A CHRISTMAS LEGEND.
Beneathe an ancient oake one daye
A holye friar kneeled to praye;
Scarce hadde he mumbled Aves three,
When lo! a voice within the tree!
Straighte to the friar’s hearte it wente,
A voice as of some spirit pente
Within the hollow of the tree,
That cried, “Good father, sette me free!”
Quoth he, “This hath an evil sounde.”