The Children Out-of-Doors
I.
THEIR wandering cries are in the windy street;
(O faces wan and sweet!)
What ear doth stoop to listen, — eye to mark
Those footsteps in the dark?
(O faces wan and sweet!)
What ear doth stoop to listen, — eye to mark
Those footsteps in the dark?
In my warm room, full-filled with childish glee,
The still thought troubles me:s
These children I call mine; what parent yours,
Ye children out-of-doors?
The still thought troubles me:s
These children I call mine; what parent yours,
Ye children out-of-doors?
Fatherless, motherless, shelterless, unfed
Save crusts of bitter bread!
How dare I rest, my lids to sleep resign!
Are ye not also mine?
Save crusts of bitter bread!
How dare I rest, my lids to sleep resign!
Are ye not also mine?
II.
Who is it, in the deep-breathed winter night,
While snows lie starry-bright,
Knocks at my door? (Or did a passing wind
Deceive my empty mind ?)
While snows lie starry-bright,
Knocks at my door? (Or did a passing wind
Deceive my empty mind ?)
It is a little child, sore-pinched with cold,
Ragged and hunger-bold,
Houseless and friendless, goes from door to door,
Knocking, as oft before.
Ragged and hunger-bold,
Houseless and friendless, goes from door to door,
Knocking, as oft before.
“ Arise, and let Him in!” a voice is heard,
At which my sleep was stirred
A little, oh a little, and my heart
Beat with a quickening start.
At which my sleep was stirred
A little, oh a little, and my heart
Beat with a quickening start.
“ Arise, and let Him in!”—a voice, no more.
Sleep double-locks the door,
And Christ, who, child-like, piteously came,
Leaves me to waking shame.
Sleep double-locks the door,
And Christ, who, child-like, piteously came,
Leaves me to waking shame.
III.
He born in each of these, the Son of God,
Walks, so disguised, abroad;
Dwells in mean places, nursed by cold and want,
Abused, half-naked, gaunt.
Walks, so disguised, abroad;
Dwells in mean places, nursed by cold and want,
Abused, half-naked, gaunt.
He goes, a homeless child, to happy homes,
Whence light, with laughter, comes
From blissful hearths, through many a shining pane.
He waits, in frost or rain.
Whence light, with laughter, comes
From blissful hearths, through many a shining pane.
He waits, in frost or rain.
Blessèd they are who hearken when He knocks,
And open eager locks;
Who bid from out-of-doors the stranger come,
And give the homeless home.
And open eager locks;
Who bid from out-of-doors the stranger come,
And give the homeless home.
Oh, blessèd they who in his piteous guise
The Wanderer recognize;
The Light of the World through conscious doors they win
Who rise and let Him in!
The Wanderer recognize;
The Light of the World through conscious doors they win
Who rise and let Him in!
John James Piatt.
- Read at opening of Children’s Home Fair, Cincinnati, Ohio, April 15, 1873.↩