 | The poems of Richard Henry Stoddard |  |
A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
Of all the merry days of old,
When merry days did most abound,
When cups were drained, and catches trolled,
And hearty healths went round,
The best was Christmas, all the rest
But ushers to this royal Guest.
When merry days did most abound,
When cups were drained, and catches trolled,
And hearty healths went round,
The best was Christmas, all the rest
But ushers to this royal Guest.
Before he came, from out the wood
The log was dragged with noisy mirth;
With last year's brand the baron stood
Beside the blazing hearth:
Bring in the Yule log! Light it—more—
Now let the wide old chimney roar!
The log was dragged with noisy mirth;
With last year's brand the baron stood
Beside the blazing hearth:
Bring in the Yule log! Light it—more—
Now let the wide old chimney roar!
Within the hall, with ivy hung,
They gather, laughing, high and low;
And maids are kissed, if they be young,
Beneath the mistletoe.
If Care appears each thirsty soul
Will drown it in the wassail bowl.
They gather, laughing, high and low;
And maids are kissed, if they be young,
Beneath the mistletoe.
If Care appears each thirsty soul
Will drown it in the wassail bowl.
421
He comes—he's here! Let dinner wait
Until the silver trumpets sound.
The boar's head is borne in in state,
With rosemary garlands crowned.
They sing—how does the burden go?
Qui estis in convivio.
Until the silver trumpets sound.
The boar's head is borne in in state,
With rosemary garlands crowned.
They sing—how does the burden go?
Qui estis in convivio.
What suited feudal days and men
Suits not a later day and race;
Rank has abased itself since then,
Gone is the pride of place.
Except when nature makes them so,
There is no longer high and low.
Suits not a later day and race;
Rank has abased itself since then,
Gone is the pride of place.
Except when nature makes them so,
There is no longer high and low.
Put off the crown, put up the sword,
Abhorrent to the heart and mind;
His equal spirit has restored
The manhood of mankind.
Wisely we celebrate His birth,
The benefactor of the Earth.
Abhorrent to the heart and mind;
His equal spirit has restored
The manhood of mankind.
Wisely we celebrate His birth,
The benefactor of the Earth.
Wisely and gladly. What was best
Of that old Christmas time is here:
The merry heart, the ready jest,
The hospitable cheer.
Welcome to all, the rich, the poor,
Welcome the beggar at the door.
Of that old Christmas time is here:
The merry heart, the ready jest,
The hospitable cheer.
Welcome to all, the rich, the poor,
Welcome the beggar at the door.
But merrier be; the children hear,
They must not hear a sigh to-day;
Dear hearts, they must not see a tear,
But laugh, and romp, and play.
Gayly the Christmas Eve began
With many a little maid and man.
They must not hear a sigh to-day;
Dear hearts, they must not see a tear,
But laugh, and romp, and play.
Gayly the Christmas Eve began
With many a little maid and man.
422
Looked forward to for days before,
And dreamed about at night, it comes;
They gather at the guarded door,
And their hearts beat like drums.
The door is now flung back, they see,
O sight of sights—the Christmas Tree!
And dreamed about at night, it comes;
They gather at the guarded door,
And their hearts beat like drums.
The door is now flung back, they see,
O sight of sights—the Christmas Tree!
Green as if wet with summer dew,
And fairies there did late carouse,
Loaded with toys as if they grew
On its enchanted boughs,
And lighted candles—what can be
More beauteous than the Christmas Tree?
And fairies there did late carouse,
Loaded with toys as if they grew
On its enchanted boughs,
And lighted candles—what can be
More beauteous than the Christmas Tree?
The children of the poor that night
Hang up their stockings by the bed,
For Santa Claus will surely light
Upon the roof o'erhead,
And stealing in the chamber share
His gifts among the sleepers there.
Hang up their stockings by the bed,
For Santa Claus will surely light
Upon the roof o'erhead,
And stealing in the chamber share
His gifts among the sleepers there.
Be merrier, merrier, young and old,
Let nothing cloud this happy day.
Chime, bells, as if ye never tolled!
And golden moments stay!
Fold, fold your wings, delay your flight,
Prolong this hallowed day and night.
Let nothing cloud this happy day.
Chime, bells, as if ye never tolled!
And golden moments stay!
Fold, fold your wings, delay your flight,
Prolong this hallowed day and night.
Beneath the cross, beneath the spire,
Wherever Christian people meet,
Around the cheerful household fire,
Along the crowded street,
Blessing has fallen, and prayers forgot
Have risen from hearts that knew it not.
Wherever Christian people meet,
Around the cheerful household fire,
Along the crowded street,
Blessing has fallen, and prayers forgot
Have risen from hearts that knew it not.
423
Prepare the feast. Unlock the bin,
Bring out to-night the generous wine;
Bring flowers, and have the children in
When you sit down to dine.
Prepare yourselves, put on your best,
To honor every Christmas guest.
Bring out to-night the generous wine;
Bring flowers, and have the children in
When you sit down to dine.
Prepare yourselves, put on your best,
To honor every Christmas guest.
The dinner waits, and so do we;
Your arm—this way—find each his place;
The smile on every lip shall be
Received as silent grace.
Be seated all, draw up, and then
Fall to like valiant trenchermen.
Your arm—this way—find each his place;
The smile on every lip shall be
Received as silent grace.
Be seated all, draw up, and then
Fall to like valiant trenchermen.
This turkey is a royal one,
A king on this alone might dine;
The wine—but taste it—bright the sun
That ripened this good wine;
A little for the children, Dear,
For Christmas comes but once a year.
A king on this alone might dine;
The wine—but taste it—bright the sun
That ripened this good wine;
A little for the children, Dear,
For Christmas comes but once a year.
John, Master George will take some wine;
Be careful of that lady's dress;
Mother, the children think it fine,
Behold their happiness!
Fill up, for bumpers now I call,
“A health to all! God bless us all!”
Be careful of that lady's dress;
Mother, the children think it fine,
Behold their happiness!
Fill up, for bumpers now I call,
“A health to all! God bless us all!”
We are happy. Would that every heart
In this great city, all the poor
Who herd together, hide apart,
The wronged, the evil-doer,
The desperate who shun the light,
O would that these were so to-night!
In this great city, all the poor
Who herd together, hide apart,
The wronged, the evil-doer,
The desperate who shun the light,
O would that these were so to-night!
424
For they are men; the worst are men,
And they must live, and they must die.
Look kindly down upon them, then,
Our Father, and be nigh.
Thy hand is strong to help, to save,
Thou art their Judge beyond the grave!
And they must live, and they must die.
Look kindly down upon them, then,
Our Father, and be nigh.
Thy hand is strong to help, to save,
Thou art their Judge beyond the grave!
Be pitiful: they must be fed:
O entertain these guests of thine!
Give these, thy hungry children, bread,
Their water turn to wine!
Make them as happy as Thou art,
O Love Divine! Paternal Heart!
O entertain these guests of thine!
Give these, thy hungry children, bread,
Their water turn to wine!
Make them as happy as Thou art,
O Love Divine! Paternal Heart!
| The poems of Richard Henry Stoddard | |