioned Christmas

With neighbors and family and friends,

With church bells and singing and blessings

As the old year comes to an end.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.