loomy thowt or two at this part o'th' year, but
Kursmiss comes to cheer us up a bit, an' he's nooan ov a gooid sooart
'at can't be jolly once i'th' year. As an owd friend o' mine has
cliverly said:--

Come let us choose the better part,
And sing whilst life is given;
A cheerful and contented heart
Gives no offence to Heaven.

'Tis Christmas time, then fill the horn,
Away with melancholy,
If there's no leaves upon the thorn,
There is upon the holly.

Hi! varry true! When ther's no leaves upon th' thorn, they're green
upon the holly. Ther's allus summat to be thankful for if we seek it
aat--ther's sure to be a bit o' sunshine somewhere--an' its a varry
bad case if a chap can't find consolation aat o' summat.

Aw remember a case ov a woman deein' 'at aw knew, an' aw met th'
husband lukkin' varry glum a bit at after. "Well Joa," aw said,
"tha's had a heavy loss, lad." "Eea, aw have," an' then after
studdyin' a bit, he said, "but aw should ha had to ha bowt a new suit
afoor long, an' aw mud as weel buy black as any other color; it wod ha
been awkerd if aw'd just getten a white hat, as aw thowt on--but
Providence! orders all things for th' best."

Ther's noa daat a gooid lot on us find consolation aat o'th' Kursmiss
jollification--its just a bit ov a sweetener afoor all th' nooats
begin o' commin' in; aw dooant mean five paand nooats, ther's nooan
monny o' them stirrin'. It's th' coil nooats, an' gas nooats, an' tax
papers, them's th' sooart at's stirrin abaat this time. Wheniver
ther's a knock at th' door, yo may ventur to put yor hand i' yor
pocket; an' happy he must feel 'at can allus find as mich thear as'll
do. But its time enuff to think abaat that sooart o' thing when it
comes; we've plenty to do nah to think abaat plum pudding an' rooast
beef--an' aw hooap at iverybody 'at reads this may have enuff an' to
spare. If aw could do owt to help yo to enjoy yorsen, awm sure aw
wod, but as that's aat o' mi paar, just afoor aw leave for another
twelve months aw'll gie yo a tooast, an' aw hooap yo'll all drink a
bumper to it. Here gooas! Fill up to th' brim! Are yo ready? Here's
off!

God bless ivery one raand yor table
Wi' plenty to ait an' to spare;
God bless yo an' mak yo all able
To enjoy what may fall to yor share.
God bless yo wi health an' wi riches,
God bless yo wi hearts 'at can feel
For the poor, when cold poverty twitches.
God bless th