sympathetic music has been written to these lines than "Carol,"
the tune composed by Richard Storrs Willis, a brother of Nathaniel
Parker Willis the poet, and son of Deacon Nathaniel Willis, the founder
of the _Youth's Companion_. He was born Feb, 10, 1819, graduated at Yale
in 1841, and followed literature as a profession. He was also a musician
and composer. For many years he edited the _N.Y. Musical World_, and,
besides contributing frequently to current literature, published _Church
Chorals and Choir Studies_, _Our Church Music_ and several other volumes
on musical subjects. Died in Detroit, May 7, 1900.

The much-loved and constantly used advent psalm of Mr. Sears,--

Calm on the listening ear of night
Come heaven's melodious strains
Where wild Judea stretches far
Her silver-mantled plains,

--was set to music by John Edgar Gould, and the smooth choral with its
sweet chords is a remarkable example of blended voice and verse.

"O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM!"

Phillips Brooks, the eloquent bishop of Massachusetts, loved to write
simple and tender poems for the children of his church and diocese. They
all reveal his loving heart and the beauty of his consecrated
imagination. This one, the best of his _Christmas Songs_, was slow in
coming to public notice, but finally found its place in hymn-tune
collections.

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in.

Phillips Brooks, late bishop of the diocese of Massachusetts, was born
in Boston, Dec. 13, 1835; died Jan. 23, 1893. He was graduated at
Harvard in 1855, and at the Episcopal Divinity School of Alexandria,
Va., 1859. The first ten years of his ministry were spent i