POETRY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2410, 26 December 1881, Page 4

POETRY.

OHRISTMASIIDE. Oa Christines Ere the belle were rung ; On Christmas Ere the maos whs sung ; That only ni.iht in all the year, S-.w the staled priest the bhalice rear. pCha Amr.sfl donned her kiftlo sheen, 1 fffho'bill was drercsd with holly green. •'■ BS'ffth 1 to the wood did the merry man go, in the mistletoe. Shea opened wide tho baron’e hall To vassal, tenantyserf kind all; Bower laid his rod of rule aside. And Ceremony doffed his pride Tha heir with roses in hie shoes, Shat'night might village partner choose. ITho Lord, nuderogating share, The vulgar game of “ post and pair,” All hailed with uncontrolled delight And general voice, tho happy night That to tho cottage, aa tho crown Brought tidings of salvation down. She lire, with well dried logo supplied, Went roaring up tho chimney wide ; The huge hall table’s oaken face. Scrubbed till it shone, tho day to grace, Bore then upon its massive board Xfo mark to part tho squire and lord. Then was brought in tho lusty brawn By old blue-coated serving man ; Then the grim boar’s head frowned on high, Orostod with bays and rosemary. Well can the green-garbed ranger tell How, when, and where tho monster fell ; What dogs before his death he tore. And all the baiting of the boar. Tho wassail round in good brown bowls ■G-arnisbod with ribbons, blithely trowls. There the huge sirloin reeked : hard byi ■Plum-porridge stood, and Christmas pye ; 'Nor failed old Scotland to produce, At such high-tide, her savory goose, Then came the merry-masquers in And carols roared with blithsoms din ; If unmelodious was thb song At was a hearty note and strong. The lieta may in their murmuring see Traces of ancient mystery ; White skirts supplied tho masquerade And omutted cheek the visors made ; “But, oh! what masquers, richly dight, i ! Can boast of bosoms half so light; England was merry England when .Old Christmas brought his sports again ’'Taras Christmas broached the mightiest ale ’Twas Christmas told the merriest tale. ' A Christmas gambol oft could cheer The poor man’s heart through half the year, v ‘ v —Sir Walter Scott.