The bard of the dales :: :: University of Virginia Library

It was Christmas time, the bells they did chime,
And the lads had come over the ferry;
The ships had returned, and the yule candles burn'd,
And the township was awfully merry.

The billiards and cards, caroused up the yards,
And the bottle went round as a token;
The lazy and lame put their hands to the game,
That the old customs might not be broken.

By leap-year unstall'd, the maidens so call'd,
Could scarcely shew prudent behaviour;
Their music and wine, put them out of the line;
But you heard not a word of the Saviour.

Though husbands and wives, of dissolute lives,
Unalter'd, still fed on his bounty;
And harlot and whore had been weeks before
Singing of his birth through the country.

Their words were all joke, “smooth as oil when they spoke,
And the drop of their lips was like honey;”
With men as they past, they made the joke last,
And then had a spree with the money.

119

Though they swear black is white, and thieve in the night,
The moon in her majesty shining;
Yet be it observed, such creatures are served,
When the poor and the aged are pining.

With hearts full of guile, and music in style,
They laugh at the Methodist see-saw;
To the ball, play, or dance, the armies advance,
As the multitude wish it to be so;

The clubs of each place, such an uproar did raise,
As to put into newspaper record
Their separate shines, bands, motto's, and signs,
It appear'd like an harmonious discord.

Such numbers came out as no preacher could rout,
Though the hour had been mention'd precisely;
To a subject more dear they will turn a deaf ear,
Though the charmer charm never so wisely!

The youth of life's stage, and wither'd old age,
Rushed out, and all said they look'd pretty;
While in numbers so strong, they were sweeping along,
As the pride and the swell of the city.

It is theirs for to boast, and pass round the toast,
For they get the great congregation;
By public regard, as a present reward,
They found what they sought—Admiration.

120

While passing along, by that dignified throng,
There was one thing which caught my attention;
The matter expressed, as a sample of the rest,
As I heard, I beg leave for to mention.

A member told me, with a countenance free,
Of their Sermon, procession, and dinner;—
So without much research, I have got the grand march,
Of the Parson, the Saint, and the Sinner.

Though from different parts, and though different hearts,
Or motives, might bring them together;
To church they repair, to show off all fair,
With music conducting them thither.

The Parson then took his pulpit and book,
And held up his Christmas taper;
Their cause to sustain, and his Sovereign to gain,
He soon read them over his paper.

There's different trades, and different grades,
And each has their different notion;
But compared as we're told with christians of old,
It's a comical kind of devotion.

With banners and horns, big drum and trombones,
As soon as the business subsided;
From church they repair to the hounds and the hare,
Where they had a grand dinner provided.

121

By signs of applause, the parson was chose,
As being most fit and well able
O'er the rest to preside, and their portion divide,
He was seated at the head of the table.

They were all eye and ear, some sentence to hear,
Which to sanctity had some allusion;
But no such childish whim was sanction'd by him.
It appear'd rather more a delusion.

As commander in chief, he slash'd into the beef,
And then like an hungry hunter;
Left each by his delf, to say grace for himself,
Or else fall to work like a grunter.

So with swagger and swell, at the sound of the bell,
A sample they got of good living;
As the best mode to go to the table and fro,
Without either grace or thanksgiving.

Moreover than this, as tho' nought were amiss,
Each turn'd to his pipe and his portion;
The parson 'ere long, roared out for a song,
And put the old engine in motion.

But there was one or two, who knew better than bow
To Bacchus, or sign their approval;
By higher command, took their hats in their hand,
And homeward made speedy removal.

While thus we look round, where such numbers are found,
To Heaven and Holiness idle,

122

Let us not contend, but consider their end,
And so to our knees and our Bible.

God's mercies adore, and wonder no more,
Why so many the gospel do trample;
Do hate good advice, and wallow in vice,
With such like superior example.

The Heathen would stare, if they heard of it there,
Of the blessings that we are abusing;—
Yes, a New Zealand chief would be hard of belief,
Of our Christian Christmas carousing.

The town's Inhabitants.

A slang word for singing Hymns and extempore prayer.

Of one of the Clubs.

Of human learning.

Of what he liked to drink.