all not lose the way from the darkness to the day,
While dust can cling as their scent clings to memory for aye;
And the least link in the chain can recall the whole again,
And heaven at last resume its far-flung harvests, grain by grain.

To the hill-flowers clings my dust, and tho' eyeless Death may thrust
All else into the darkness, in their heaven I put my trust;
And a dawn shall bid me climb to the little spread of thyme
Where first I heard the ripple of the fountain-heads of rhyme.

And a fir-wood that I know, from dawn to sunset-glow,
Shall whisper to a lonely sea, that swings far, far below.
Death, thy dawn makes all things new. Hills of Youth, I come to you,
Moving through the dew, moving through the dew.

THE CAROL OF THE FIR-TREE

Quoth the Fir-tree, "Orange and vine"
_Sing 'Nowell, Nowell, Nowell'!_
"Have their honour: I have mine!"
_In Excelsis Gloria!_
"I am kin to the great king's house,"
_Ring 'Nowell, Nowell, Nowell'!_
"And Lebanon whispers in my boughs."
_In Excelsis Gloria!_

Apple and cherry, pear and plum,
_Winds of Autumn, sigh 'Nowell_'!
All the trees like mages come
_Bending low with 'Gloria'!_
Holding out on every hand
_Summer pilgrims to Nowell!_
Gorgeous gifts from Elfin-land.
_And the May saith 'Gloria'!_

Out of the darkness--who shall say
_Gold and myrrh for this Nowell!_
How they win their wizard way?
_Out of the East with 'Gloria'!_
Men that eat of the sun and dew
_Angels laugh and sing, 'Nowell.'_
Call it "fruit," and say it "grew"!
_Into the West with 'Gloria'!_

"Leaves that fall," whispered the Fir
_Through the forest sing 'Nowell'!_
"I am winter's minister."
_In Excelsis Gloria!_
Summer friends may come and go,
_Up the mountain sing 'Nowell.'_
Love abides thro' storm and snow.
_Down the valley, 'Gloria'!_

"On my boughs, on mine on mine,"
_Father and mother, sing 'Nowell'!_
"All the fruits of the earth shall twine."
_Bending low with 'Gloria.'_
"Sword of wood and doll of wax"
_Little children, sing 'Nowell.'_
"Swing on the stem was cleft with the axe!"
_Craftsmen all, a 'Gloria.'_

"Hear! I have looked on the other side."
_Out of the East, O sing 'Nowell'!_
"Because to live this night I died!"