[349-20] Joe Miller was an English comedian who lived from 1684 to 1738. The year after his death there appeared a little book called _Joe Miller's Jests_. These stories and jokes, however, were not written by Miller. CHRISTMAS IN OLD TIME _By_ Sir Walter Scott Heap on more wood![356-1]--the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still. Each age has deem'd the new-born year The fittest time for festal cheer:[356-2] And well our Christian sires of old Loved when the year its course had roll'd, And brought blithe Christmas back again, With all his hospitable train.[356-3] Domestic and religious rite[356-4] Gave honor to the holy night; On Christmas Eve the bells were rung;[356-5] On Christmas Eve the mass[356-6] was sung: That only night in all the year, Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.[356-7] The damsel donn'd her kirtle sheen;[356-8] The hall was dress'd with holly green; Forth to the wood did merry-men go, To gather in the mistletoe.[357-9] Then open'd wide the baron's hall To vassal,[357-10] tenant,[357-11] serf,[357-12] and all; Power laid his rod of rule aside,[357-13] And ceremony doff'd his pride.[357-14] The heir, with roses in his shoes,[357-15] That night might village partner choose;[357-16] The lord, underogating,[357-17] share The vulgar game of "post and pair."[357-18] All hail'd, with uncontroll'd delight And general voice, the happy night, That to the cottage, as the crown, Brought tidings of Salvation down.[357-19] The fire, with well-dried logs supplied, Went roaring up the chimney wide; The huge hall-table's oaken face, Scrubb'd till it shone, the day to grace, Bore then upon its massive board No mark to part the squire and lord.[358-20] Then was brought in the lusty brawn,[358-21] By old blue-coated serving-man; Then the grim boar's head frown'd on high, Crested with bays and rosemary.[358-22] Well can the green-garb'd ranger[358-23] tell, How, when, and where, the monster fell; What dogs before his death he tore, And all the baiting of the boar.[358-24] The wassail[358-25] round, in good brown bowls, Garnish'd with ribbons, blithely trowls.[358-26]