CHRISTMAS EVE.
'Tis. good to see on Christmas Eve the crowd Go gaily to and fro. with clamour loud, To 'ixereise domestic trading arts In bargaining for goods, from geese to tarts. To :?ee the heavy father, wife in tow, Push through the press and blunder too and fro ; While his small olive branches five or six Upjiet his mind with their fantastic tricks, Getting beneath their elders' busy feet, Or rushing recklessly across the street, Ri-king such dangers as his spouse affright, And driving dignity clean out of sight. 'Tis good to watch the newly-married pairs, Quite self-important witli tkeir household cares, Go pricing goods and getting taken in By dealers shrewd, who deem it not a sin To trade on freshness as they trade in goo«ls, And bilk these babes in matrimonial woods. 'Tis good to wa'ch the bachelor forlorn, Gnze on their spooning with an eye of scorn, Peeming his singlo, lone, unmated state, The best condition in the gift of Fate. 'Tis ?ood to watch the varied shades of life, Comining and going in the changing strife Of eager traders, lazy passers-by, Old folk and young, and chatt'ring small fry. In softening music falls the maiden's sighs, Gruff come 3 the vendor's never-ceasing cries, The babe's small treble rises sharp and shr.ll, Cheap Jack's rough sallies all the pauses fill. Soft accents, tender smiles, discordant yells, Rise in confusion, helped by piemen's bolls. "What curious contrasts do the streets contain, The man of fashion <<nd the clownish swain. Wealth in its carriage, pride fair in array, Honour in rags, una genius in decay, Snot's, with a better show of cash than brains, Ladies with naught to boast but silken trains. All mixed together in » motley way, And making oftentimes a queer display. Satin and serge, broadcloth and broidered sleeve, Kubbing in unison on Christmas Evo.
The barbab-tree of South Africa may be barked or burned out without injury to the tree, and it continues to live and grow for some time after it is cut down,
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 6273, 24 December 1881, Page 7
Word Count
340CHRISTMAS EVE. New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 6273, 24 December 1881, Page 7
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