In The Yule-Log Glow--Book 3 | Page 8

David waked, and church was through.
By time we'd "howdyed" round, and shuck?Hands with the neighbors, must 'a' tuck?A half-hour longer: ever' one?A-sayin' "Christmas-gift!" afore?David er me--so we got none.?But David warmed up, more and more,?And got so jokey-like, and had?His sperits up, and 'peared so glad,?I whispered to him, "S'pose you ast?A passel of 'em come and eat?Their dinners with us.--Girls 's got?A full-and-plenty fer the lot?And all their kin." So David passed?The invite round. And ever' seat?In ever' wagon-bed and sleigh?Was jes _packed_, as we rode away--?The young folks, mild er so along,?A-strikin' up a sleighin' song.?Tel David laughed and yelled, you know,?And jes whirped up and sent the snow?And gravel flyin' thick and fast--?Last Christmas was a year ago.?W'y, that-air seven-mild ja'nt we come--?Jes seven mild scant from church to home--?It didn't 'pear, that day, to be?Much furder railly 'n 'bout three.
But I was purty squeamish by?The time home hove in sight and I?See two _ve_hickles standin' there?Already. So says I, "Prepare!"?All to myse'f. And presently?David he sobered; and says he,?"Hain't that-air Squire Hanch's old?Buggy," he says, "and claybank mare?"?Says I, "Le's git in out the cold--?Your company's nigh 'bout froze." He says,?"Whose sleigh's that-air a-standin' there?"?Says I, "It's no odds whose--you jes?Drive to the house and let us out,?'Cause we're jes freezin', nigh about."?Well, David swung up to the door?And out we piled. At first I heerd?Jane's voice; then _Lide's_--I thought afore?I reached that girl I'd jes die, shore;?And _when_ I reached her, wouldn't keered?Much ef I had, I was so glad,?A-kissin' her through my green veil,?And jes excitin' her so bad?'At _she_ broke down, _herse'f_--and Jane?_She_ cried--and we all hugged again.?And David--David jes turned pale!--?Looked at the girls and then at me,?Then at the open door--and then?"Is old Squire Hanch in there?" says he.?The old Squire suddently stood in?The doorway, with a sneakin' grin.?"Is Perry Anders in there, too?"?Says David, limberin' all through,?As Lide and me both grabbed him, and?Perry stepped out and waved his hand?And says, "Yes, pap." And David jes?Stooped and kissed Lide, and says, "I guess?Your mother's much to blame as you.?Ef _she_ kin resk him, _I kin_ too."
The dinner we had then hain't no?Bit better'n the one to-day?'At we'll have fer 'em. Hear some sleigh?A-jinglin' now.--David, fer _me_,?I wish you'd jes go out and see?Ef they're in sight yit. It jes does?Me good to think, in times like these,?Lide's done so well. And David he's?More tractabler 'n what he was?Last Christmas was a year ago.
_James Whitcomb Riley._
_As It Fell Upon A Day._
"A handsome hostess, merry host,?A pot of ale and now a toast,?Tobacco, and a good coal-fire,?Are things this season doth require."
_Poor Robin._
[Illustration: Ready for the Feast]
A CHRISTMAS "NOW."
So, now is come our joyful'st feast,?Let every man be jolly;?Each room with ivy-leaves is drest,?And every post with holly.?Though some churls at our mirth repine,?Round your foreheads garlands twine;?Drown sorrow in a cup of wine,
And let us all be merry.
Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke,?And Christmas logs are burning;?Their ovens they with baked meats choke,?And all their spits are turning.?Without the door let sorrow lie;?And if for cold it hap to die,?We'll bury 't in a Christmas-pie,
And evermore be merry.
Now every lad is wondrous trim,?And no man minds his labor;?Our lasses have provided them?A bagpipe and a tabor;?Young men and maids, and girls and boys,?Give life to one another's joys;?And you anon shall by their noise
Perceive that they are merry.
Rank misers now do sparing shun;?Their hall of music soundeth;?And dogs thence with whole shoulders run,?So all things there aboundeth.?The country folks themselves advance?For crowdy-mutton's come out of France;?And Jack shall pipe, and Jill shall dance,
And all the town be merry.
Ned Squash has fetched his bands from pawn,?And all his best apparel;?Brisk Ned hath bought a ruff of lawn?With droppings of the barrel;?And those that hardly all the year?Had bread to eat or rags to wear?Will have both clothes and dainty fare,
And all the day be merry.
Now poor men to the justices?With capons make their arrants;?And if they hap to fail of these,?They plague them with their warrants:?But now they feed them with good cheer,?And what they want they take in beer;?For Christmas comes but once a year,
And then they shall be merry.
Good farmers in the country nurse?The poor that else were undone;?Some landlords spend their money worse?On lust and pride at London.?There the roysters they do play,?Drab and dice their lands away,?Which may be ours another day;
And therefore let's be merry.
The client now his suit forbears,?The prisoner's heart is eased;?The debtor drinks away his cares,?And for the time is pleased.?Though other purses be more fat,?Why should we pine or grieve at that??Hang sorrow! care will kill a cat,
And therefore let's be merry.
Hark! how the wags abroad do call?Each other forth to rambling:?Anon you'll see them in the hall?For nuts and apples scrambling.?Hark! how