( A rare draft-in-process, but even in this form, appropriate for Christmas Eve. Evelyn's faith was her life, evident in this tender account.)
I am the lamb who breathed upon
The Infant Jesus when His Mother
First placed Him in the hay-spun C crib
I snuggled close to Him. He looked
Quite lost in that rough heap of grass; .
But as I watched, I thought the hay
Itself clung closer to His frame,
Caressingly.
The Baby’s eyes
Caught the reflection of a star
Of giant light that hung above
Our The roof at midnight’s hour,and laugherd. and He smiled.
It started all the temple bells
To ringing, strange wild sounds that shocked woke
The peaceful countryside.
Poor Some shepherds
Came running ; and they fell upon
Cold-tightened knees before His face.
It was a wonderment. to them:
This beauteous Child, His Mother’s charm,
His Father’s care-worn countenance,
Submerged in joyful thought.
I was
So young that I could only breathe
My warmth into His bed. I could
Not kneel and pray as all the others
Were praying.
Once He reached His hand
Over the side of His wooden cradle
And rubbed my wool. I snuggled closer
Then, grateful for His gentle touch.
I played
With Him while angels sang. I watched
While Kings brought Him their gifts. I was
Gentle with Him, and Mary kept me in
Their home as Jesus grew.
The God-Man
Cherished my memory by making
A lamb the symbol of His love.
(back reads:
Evelyn Coffey
Dr. Adler’s Prosody
Dec. 5, 1934
Narrative)
It was marked “read”, which meant that he wanted it read in class, and “Skyline” which meant he wanted to publish it in the Skyline journal.
