Welcome.

Meadows, Merry Christmas, 1847

OLD CHRISTMAS RETURNED

All you that to feasting and mirth are inclined,

Come here is good news for to pleasure your mind,

Old Christmas is come for to keep open house,

He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse !

     Then come, boys, and welcome for diet the chief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

A long time together he hath been forgot,

They scarce could afford for to hang on the pot ;

Such miserly sneaking in England hath been,

As by our forefathers ne'er used to be seen ;

     But now he's returned, you shall have in brief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

The times were ne'er good since old Christmas was fled,

And all hospitality hath been so dead,

No mirth at our festivals late did appear,

They would scarcely part with a cup of March beer ;

     But now you shall have, for the ease of your grief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

The butler and baker, they now may be glad,

The times they are mended, though they have been bad;

The brewer, he likewise may be of good cheer,

He shall have good trading for ale and strong beer ;

     All trades shall be jolly, and have, for relief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

The holly and ivy about the walls wind,

And show that we ought to our neighbours be kind,

Inviting each other for pastime and sport,

And where we best fare, there we most do resort,

     We fail not for victuals, and that of the chief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

The cooks shall be busied, by day and by night,

In roasting and boiling, for taste and delight ;

Their senses in liquor that's nappy they'll steep,

Though they be afforded to have little sleep ;

     They still are employed for to dress us, in brief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

Although the cold weather doth hunger provoke,

'Tis a comfort to see how the chimneys do smoke ;

Provision is making for beer, ale, and wine,

For all that are willing or ready to dine ;

     Then haste to the kitchen, for diet the chief —

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

All travellers, as they do pass on their way,

At gentlemen's halls are invited to stay,

Themselves to refresh, and their horses to rest,

Since that he must be Old Christmas's guest ;

     Nay, the poor shall not wait, but have, for relief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

Now Mock-beggar Hall it no more shall stand empty,

But all shall be furnished with freedom and plenty ;

The hoarding old misers, who used to preserve

The gold in their coffers, and see the poor starve,

     Must now spread their tables, and give them, in brief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

The court, and the city, and country are glad

Old Christmas is come to cheer up the sad ;

Broad pieces and guineas about now shall fly,

And hundreds be losers by cogging a die,

     Whilst others are feasting with diet the chief

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

Those that have no coin at the cards for to play,

May sit by the fire and pass time away,

And drink of their moisture contented and free

" My honest good fellow, come here is to thee ! "

     And when they are hungry, full to their relief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

Young gallants and ladies shall foot it along,

Each room in the house to the music shall throng,

Whilst jolly carouses about they shall pass,

And each country swain trip about with his lass ;

     Meantime goes the caterer to fetch in the chief

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

The cooks and the scullion who toil in their frocks,

Their hopes do depend upon their Christmas-box ;

There are very few that do live on the earth

But enjoy at this time either profit or mirth ;

     Yea, those that are charged to find all relief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

Then well may we welcome Old Christmas to town,

Who brings us good cheer and liquor so brown,

To pass the cold winter away with delight,

We feast it all day, and we frolic all night ;

     Both hunger and cold we keep out with relief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

Then let all curmudgeons, who dote on their wealth,

And value their treasure much more than their health,

Go hang themselves up, if they will be so kind,

Old Christmas with them but small welcome shall find :

     They will not afford to themselves, without grief,

     Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.