Classic Poem

I hear along our street
Pass the minstrel throngs;
Hark! they play so sweet,
On their hautboys, Christmas songs!
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire!

In December ring
Every day the chimes;
Loud the gleemen sing
In the streets their merry rhymes
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire

Shepherds at the grange,
Where the Babe was born,
Sang, with many a change,
Christmas carols until morn
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire!

These good people sang
Songs devout and sweet;
While the rafters rang,
There they stood with freezing feet
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire

Nuns in frigid cells
At this holy tide,
For want of something else,
Christmas songs at times have tried.
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire!

Washer women old,
To the sound they beat,
Sing by rivers cold,
With uncovered heads and feet
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire.

Who by the fireside stands
Stamps his feet and sings;
But he who blows his hands
Not so gay a carol brings
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire!