jackals lurk.

And yet the spark of manhood still flamed within his
heart,
And still he saw the Baby, beyond the stable door;
And oftentimes at even, as crimson daytime died,
He knelt, a sorry figure, from all of life apart.
And, "Oh, if I could see Him -- and feel His love
once more,
"If I could see Him smiling, I would not steal!" he
cried.


V.

It was a glowing ruby that caused the thief to fall,
But -- he was very hungry, and lonely, too, and cold;
And youth lay all behind him, a tattered funeral
pall,
For he was very tired, and he was growing old.
It was a glowing ruby that lay upon the breast
Of one who had not earned it, who wore it with a
sneer;
The thief was very weary, he only longed for rest;
He was too wan for caring, he was too numb for fear!

It was a glowing ruby -- he held it in his hand --
His hand was thin and withered, it shook beneath
the gem;
He took the vivid ruby, the ransom of a land,