The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-12-14
Christmas
TN the
OLden Times
By Sir Walter Scott

ZAP on more wood!-the wind
&K, is chill; um
g$Ns, Well keep our Christmas
NINT merry still.
ENCB Each age has deemed the
vi newborn year
&& The fttest time for festai
~ cheer:
Even. heather yet, the savage Dane
At Iol more deep the need did drain:
High on the beach his galleys drew
And Toasted 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 b~alt-knawed rib and
Or listened all, in grim delight
While scal&S yelled out the Joys or nsnt-
Then forth in frenzy would they ME-
While wildly loose their red locks ny;
And, dancing rounl the blazing pile,
They make such barbarous mirth he
while,
AS best might to the mind recall
The boisterous joys of Odin's hall.
And we'll our Christian sires OF old
Loved when the year its course mao
rolled
And; brought bIithe Christmas back again
With all his hospitable train,
DOMESTIC IL cI5iOu ~
Gave honor to the holy night:
On Christmas eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas eve the mass was sung;
| That only night, in all the year,
| Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.
The damsel pinned 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, n all; 2
| Power laid his rod of rule aside.
| And ceremony dotted her pride.
The heir, with roses in his shoes,
| .~Fhatsnight might village partner choose,
The lord. underogating share ~
The vulgar game of post and pair"
All hailed. with uncontrolled leigh
| And general voice, the happy night
| That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings of salvation down.
The fire, the wefl-dried logs supplied.
| Went roaring up the chimney wide; 49,
! The huge hall-table's oaken face,
/ Serubbed till 1T shone, the day to grace.
Bore then upon it's massive board
1sNo mark to part the squire and lord.
RThen was brought in the lusty Drawn.
1 By, old blue-coated serving man;
4 Then the grim hoar'shead frowned on
+ - HIGH &&&E &Lz4@4
Crested with bays and rosemary.
1{Wellt can the green-garbed ranger tell
I How, when, and where the monster teu'
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 trowis.
There the huge sirloin reeked; hard by
, ~Plum-porsidge stood, and Christmas pie;
Nor failed old Scotland to produce.
1 At suc}sshigh@tide. her savdr goose.
.txThen came the merry Masters in.
And carols reared with buthsome DIM
RIf anmelodieusx wasFthe song,
1t was a hearty note, strong.
Who lists may in their mumrfi1g SEQ
Traces efs-ancient mystery; q
White -skirts supplied the n~4asquerades
laid AmuttAA cheeks the visnrs mads;s
IEuts 10 whit maskers richly; Digit ~
I.Can boas66f oosoms half SO light
E~nglandlWas merry England, when
Old Christmas brought his SPOTS agaths
Twas Christmas preached TIC mlshses'
ale; 80
dsFvsa.c tristEoas told the Inerriest xele
IA Christmas gaTabol oft could cheefs
The poor mans heart through hAls IN