IV.
Part IV.
The scene being as before, Spring, Summer, and Autumn, crowned, at
the head of their months, Father Christmas, as belonging to him of
right, called on his kindred Winter to appear.
RECITATIVE: BASS.
Come Winter, come my first-born child,
Come with thy train of horrors wild,
Come with the storm from tempest-cloud
Through leafless forest shrieking loud.
Come with thy days that swiftly go,
Thy piercing stars, and dazzling snow,
The skate thy music, ringing shrill,
Thy robe, the white drift on the hill.
Winter entering, was welcomed by the Chorus.
CHORUS
Hail to Winter! time of gladness.
Kindler of the blazing hearth,
Banisher of care and sadness,
Parent of bright thoughts and mirth.
Thus we crown thee Queen of Pleasures,
With the dark wreath on thy brow,
Keeper of the year's young treasures,
Best of all the seasons thou!
On which Winter was crowned by her months with a wreath of holly
bright with berries. Being crowned, she took her place at the head
of her months, and Father Christmas gave the Epilogue.
SOLO: BASS.
Father Christmas once more comes and knocks at your door,
And begs you to think on the houseless and poor;
On the Coventry Weavers that starve in the frost,
And the good you may do without feeling the cost.
Former years may have boasted their temperate clime,
But Christmas this year has both reason and rime;
For the pumps and the cisterns he froze them up all,
And shrunk the thermometers into the ball.
So remember, I pray you, our pageant to-night,
And as charity's large, so may spirits be light:
And attend yet a little with favouring ear,
While in chorus we wish you a Happy New-Year.
At this the Chorus sung their closing strain.
CHORUS.
To all that are here
A happy new-year,
Months of profit and of mirth,
Social blessings without dearth
Sweet content with all its joy,
Balanced minds in full employ,
Houses full of peace and love,
Rich with blessings from above:
A happy new-year
To all that are here.
A merry, merry Christmas, and a happy new-year.
This done, the curtain fell amidst cheerful music. Father Christmas bestowed
his gifts, and so down to supper. Then the rest of the evening
was spent with mingled converse and Christmas Games.
