The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-01-06
M - N ,%T ------.
UNDER THEMS1LET0E.

SHE stood before the chimney-placa.
little maid Of winsome grace, =
A"u Tascneo the great hames leap and
With merriest mischief in hor glance.
Along the door, across tho wail, a.,.-
Inc Inc nre's bright light did dash and fall,
VI Frimmest Puritanic gloom
Shine with festal glow and CLEAN
In every nook, on every beam
Of solid oak; and on the snow
Across the road it seemed to throw
Its gay, inviting radiance,
mere oaken shutters gave . chance
From heart-shaped lOopholes rudely cut,
Or from some crevice left unshut.
GOOD Master Matthews holds, perchancs.
feast Tonight" one said, askance.
Who FASTENED by. "A feast Of saints;
Nowicked reveiry atlantis
"Our godly brother" answered back
A guest, VINO. following on the track
VI beaten snow, quick overheard
This fippant tone and TESTING word.
Low laughed the merry jester there
es Mas ss eys Mathews fb. could share
He whispered soft, I'D see sight
"worth half q year 81 panga and palms.
OF prieStly, penauce Tor the stains
OF needless sins; but /, alackl
am foolish youth. too 8lack
"Of solemn signs, too rife with mirth,
To be a Puritan OF worth,
And Master Matthew hidden guest
On such night as this-'tis best
Perhaps; for II sweet Mistress Ann
Should look laugh. as Tm man
should so follow suit, they'd gaze.
And gaze VI me with shocked amaze
Meantime. Within the mansion there
He passed so gaily BY, this fair
And winsOmc Mistress Ann did face
Good Master Matthews in disgrace.
Twas when the twenty candles light
Flared suddenly upon q sight
Taboo to Puritanic eyes ana .s...
What, what, good Master Matthews cries
Beneath my roof But, cousin dear,
It's Christmas Eve, you know, and 90
This holly wreath and miStletOe
He swift returns. These godly men
And DANES, who are my guests tonight,
Scorn all such tricks that would bedixht
&" Such sacred things with vain ado"
Here Mistress Ann returned, IL, too.
Good cousin, am l not your guest,
win rlghtto courtesy the bestf
Who hesitates is lost. ''Ah, good
MY cousin. leave 1t all to mel
Laughed Mistress Ann, right merrily.
" III take the blame, III take the shame,
promise vou and with my claim
Of latest guest from over seas,
IN stake my word III conquer these
"Grim Puritans, good cousin mine!
Now let US make the candles shine
anew. for here they come" She ran
Like any deer, this Mistress Ann,
Just here. and laughing. stood beneath
The mistletOe and holly wreath.
The first who entered there was he
Who ruled the town, aud held the key
OF state. His brow was grave, his coat
Was graver still-Once at his throat
And wrists chung ruff1eS OF fine lace,
Twas in the OLD days. when lofty place
He held at court-the goddess days
or early youths poor vain dispiayA
I" MY sooth, he Is gOodly man.,
Under her breath quOth Mistress Ann.
- He knew my mother once. and me,
He held me once upon his knee
In Childhood days., she smiling thought:
Then all u, once she b.ushing caught
MS questioning gaze. I'm little Ann"
She sweetly said. The grave stern man
At this relaxed his visuge grim;
The Puritan precise anu prim
slipped like mask, and, as he should,
He bent and kissed her where she stood,
The twenty candles hamed and tiare1,
The twenty guests in silence stared.
Then rose murmur. shocked and low
They'd spied the brunch IF mistletUe!
AS meek as any dove she stood,
This Mistress Ann, to breast the flood
OF blame that broke. when, "Let it pass;
She'sbut chld--a foolish lass"
A voice declared to be obeyed.
something within the voice betrayed
A latent laugh to Mistress Ann.
She looked, and in q moments span g.
Read there behind his visaxe grim
Full pardon for her saucy within.
" In seOth he Is goodly man.
And not so very grim" QuOth Ann;
" He loved my mother once, and me,
He held me once upon his knee"
Word Psrry. ~ Youths Companion