24 Dec. 1839 Christmas Carol
Hail hail, happy Christmas! thou ever art dear— Long-wished-for holiday-tide of the year Why should we not greet thee, with welcoming lay, As a stranger who long time hath tarried away ? Then welcome, O! welcome, to cottage and hall,— Thy season of gladness dear unto all; Though the leaves of December are blighted and few, Yet, a gay garland we’ve planted for you. Give the rose to the maiden, when Summer is bloom,— The cypress and willow to bend o’er the tomb Give the snow-drop to childhood—its fair bosom bears The emblem of infancy, stainless with years; The hero the laurel—the poet the bay. The award of his talents—the meed of his lay; But the garland, blithe Christmas! we'll still twine for thee. Is the evergreen leaves of the bright holly tree. O! bright be the morn shall in-herald thee, then. When faces, long absent, meet smiling again, And the circle of home, which the long year hath parted, Join once more, at its close, open-brow’d and light-hearted; When the cares of the cold world our spirits forgot. And the brother’s soft smile with the sister’s is met. As they twine o’er the Christmas fire, blithely and free, A wreathe of the bright holly’s ever green tree. Then, hail to thee, Christmas! for ever thou art The joy-spring of rapture and bliss to each heart. When the glow of delight on each young face appears, And the father looks round on the flock of his years; And the wife of his bosom, who sits by his side. Smiles round on her children, with motherly pride. While their loud voices mingle, in pleasure and glee. As they dance round the bough of the green holly tree. O! if there's a time when the care-troubled breast. Like a wing-wearied bird, would seek refuge and rest; O! if there's a time when the spirit would fain Break away from his cares, like a slave from his chain, ’Tis when the first greeting awakes on his ear— A blithe Merry Christmas, and happy New Year For, dear to each breast must that welcoming be. As is ever to Christmas the green holly tree (sent to the Newry Telegraph by) Henry H.B Kilmorey street, Newry transcribed by Teena from the Newry Telegraph 24 Dec. 1839 -- www.cotyrone.com http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/ _______________________________________________ [email protected] UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
