What means this loud-swelling, harmonious chime
That heralds thy coming, oh, glad Christmas time?
These voices that echo from Heaven to earth
The rapturous song of Immanuel’s birth?

We have heard the sweet story again and again,
How Jesus once tented in dwellings of men.
Came with healing divine to the stricken of heart,
To souls in despair precious hope to impart.

How eager we claim every promise of love,
Of sympathy, comfort, and peace interwove—
Rejoice, looking on to the glory before,
In assurance of manifold blessings in store.

Yet not to us only the good news was brought—
That Gospel with goodwill and gladness is fraught
To all the far dwellers in every lone isle,
Their night to dispel with Love’s heavenly smile.

The word of the Lord comes to you and to me:
Go, carry the news! ’Tis for them as for thee.
Go, bear them the message! ’Tis thus thou may’st prove
Thy grateful devotion, thy heart’s faithful love.

Meta E. B. Thorne
Woman’s Missionary Friend, January 1899