In The Yule-Log Glow, Vol. IV | Page 6

all the far-off past reveal.
Hence, while the imperial city's din?Beats frequent on thy satiate ear,?A pleased attention I may win?To agitations less severe,?That neither overwhelm nor cloy,?But fill the hollow vale with joy!
_William Wordsworth._
THE OLD, OLD STORY.
Listen, Lordings, unto me, a tale I will you tell,?Which, as on this night of glee, in David's town befell.?Joseph came from Nazareth, with Mary that sweet maid;?Weary were they, nigh to death; and for a lodging pray'd. Sing high, sing high, sing low, sing low,?Sing high, sing low, sing to and fro,
Go tell it out with speed,?Cry out and shout all round about,?That Christ is born indeed.
In the inn they found no room; a scanty bed they made:?Soon a Babe from Mary's womb was in the manger laid.?Forth He came as light through glass: He came to save us all, In the stable ox and ass before their Maker fall.
Sing high, sing low, etc.
Shepherds lay afield that night, to keep the silly sheep, Hosts of angels in their sight came down from heaven's high steep. Tidings! tidings! unto you: to you a Child is born,?Purer than the drops of dew, and brighter than the morn.
Sing high, sing low, etc.
Onward then the angels sped, the shepherds onward went,?God was in His manger bed, in worship low they bent.?In the morning see ye mind, my masters one and all,?At the altar Him to find who lay within the stall.
Sing high, sing low, etc.
_H. R. Bramley._
A CHRISTMAS BALLAD.
Outlanders, whence come ye last??_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?Through what green sea and great have ye past??_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
From far away, O masters mine,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?We come to bear you goodly wine:?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
From far away we come to you,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?To tell of great tidings strange and true:?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
News, news of the Trinity,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?And Mary and Joseph from over the sea:?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
For as we wandered far and wide,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?What hope do ye deem there should us betide??_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
Under a bent when the night was deep,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?There lay three shepherds tending their sheep:?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
"O ye shepherds, what have ye seen,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?To slay your sorrow and heal your teen?"?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
"In an ox-stall this night we saw,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?A Babe and a maid without a flaw.?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
"There was an old man there beside,?_The snow in the street and the wind, on the door._?His hair was white, and his hood was wide.?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
"And as we gazed this thing upon,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?Those twain knelt down to the Little One.?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
"And a marvellous song we straight did hear,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?That slew our sorrow and healed our care."?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
News of a fair and a marvellous thing,?_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._?Nowell, nowell, nowell, we sing!?_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._
_William Morris._
A FRENCH NO?L.
(TRANSLATED FROM GUI BAR?ZAI.)
I hear along our street?Pass the minstrel throngs;?Hark! they play so sweet,?On their hautboys, Christmas songs!
Let us by the fire?Ever higher?Sing them till the night expire!
In December ring?Every day the chimes;?Loud the gleemen sing?In the streets their merry rhymes.
Let us by the fire, etc.
Shepherds at the grange,?Where the Babe was born,?Sang, with many a change,?Christmas carols until morn.
Let us by the fire, etc.
These good people sang?Songs devout and sweet;?While the rafters rang?There they stood with freezing feet.
Let us by the fire, etc.
Nuns in frigid cells?At this holy tide?For want of something else?Christmas songs at times have tried.
Let us by the fire, etc.
Washerwomen old,?To the sound they beat,?Sing by rivers cold?With uncovered heads and feet.
Let us by the fire, etc.
Who by the fireside stands?Stamps his feet and sings;?But he who blows his hands?Not so gay a carol brings.
Let us by the fire, etc.
_Henry Wadsworth Longfellow._
MASTERS, IN THIS HALL.
"To Bethl'em did they go, the shepherds three;?To Bethl'em did they go to see whe'r it were so or no,?Whether Christ were born or no
To set men free."
Masters, in this hall,?Hear ye news to-day?Brought over sea,?And ever I you pray.?_Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!_?_Sing we clear!_?_Holpen are all folk on earth,_?_Born is