Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/171

 Darkness like the grave; on the window frost,
 * But in the room beside the stove is warm.

By the fire’s blaze granny sits and nods,
 * While the maidens spin the soft flax by storm.

Spin around, whirl around, spinning-wheel mine, Advent is nearing, and rest shall be thine, For soon, for oh soon will be Christmas time.

Oh, diligent maidens I love to see
 * Spinning their flax in the long winter night,

For pay they’ll receive when spinning is done;
 * And a linen pile is a gladsome sight.

And youths will come for a diligent girl,
 * They will say, “Oh, maiden, beloved, be mine!

I will take thee home as my cherished wife,
 * And I will be wholly, wholly thine.

I’ll be thy husband, and thou’lt be my wife,
 * Give me thy hand, that I know it is so!”

Then the maiden will cut her linen fine,
 * And gladly her wedding shirts she will sew.

Spin around, whirl around, spinning wheel mine, Advent is nearing and rest will be thine; For soon, for oh soon will be Christmas time.

Ho! thou Christmas evening,
 * Filled with mystic awe.

Good perhaps thou bringest,
 * Better then we saw.