Thus, that which should relieve the poor,
And feast them at this tide,
Is spent upon a coach and four,
To maintain foolish pride.
Yet some there are, although but few,
In whom more goodness lurks,
Who, to the poor will pity show,
And show their faith by works.
I wish, for one, that these were twain,
And knaves away all swept,
That honest Christians, once again,
With feasting may be kept.
SUMMER TOIL AND WINTER CHEER.
From Poor Robin's Almanack," 1724.)
Now after all our slaving, toiling,
In harvest or hot weather broiling,
The scorching weather's gone and past,
And shivering winter's come at last.
Good fires will now do very well,
For Christmas cheer begins to smell.
Those that in summer laboured hard,
Are for a Christmas storm prepared;
And from their store are able now
To feast themselves, and neighbours too,
With pork and mutton, veal and beef-
Of country feasting these are chief;
But those that yet would farther go,
May have a hollow bit or so,
Pig, capon, turkey, goose, and coney,
Whatever may be had for money;
Plum-pudding, cheese, and furmity,
With pasty, tarts, and Christmas pie;
Good nappy ale, or humming beer,
Suits very well to such good cheer.
Such plenteous living's their enjoyment,
Who truly follow their employment,
While slothful, lurking, idle drones
Do scarce deserve to pick the bones.
(From "Poor Robin's Almanack," 1728.)
THE short cold days, and long cold nights,
The people to the fire invites.
Now happy they who furnished are,
And did, in summer-time prepare
For victuals, drink, and good hot fires,
All which this season now requires.
geese and sheep with care were bred, And, in their season, duly fed
If, at the proper time of year,
You from the sheep the wool did shear
And if you afterwards begun
To have it carded, have it spun,
And wove, and put upon your back—
You'll be warm dressed when others lack.
If you October beer did brew,
You have the credit of it now,
And pleasure of the drinking too.
Provide good cheer, yourselves enjoy,
And all your needless cares destroy
With harmless mirth, and best of cheer,
Good wine, or ale, or humming beer,
And merry Christmas crown the year.
CHRISTMAS PAST AND PRESENT.
(From "Poor Robin's Almanack," 1739.)
Now Christmas comes with frost and snow, When men do feast, or should do so;
When lusty diet, and the bowl
Should round about the table troll,
And cooks prepare their poignant meat
To teach the palate how to eat,
And every dish invites the sight
To a new hungry appetite;
The while musicians sing and play,
With mirth to drive the time away.
For mirth, being mixed with our meat,
Gives better appetite to eat.
But now the times are altered so,
When Christmas is, we scarce can know
But for these two things put together,-
Men's hearts are hard, so is the weather.
But which are hardest of the two?
Men's hearts are, without more ado.
O, may those who have richest store,
And do refuse to feast the poor,
Whilst they are served with every dish
That coin can buy, or heart can wish-
O may they still have store of meat,
But stomach none, the same to eat.
(From Brand's " Popular Antiquities.")
WASSAIL! Wassail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white, our ale it is brown:
Our bowl it is made of a maplin tree,
We be good fellows all-I drink to thee.
Here's to Dobbin, and to his right ear,
God send our master a happy New Year;
A happy New Year as e'er he did see-
With my Wassailing Bowl I drink to thee.
Here's to Smiler, and to his right eye,
God send our mistress a good Christmas pie;
As good Christmas pie as e'er I did see-
With my Wassailing Bowl I drink to thee.
Here's to Fillpail, and to her long tail,
God send our master us never may fail
Of a cup of good beer: I pray you draw near,
And our jolly Wassail it's then you shall hear.
Be here any maids? I suppose there be some—
Sure they'll not let young men stand on the cold stone;
Sing hey O maids, come trole back the pin,
And the fairest maid in the house let us in.
Come, butler, come bring us a bowl of the best,
And I'll hope your soul in heaven will rest:
But if you do bring us a bowl of the small,
Then down may fall butler, and bowl, and all.
(From "Round about our Coal Fire,” 1734.)
YOU merry, merry souls,
Christmas is a coming;
We shall have flowing bowls,
Dancing, piping, drumming.
Delicate minced pies,
To feast every virgin,
Capon and goose likewise,
Brawn, and dish of sturgeon.
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