 | Reuben and Other Poems |  |
218
A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
Christmas, come! and ere you go,
Give us a taste of Christmas weather—
Tinkling ice or silent snow,
Wind and hail, or all together.—
Days of drizzle, quit the scene,
And let the snow-clad monarch enter:
Christmas, come, and bring us Winter,
Crowned with hollies, red and green.
Give us a taste of Christmas weather—
Tinkling ice or silent snow,
Wind and hail, or all together.—
Days of drizzle, quit the scene,
And let the snow-clad monarch enter:
Christmas, come, and bring us Winter,
Crowned with hollies, red and green.
Spread upon the earth's blacken'd floor
Your carpet white with gleaming spangles;
Bring the robin to our door;
Fringe the eaves with icy tangles;
On the shrubs hang coral chains;
Paint the forests in the panes;
From the apple-tree or oak,
Bring a bunch of mistletoe;
And pass around the song and joke,
Ere you go, ere you go.
Your carpet white with gleaming spangles;
Bring the robin to our door;
Fringe the eaves with icy tangles;
On the shrubs hang coral chains;
Paint the forests in the panes;
From the apple-tree or oak,
Bring a bunch of mistletoe;
And pass around the song and joke,
Ere you go, ere you go.
Pile the logs upon the hearth;
Warm our hearts, and make us merry,
And further to increase our mirth,
Fill the cups with elderberry.
Read us tales of ghostly awe
Out of Extra Double Numbers,
Until the fireside listeners draw
Closer round the crackling embers.
Warm our hearts, and make us merry,
And further to increase our mirth,
Fill the cups with elderberry.
219
Out of Extra Double Numbers,
Until the fireside listeners draw
Closer round the crackling embers.
But, while cosily we sit,
Touch our hearts, lest we forget
The shivering singers in the snow;
They only ask what we can spare—
A little of our Christmas fare:
Freely give and let them go.
Take their simple benediction;
And as they go onward singing,
Let us hear the mingled ringing
Of the joyful city bells,
Chiming with their song that tells
The marvel of the Crucifixion.
Touch our hearts, lest we forget
The shivering singers in the snow;
They only ask what we can spare—
A little of our Christmas fare:
Freely give and let them go.
Take their simple benediction;
And as they go onward singing,
Let us hear the mingled ringing
Of the joyful city bells,
Chiming with their song that tells
The marvel of the Crucifixion.
Christmas, come! and ere you go,
Lead us to the dying year;
Lying there beside his bier,
Conning o'er his weal and woe,
And his many faults confessing.
All past life feels weak we know.
But let us kneel and get his blessing
Ere he go, ere he go.
Lead us to the dying year;
Lying there beside his bier,
Conning o'er his weal and woe,
And his many faults confessing.
All past life feels weak we know.
But let us kneel and get his blessing
Ere he go, ere he go.
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