Betty’s Bright Idea; Deacon Pitkin’s Farm; And The First Christmas Of New England

Betty’s Bright Idea.
“When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”--Eph. iv. 8.
Some say that ever, ‘gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrate,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long.
And then, they say, no evil spirit walks;
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm,--
So hallowed and so gracious is the time.