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CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING (John Pagen White, ca. 1868) The Betsey Jane sailed out of the Firth, As the waits sang, "Christ is born on earth." The Betsey Jane sailed out of the Firth On Christmas day in the morning, The wind was east. The moon was high. Of a frosty blue was the spangled sky. And the bells were ringing, and dawn was nigh, And the day was Christmas morning. In village and town woke up from sleep, From peaceful visions and slumbers deep- In village and town woke up from sleep, On Christmas day in the morning, The many that thought on Christ the King, And rose betimes their gifts to bring, And "peace on earth and good will" to sing, As is meet upon Christmas morning. The Betsey Jane passed village and town, As the Gleemen sang, and the stars went down- The Betsey Jane passed village and town, That Christmas day in the morning. And the Skipper by good and by evil swore, The bells might ring and the gleemen roar, But the chink of his gold would chime him o'er Those waves, next Christmas morning. And out of the Firth with his reckless crew, All ready his will and his work to do- Out of the Firth with his reckless crew He sailed on a Christmas morning! He steered his way to Gambia's coast, And dealt for slaves, and westward crossed, And sold their lives, and made his boast As he thought upon Christmas morning. And again and again from shore to shore, With his human freight for the golden ore- Again and again from shore to shore, Ere Christmas day in the morning, He crossed that deep with never a thought Of the sorrow, or wrong, or suffering wrought, On souls and bodies thus sold and bought For gold, against Christmas morning! And at length, with his gold and ivory rare, When the sun was low and the breeze was fair- At length with his gold and ivory rare, He sailed, that on Christmas morning He might pass both village and town again When the bells were ringing, as they rung then, When he passed them by in the Betsey Jane, On that last bright Christmas morning. The Betsey Jane sailed into the firth, As the bells rang, "Christ is born on earth"- The Betsey Jane sailed into the Firth, And it was upon Christmas morning! The wind was west, the moon was high, Of a hazy blue was the spangled sky, And the bells were ringing, and dawn was nigh, Just breaking on Christmas morning. The gleemen singing of Christ the King, Of Christ the King, of Christ the King- The gleemen singing of Christ the King, Hailed Christmas day in the morning. When the Betsey Jane with a thundering shock Went ripping along on the Giltstone Rock, In sound of the bells which seemed to mock Her doom on that Christmas morning. With curse and shriek and fearful groan, On the foundering ship, in the waters lone- With curse and shriek and fearful groan, They sank on that Christmas morning! The skipper with arms around his gold, Scared by dark spirits that loosed his hold, Was down the deep sea plunged and rolled In the dawn of that Christmas morning: - While village and town woke up from sleep, From peaceful visions and slumbers deep- While village and town woke up from sleep, That Christmas day in the morning! And many that thought on Christ the King, Rose up betimes their gifts to bring, And, "peace on earth and good will" to sing, Went forth in the Christmas morning! @Xmas tune: Christmas Day in the Morning filename[ CHRSMORN XX |
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