Old Father Christmas came once more,
His eye was bright if his hair was hoar,
And the old old gifts on his back he bore.
With the old loved legend now as then
The pleasantest ever inscribed by pen—
"Peace upon earth, goodwill to men."
What was it the good old greybeard saw?—
War's iron teeth, greed's gaping jaw,
And shaken order and broken law.
Each land ringed round with a fence of steel,