The Mistletoe Bough.

The Mistletoe Bough.
298.4.

The mistletoe hung in the castle hall.
The holly branch shone on the old oak wall:
And the baron’s retainers were blithe and gay.
And keeping their Christmas holy day:
The baron beheld with a father’s pride
His beautiful child, young Lovell’s bride:
While who with her bright eyes seum’d to be
The ater of the goodly company.
Oh, the mistletoe bough!
Oh, the mistletoe bough!

“I’m weary of dancing now,” she cried! ”
Here tarry & moment, I’ll hide I’ll hide!
And. Lovell, be sure thou’rt first to trace
The alew to my secret lurking place.
Away she ran and her friends began
Each tower to search and each nook to scan
And young Lovell cried, “Oh, where dost thou hide?
I’m lonesome without thee. my own dear bride.”
Oh, the mistletoe Lough!
Oh, the inletleton boughi

They sought her that night, and they sought her next day!
And they sought her in vain when a week pam’d away
In the highest, the lowest, the lonellest spot
Young Lovell sought wildly, but found her not.
And years flew by, and their grief at ant
Was told as a sorrowful tale long past:
And when Lovell appeared the children cried
“See, the old man weeps for his fairy bride!
Oh, the mistletoe bough
Oh, the mistletoe bough!

At length an oak chest that had long lain hid
Was found in the castle-they raised the Ud- And a skeleton form lay moldering there
In the bridal wreath of the lady fair!
Oh, and was her fate! in sportive Jeet
She hid from her lord in the old oak cheat:
It closed with a spring, and her bridal bloom
Lay withering there in a living tomb.
Oh, the mistletoe bough!
Oh, the mistletoe bought