3-074-911 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Christmas Morning: A Bouquet For Mamma, drawn by Florence Gravier, 1883. 'What can brighten the wintry hours, This Christmas morning, like Elsie's flowers! What is the gift that can gladden more Than that at her mother's chamber door! Elsie ever this gladsome morn On which the thrice-blest Babe was born, Eagerly bears her little gift Her mother's heart to heaven to lift. For, oh, to her mother's gaze 'tis sweet, Her priceless darling's eyes to meet, Glad blue eyes, brimful, above All other meanings, with yearning love. Ah, but dear are the golden curls And the red, sweet lips of her best of girls, Eager lips, that will not miss All the love in her mother's kiss! Oh Angels of old, that carolled first When the Holy Babe this mom was nursed, Shall ever your hymns, this season, cease To sing us to love and to tender peace? And of all the Heaven to Earth ye bring, Of all the love that to us ye sing, What more dear unto Christ can be Than the love that in Elsie's eyes ye see!' W. C. Bennett. From "Illustrated London News", 1883.