A Christmas Carol

(The Chief Constable has issued a statement declaring that carol singing in the streets by
children is illegal, and morally and physically injurious. He appeals to the public to discourage
the practice.—Daily Paper.)

God rest you merry gentlemen, 

Let nothing you dismay;  

The Herald Angels cannot sing, 

The cops arrest them on the wing, 

And warn them of the docketing  

Of anything they say.

God rest you merry gentlemen,  

May nothing you dismay:  

On your reposeful cities lie 

Deep silence, broken only by 

The motor horn’s melodious cry,  

The hooter’s happy bray.

So, when the song of children ceased  

And Herod was obeyed,  

In his high hall Corinthian

With purple and with peacock fan, 

Rested that merry gentleman; 

And nothing him dismayed.

-The Ballad of St. Barbara and Other Verses (1922)