River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19
Christmas
in the
OMen Times
BY Sir Walter Sect

ZAP on more wood!-the wind
,T,, pI is 81; chill \ ,,,,,,-4,o !. ,,,,,,
~AJk$1ICss Wen keep our Christmas
AEMQk merry still,
@5LIT Each age has deemed the
EW newt born year
HSE& The fittest 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 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 Odn's hall.
| And we'll 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 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 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,
And ceremony DOTTED 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 to grace,
Bore then upon its massive board
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 on
high,
Crested with bays and rosemary.
Well can the green-garbed ranger tell
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 orridge stood, and Christmas pie:
Nor failed old Scotland to produce.
At such high-tide, her savory goose.
Then came the merry maskers in.
And carols roared with bGthsome din:
If unmelodious was the song,
1t was a 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, Q, what maskers richly digit
Can boast of bosoms half so light!
England was merry England, when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
Twas Christmas preached the mightiesl
ale;
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;
A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
The poor mans heart through half the
year.