"His birth-bed shall be neither

In housen nor in hall,
Nor in the place of paradise,

But in the oxen's stall.

"He neither shall be rockèd
In silver nor in gold,
But in the wooden manger
That lieth in the mould.

"He neither shall be washen
With white wine nor with red,
But with the fair spring water
That on you shall be shed.

"He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pall,
But in the fair, white linen
That usen babies all."

As Joseph was a-walking,
Thus did the angel sing,
And Mary's son at midnight
Was born to be our King.

Then be you glad, good people,
At this time of the year:
And light you up your candles,

For His star it shineth clear.
OLD ENGLISH.

The Glad Evangel

The

Glad

Evange

Old Christmas

Now he who knows old Christmas,

He knows a carle of worth;
For he is as good a fellow

As any upon earth.

He comes warm cloaked and coated,
And buttoned up to the chin,
And soon as he comes a-nigh the door
We open and let him in.

We know that he will not fail us,
So we sweep the hearth up clean;
We set him in the old arm-chair,
And a cushion whereon to lean.
And with sprigs of holly and ivy
We make the house look gay,
Just out of an old regard to him,
For it was his ancient way.

He must be a rich old fellow:
What money he gives away!
There is not a lord in England
Could equal him any day.

Good luck unto old Christmas,
And long life, let us sing,

For he doth more good unto the poor

Than many a crowned king!

MARY HOWITT.

God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen

The

Glad

God rest ye, merry gentlemen; let nothing you Evangel

dismay,

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on

Christmas-day.

The dawn rose red o'er Bethlehem, the stars
shone through the gray,

When Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on
Christmas-day.

God rest ye, little children; let nothing you affright,

For Jesus Christ, your Saviour, was born this happy night;

Along the hills of Galilee the white flocks sleeping lay,

When Christ, the child of Nazareth, was born on Christmas-day.

God rest ye, all good Christians; upon this blessed morn

The Lord of all good Christians was of a woman
born:

Now all your sorrows He doth heal, your sins
He takes away;

For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, was born on

Christmas-day.

DINAH MARIA MULOCK.

The

Glad

Minstrels and Maids

Evangel Outlanders, whence come ye last?

The snow in the street and the wind on the

door.

Through what green seas and great have ye past?

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

From far away, O masters mine,

The snow in the street and the wind on the

door.

We come to bear you goodly wine,

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

From far away we come to you,

The snow in the street and the wind on the

door.

To tell of great tidings strange and true,
Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

News, news of the Trinity,

The snow in the street and the wind on the

door.

And Mary and Joseph from over the sea!

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

For as we wandered far and wide,

The snow in the street and the wind on the

door.

The

What hap do you deem there should us betide! Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor. Glad

Under a bent when the night was deep,

The snow in the street and the wind on the

door.

There lay three shepherds tending their sheep.
Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

66

"O ye shepherds, what have ye seen,

The snow in the street and the wind on the
door.

To slay your sorrow, and heal your teen?"
Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

“In an ox-stall this night we saw,

The snow in the street and the wind on the door.

A babe and a maid without a flaw.

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

"There was an old man there beside,

The snow in the street and the wind on the
door.

His hair was white and his hood was wide.
Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

"And as we gazed this thing upon,

The snow in the street and the wind on the

door.

Evangel