Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-01
CHRISTMAS.

l.. L. WAlION, Publisher.
Montpelier, Nov. 81, 1867
CHRISTMAS.
A modern poet, from whom half OF the New
Enganders have got their ideas of Christmas.
makes st. Nicholas bring his gifts on Christmas
eve, whereas st. Nicholas day is the 9th of De-
cember. In Germany, Knccht Rupert (the ser
want Rupert) brings the presents, and says that
Jesus Christ sent him: and among the Germans
in America it is Krish-krinkle, or Kris-kringle,--
corruption Of Christ kindlien that is, the infant
Christ, who, himself makes the presents The
idea seems TO be- that of the gifts to the child
Jesus by the wise men OF the East, Christ now
distributes to children. As Christmas was OBJ
served in England in oldcn times there were no
gifts but of bounty to the poor, and the day was
observed much like New England Thanksgiving,
with a sermon in the morning, and feastng sing
ing, romping, dancing sc. &c, for the rest of the
day, and before and after it, BY common consent
of christendom the 25th day of December is OBJ
served as the Nativity of Christ, yet there is no
certain proof that il was His birthday. In the
early ages of the Christian church, the Eastern
church observed the 9th of January as the day, and
the Western church the 25th of December, and
since the fourth century the last named day bas
been generally observed. Here is an English
Christmas song that is three hundred years old,
from which it will be seen that some OF our very,
very, very great grandfathers thought more Of
roast pig than piety on Christmas day.
So now is come our joyfulst feast;
Let every man be jolly;
| Each room with ivy leaves is drest,
And every post with holly.
Though some churls at our mirth repinc
Round your fsreheads garlands twine;
Drown sorrow in a cup Of wine,
And let us an be merry
Now all our neighbours chimneys smoke,
And Christmas blocks burning;
Their ovens they with bake meat choke,
And all their spits turning.
Witliaut the laOr let sorrow lye;
And if for cold it hap to die,
Wen bury IT in Chrishnas-pic,
And evermore be merry.
Now every lad is wondrous trim.
And no man minds his labour;
Our lasses have provided them
bagpipe and a tabori
Young men and maids, and girls and boys,
Give life TO anothers Joys;
And you anon shall by their noise
Perceiye that they merry.
Rank misers now do sparing shuu;
Their hall of music soundcih;
And dogs thence with whole shoulders run,
So all things then aboundeth.
The country folks, themselves advance,
With crowdy -muttons out of France;
And Jack shall pipe and Jyll shall dance,
And all the town b. merry.
Ned Squash hath fetcht his bands from pawn
And all his best apparel;
Brisk Nell hath bought run Of lawn
with dropping Of the barrel
And those that hardly all the year
Had bread To eat rags 20 wear,
VIII have both clothes and dainty fare,
sAad all the day be merry.
Now poor men to the Justices
With capons make their errantsi
And if they hap to fail of these,
They plague them with their warrants;
But now they feed them with good cheer,
And what they want they take il, beer,
For Christmas comes hut once year,
And then they shall he merry.
Good farmers in the country nurse
The poor, that else were undone
Some landlords spend their money worse,
On lust and pride at London
There the registers they do play,
Drab and dice their lands away,
Which may be ours another day,
And therefore let s be merry.
The client now his suit forbears,
The prisoners heart is cased,
The debtor drinks away his cares,
And for the time is pleased
Though Others purses be more fat,
Why should we pine and greve at that?
Hang sorrow care will kill a cat,
And therefore let's be merry.
IIark now the wags abroad do call
Each other forth TO rambling;
Anon you II see them in lhe hall
For nuts and apples scranbling.
llarkl how the roofs with laughter sound,
Anon they'll think the house goes round
For they the cellars depth have found
And there they will be merry.
fhe wonehes with their wassel-bowls
About the streets are singing;
The boys are come to catch the owls,
The wild mare in it bringing,A
Our kitchen-boy hath broke his box,t
And to the dealing of the ox,t
Our honest neighhors come by locks,
And here they will be merry.
Now kings and queens poor shecpcotes have,
And mate with every body;
The honest men now play the knave,
And wise men play the noddy.
some youths will now mumming go,
Some others play at Rowland-bo,
And twenty other game boys mo,
Because they will be merry.
Then. wherefore in these merry daies,
Should we, pray, be duller?
NO let us sing some roundelayes,
To make our mrth the fuller.
And, while thus inspired we sing,
Let all the streets with echoes ring;
Woods and hills and every thing,
Bear witness we are merry.
But here is part OF the Christian meaning Of the
day in England at about the same time-an old
Christmas carol. sung by children on Christmas
morning
When Christ was born of Mary free,
In Bethlehem, in that fair citie,
Angels sang there with mirth and gee,
IN EEoeisiS Gloria.
Herdsmen beheld these angels bright
TO them appearing with great light,
who said Gods Son Is born this night"
IN Eroeisis Gloria.
This King Is come TO save mankind,
As in scripture truth we find,
Therefore this song have we in mind
In EIctlsis GLORIA.
Then, Lord, for Thy great grace,
Grant us the bliss to see Thy face,
Where we may sing to Thy solsce,
IN Eacelsis Gloria.
English games. Money-box, Tavern.