The Lost Star by Maude Egerton King

From The Vineyard December 1910 (p.182).

Noel by Arthur Hughes
from The Vineyard, December 1910

"I was a shepherd, one of the three

Who first had news of the joy to be,

When all the silent night was riven

With glory out of the inmost heaven.

I too beheld the angelic choir

Leap forth like flames of altar fire:

I saw the vision, heard the song,

And vowed I'd follow the star along.

But homeward first I turned me back

To fill with meat and clothes my sack;

And when again I sought the star

It and my fellows both were afar.

I met another following late-

An old man, lagging 'neath the weight

Of learning won from every age,

And heavy wealth - half king, half sage.

Wisdom was frozen in his breath,

It turned my heart as cold as death:

It crowned with cares my simple head

And turned my flying feet to lead.

The Bright Midnight by Arthur Hughes
from The Vineyard, December 1910

Thro' all the hours I went with him

Our guiding stars looked far and dim,

Till, dull and faithless as a stone,

I bade him keep his path along.

The little wineshop, bright and loud,

Cried welcome as I wandered by.

I warmed my cold heart 'mid its crowd

And lost my pilot in the sky.

Once, thro' a window foul as sin

The Saviour-Star looked searching in;

I cried, "One moment's pleasure yet!"

And when I left my star had set.

And now, alas! in every street

Great praising, feasts crowds I meet;

They praise the Child, the simple Herds,

And e'en the King of the cold, wise word;

They tell me that my simple friends

Came first, there where the long road ends

In the World's Desire-ere one of all

Those wise crowned heads majestical!

They praise the Peace for which I pray,

And yet they cannot point the way-

O for some star in me or them

To guide me to my Bethlehem!"

The Vineyard,
December 1910