Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-12-24
Cbr1Jzuuas
IN the
OMen Times
By ST. MaAey Scott

ZAP on more wood!-the wind
4MyH But let it whistle as 1t will.
@Sk$e1lIza Wen keep our Christmas
k Each ss1.s az 1 has deemed the
EsSR The fittest time for festal
Even, heather yet, the savage Dane
At Iol more deep the need did drain;
High on the beach his galleys drew,
And feasted all his pirate crew;
Then in his low and pine-built hall,
Where shields and axes decked the wall,
They gorged upon the half-dressed steer;
Caroused in seas of sable beer;
While round, in brutal jest, were thrown
the half-knawed rib and marrow-bone;
Or listened all, in grim delight
While scalds yelled out the joys of fight.
Then forth in frenzy would they HE.
While wildly loose their red locks fly;
And, dancing round the blazing pile,
They make such barbarous mirth the
while,
AS best might to the mind recall
The boisterous joys of odin's hall.
And well our Christian sires of old
Loved when the year its course had
rolled
And brought blithe Christmas back again
With all his hospitable train,
Domestic and religious rite
Gave honor to the holy night:
On Christmas eve the bells We're rung;
On Christmas eve the mass was sung;
That only night, in all the year,
Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth to the wood did merry-men go,
To gather in the mistletoe.
Then opened wide the baron's hall
To vassal, tenant, serf, and all;
Power laid his rod of rule aside, $780,
Ana ceremony doffed her pride.
The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose,
The lord, underogating share
The vulgar game OF post and pair"
All hailed, with uncontrolled delight,
And general voice, the happy night
| That to the cottage, as the crown,
| Brought tidings of salvation down.
| The fire, the well-dried logs supplied,
| Went roaring up the chimney wide;
| The huge hall-table's oaken face,
Scrubbed till it shone, the day tA grace,
| Bore then upon its massive board
4 No mark to part the squire and lord.
| Then was brought in the lusty Drawn,
BY old blue-coated serving man;
Then the grim boar'shead frowned OF
high,
| Crested with bays and rosemary.
Well can the green-garbed ranger tell
4 How, when, and where the monster fell
What dogs before his death he tore,
And all the batting of the boar.
The wassail round, in good brown bowls
Garnished with ribbons, blithely trowls
There the huge sirloin reeked; hard by
Plum-porridge stood, and Christmas pie
Nor failed old Scotland to produce,
AT such hgh-tide, her savory goose.
Then came the merry maskers In,
And carols roared with buthsome din;
If unmelodious was the song,
1t was hearty note, and strong.
Who lists may in their mumming see
Traces of ancient mystery;
White skirts supplied the masquerade,
And smutted cheeks the visors made:
But, o, what maskers richly Digit
Can boast of bosoms half SO lighty
4 England was merry England, when
i Old Christmas brought his sports again.
Twas Christmas preached the mighties
ale;
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale
! A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
The poor mans heart through half tn,
wear. .. Is