Category Archives: HOLIDAYS

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“Mother’s Day” by Darius M. Ratcliff, 1943

Writings and Letters of Darius Mitteer Ratcliff


MOTHERS DAY

 

I.

Mother with the golden hair,

Mother still young and fair;

Gazing at your baby dear,

Heaven seems to you most near.

God who made the glowing flowers,

God who made the woodland bowers,

God who is so wise and good,

Gave the gift called motherhood.

Lovely are the birds of flight,

Glorious are the stars of night:

Far more beautiful than they,

Is this gift for mortals’ day.

Mother, count your blessings, try;

Blessings money could not buy:

Children romping with their toys,

Mothers’ love, and mothers’ joys.

Motherhood has brought to you

Blessings for your whole life through;

Motherhood has made you mother, –

You’d not change for any other.

II.

Mother, slow sweet years will pass,

Baby will become a lass;

You must meet the mother’s test;

Motherhood should have your best.

You can take the selfish road,

Shun the mother’s heavy load:

Motherhood…

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“My Easter Prayer” by Darius M. Ratcliff, 1943

EASTERBLESSING

“Easter Blessings Be Thine”, ca. 1912

MY EASTER PRAYER – 1943

Jesus help me know thy love,

Love that brought thee  to our earth.

Leaving realms of brightest glory,

For a lowly manger birth.

Love that chose the hasty Peter,

Cleansed the striken Magdalen.

Patiently endured the traitor,

Made the vilest sinner clean.

Love that led thee to the cross,

Round thee there with fetters strong.

Though a word from thee had scattered,

Those who thought they did thee wrong.

Love that suffered for my sins,

Took their sorrow in my stead.

That I might rejoice in heaven,

Ransomed ever from the dead.

Love that’s mine in this today,

Guiding me while earth I roam.

Shaping me into thy image,

Bringing me to thy own home.

Jesus help me feel thy love,

At this joyous Easter season.

When I view again thy passion,

And thy sacrifice envision.

When I try to comprehend,

Its significance to thee.

Wonder what thou didst endure,

That I might from death be free.

When I seek to understand,

Its significance to us.

How for all who will believe,

This is made our righteousness.

When I would appreciate,

Thy unfathomed love divine.

That I might express my thanks,

That this love is truly mine.

Jesus may I have thy love,

Poured into this sluggish heart.

Filling me with love for others,

Making me of love a part.

That I may this love imbibe,

May I yield my will to thee.

Holding not a purpose back,

Living only thine to be.

That I may with love be filled,

May I linger long in prayer.

That thou mayest possess me wholly,

And have me thy image wear.

Jesus, may I show thy love,

First to thee my loving Lord.

Thou has always so loved me,

I deserved to be abhorred.

Then to those within thy church,

Those whom thou has rendered clean.

These are they beloved of thee,

In their lives thou now art seen.

Next to my own kind and kin,

These my first and dearest charge.

May they have of love my best,

May my heart to them enlarge.

And to others far and wide,

Neighbors, fellow workers, friends.

Enemies who injured me,

Those far off where my light ends.

 

Image above retrieved from:

digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1065612&imageID=1587604&word= easter blessing&s=1¬word=&d=&c=&f=&k=1&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=12&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=9

Image Details

Image Title:  Easter blessings be thine. Published Date: ca. 1912.Source: Holiday postcards / Easter — Religious. Source Description: 96 postcards : col. ; 9 x 14 cm. Location: Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection. Catalog Call Number: PC POC Easter – ReligiousDigital. ID: 1587604. Record ID: 1065612.  Digital Item Published: 9-10-2007; updated 5-15-2012

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“My Easter Message” by Darius M. Ratcliff

HAPPYEASTER

“Buona Pasqua”

(Italian – Happy Easter)

MY EASTER MESSAGE

Do you seek eternal laughter,

And no tears to follow after;

You can find by Christ receiving,

Once for all on Him believing.

If the Christ you are refusing,

If His word you’re not perusing:

Am I right, or merely guessing,

You’ll be missing heaven’s blessing.

Why then wait till comes disaster?

Years are passing fast and faster:

Now’s the day for you to hearken,

Lest the night forever darken.

If the world your heart is filling,

And to change you’re all unwilling:

Do you know what you’ll be reaping?

Must your journey end in weeping?

Perhaps you dread a life of giving,

Ever for some others living:

Surely it is worth the trying;

On the Lord’s own word relying.

There is joy in Christian giving,

And for others always living:

You’ll be glad when you surrender,

And to Christ your service render.

Others are the world reminding,

What they want in Christ they’re finding:

In this life of thrill and action,

They are finding satisfaction.

When the shades of night are fallen,

And our lives are past recalling,

Are you sure that you’ll be voicing

Songs of heaven’s glad rejoicing?

You today may this be knowing

And like Jesus, too be growing

If you come to Jesus merely,

And accept Him now sincerely.

Image above retrieved from:

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1065603&imageID=1587578&total=18&num=0&word=jesus%20christ%20resurrection&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=1&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&imgs=20&pos=14&e=w

Image Details

Image Title:  Buona Pasqua. Item Physical Description: 1 postcard : col., embossed ; 14 x 9 cm.

 Notes: Gold metallic accents. Source: Holiday postcards / Easter — Foreign. Source Description: 16 postcards : col. ; 9 x 14 cm. Location: Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection. Catalog Call Number: PC POC Easter – Foreign. Digital ID: 1587578. Record ID: 1065603. Digital Item Published: 9-10-2007; updated 5-15-2012.

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“Christmas – 1943” by Darius M. Ratcliff

“A Christmas Greeting”, Vintage Postcard

CHRISTMAS – 1943

There is joy for all people at Christmas,

‘Tis the time of the Savior’s birth.

All the joys and glories of heaven

He is bringing for men of the earth.

We have a wonderful Savior,

Sent from our Father above:

We have a wonderful message,

A message of joy and of love.

But the Savior demands our repentance,

He demands that we call on His name;

And if all His demands go unheeded,

Then for us ‘twas in vain that He came.

We have a wonderful Savior,

Sent from our Father above:

We have a wonderful message,

A message of joy and of love.

All the ransomed of earth are now singing,

And the Christ is the theme of their song:

There are some who are missing the music,

And perhaps they are waiting too long.

We have a wonderful Savior,

Sent from our Father above:

We have a wonderful message,

A message of joy and of love.

The whole world for sweet peace is now praying,

But refusing first place to the Lord.

When they render allegiance to Jesus,

He will banish the spear and the sword.

We have a wonderful Savior,

Sent from our Father above:

We have a wonderful message,

A message of joy and of love.

We all welcome the coming of Christmas,

Let us welcome the way of the cross:

We are singing and praising the Savior,

Let us not crowd Him out of earth’s dross.

We have a wonderful Savior,

Sent from our Father above:

We have a wonderful message,

A message of joy and of love.

Image above retrieved from:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1065498&imageID=1588588&word=christmas&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=1921&num=20&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=25#_seemore

Source:
Image Title:  A Christmas greeting. Published Date: ca. 191- . Notes: Printed on verso: “Series 225, Christmas Madonnas, 12 Des.”  Source: Holiday postcards / Christmas — Religious. Source Description: 21 postcards : col. ; 9 x 14 cm. Location: Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection.  Catalog Call Number: PC POC – Christmas – Religious. Digital ID: 1588588. Record ID: 1065498. Digital Item Published: 8-8-2007; updated 5-15-2012.

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“When Christmas Comes” by Darius M. Ratcliff

“A holy happy Christmas”, Vintage Postcard, Artist: Malcolm McGregor Jamieson, Jr.

WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES

Christmas comes to every land,

Christmas comes o’er desert sand,

Christmas comes in artic cold,

Christmas comes to Eastern fold:

What is Christmas?

Christmas comes for girls and boys,

Christmas comes with games and toys,

Christmas comes with ringing bells,

Christmas comes and  music swells:

What is Christmas?

Christmas comes to cattle shed,

Christmas comes to shepherd led,

Christmas comes to wise men afar,

Christmas comes with guiding star:

What is Christmas?

Christmas comes with Jesus’ birth,

Thus it came at first to earth;

Thus it comes to everyone,

When he by faith accepts the Son:

This is Christmas.

Image above retrieved from:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1065508&imageID=1588608&word=christmas%20christ&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=22&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=5

Source:
Image Title:  A holy happy Christmas. Creator: Jamieson, Malcolm McGregor, Jr. — Artist. Additional Name(s): E.P. Dutton (Firm) — Publisher Nister, Ernest — Publisher. Published Date: ca. 191-. Notes: Printed on verso: “Open to me the gates of righteousness : I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord.”  Source: Holiday postcards / Christmas — Religious. Source Description: 21 postcards : col. ; 9 x 14 cm. Location: Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection. Catalog Call Number: PC POC – Christmas – Religious. Digital ID: 1588608. Record ID: 1065508. Digital Item Published: 8-8-2007; updated 5-15-2012.

 

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“This Joy Of Which The Angel Spoke” by Darius M. Ratcliff

“Christmas Greetings”, Vintage Postcard, International Art Company


THIS JOY OF WHICH THE ANGEL 

This joy of which the angel spoke,

When heavenly light the shepherds woke;

Was it a dream from fancy wrought?

Or something real by heaven taught?

The baffled lives of millions now,

Who frantic to their idols bow;

Who live where earthly pleasures are,

Or follow gain’s deceiving star;

Bemock the angel’s glad acclaim,

Ignore the Christ who lowly came.

The angel’s words they scarce believe,

Because the joy they don’t receive.

A remnant though a chose few,

Whose hearts by Christ who lowly came.

Have found the joy the angel scanned,

The joy that God for all had planned.

The buried treasure they have found,

While treading near Immanuel’s ground:

The pearl of matchless price descried,

And bought it with all else beside.

Let’s make the message loud and clear,

That all may know, afar and near;

Nor let the fogs that settle down

This Christmas joy in darkness drown.

If this rich joy we’ve failed to taste,

And life becomes a weary waste;

Be still and hear the angel’s voice.

We yet may in the Christ rejoice.

We’ll have to from OUR way repent,

And follow Him whom God has sent.

God is not mocked, be not deceived,

As we have sowed we have received.

If with the world we’ve sown our seed,

Why should we frown at worldly weed?

But if to Christ our all we’ll sow,

We’ll reap both life and JOY below.

Image retrieved from:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1065504&imageID=1588600&word=christmas%20nativity&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=16&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=4
Source:
Image Title:  Christmas greetings. Additional Name(s): International Art Publishing Co. — Publisher. Published Date: ca. 191-. Notes: Printed on recto: “The glory of the Lord shone round about them. Luke 2.9.” Source: Holiday postcards / Christmas — Religious. Source Description: 21 postcards : col. ; 9 x 14 cm. Location: Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection. Catalog Call Number: PC POC – Christmas – Religious .Digital ID: 1588600. Record ID: 1065504. Digital Item Published: 8-8-2007; updated 5-15-2012.

 

 

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“Christmas Message – II” by Darius M. Ratcliff

“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

 

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“Christmas Meditations” by Darius M. Ratcliff

“Christmas“, Vintage Postcard

CHRISTMAS MEDITATIONS

1.  Christmas belongs to the world. Millions observe Christmas. Everyone likes a “good time”

2. Many miss the real Christmas. Christmas was meant to change the world. No one has the real Christmas unless he experiences the change that Christ came to bring and Christmas means a “good time.”

3. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” On the first Christmas God gave us a Christmas present. To us this present remains forever “unspeakable.” Our gifts have their value, but they are trifles compared with God’s Christmas present for us. This gift is marked “From God to You, whoever  You may be.” I’ll accept the gift.

4. The Christmas angel said, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord.” The joys of earth are not called “great” by the angel. The real Christmas joy is. Have I this joy? If not, I want it.

5. “To all people.” It is evident that not all people have it. “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that  leadeth unto destruction, and many are they that enter in there at.” Yet the Christmas joy is offered to all people, Americans, Germans, Japanese, Negroes, South Sea Islanders, and — “All people”, and I am one.

6. “Unto you is born this day.” So Christ was born unto us, for me. He is yours and mine as much as He is anyone’s, as much as He is Paul’s.

 7. “A Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” A baby then but a Son of God, able to save to the uttermost those who draw near unto God through Him. I want to be saved to the “uttermost.”

Image above retrieved from:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1065513&imageID=1588618&word=christmas%20nativity&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=16&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=3

Source:
Image Title:  Christmas. Item Physical Description: 1 postcard : col., embossed ; 9.2 x 14.1 cm. Source: Holiday postcards / Christmas — Religious. Source Description: 21 postcards : col. ; 9 x 14 cm. Location: Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection. Catalog Call Number: PC POC – Christmas – Religious. Digital ID: 1588618. Record ID: 1065513. Digital Item Published: 8-8-2007; updated 5-15-2012

 

 

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“A Christmas Wish” by Darius M. Ratcliff

“As the wise men came, bearing precious gifts so does this card bear to you my loving Christmas greetings”
Vintage Postcard


A CHRISTMAS WISH

A Christmas wish for you,

That I would have come true?

When all is said and done,

There can be only one.

The JOY the angel told

To shepherds by their fold

That Christ had come to give

To all who’d for him live.

The JOY the Wise Men felt

When by the Babe they knelt.

They’d sought for this afar

While following the star.

The JOY that Simeon knew,

And aged Anna  too,

When they the Babe received,

And on His Name believed.

The JOY that waits us now

When we to Jesus bow,

In answer to His call

To give to Him our all.

The JOY from God above,

The gift of wondrous love:

This JOY I wish for you;

In glorious fullness too.

Image above retrieved from:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1065499&imageID=1588590&word=christmas%20nativity&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=16&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=9#_seemore

Source: Image Title:  As the wise men came, bearing precious gifts so does this card bear to you my loving Christmas greetings. Item Physical Description: 1 postcard : col., embossed ; 9.2 x 14.1 cm. Source: Holiday postcards / Christmas — Religious. Source Description: 21 postcards : col. ; 9 x 14 cm Location: Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection. Catalog Call Number: PC POC – Christmas – Religious. Digital ID: 1588590. Record ID: 1065499. Digital Item Published: 8-8-2007; updated 5-15-2012

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“Christmas Message – I” by Darius M. Ratcliff

“Christmas Greetings”, Vintage Postcard, Whitney Valentine Company

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

A Christmas message true

I wish to send to you:

Not “Jingle Bells” nor toys,

Not Christmas feasts and joys,

Not Santa’s reindeer sled

When wee tots are abed:

But one of love alone: –

God wants us for His own.

Our Father God above

Created us for love.

No mortal tongue can name,

Nor can the angels frame,

The grandeur of the plan

That God has made for man.

The form of God to bear:

A child of God, and heir.

Our hearts to God to give,

As His on earth to live:

In righteousness sublime,

In hope transcending time,

In joy that overflows,

In faith that heaven knows:

Our God to love and praise,

To walk in heaven’s ways.

But Satan entered in,

Our hearts were lured to sin:

Our Father we forgot,

And chose a godless lot,

Our eyes were blinded quite

To God, and truth, and right:

Our feet have gone astray;

Each one, his chosen way.

In lowly manger birth

‘twas God who came to earth.

The Christmas story true,

The Gospel ever new,

Is love’s sublimest story,

Creation’s crowning glory:

Our God in bridegroom’s part

To win the sinner’s heart.

Image above retrieved from:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1065446&imageID=1585554&word=christmas%20christ&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&total=22&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=1#_seemore

Source:
Image Title:  Christmas greeting. Additional Name(s): Whitney Valentine Co. — Publisher
Source: Holiday postcards / Christmas. Source Description: 704 postcards : col. ; 9 x 14 cm
Location: Mid-Manhattan Library / Picture Collection
Catalog Call Number: PC POC – Christmas. Digital ID: 1585554. Record ID: 1065446.
Digital Item Published: 7-24-2007; updated 5-15-2012