ne and all
Render who share the festival."

[Illustration]

Some of the poets of this period have dealt playfully with the
festivities of Christmastide, as, for example, Laman Blanchard (1845)
in the following effusion:--

CHRISTMAS CHIT-CHAT.

In a Large Family Circle.

"The day of all days we have seen
Is Christmas," said Sue to Eugene;
"More welcome in village and city
Than Mayday," said Andrew to Kitty.
"Why 'Mistletoe's' twenty times sweeter
Than 'May,'" said Matilda to Peter;
"And so you will find it, if I'm a
True prophet," said James to Jemima.
"I'll stay up to supper, no bed,"
Then lisped little Laura to Ned.
"The girls all good-natured and dressy,
And bright-cheeked," said Arthur to Jessie;
"Yes, hoping ere next year to marry,
The madcaps!" said Charlotte to Harry.
"So steaming, so savoury, so juicy,
The feast," said fat Charley to Lucy.
"Quadrilles and Charades might come on
Before dinner," said Martha to John.
"You'll find the roast beef when you're dizzy,
A settler," said Walter to Lizzy.
"Oh, horrid! one wing of a wren,
With a pea," said Belinda to Ben.
"Sublime!" said--displaying his leg--
George Frederick Augustus to Peg.
"At Christmas refinement is all fuss
And nonsense," said Fan to Adolphus.
"Would romps--or a tale of a fairy--
Best suit you," said Robert to Mary.
"At stories that work ghost and witch hard,
I tremble," said Rosa to Richard.
"A ghostly hair-standing dilemma
Needs 'bishop,'" said Alfred to Emma;
"What fun when with fear a stout crony
Turns pale," said Maria to Tony;
"And Hector, unable to rally,
Runs screaming," said Jacob to Sally.
"While you and I dance in the dark
The polka," said Ruth unto Mark:
"Each catching, according to fancy,
His neighbour," said wild Tom to Nancy;
"Till candles, to show what we can do,
Are brought in," said Ann to Orlando;
"And then we all laugh what is truly a
Heart's laugh," said William to Julia.
"Then sofas and chairs are put even,
And carpets," said Helen to Stephen;
"And so we all sit down again,
Supping twice," said sly Joseph to Jane.
"Now bring me my clogs and my spaniel,
And light me," said Dinah to Daniel.
"My dearest, you've emptied that chalice
Six times," said fond Edmund to Alice.
"We are going home tealess and coffeeless
Shabby!" said Soph to Theophilus;
"To meet again under the holly,
_Et cetera_,"