Good people all, Both great and small, Come listen to my rhyme! Let others sing the praise of Spring: My theme's the Christmas time. ['Old up the lantern, vill you, Bill?] Oh! time of joy To man and boy; Rich, poor; grave, gay; low, high: When none but sounds of mirth are heard; And only criers cry. Come, ope your gates! The bellman waits To claim his annual levy. And hopes, to lighten his old heart, You'll stand a pot of heavy. ['Ow werry sewere the cold is, to be sure! it qvite makes von's head turn round. I might have been having a drop too much—and I'm sure I haven't: no—not a drop—too much. I only had half a pint o' beer at Mr. Simkins's—and a small glass of gin at Mr. Wiggins's—and the least drop as ever vos o' visky at Mr. Higgins's—and a pot of porter at Mr. Figgins's—and a thimbleful of brandy at Mr. Villiam Smith's—and a mug of stout at Mr. Valter Smith's—and a glass of grog at Mr. Thomas Smith's— and the share of a pint of purl at Mr. John Smith's—and a teacupful of cherry bounce at Vidow Smith's—and a draught of Dublin stout at Miss Smith's—and I'm sure that couldn't do nob'dy no harm; could it, Bill?] There's not a stage Of youth or age— No spot in life's dull round, But, like a guardian angel, there Your faithful crier is found. [Vell, I never vos out in sech a frost in _my_ life: I can't keep my legs the least bit as ever vos. Slippery times these is, to be sure. Hold the lantern up, vill you, Bill?] When first a wild And "poor lost child," Seduced by Punch's laughter, You stray in tears about the streets, Don't I go crying after? [_Vill_ you 'old the lantern stiddy, Bill; and not keep vhirling it about in that vay. Vot lots o' rewolving lights there is in this part of the city, to be sure!] In after-life, When vixen wife Goes running o'er the town; And, what is worse, runs you in debt; Why—don't I cry her down? [Vell, I'm blest if ever I see such printing as this: they've let the paper slip, and printed the werses twice over.] And when Lord Mayor, The civic chair With dignity you press, For very joy, then, don't I cry— Oh, yes! oh, yes! oh, yes!