The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-12-22
THE FAMILY CIRCLE.
G III Il I ST M A $ d.
By ALBERT rlKE.

. .| .
ri taur. -
lan BY ALBERT rIKE.
The Christmas time Is drawing near, the
pleasant Christmas time:
Let us hail Its coming cheeriully, with q
song ofrude old rhyme:
A good rough song, like those that when
Old England yet was young,
Under old Saxon rafters with a jolly cho-
rus rung; .... ...
And round shall pass the merry glass, grin,
Care we'll drive away,
And music and the dance shall greet the
gladstone Christmas day.
Old ieuds we'll bury fathoms deep, old
y friendships well renew,
And closer cling to those we love, as the
ivy to the yew;
There may be winter out of doors, the
keen cold wind may sing
Shrllly and sharply, but within the warm
heart shall be Spring:
Kind feelings, like sweet jassamine buds
+ and flowers, shall come again,
And blossom like the summer rose, blessed
with morning rain. 4-'l
Had we our way, the good old sports
should be revived once more. u, ...
Again should maidcn's little feet dance
twinkling on the floor;
While overhead again should hang the
p % dark greensnisletoe, . ......,o-
And all lips that strayed under it the for
felt pay, we know. W.
The Yule-ldg should again be brought by
many astout, strong hand, a.. 10.
And some fair girl should light It, with
the last years sacred brand.
Once more should pass the wassail-bowl,
ofnut-brown ale and old, ."l.
A sovereign panacea, that, against the
Winters cold!
With the nutmeg, toast and ginger all
the vintage of the Rhine
Can neither warm the brain as well, nor
make dark eye shine
With half as much mad mischief, or with
half as merry glee;-
So away with with wine!-good Christ
mas ale for my sweetheart and ms!
"And both in town and country, in the
cottage and the hall,
There should be fires to curb the cold, and
meat fer great and small"
The neighbors should be bidden in, and
all have welcome true,
And think the good old fashions were far
better than the new:
The roasted apples once again should cover
all the hearth,
And many good old-fashioned game
make the rafters ring with mirth.
And the boar's head, dressed with a green
silk scarf. and with trumpets, blown
before, .r.
Come marching solemnly along, with q
carol sung at the doors
Then the maiden. should the cake cut up.
and she who found the bean,
Should be, the whole long holiday, a love-
ly Christmas Queen; ... ...I
Who would rebel ii Alkaline or Susan wore
the crown,
Or Marian or Bette ruled the bravest with
. frown!
And the Christmas Tree again should
grow, and Its golden fruitage shine
Around its dark-grcen glossy leaves the
ivy fondly twine
Its usslancholy tendrils round the trunk
md every limb,
As aad thoughts cling around the heart
when at night the fire burns din:
Not Of holly, bay or laurel-let US have no
Kingly tree,
But the lYsty green Magnolia, fit emblem
for the free.
Alasl the good old days ere gone! Time
blows steady gale; ..
On the waves Of new strange oceans fall
the shadows Ofour sail;
No more old games we play, We crown nc
. fair young queen or king;
'Twas q mere idle dream, that thr ough my
mind went wandering;
Like q ses-wind gently blows through
Q shell upon the shore, 40 ..i.. u.
And wakes low, sweet melody, minglins
with oceans roar. ..........
Not Ill dream! we can forgive those thai
have done US wrong, .a -
Draw closer to old friends, and make af-
Nection's bonds more strong;
Can make more sunlight on our path
more starlight In the hesrt,
And get US ready tor the time when VI
must hence depart;
SO shall We live In peace with oil, ant
when We pass away, t,.g-t. "a b. ;.
Look back without bitter thought ofthii
fhir CHHIsrMAs DAY.. -. !.
The End Of the Experiment.