Gentle as a maiden's dream,
Softly as the gliding stream,
Falls the glittering, sparkling snow.
With its wealth of crystal pearls-
Shining, pure-white coronals,
With its robe of silvery sheen,
Decking earth like virgin queen.

As the noiseless flakes descend,
As they downward quickly tend,
Floating waves of downy snow.
Garnered from the upper realms;
Harvested by unknown hands,-
Culled from cloudland's brightest bower,
Sent to earth as richest dower.

Symbol pure, and emblem sweet!
Type of purity! 'twere meet
That many swell the strain attuned.
Clad with garb like angels wear-
Robed in heaven's holiest gear-
Pure, white snow, I welcome thee,
Hymning lays of minstrelsy.