“Wise Men presenting gifts to the Madonna and Child”
by R. Anbell, 1895

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

 The inn was old,

And dark and gray;

A sign was up,

“No Room Today.”

A merchant prince

Was guest within,

A Levite old,

The keeper’s kin.

Unnoticed by

The guests inside,

Two strangers came,

And turned aside.

The inn must bear

The ages’ doom;

Because for Christ

It had no room.

(The angels sing

The Savior’s birth,

The dawn of joy

To men on earth.

The shepherds hear

The angels’ lay,

And haste to give

To Christ their praise.

But what of us

Who have more light?

We cannot plead

The dark of night.

In Christmas tale

Each plays a part: –

Immanuel knocks

At every heart.

Too oft he finds

The sign “No Room,”

And leaves that one

To face his doom.

When days with work

And play are filled;

Our hearts, apart

From God, are chilled.

But in the East

Still shines His Star;

And Wise Men see,

And follow far.

To Bethlehem

They come and bring,

Their hearts and gifts

To Christ their King.

Image above retrieved from:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=704311&imageID=818755&word=christ%20child&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=43&num=20&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=35

Source:
Image Title:  [Wise men presenting gifts to the Madonna and Child.] Creator: Anbell, R. — Artist. Published Date: 1895. Specific Material Type: Prints. Item Physical Description: 1 print : b&w ; 37 x 27 cm. (14 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.)  Notes: Written on border: “DB Updike, Boston, 1895.” Source: Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection / Design — border. Source Description: 4 folders (136 pictures). Location: Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection.  Catalog Call Number: PC DESI-Bor. Digital ID: 818755.  Record ID: 704311. Digital Item Published: 10-27-2005; updated 3-25-2011