A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
The poor man's heart through half the year. On Christmas Eve the bells were rung; On Christmas Eve the mass was sung- That only night in all the year Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear. The damsel donned her kirtle sheen; The hall was dressed in holly green; Forth to the wood did merry men go To gather in the mistletoe; Then opened wide the baron's hall To vassal, tenant, serf, and all. Power laid his rod of rule aside, And Ceremony doffed his pride. The heir, with roses in his shoes, That night might village partner choose; The lord, underogating, share
The vulgar game of " Post and pair." All hailed with uncontrolled delight And general voice the happy night, That to the cottage, as the crown, Brought tidings of salvation down.
Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long: And then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad; The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow'd and so gracious is the time. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning Brightest and best of the Sons of the morning! Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid! Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid!
Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining, Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all!
Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odors of Edom and offerings divine? Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the
The Vainly we offer each ample oblation;
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure: Richer by far is the heart's adoration; of the poor.
Dearer to God are the prayers
Brightest and best of the Sons of the morning! Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid!
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our Infant Redeemer is laid!
ADDISON, JOSEPH [1672-1719]: The Spacious Firmament on High, 54.
ALDRICH, THOMAS BAILEY [1836-]: Maple Leaves, 17; Before the Rain, 31; Tiger-Lilies, 71; A Turkish Legend, 611.
ALEXANDER, CECIL FRANCES [1830-1895]: The Burial of Moses, 504.
ALLINGHAM, WILLIAM [1824-1889]:
Rose, 70; The Fairy Folk, 174; Blowing Bubbles, 195; Windlass Song, 268; The Abbot of Inisfalen, 474.
ANDERSON, ALEXANDER
ARNOLD, EDWIN [1831—]: Almond Blossom, 69. ARNOLD, GEORGE [1834-1865]: Sweet Septem- ber, 15.
ARNOLD, MATTHEW (1822-1888]: The Forsaken Merman, 444.
AUSTIN, ALFRED [1835-1: To America, 347. AYTOUN, WILLIAM EDMONDSTOUNE [1813- 1865]: The Old Scottish Cavalier, 281.
BALLADS, OLD: Sir Patrick Spens, 551; The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington, 555; King John and the Abbot of Canterbury, 558; Lord Beichan and Susie Pye, 563; The Gay Gos-hawk, 569; Earl
Mar's Daughter, 576; Chevy-Chace, 582; Hynde Horn, 593; Glenlogie, 597.
BARING-GOULD, SABINE [1834-]: The Olive Tree, 619.
BEECHING, HENRY CHARLES [1859—]: Bicy- cling Song, 196; A Boy's Prayer, 626.
BENNETT, HENRY HOLCOMB [1863—]: The Flag Goes By, 324.
BENNETT, WILLIAM COX [1820-1895]: Invoca- tion to Rain in Summer, 34; To a Cricket, 113. BLAKE, WILLIAM [1757-1828]: The Tiger, 53. BOKER, GEORGE HENRY [1823-1890]: The Black Regiment, 326.
BONAR, HORATI [1808–1890]: Be True, 610. BROOKS, PHILLIPS [1835-1893]: 0 Little Town of Bethlehem, 648.
BROWNELL, HENRY HOWARD [1820-1872]: Abraham Lincoln, 321; Night Quarters, 329. BROWNING, ELIZABETH BARRETT [1809-
1861]: Reading (from "Aurora Leigh "), 209; A Portrait, 231; Romance of the Swan's Nest, 423. BROWNING, ROBERT [1812-1889]: April in Eng- land, 8; How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix, 464; The Pied Piper of Hamelin, 480; Hervé Riel, 493; Incident of the French Camp, 544. BRYANT, WILLIAM CULLEN [1794-1878]: March, 6; The Planting of the Apple Tree, 59; To the Fringed Gentian, 72; The Death of the Flowers, 88; To a Waterfowl, 105; The Twenty- second of December, 306.
BUNYAN, JOHN [1628-1688]: The Shepherd Boy Sings in the Valley of Humiliation, 610; The Pil- grim, 632.
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