The Sabbath-morn was beautiful-and the long Sabbath-day The evening-star rose beautiful when daylight died away. Morn, day, and twilight, this lone glen flow'd over with delight, But the fulness of all mortal joy hath bless'd the Sabbath-night. Hans and Michael Piping merrily. Now they mow; each maiden Now the blisses, Now the kisses Now the wit doth flow, Then with song and shout, Hence they go, yo ho! The First White Tress. A SILVER tress is 'mid thy hair, I never saw before, The first that time hath woven there But think not I can love thee less, Ah! no, that little silver tress It is decreed that youth must pass, HOLTY. Thy gentle smile plays o'er her face, And nut-brown is her hair: Like thine, sweet love, ere I could trace MARK LEMON. Christmas comes but once a year. THOSE Christmas bells as sweetly chime, And far and wide their music flung, And he came singing through the woods, And pluck'd the holly bright and green; Pull'd here and there the ivy buds; Was sometimes hidden, sometimes seenHalf buried 'neath the mistletoe, His long beard hung with flakes of snow; Old Christmas comes but once a year. The hall was then with holly crown'd, It deck'd the boar's head, tusk'd and grim, His jaded steed the armed knight From humble monk to abbot great. The maiden then, in quaint attire, Loosed from her head the silken hood, And danced before the yule-clog fireThe crackling monarch of the wood. Helmet and shield flash'd back the blaze, In lines of light, like summer rays, While music sounded loud and clear; For Christmas came but once a year. What though upon his hoary head Have fallen many a winter's snow? His wreath is still as green and red As 'twas a thousand years ago. For what has he to do with care? His wassail-bowl and old arm-chair Are ever standing ready there, For Christmas comes but once a year. No marvel Christmas lives so long, His nights were spent with mirth and song, While every voice cried" Welcome here, For those old times are dead and gone, And still around these good old times Which somehow sink into the heart, At early day the youthful voice, Heard singing on from door to door, |