CHRISTMAS IN THE OLDEN TIME, 1650.
At Wycoller Hall the family usually kept open house the twelve days at Christmas. Their entertainment was, a large hall of curious ashler work, a long table, plenty of furmenty like new milk, in a morning, made of husked wheat, boiled and roasted beef, with a fat goose, and a pudding, with plenty of good beer for dinner. A round-about fire-place, surrounded with stone benches, where the young folks sat and cracked nuts, and diverted themselves, and in this manner the sons and daughters got matching without going much from home."— Family MS. of the Cunliffes.
You must come back, my brother,
For Christmas is so near,
And Christmas is the crowning time,
The purple of the year;
He calls his court about him,
He is the fairy king,
Whose revel is at midnight
Within a charmed ring.
Christmas is coming, my brother dear,
And Christmas comes, my brother, but once a year.
The last leaf hath departed
From off the old oak tree,
But there is the wreath of misletoe
Where the green leaf used to be.
And we’ll hang up the charmed coronal
Above the highest door,
And strangers all must pay the fine
Ere they tread the fairy floor.
Christmas is coming, my brother dear,
And Christmas comes, my brother, but once a year.
The trees are white with hoar-frost,
And snow is on the ground,
But there are yet some roses
Beside the casement found;
And the terrace yet has myrtle;
Both shall be saved for you;
And you shall give them, my brother,
But I must not guess to who!
Christmas is coming, my brother dear,
And Christmas comes, my brother, but once a year.
47
