The Cedars and the Pines

In the tops of the ce­dars and pines

A whis­per was heard sweet and low;

And each branch as it hears and in­clines

Shakes off its fair bur­den of snow.

List! the whis­per says

Christ­mas is near;

The pines and the ce­dars all know

That they’ll aid in the joy and the cheer

For this day they flour­ish and grow.

They have heard that their branch­es so green

All la­dened with sil­ver and gold

To en­liv­en the fai­ry-like scene

Tinted can­dles abun­dant will hold.

While their fruits far more pre­cious and rare

Than sum­mer or au­tumn can bring

Cause the child­ren

so hap­py and fair

Their prais­es to shout and to sing.

Then the whis­per­ing turns to a song

And catch­ing the wel­com­ing cheer

They

too

for the Christ­mas-day long

And joy to leave for­ests so drear.

As the eve of the year nears its close

When ver­dure and flow­ers seem dead

Then the ev­er­green calm in re­pose

To Christ­mas and glad­ness is wed.