At the holy table stands the priest; The wedding ring is blessed; Baptiste receives it ; Ere on the finger of the bride he leaves it, He must pronounce one word at least! 'Tis spoken; and sudden at the groomsman's side ""T is he!" a well-known voice has cried. And while the wedding guests all hold their breath, Opes the confessional, and the blind girl, see! "Baptiste," she said, "since thou hast wished my death, As holy water be my blood for thee ! " At eve, instead of bridal verse, The De Profundis filled the air; Decked with flowers a simple hearse To the church-yard forth they bear ; Follow, weeping as they go ; Nowhere was a smile that day, No, ah no! for each one seemed to say :— "The roads should mourn and be veiled in gloom, So fair a corpse shall leave its home! Should mourn and should weep, ah, well-away! So fair a corpse shall pass to-day!" A CHRISTMAS CAROL. FROM THE NOEI BOURGUIGNON DE GUI BARÔZAI I HEAR along our street Hark! they play so sweet, On their hautboys, Christmas songs! Let us by the fire Ever higher Sing them till the night expire! In December ring Every day the chimes; Loud the gleemen sing In the streets their merry rhymes. Let us by the fire Ever higher Sing them till the night expire. Shepherds at the grange, Where the Babe was born, Sang, with many a change, Christmas carols until morn. Let us by the fire Ever higher Sing them till the night expire! These good people sang Songs devout and sweet; While the rafters rang, There they stood with freezing feet. Let us by the fire Ever higher Sing them till the night expire. Nuns in frigid cells At this holy tide, For want of something else, Christmas songs at times have tried. Let us by the fire Ever higher Sing them till the night expire! Washerwomen old, To the sound they beat, Sing by rivers cold, With uncovered heads and feet. Let us by the fire Ever higher Sing them till the night expire. |