In “The Miller’s Daughter,” one of the most homely and charming poems ever penned by the Poet Laureate, occurs a quatrain, spoken by an old gentleman addressing his faithful spouse:—
| “So sweet it seems with thee to talk, And once again to woo thee mine; ’Tis like an after-dinner talk Across the walnuts and the wine.” |
The Christmas Holly.
| “The Holly! the Holly! oh, twine it with bay— Come give the Holly a song; For it helps to drive stern Winter away, With his garments so sombre and long. It peeps through the trees with its berries so red, And its leaves of burnished green, When the flowers and fruits have long been dead, And not even the daisy is seen. Then sing to the Holly, the Christmas Holly, That hangs over the peasant and king: While we laugh and carouse ’neath its glittering boughs, To the Christmas Holly we’ll sing.” Eliza Cook. |
In London a large sale is carried on in “Christmasing,” or in the sale of holly, ivy, laurel, evergreens, bay, and mistletoe, for Christmas sports and decorations, by the family greengrocer and the costermongers. The latter of whom make the streets ring with their stentorian cry of:—
Holly! Holly!! Holly, oh!!! Christmas Holly, oh!
Old Cries.