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

       &nbsp In December ring
       &nbsp Every day the chimes;
       &nbsp Loud the gleemen sing
In the streets their merry rhymes.
      &nbsp Let us by the fire
      &nbsp Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire.

       &nbsp Shepherds at the grange,
       &nbsp Where the Babe was born,
       &nbsp Sang, with many a change,
Christmas carols until morn.
      &nbsp Let us by the fire
      &nbsp Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire!

       &nbsp These good people sang
       &nbsp Songs devout and sweet;
       &nbsp While the rafters rang,
There they stood with freezing feet.
      &nbsp Let us by the fire
      &nbsp Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire.
       &nbsp Nuns in frigid veils
       &nbsp At this holy tide,
       &nbsp For want of something else,
Christmas songs at times have tried.
      &nbsp Let us by the fire
      &nbsp Ever higher
Sing them fill the night expire!

       &nbsp Washerwomen old,
       &nbsp To the sound they beat,
       &nbsp Sing by rivers cold,
With uncovered heads and feet.
      &nbsp Let us by the fire
      &nbsp Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire.

       &nbsp Who by the fireside stands
       &nbsp Stamps his feet and sings;
       &nbsp But he who blows his hands
Not so gay a carol brings.
      &nbsp Let us by the fire
      &nbsp Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire!