Part 44

Saint Nicholas money used to give to maidens secretlie, Who, that he still may use his wonted liberalitie, The mothers all their children on the eve do cause to fast, And, when they every one at night in senseless sleepe are cast, Both apples, nuttes, and peares they bring, and other things beside, As caps, and shooes and petticotes, which secretlie they hide, And in the morning found, they say, that this Saint Nicholas brought: Thus tender mindes to worship Saints, and wicked things are taught.

From "The Popish Kingdom," 1750. Barnaby Googe.

St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra, patron saint of virgins, boys, sailors, and the worshipful company of parish clerks of the city of London.

Hone.

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The drooping year is in the wane, No longer floats the thistle-down; The crimson heath is wan and sere; The sedge hangs withering by the mere, And the broad fern is rent and brown.

The owl sits huddling by himself, The cold has pierced his body through; The patient cattle hang their head; The deer are 'neath their winter shed; The ruddy squirrel's in his bed, And each small thing within its burrow.

Mary Howitt.

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DECEMBER 21ST. (St. Thomas's Day.)

St. Thomas grey St. Thomas grey, The longest night and the shortest day.

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Look at the weathercock on St. Thomas's Day at twelve o'clock, and see which way the wind is, and there it will stick for the next three months.

Warwickshire.

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There is never a Saturday in the year But what the sun it doth appear.

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If birds pipe afore Christmas they'll greet after.

Scotland.

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Mystic mistletoe flaunted, Such as the Druids cut down with golden hatchets at Yuletide.

Longfellow.

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William Stukeley, Arch Druid (1687-1765), says: "The Druids cut mistletoe off the trees with their upright hatchets of brass, called Celts, put upon the ends of their staffs, which they carried in their hands."

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Mistletoe is said to be the forbidden tree in the middle of the trees of Eden.

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If Christmas Day on Monday be, A great winter that year you'll see.