Happy Christmas, dear teacher, happy Christmas to you!
May anthems be written, be songs sung anew,
To show through the darkness your life-giving light,
As guide to the strangers who toil in the night.
Perchance a bright ray from your science divine
May appear to their hearts and find welcome like mine.
So accept, dearest teacher, Christmas greetings from one
Whose life is made happy by what you have done.
You have found the dear Christ, the Redeemer, at last.
How long He's been buried in minds of the past!
Yet who but a toiler with one steady aim
Discovers a planet, a truth, or lays claim
To anything new of intrinsical worth
From reflections divine, to the star of the north?
From the glorious sun with his far-reaching rays,
To our Saviour's sweet love which brighteneth our days?
Again, our dear teacher, happy Christmas to you!
My heart's all aglow with a love that is true.
Could I manage the bells in all earthly towers,
I'd produce such a symphony through this day's long hours
That all lovers of music would wake from their dreams;
And ministers preaching what the Bible proclaims,
There would be such awakening as our world never saw:
They should ring out your perfect expounding of Law!
