When I sense the balsam fragrance:
Of the hemlock and the pine,
I seem to hear the carols,
Of a bygone Christmas time.
And the thunder of the organ,
And the soft and mellow chime,
Of those bells I heard in childhood,
Waken memories sublime. When I sense the balsam fragrance:
Of the hemlock and the pine,
I seem to see the World all clothed:
In robes of winter time,
And the tinkle--tinkle--tinkle,
Of the sleigh-bells' joyful rhyme,
Comes drifting to the present,
With the fragrance of the pine. And I'm sure, in the great hereafter,
When all things are divine,
And arms of Angel loved ones,
Our own once more entwine,
There in heaven, as an incense,
The fragrance will combine,
Those best loved, Christmas odors,
Of the hemlock and the pine.