255 
Oh ! the Ice-king’s reign is dreary ! 
But though dreary without—’tis glad within, 
For now the Christmas sports begin. 
With merry meetings of kith and kin. 
And hearts so light and cheery — 
The wintry eves we will e’en prolong 
With the hounding dance, and the festive song. 
And the ancient gohlin-stoiy: 
The gi’eat yule-log on the hearth shall blaze. 
And old gossips chat of their by-gone days. 
And England’s Christmas glory; 
The Holly’s bright leaves and benies red 
In wreaths o’er the picture-frames bespread. 
And the Mistletoe-bough above them. 
For maidens who covet, yet seem to dread, 
A kiss from the lips that love them. 
Farewell to the year!—the fair young Spring 
In Summer’s glow did vanish ; 
Autumn fled from the stem Ice-king, 
Whom Spring again will banish. 
THE END. 
