Litchfield enquirer., 1861-12-26
nlisfrIlanp.
CHRISTMAS TIDE AND CHRISTMAS
 CAROLS,

SeiS to Ihe io"lt sHepnerus WnO Kept Watch ln the plains of Bethlehem, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace. good will to men. Now whether we agree with the Bishop or not and Milton also, flor he hold the same opinion) 1t IS certain that at very early period this hymn was used in the service of the Church. Other hymns, applicable to this season. were introdu- ced in course of time, and We are told that an- ciently Bishops were wont to sing carols to their clergy.
 These were not, however, confined to the Church, and at very early period company of singers went about from house to house. singing carols, and watching like the shepherds all night lcng. Many of these hymns are of very quaint and simple character. For years this practice has been observed in England. But here we will avail ourselves of the labors of the Rev J F. Russell, who published volume of carols last year, with an introduction.
 "Wharton mentions license, granted to one Tysdale in 1862; for printing certain goodly carols 10 be sung to the glory of God ; and l again, Christmas Carol authorized by my Lord of London Bishop Andrews, in one of his ser mons on the Nativity, preached on the 25th of December, lGl8, celebrates the day as glorious in all places. we'll at home with cln'ols, as in the Church with anthems From the time of the famous prelate just mentioned to our own, tie practice of singing Christmas carols has been preserved; varying probably in circumstances and degree, but dispersed, more or less. over the different parts of the country. In Health's Ac- count of he SciAy Islands, he says that it is usu- al there to sing carols on Christmas Day at Church. ,Dr. Goldsmith, in his Vicur of Wake- field, writing about l763. and laying the scene of his narrative at small cure in the north of England. restates that, among other customs which they retained, the inhabitants kept up the Christmas carols Brand in l796, remarks that little troops of boys and girls at Newcastle upon-Tune, and other places in the north of En- gland, go from house to house knocking at the doors, singing their Christmas carols, and wish ing happy New year. A writer in l8ll de- scribing the manner in which the inhabitants of tie North Riding of Yorksh re celel "a es Christ mas, observes, About six oclock on Christmas Day was awakened by sweet singing under my window. Surprised at visit so early and unexpected, l arose and looking out of the win dow, beheld SIX young women, and four men. welcoming with sweet music the blessed morn. Carols writes Mir. Hone, 1925, begin to be spoken of as not belonging to this century, and few perhaps are aware of the number of these now printed He adls that he possesses up wards of ninety, all at this time published annu- ally Mr. Hewitt, in 1858, remarks that the Christmas carols which Were sung about from door to door for a week at least, not twenty years ago, are rarely heard now in the midland counties. More northward, from the hills of Derbyshire, and the bordering ones of Stafford shire up through Lancashire, Yorkshire, North umbetland. and Durham, you may frequently meet with them. The custom of Christmas ca rolling prevails in Ireland to the present time In Scotland it is unknown. In Wales it is still preserved, to greater extent, perhaps than in England. After the turn of midnight on Christ mas eve. Divine service is celebrated, followed by the singing of carols to the harp; and they are similarly sung in the houses during the con tinuance of the Christmas holidays"
 The carols which Mir. Russell has selected are eleven in number. The following will, We dare say, be new to many of our readers. The first is entitled the Holy Night.
 THE HCLY NIGHT.
 My little one, my dearest one,
 Come to thy mothers knee,
 And will tell the joyful tals
 Of Christmas 10 thee:
 A joyful tale, and yet, my child,
 It may we'll make thee weep,
 The gladness that for merry smiles
 Is all too grave and deep.
 Upon tho snow clad earth without
 The stars shining bright,
 As heaven had hung out all her lamps
 To hail our festal night;
 TOT Ou tuIs uiSut, louS ySdFS HSO,
 The blessed Babe was born,
 And saints of old were wont to keep
 Their vigil until dawn
 Twas in the days when far and wide Was own'd the C@sar's sway, That his decree went forth that all A certain tax should pay. Then from their home in Nazareths vale, Obedient to tho same, With Mary his espoused wife, The saintly Joseph came. Of David's house and lineage, both To David's town repair; But Bethlehem's inn, of strangers full, l No room for these could spare Perchance (for they had journey'd far, As lowliest travellers might( Weary and faint, they craved A lodging for the night. | stable and a manager. where The oxen low'd around, Was all the shelter Bethlehem gave, l The welcome that they found; 1 Yet blessed among women was That holy mother-maid, Who on that night her frst-born Son There in the manager laid. ] Then first to Mary's arms. was given The long-expected Child, And rapture tilld her heart on Whom l The newborn Saviour smiled. He was not born in palace halls, Nor rock'd in cradle bed, No downy pillow, love, like thine, Received his infant head. The Kings of kings, and Lord of lords,
 Fen from his very birth, l Had not place to lay His head, | An outcast in the earth;
 And yet. my child, that little Babe Was tender to the touch, And weak as other infants are; He felt the cold as much!
 In swaddling bands she wrapped him round Ana smoothd His couch ef straw,
 "nlle unseen Angels watch'd beside In mute, adoring awe,
 How softly did they fold their wings While eastern sages from afar The newborn radiance led, 3 And therefore 'tls, my little child. } That as this night comes round,
 So sweetly underneath the moon, | The Christmas carols sound.
 Because to us child is born, Our Brother, and our King,
 Angels in heaven, and we on earth, Our joyful anthems sing. Yet only to chosen few The secret was reveard: .
 From midnight skies the glory shone Round shepherds in the field;
 The Angel of the Lord came down
 Glad tidings to declare,
 And many voiced, the Angels song
 Wss floating in the air.