"Late
lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.
Before
the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.
Close
by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.
When
to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
It's frosty pepper up my nose.
Black
are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
***
"The
kings they came from out the south,
All dressed in ermine fine;
They bore Him gold and chrysoprase,
And gifts of precious wine.
The
shepherds came from out the north,
Their coats were brown and old;
They brought Him little new-born lambs—
They had not any gold.
The
wise men came from out the east,
And they were wrapped in white;
The star that led them all the way
Did glorify the night.
The
angels came from heaven high,
And they were clad with wings;
And lo, they brought a joyful song
The host of heaven sings.
The
kings they knocked upon the door,
The wise men entered in,
The shepherds followed after them
To hear the song begin.
The
angels sang through all the night
Until the rising sun,
But little Jesus fell asleep
Before the song was done."