Page:Our American Holidays - Christmas.djvu/137

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UNDER THE HOLLY-BOUGH
109

UNDER THE HOLLY-BOUGH

Ye who have scorned each other,
Or injured friend or brother,
   In this fast-fading year;
Ye who, by word or deed,
Have made a kind heart bleed,
   Come gather here!
Let sinned against and sinning
Forget their strife's beginning,
   And join in friendship now.
Be links no longer broken,
Be sweet forgiveness spoken
   Under the Holly-Bough.

Ye who have loved each other,
Sister and friend and brother,
   In this fast-fading year:
Mother and sire and child,
Young man and maiden mild,
   Come gather here;
And let your heart grow fonder,
As memory shall ponder
   Each past unbroken vow;
Old loves and younger wooing
Are sweet in the renewing
   Under the Holly-Bough.