A Fairy Tale of Home."
Originally published in Douglas Jerrold's Shilling Magazine (Punch) vol.3 #13 (Jan 1846).
It is the time of gentle thoughts and words,
When voices that make music in the ear,
(As do the love-notes of sweet-throated birds,)
Are speaking the old welcomes, trite, yet dear:
And folk, made happy by their Christmas cheer,
Tell o’er the names of friends in by-gone times,
And sing old songs such as their sires did hear,
Until their carols mingle with the chimes.
At such a time thou comest, little book!
And find’st a welcome waiting everywhere:
The gorgeous chamber and the chimney nook,
The Spirit of thy leaves is asked to share,
As tho’ he were a guest expected there,
And coming with an honoured kinsman’s claim—
Such a "familiar face" he seems to wear—
And such a household word doth sound his name.