ments,
To readorn the house.
Thus times do shift, each thing his turn does hold;
New things succeed as former things grow old.

_Robert Herrick._

ANOTHER CEREMONY.

Down with the rosemary, and so
Down with the bays and mistletoe;
Down with the holly, ivy, all
Wherewith ye dressed the Christmas hall,
That so the superstitious find
No one last branch there left behind;
For, look! how many leaves there be
Neglected there, maids, trust to me
So many goblins you shall see.

_Robert Herrick._

THE CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMAS DAY.

Kindle the Christmas brand, and then
Till sunset let it burn,
Which quenched, then lay it up again
Till Christmas next return.

Part must be kept, wherewith to teend
The Christmas log next year,
And where 'tis safely kept, the fiend
Can do no mischief there.

_Robert Herrick._

ANOTHER CEREMONY.

End now the white-loaf and the pie,
And let all sports with Christmas die.

_Robert Herrick._

SAINT DISTAFF'S DAY, THE MORROW AFTER TWELFTH DAY.

Partly work and partly play
Ye must on St. Distaff's day;
From the plough soon free your team,
Then come home and fodder them;
If the maids a-spinning go,
Burn the flax and fire the tow;
Scorch their plackets, but beware
That ye singe no maiden-hair;
Bring in pails of water then,
Let the maids bewash the men;
Give St. Distaff all the right,
Then bid Christmas sport good-night,
And next morrow every one
To his own vocation.

_Robert Herrick._

_The Shepherds._

"His place of birth a solemn angel tells
To simple shepherds keeping watch by night."

_Milton._

ON OATEN PIPES.

As I rode out this enderes night,
Of three ioli sheppardes I saw a sight,
And all abowte there fold a star shone bright;
They sang, terli, terlow;
So mereli the sheppardes their pipes can blow.

Doune from heaven, from heaven so hie,
Of angeles ther came a great companie,
With mirthe, and joy, and great solemnitye,
The sange, terly, terlow;
So mereli the sheppardes their pipes can blow.

_Coventry Mysteries._

PIPE-PLAYING.

_Tyrle, Tyrle, so Merrily the Shepherds began to Blow._

About the field they piped full right,
Even abo