, playfulness, and ecstatic delight. No other air, perhaps,
shows so perfectly the reverent gaiety of the carol spirit.

The fifteenth century produced a realistic type of German carol. Here is
the beginning of one such:--

"Da Jesu Krist geboren wart,
do was es kalt;
in ain klaines kripplein
er geleget wart.
Da stunt ain esel und ain rint,
die atmizten ueber das hailig kint
gar unverborgen.
Der ain raines herze hat, der darf nit sorgen."[20]{22}

It goes on to tell in naive language the story of the wanderings of the
Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt.

This carol type lasted, and continued to develop, in Austria and the
Catholic parts of Germany through the sixteenth, seventeenth, and
eighteenth centuries, and even in the nineteenth. In Carinthia in the
early nineteenth century, almost every parish had its local poet, who
added new songs to the old treasury.{23} Particularly popular were the
_Hirtenlieder_ or shepherd songs, in which the peasant worshippers joined
themselves to the shepherds of Bethlehem, and sought to share their
devout |46| emotions. Often these carols are of the most rustic
character and in the broadest dialect. They breathe forth a great
kindliness and homeliness, and one could fill pages with quotations. Two
more short extracts must, however, suffice to show their quality.

How warm and hearty is their feeling for the Child:--

"Du herzliabste Muater, gib Acht auf does Kind,
Es is ja gar frostig, thuas einfatschen gschwind.
Und du alter Voda, decks Kindlein schen zua,
Sonst hats von der Koelden und Winden kan Ruah.
Hiazt nemen mir Urlaub, o gettliches Kind,
Thua unser gedenken, verzeich unser Suend.
Es freut uns von Herzen dass d'ankomen bist;
Es haett uns ja niemand zu helfen gewist."[21]{24}

And what fatherly affection is here:--

"Das Kind is in der Krippen gloegn,
So herzig und so rar!
Mei klaner Hansl war nix dgoegn,
Wenn a glei schener war.
Kolschwarz wie d'Kirchen d'Augen sein,
Sunst aber kreidenweiss;
Die Haend so huebsch recht zart und fein,
I hans angruert mit Fleiss.

Aft hats auf mi an Schmutza gmacht,
An Hoescheza darzue;
O warst du mein, hoan i gedacht,
Werst wol a munter Bue.
Dahoam in meiner Kachelstub
Liess i brav hoazen ein,
Do in den Stal kimt ueberal
Der kalte Wind herein."[22]{25}

|47| We have been following on German gro