341 



Oa Christmas eve the bells were rung ; 

 On Christmas eve the mass was sung. 



The damsel donn'd her kirtle sheen ; 

 The hall was dressed with holly green, 

 Forth to the wood did merry men go 

 To gather in the Mistletoe." 



Had a single sprig of Mistletoe grown in the domain of Abbotsford, we may 

 safely say that the two last lines would never have been written. Who can wonder 

 that lesser WTiters should follow, year by year, with increasing devotedness, in the 

 same track. One of these productions it behoves me to notice for the verj' name 

 it bears, and the popularity it has gained, albeit, the song of " The Mistletoe 

 Bough" does injustice to the plant itself ; is a modem-antique of a mild order ; 

 and worse than all, owes its renown and its interest, to an unacknowledged 

 plagiarism ; , 



" The Mistletoe hung in the Castle hall. 

 The holly branch shone on the old oak wall, 

 The Baron's retainers were blythe and gay 

 Keeping their Christmas holiday." 



The burden of the song — which has made most of us tremble with horror — is the 

 tale of Genevra, the bride, shut up in the old oak chest, from Rogers' " Italy." 



In the Midland and Northern Counties the Mistletoe is very rare, and it could 

 not be expected that its traditions should be known. Nevertheless the interest 

 in this plant is so universal, that this deficiency — like many of another kind — has 

 been met by the improved means of transit in modem times. The Mistletoe has 

 now actually become an established export from this County, and there perhaps 

 never was a year when so many people rejoiced in its presence at their Christmas 

 festivities as during that which has just passed. Through the politeness of the 

 Traffic Managers for the Great Western, and London and North Western Railways 

 at Hereford (Messrs. Wall and CartwTight), I am enabled to give you an approxi- 

 mation towards the correct return of the quantity of Mistletoe actually sent out of 

 this County last December. The exact returns are as follows : — 



Tons. Cwt. Qrs. 

 Hereford sent ofi . . . . . . 25 o o 



Withington 

 Ledbury . . 

 Moreton . . 

 Dinmore . . 

 Leominster 

 Berrington 

 Woofferton 

 Ludlow . . 

 Ross 

 Moorhampton . . 



