Spring, & Summer, & russet Fall,
Come & go with a varied cheer;
Each has something, & none has all
Of the good things of the year.
Winter laughs though the trees are bare,
With a kindly laugh that is good to see,
For of all the forest is none so rare
As his merry Christmas Tree.
It blooms with many a taper’s flame;
And hidden under the leaves of green
Are fruits of every shape & name,
The funniest ever seen.
Book & bundle, & scarf & shawl,
Picture & peanuts, skate & saw,
Candy & album, rubbers & ball,
Hatchet, & doll, & taw.
Games & frames, & comical dames
With walnut faces wrinkled & old;
More varied fruitage of endless names
Than St. John’s tree, foretold.
For the good St. Nicholas blest this tree,
And it billows & bears for every one,
With a gift of love to you & me,
For beauty, or use, or fun.
Welcome Little ones! Welcome all!
There is none, to-night, too poor to come;
We’ll gather a harvest for great & small
From our joyous Christ-Nacht Baum.
Poorer than any the Child whose name
Has given a name to our Christmas Tree;
Yet kindly gifts to his cradle came,
And kingly gifts gave He!
Christ-nacht Baum