C.S. Lewis

There are far better things ahead
than any we leave behind

Hunting for Tiddleyham Bumbershoot

Pickwick

We write these words now, many miles distant from the spot
at which, year after year, we met on that day, a merry and joyous
circle.  Many of the hearts that throbbed so gaily then, have
ceased to beat; many of the looks that shone so brightly then,
have ceased to glow; the hands we grasped, have grown cold; the
eyes we sought, have hid their lustre in the grave; and yet the old
house, the room, the merry voices and smiling faces, the jest,
the laugh, the most minute and trivial circumstances connected
with those happy meetings, crowd upon our mind at each
recurrence of the season, as if the last assemblage had been but
yesterday!  Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the
delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the
pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the
traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fireside and
his quiet home!

George Winston - December

moon and music

songs devout and sweet

These good people sang

Songs devout and sweet;
    While the rafters rang,
There they stood with freezing feet.
        Let us by the fire
        Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire!

Holly