The Plum-Pudding Dream
I dreamed a dream on Christmas Night
Of a Hero stout and bold,
A gallant little English Lad,
Who captured a pirates' Hold;
He captured the Hold! he slew the Chief,
And loaded his Ship with gold.
He shipped the Gold, and shaped a Course
For the gory Spanish Main;
Boarded the Plate-ship, sword in teeth,
And hauled down the flag of Spain;
The proud Dons promptly walked the Plank,
As the dream cruised on again.
The dream cruised thro' a dark Forest
Whereout there came a scream:
"St. George!" the Hero cried, "St. George!"
And quick his Sword did gleam;
Six Paynims died, the Maid was saved,
Then onward went the dream.
The dream went on with Helm a-port,
Till it struck an Indian trail;
The Hero said; "I'll have their Scalps,
Sure as a ninepenny Nail";
He had their Scalps in Dead Man's gulch,
And again the dream set sail.
The dream set sail with Helm a-lee,
Till the French fleet hove in sight;
Ten thousand line-of-battle Ships
On a bowline, cleared for fight;
"I'll sink the lot," the Hero cried;
So he sank the lot all right.
And still the Hero cruised and cruised
Where Gold and Fights were rife;
With Spear and Gun, with Axe and Sword
Men sought that Hero's life;
Yet Home he came, all Scars and Fame,
And wedded the usual Wife.
On Christmas Night I dreamed that dream;
But when the Morning came
No single word of it was True,
Which was a jolly shame;
For everything that Hero did
I could have done the same!
Silent Night
Joseph Mohr
Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon' Virgin mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glory streams from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia.
Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light;
Radiance beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of
redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon' Virgin mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glory streams from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia.
Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light;
Radiance beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of
redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
The Birth of Christ
From The Gospel of St Luke
Chapter 2, Verses 1-20
And it came to pass in those days,that there went
out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world
should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius
was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed,every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city
of Nazareth,into Judaea, unto the city of David, which
is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and
lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great
with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days
were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped
him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;
because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding
in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them:
and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them,Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour,which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising, God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good
will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away
from them into heaven, the shepherds said or
to another, Let us now go eve unto Bethlehem, and see
this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph,
and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it,they made known abroad
the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things
which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in
her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned,glorifying and praising
God for all the things that they had heard and seen,
as it was told unto them.
Chapter 2, Verses 1-20
And it came to pass in those days,that there went
out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world
should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius
was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed,every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city
of Nazareth,into Judaea, unto the city of David, which
is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and
lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great
with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days
were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped
him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;
because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding
in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them:
and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them,Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour,which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising, God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good
will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away
from them into heaven, the shepherds said or
to another, Let us now go eve unto Bethlehem, and see
this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph,
and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it,they made known abroad
the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things
which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in
her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned,glorifying and praising
God for all the things that they had heard and seen,
as it was told unto them.
The Oxen
"Thomas Hardy"
Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock,
"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel
"In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.
Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock,
"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel
"In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.
The Night Before Christmas
Clement C. Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all
through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;
And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now, dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof_
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney! St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.
His eyes_how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed, when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings: then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."
Twas the night before Christmas, when all
through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads;
And Mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap;
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now, dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof_
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney! St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.
His eyes_how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed, when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings: then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."