“Allie’s Christmas Eve,” by “Lillie Linden” (from Robert Merry’s Museum February 1865; p. 53)
Christmas Eve!
But in the city
There were some whom none could pity,
Some who had no Christmas Eve.
Through a dirty, dingy alley,
Up the narrow, creaking stair—
Spiders built their houses there—
There sat little orphan Allie.
By the window, there sat Alice,
Looking at the sky; said she,
“Oh, that I were there to see
Christmas Eve in heaven’s palace!
Father, mother, both are there:
O, if God would take me too!”
And her thin hands, cold and blue,
Clasped in supplicating prayer.
“Oh, God! please take little Allie;
Up in heaven all is light,
And I am so cold to-night!
Oh, God! please take little Allie.”
God in mercy heard her prayer;
O’er her face a sweet smile passed,
And she murmured, “Home at last—
There will be no sorrow there.”
And the little angel-spirit
Went to Him who gave it leave—
Little Alice went to heaven,
There to pass her Christmas Eve.