Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-12-18
BY Sir Waiter Scott

ZAP on more wood!-the wind
MIT, p is S chill H ,,,.,.+,. .. :. will
\ xlEs1jyz9 Wen keep our Christmas
SIG4g merry stin.
]IIGID Each age has deemed the
G1 newborn year
sGL& The fttest time for festal
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 th-
while,
As best might to the mind recall
The boisterous joys of Odins hall.
And we'll our Christian sres of old
Loved when the year its course had
rolled
And brought biithe Christmas back again
With all his hospitable train.
Domestic and religious rite
Gave honor to the$holy night:
| On Christmas eve the DellS were TunSr
| 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 hah
| To vassal. tenant. serf, and ALL
| Power laid his rod of rule aside,
And 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 tidngs of salvation down.
The fre, the well-dried logs supplied,
Went roaring up the chimney wide;
The huge hall-tables oaken face,
Scrubbed till IT shone. the day to grace.
Bore then upon its massive 5oar6
No mark to part the squire anG idrd.
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 r6semary.
! 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, blthely trowls
There the huge sirloin reeked; hard by
Plum porridge 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 buthsome din:
A II unmelodious was the song,
: It was a hearty note. and strong
? Who lists may in their mumming see
I 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 80 light
England was merry England, when
n Old Christmas brought his sports again.
= Twas Christmas preached the mighties
ale;
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale
= Christmas gambol oft could cheer
o The poor mans heart through half tn
year.