CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

I am the Christmas spirit!

I enter the home of poverty, causing
pale faced children to open their eyes wide,
in pleased wonder.

I cause the miser's clutched hand to re-
lax, and thus point a bright spot on
his soul.

I cause the aged to renew their youth
and to laugh in the old, glad way.

I keep romance alive in the heart of
childhood, and brighten sleep with
dreams woven of magic.

I cause eager feet to climb, dark stair-
ways with filled baskets, leaving behind
hearts amazed a the goodness of the
world.

I cause the prodigal to pause a moment
on his wild, wasteful way, and send to
anxious love some little token that releases
glad tears-tears which wash away the
hard lines of sorrow.

I enter dark prison cells, reminding
scarred manhood of what might have been,
and pointing forward to good days yet to
be.

I come softly into the still, white house of
pain, and lips that are too weak to speak
just tremble in silent, eloquent gratitude.

In a thousand ways I cause the weary
world to look up into the face of God, and
for a little moment forget the things that
are small and wretched.

I am the Christmas spirit.
~E.C. Baird