IX.
No Room in the Inn
_A picture of two contrasted abodes. On one side is the Inn, the House of Chimham, crowded with revelers whose ideal is expressed by Herod. On the other side is the humble crib where angels are finding fellowship with ox and ass in adoration of the Christ Child._
No Room in the Inn
_The Angel Gabriel speaks:_
Unseen I stand and marvel; mysteries twain Becloud my understanding. Here the train Of seraphs worship as before the Throne, With glory vast, unseen of man alone. Even the ox and ass, dumb, with meek eyes, With ecstasy atremble, recognize The crib where sleeps their Lord. Yet, o'er the hills, Back turned on this, a crowded world which fills The House of Chimham, anxious but to see The little lights of princely puppetry Where Herod's palace flaunts its feeble ray, With lure, alas, to lead man's soul astray From this, the light which burns eternally, And brings to earth her full felicity.
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O fools, and blind! I seem to hear your sin Proclaim'd with revelry within the Inn Ye deem so sure a dwelling. Hark, the song Which shrills so loud the ages all along:
"No room, no room, in the world's wide Inn, For Age when the wine of life is thin! This carpenter, Joseph--push him aside; If he cannot keep up, let him lodge outside, With the beasts of the stable of Bethlehem!
"No room, no room, for Mary as guest, When Woman is weakness and sore distrest! As thrall or as toy she awhile may abide; If she come but to suffer, why, shut her outside, With the beasts of the stable of Bethlehem!
"A child, a child--on our hands tonight! Oh, no room for Childhood, whatever its plight! Children are cheap: for the travail hour, Send the woman away to discover a bower With the beasts of the stable of Bethlehem!"
Poor, foolish world! How are your revels mocked! E'en while ye feast, your Inn is earthquake shocked, Though Time but move a finger. The dumb beasts Are sager than the prophets of your feasts, Who lift their empty voices to the night-- Made deaf by hearing, blind through gift of sight. This stable whither ye the weak ones ban, Stands on the rock of God's eternal plan; And far above the ribald song ye sing, I hear the ages with glad chorus ring:
"Room, O room, in the Kingdom, for the trampled of power and pride, For Age that sinks under its weakness, with life's full fruition denied, Starved faculty hungry for service, impatient for uses of heaven-- O enter, but stoop as ye enter, for life abounding is given By the way of the stable of Bethlehem.
"Room, O room, in the Kingdom, for Womanhood tender and true-- Handmaid of God, quick oblation, elect evermore to renew Life, with Hope ever re-risen for the generations of earth-- Enter, albeit with pangs of the soul and with travail of birth, By the crib of the stable of Bethlehem.
"Room, in the Kingdom, for Childhood--for children the chiefest seat! Such shall be dear to the King, He shall gather them round His feet. In their joy He shall greatly rejoice, and their sadness shall make Him sad. Yea, their joy shall turn earth into heaven, and their gladness shall make men glad, As they tell of the stable of Bethlehem."
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Sometime it will dawn, that Gospel. Then shall shine This stable, brighter than the Orient sun; And men shall worship at this humble shrine, Where, all unmarked, Redemption's work's begun. The dumb brutes know; yet, for man's sake I go, By other signs to stir him in his sleep. My errand now--some few prepared I know-- To light the hillsides where they watch their sheep.