News of a fair and a marvellous thing,
_The snow in the street and the wind on the door._
Nowell, nowell, nowell, we sing!
_Minstrels and maids, stand forth on the floor._

_William Morris._

A FRENCH NOEL.

(TRANSLATED FROM GUI BAROZAI.)

I hear along our street
Pass the minstrel throngs;
Hark! they play so sweet,
On their hautboys, Christmas songs!
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire!

In December ring
Every day the chimes;
Loud the gleemen sing
In the streets their merry rhymes.
Let us by the fire, etc.

Shepherds at the grange,
Where the Babe was born,
Sang, with many a change,
Christmas carols until morn.
Let us by the fire, etc.

These good people sang
Songs devout and sweet;
While the rafters rang
There they stood with freezing feet.
Let us by the fire, etc.

Nuns in frigid cells
At this holy tide
For want of something else
Christmas songs at times have tried.
Let us by the fire, etc.

Washerwomen old,
To the sound they beat,
Sing by rivers cold
With uncovered heads and feet.
Let us by the fire, etc.

Who by the fireside stands
Stamps his feet and sings;
But he who blows his hands
Not so gay a carol brings.
Let us by the fire, etc.

_Henry Wadsworth Longfellow._

MASTERS, IN THIS HALL.

"To Bethl'em did they go, the shepherds three;
To Bethl'em did they go to see whe'r it were so or no,
Whether Christ were born or no
To set men free."

Masters, in this hall,
Hear ye news to-day
Brought over sea,
And ever I you pray.
_Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!_
_Sing we clear!_
_Holpen are all folk on earth,_
_Born is God's Son so dear._

Going over the hills,
Through the milk-white snow,
Heard I ewes bleat
While the winds did blow.
_Nowell, etc._

Shepherds many an one
Sat among the sheep;
No man spake more word
Than they had been asleep.
_Nowell, etc._

Quoth I, "Fellows mine,
Why this guise sit ye?
Making but dull cheer,
Sh