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.

"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

The

Glad Evange!

Those, twain knelt down to the Little One,

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

"And a marvellous song we straight did hear,
The snow in the street and the wind on the
door.

That slew our sorrow and healed our care."
Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

News of a fair and marvellous thing,

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

Nowell, nowell, nowell, we sing!

Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor.

WILLIAM MORRIS.

An Ode on the Birth of Our Saviour

In numbers, and but these few,

I sing thy birth, O Jesu!

Thou pretty baby, born here

With sup'rabundant scorn here:
Who for thy princely port here,
Hadst for thy place

Of birth, a base

Out-stable for thy court here.

Instead of neat enclosures

Of interwoven osiers,

Old Christmas Returned

All you that to feasting and mirth are inclined,
Come here is good news for to pleasure your

mind,

Old Christmas is come for to keep open house,
He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse:
Then come, boys, and welcome for diet the chief,
Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and
roast beef.

The The holly and ivy about the walls wind Glad And show that we ought to our neighbors be Evangel

kind,

Inviting each other for pastime and sport,

And where we best fare, there we most do resort;
We fail not of victuals, and that of the chief,
Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and
roast beef.

All travellers, as they do pass on their way,
At gentlemen's halls are invited to stay,
Themselves to refresh, and their horses to rest,
Since that he must be Old Christmas's guest;
Nay, the poor shall not want, but have for relief,
Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and
roast beef.

OLD CAROL.

Ceremonies for Christmas

Come, bring with a noise,
My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing,

While my good dame, she

Bids ye all be free,

And drink to your heart's desiring.

With the last year's brand

Light the new block, and

For good success in his spending,