Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-12-31
Christmas Carols.

Many of these simple carols are o.
remarkable beauty, and some OF then
are from two to three hundred years
old. The practice of carol-sirging ap
pears to be as ancient as the celebra
tion of Christmas itself, and in TIE
early ages of the church, the bishop
were accustomed 10 celebrate the birth
of Christ by singing appropriate hymns
and carols among their clergy.
In the course OF time these Christmaf
hymns were sung by others as well az
the clergy, and at the present time the
clergy have given il up entirely.
Some of these sweet hymns, that fol
centuries have foated out upon the all
of night, mingling with the sweet jang'
ling of the Christmas bells, still lingel
in quiet villages in England, France and
Germany.
One of the most comm on is the fol
lowing, the air of which is very sweet
and simple:
God rest you, merry gentlemen.
Let nothing you di:may,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's thran
When we were gone astray.
Oh, tidings glad tidings
For Jesus Christ II Saviour
Was born on Christmas ay.
In BethIenem in Jewry
This blessed babe was oorn,
And laid within n nlanger,
Upon this happy morn
And this disguise the mother wise
Did nothing take in scorn.
Oh, tidings, etc.
More ancient than the first is the
following:
As Joseph was a-walking, he heard an angel
sing:
.This night shall be born our Heavenly King,
He neither shall in hou sen be born nor yet III
hall;
Nor m the place of Paradise, bat in an o1's
stall.
sHe neither shall be clothed in purple aor in
pail,
,ut in the fair white linen that usen babies all
re neither shall be rocked in silver nor in gold,
Pint N a wooden manger that rocks upon the
mold"
Then be yc glad, good people, this night of al
the year;
And light ye up your candles, His star
shineth near
And all in Barth and Heaven our Christmas
carol sing,
Goodwill and peace and glory" and all The
bells shall ring
The following has a quaint ballat
refrain that fingers plea sanity upo1
the ear, like the ringing OF the Christ
mas chimes:
saw three ship come sailing in,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
saw three chips come sailing in,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
Oar Saviour Christ and His Ladie,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On christmas DdN, on SuIlStliIds Lay
And all the angels in heaven shall sing,
OlClris.mts Day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice amain
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
Then let us all rejoice amain
On Christmas Day in the morning.
As rude and simple as o nursery
rhyme, the old song has still power tc
stir a thousand tender recollections in
our hearts. There is light and trip
ing movement in the following thai
sets itself to music like lark 8 song
Carol, carol, Christians,
Carol joyfully,
Carol for the coming
OF Christ's nativity;
And pray gladstone Christmas
For ali good Christian men,
Carol, carol, Christmas,
For Christmas comes again.
Carol, carol
Carol, carol, Christians
Like the Magi now
Ye must lade your caskets
With grateful vow:
You must have sweet incense,
Myrrh and finest gold,
At your Christmas altar
Iiumbly to unfold.
Carol, carol
We mustc0ncIu ie with the hope that
our little readers will not forget that
Christmas, though ordinarily styled a
holiday, must also be devoted to thank.
iLg the Almighty for His infinite good
hes, to Us and to all mankind.