The Pauper’s Christmas Carol.

Full of drink and full of meat,

On our SAVIOUR’S natal¹ day,

CHARITY’S perennial² treat;

Thus I heard a Pauper³ say:—

“Ought not I to dance and sing

Thus supplied with famous cheer?

Heigho!

I hardly know —

Christmas comes but once a year.

“After labor’s long turmoil⁴,

Sorry fare and frequent fast,

Two-and-fifty weeks of toil⁵,

Pudding-time is come at last!

But are raisins⁶ high or low,

Flour and suet cheap or dear?

Heigho!

I hardly know —

Christmas comes but once a year.

“Fed upon the coarsest fare

Three hundred days and sixty-four,

But for one on viands⁷ rare,

Just as if I wasn’t poor!

Ought not I to bless my stars,

Warden⁸, clerk, and overseer?

Heigho!

I hardly know —

Christmas comes but once a year.

“Treated like a welcome guest,

One of Nature’s social chain,

Seated, tended on, and press’d —

But when shall I be press’d again,

Twice to pudding, thrice to beef,

A dozen times to ale and beer?

Heigho!

I hardly know —

Christmas comes but once a year.

“Come to-morrow how it will;

Diet scant⁹ and usage rough,

Hunger once has had its fill,

Thirst for once has had enough,

But shall I ever dine again?

Or see another feast appear?

Heigho!

I only know —

Christmas comes but once a year!

“Frozen cares begin to melt,

Hopes revive and spirits flow —

Feeling as I have not felt

Since a dozen months ago —

Glad enough to sing a song —

To-morrow shall I volunteer?

Heigho!

I hardly know —

Christmas comes but once a year.

“Bright and blessed is the time,

Sorrows end and joys begin,

While the bells with merry chime

Ring the Day of Plenty in!

But the happy tide to hail,

With a sigh or with or a tear,

Heigho!

I hardly know —

Christmas comes but once a year!”

1 natal   

adj.出生的，先天的

参考例句：

• Many music-lovers make pilgrimages to Mozart's natal place.很多爱好音乐的人去访问莫扎特的出生地。
• Since natal day,characters possess the visual elements such as dots and strokes.文字从诞生开始便具有了点画这样的视觉元素。

2 perennial   

adj.终年的；长久的

参考例句：

• I wonder at her perennial youthfulness.我对她青春常驻感到惊讶。
• There's a perennial shortage of teachers with science qualifications.有理科教学资格的老师一直都很短缺。

3 pauper   

n.贫民，被救济者，穷人

参考例句：

• You lived like a pauper when you had plenty of money.你有大把钱的时候，也活得像个乞丐。
• If you work conscientiously you'll only die a pauper.你按部就班地干，做到老也是穷死。

4 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

5 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

6 raisins   

n.葡萄干( raisin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These raisins come from Xinjiang,they taste delicious. 这些葡萄干产自新疆，味道很甜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mother put some raisins in the cake. 母亲在糕饼中放了一些葡萄干。 来自辞典例句

7 viands   

n.食品，食物

参考例句：

• Greek slaves supplied them with exquisite viands at the slightest nod.只要他们轻轻点点头希腊奴隶就会供奉给他们精美的食品。
• The family sat down to table,and a frugal meal of cold viands was deposited beforethem.一家老少，都围着桌子坐下，几样简单的冷食，摆在他们面前。

8 warden   

n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人

参考例句：

• He is the warden of an old people's home.他是一家养老院的管理员。
• The warden of the prison signed the release.监狱长签发释放令。

9 scant   

adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略

参考例句：

• Don't scant the butter when you make a cake.做糕饼时不要吝惜奶油。
• Many mothers pay scant attention to their own needs when their children are small.孩子们小的时候，许多母亲都忽视自己的需求。