As it fell upon a day, Poor Lazarus sickened and died, There came an Angel out of heaven, His soul there for to guide. "Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus, And come along with me, For there's a place in heaven provided To site on an Angel's knee." As it fell upon a day, Rich Dives sickened and died, There came a serpent out of hell, His soul there for to guide. "Rise up, rise up, brother Dives, And come along with me, For there's a place in hell provided, To sit on a serpent's knee." Then Dives lifting his eyes to heaven, And seeing poor Lazarus blest, "Give me a drop of water, brother Lazarus, To quench my flaming thirst. "Oh! had I as many years to abide, As there are blades of grass, Then there would be an ending day; But in hell I must ever last. "Oh! was I now but alive again, For the space of one half hour, I would make my will, and then secure That the devil should have no power." CHAPTER X Christmas Eve--Herrick thereon--The Yule Log--Folk-lore thereon--The Ashen Faggot--Christmas Candles--Christmas Eve in the Isle of Man--Hunting the Wren--Divination by Onions and Sage--A Custom at Aston--"The Mock"--Decorations and Kissing Bunch--"Black Ball"--Guisers and Waits--Ale Posset. All the festivals of the Church are preceded by a vigil, or eve, and, considering the magnitude of the festival of Christmas, it is no wonder that the ceremonial attaching to the eve of the Nativity outvies all others. What sings old Herrick of it? Come, bring with a noise, My merrie, merrie boyes, The Christmas Log to the firing; While my good Dame, she Bids ye all be free; And drink to your hearts' desiring. With the last yeere's brand, Light the new block, And For good successe in his spending, On your Psalterie play, That sweet luck may Come while the Log is teending.[36] Drink now the strong Beere, Cut the white loafe heere, The while the meat is a shredding; For the rare Mince pie, And the Plums stand by To fill the Paste that's a-kneading. [Footnote 36: Lighting, burning.] Bringing in the Yule log, clog, or block--for it is indifferently called by any of these names, was a great function on Christmas eve--and much superstitious reverence was paid to it, in order to insure good luck for the coming year. It had to be lit "with the last yeere's brand," and Herrick gives the following instructions in _The Ceremonies for Candlemasse day_. Kindle the Christmas Brand, and then Till Sunne-set, let it burne; Which quencht, then lay it up agen, Till Christmas next returne.