The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-01-06
UNDER THE MISTLETOE.

UNDER THE MlsTLEToE.
sH. stood before the chimney-place,
And watched the great fames lean and
dance,
With merriest mischief in her glance.
Along the noor. across the wall,
Iee ere's bright light did Hash and fall,
ana Tor the moment made the room
W Frimmest Puritanic gloom
Shine with . festai glow and CLEAN
IN every nook, on every beam
VI solid oak; and on the snow
Across the road Il seemed to throw
Its gay, inviting radiance,
from ssye Sssnes
Or from some crevice left unshut.
y Good Master Matthews holds, perchance,
A feast tonight" one said, askance,
Who fastened BY. "a feast of saints:
No wicked revelry atlantis
" Our godly brother" answered back
guest, who, following on the track
VI beaten snow, quick overheard
Inis nippant tonc and jcsting word.
Low LAUGHED the merry jester there
He 1si.Ssfsd soft ses sisSss sGSsn'
&c Worth half year of pangs and pains,
VI prfeetiy penance for the stains
Of needless sins; but I, alacki
1 am foolish youth, too slack
" " solemn 90 sishs. TOO rife with mirth,
And Master Aatthews hidden guest
p" Perhaps; for II sweet Mistress Ann
should look laugh, as I'm man
lshould 20 follow soit, they'd gaze
And gaze ~ me- with shocked amaze"
Meantime. within the mansion there
He passed 50 gaily by, this fair
Good Goo Masser MstsheSs nnd IN disSraces S,u ace
Twas when the twenty candles light
Elarcd suddenly upon . sight
Taboo to Puritanic eyes
what, what" good Master Matthews cries
With heat and haste, "this mummery here
Beneath my roofr' !" But, cousin dear,
'Tis Christmas Eve, you know, and so
This holly wreath and mistletoe
" brought from over seas''-" What thcn7'
He swift returns. These godly men
And danes, who are my guests tonight,
scorn all such tricks that would bedight
" Such sacred things with vain ado
Here Mistress Ann returned, ~. too,
Good cousin, am not your guest,
Struck dumb with this reproach he stood.
Who hesitates is lost. "Ah, good
Ny cousin, leave it all to meiS
Laughed Mistress Ann, risht merrily.
:" tn take the blame, I'll take the shame,
promise you. and with my claim
OF latest guest from over seas,
III stake my word I'll conquer these
"Grim Puritans, good cousin minei
Now let US mako the candles shine
Anew, for here they come" She ran
Like any deer, this Mistress Ann,
just here. and laughing, stood beneath
Tne misslesoe and holly wreath.
Who ruled the town, and held the key
q state. HI. brow was grave: his coat
Was graver still-once at his throat
And wrists clung ruflies Of fine lace.
Twas In the old days, when a lofty place
He held at court-the goddess days
q early youths poo. vain di:sPlsya
Ny eooth. he 10 q 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 AL At once she blushinx caught
His questioning. gaze. "rm little Ann"
She sweetly said. The grave, stern man
Al this relaxed his vissge grim;
The Puritan precise and prim
Slipped like mask, and, as he should,
He bent and kissed her where she stood.
The twenty candles named and nare1,
The twenty guests In silence stared.
Then rose q murmur, shocked and low
They'd spied the brunch Of mistietoe!
As meek as any dove she stood,
This Mistress Ann, to breast the flood
OF blame that broke, when, Let IL pass;
She'sbut q child-a foolish lass,"
a voice declared to be obeyed-
Something within the voice betrayed
A latent laugh to Mistress Ann.
She looked, and in moments span
Read there behind his visaxe grim
Fun pardon for her saucy whim.
" In sooth he is O goodly man,
And not so very grim," Quoth Ann;
He loved my mother once, and me,
He held me once upon his knee"
-Noru Perrv, IN Youths Companion