Page 90 - Lavender-B-6

Let’s get into the holiday spirit by reading this poem.

The snow lies deep upon the ground,

And winter’s brightness all around

Decks bravely out the forest sere,

With jewels of the brave old year.

The coasting crowd upon the hill

With some new spirit seems to thrill;

And all the temple bells achime.

Ring out the glee of Christmas time.

In happy homes the brown oak-bough decks: decorates
forest sere: dried and withered forest
Vies with the red-gemmed holly now; coasting: moving
achime: to sound harmoniously or in
And here and there, like pearls, there show chimes as a set of bells
glee: happiness and excitement
The berries of the mistletoe. oak-bough: (sau ohk-bau) a large
branch of an oak tree
A sprig upon the chandelier vies: competes eagerly
sprig: a single small plant stem with
Says to the maidens, ‘Come not here!’ leaves on it
chandelier: (say shan-duh-leeuh) a
large, decorative hanging light with
Even the pauper of the earth branches for several light bulbs
pauper: a poor person
Some kindly gift has cheered to mirth! mirth: happiness
peal: a loud sound
assail: to attack
Within his chamber, dim and cold, snarls: said something angrily

There sits a grasping miser old.

He has no thought save one of gain,—

To grind and gather and grasp and drain.

A peal of bells, a merry shout

Assail his ear: he gazes out

Upon a world to him all gray,

And snarls, ‘Why, this is Christmas Day!’

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