Those accursed Infidels That stoned him to Death, Could not by their cruelties Withhold him from his Faith, In such a godly Martyrdom Seek we all the Path. _And_ Jesus, etc. And whilst we sit here banqueting, Of dainties having Store, Let us not forgetful be To cherish up the Poor; And give what is convenient To those that ask at Door. _And_ Jesus, etc. For God hath made you Stewards here, Upon the Earth to dwell; He that gathereth for himself, And will not use it well, Lives far worse than _Dives_ did, That burneth now in Hell. _And_ Jesus, etc. And, now, in Love and Charity, See you your Table spread, That I may taste of your good Cheer, Your _Christmas_ Ale and Bread: Then I may say that I full well For this, my Carol, sped. _And_ Jesus, etc. For Bounty is a blessed Gift, The Lord above it sends, And he that gives it from His Hands, Deserveth many Friends: I see it on my Master's Board, And so my Carol ends. _Lord_ Jesus, etc. But St. Stephen's day is much better known in England as "Boxing Day," from the kindly custom of recognising little services rendered during the year by giving a Christmas box--a custom which, of course, is liable to abuse, and especially when, as in many instances, it is regarded as a right, in which case it loses its pleasant significance. No one knows how old this custom is, nor its origin. Hutchinson, in his _History of Northumberland_ (vol. ii. p. 20), says: "The Paganalia of the Romans, instituted by Servius Tullius, were celebrated in the beginning of the year; an altar was erected in each village, where all persons gave money." There is a somewhat whimsical account of its origin in the first attempt at _Notes and Queries_, _The_ Athenian _Oracle_, by John Dunton (1703, vol. i. 360). "Q. _From whence comes the custom of gathering of_ Christmas Box Money? _And how long since?_ "A. It is as Ancient as the word _Mass_, which the Romish Priests invented from the _Latin_ word _Mitto_, to send, by putting People in Mind to send Gifts, Offerings, Oblations, to have Masses said for everything almost, that a Ship goes not out to the _Indies_, but the Priest have a Box in that Ship, under the Protection of some Saint. And for Masses, as they Cant, to be said for them to that Saint, etc., the Poor People must put something into the Priest's Box, which is not to be Opened till the Ship Return. Thus the Mass at that time was called _Christ's Mass_, and the Box, _Christ's Mass Box_, or Money gathered against that time, that Masses might be made by the Priests to the Saints, to forgive the People the Debaucheries of that time; and from this, Servants had the Liberty to get Box-money, because they might be able to pay the Priest for his Masses, because _No Penny, No Paternoster_."