The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-22, Page 4'The Twelve Days of Christmas'
dates back to the l6th century
n the Middle Ages, religious holidays were practically
the only holidays, so lord and peasant alike tried to ex-
tend such happy times as long as possible. Christmas
became not one day of celebration but 12, extending
from Christmas Day to the Epiphany, when the Wise Men ar'-
rived with their gifts (thereby initiating the custom of giving
presents at Christmas). In the castles of the wealthy, a gift
on each of the 12 days was not unusual. Hence, the appeal of
"The Twelve Days of Christmas", since even those who
couldn't afford to give the gifts could at least sing about
them. The carol is very old, dating probably from the 16th
century, when such sprightly counting songs were very much
in fashion.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, A
partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me,
Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me,
Three French hens, Two turtle doves and a partridge in a
pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me,
Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves and a
partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, Five
golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens and a
partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Six partridge in a pear tree.
geese a laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three
,Twas The Night B ef orb Christmas"
of the Story)(The Rest
French hens, Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden
rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Eight maids a milking, Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a
laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French
hens, Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a milking, Seven swans a
swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden rings, Four calling
birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves and a partridge in
a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Ten lords a leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a milk-
ing, Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden
rings, Four calling birds,Three French hens, Two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of C istmas, my true love gave to me,
Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a leaping, Eight maids a milk-
ing, Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden
rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords
a leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a milking, Seven
swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five golden rings,
Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves and a
BY PAUL HARVEY
ay I present Dr. Moore.
First, so you'll feel you
know him better, let me tell
you about his family.
His daddy was Benjamin Moore, a Protes-
tant Episcopal clergyman who became a
bishop in that church. His daddy was also a
professor at Columbia College in New York,
and in 1801 he was elected president of Col-
umbia. And Ben's nephew became presi-
dent of Columbia forty or so years later.
What I'm leading up to is that our Dr.
Moore had a Scholarly ancestry. It was
natural that he, Clement Clarke Moore,
should be born with a textbook intellect.
And that Clement skipped his boyhood, grew
to manhood, and nobody ever called him
Clem.
Dr. Moore was a scholar. Became Pro-
fessor of Biblical Learning at General
Theological Seminary in New York. Learn-
ed every language but slang.
In 1809 he wrote a book. It was not exactly
a best seller. Its title was A Compendious
Lexicon of the Hebrew Language.
' Then Dr. Moore became full Professor of
Oriental and Greek Literature. I know he
hardly sounds human. But he was. Before
I'm through, you'll know he was.
In 1813 the first symptom showed up. He
married. At thirty-five, the professor
finally looked up from his weighty
reading and his pompous writing and
discovered love.
Eventually, Dr. and Mrs. Moore had
children of their own. With them, for the
first time in his life, the professor could
descendfrom the intellectual stratosphere
and, explore with them the wonderland of
makebeleive.
It was one day when in play, he was thus
unbending that he authored a false state-
ment. If he had just told it to his children, as
any other father telling a fairy tale, nothing
would have happened. But the meticulous
professor had to put it in writing.
That did it. It was a story in verse about
an old German handyman who worked for
the Moores. The hired man was the model
for the hero of this fiction. And a year later
that flippant bit of writing almost cost the
distinguished Dr. Moore a case of apoplexy.
Here's what happened.
Harriet Butler, daughter of the rector of
St. Paul's Church in Troy, New York,. was
visiting. Somehow she saw that poem.
She asked for the copy.
Dr. Moore may or may not have said she
could have it. Certainly he expected her to
respect the privacy of his little family joke.
But she didn't.
She sent the poem anonyinously to the
Troy Sentinel. And the newspaper publish-
ed it. Dr. Moore saw a copy of that paper.
Even though his name was not printed, he
hit the ceiling.
He could not write a protest 40. the
newpaper without revealing that he, the
dignified professor of Oriental languages,
had authored this literary lie.
Besides, the Sentinel's story was quickly
copied elsewhere. And repeatedly. What
had been intended as a little private bedtime
story was printed with no explanation and so
was represented to be factual. Thousands
came to believe it. By now there was
nothing Dr. Moore could do but fume and
fuss and hide and hope that noboby,par-
ticularly among his associates at the
seminary ever found out his secret.
Actually, please understand, he bad done
nothing wrong. How many things we may
say in play with our children which would
appear pretty absurd in print.
Dr. Clement Moore managed to, preserve
his dignity with cautious silence for fifteen
years. Then it got out.
In 1829 the Troy Sentinel discovered his
identity. He threatened suit if they named
him. Instead, the paper again printed his
humorous little poretense and printed this
explanation: "In response to many in-
quireis the Sentinel wished to state that
thispoem was written by a gentleman who
belongs by birth and residence to the city of
New York and that he is a gentleman of
(moi merit as a scholar...."
Well! That merely added to the authenici-
ty of the thing and intensified further the
public coriosity as to its source. But the doc-
tor stood firm.
He could not let his untruth be publicly
0:10:0,10,10rit,30, 710:
Christmas cards
BY GRACE E. EASLEY
his time of year, I always stand
Beside the door to wait
Until I hear the postman lift
The latch upon the gate.
I run to meet him, for I know -
He will most certainly
Reach down into his sack to find
Some Christmas cards for me.
In many shapes and sizes,
They come from far and near,
And each of them recalls a face
And friendship very dear.
Some come in bright red envelopes
With hollyberry seals,
And others may arrive in white
With scenes of winter fields.
From The Staff And Management
H.O. JERRY
(1983) Ltd.
'wIo[ctnritt Er cRetailf75 o/ !Pal,ct, c.Pin,tics
and good C:,toduat,
J�atty rS,uftff[ LE
185 Park Street
Goderich, Ontario
524-2855 524-4266 1-800-265-5177
And then there are the special ones,
With edges trimmed in gold,
Much too thick, and long, and wide
For my mailbox to hold.
I watch the stack grow larger,
With humble joy, to see
The many folks throughout the year
Who have remembered me.
And sitting at my rosewood desk
Till long into the night,
I choose my awn cars carefully ;
And then I start to write.
My heart is filled with memories,
Bright as a candle flame,
And I address the envelopes,
But love's hand signs my name.
fr
1
1
(!rating
to all my
clients, thank
you for your
patronage°
associated with his distinguished name,
to br rig discredit upon all his truly fine
writings.
In 1837, when the New York Book of
Poetry was published, this verse was
included.
It was 1838 before he ever owned up to it.
Sixteen years after it was written, fifteen
years after it had been published repeated-
ly, when Dr. Moore's children were all
grown', so they could understand what had
motivated their daddy to do such a
thing...finally he told the world The Rest of
the Story.
He told the Troy, New York, Budget that
he did it. That he, the Episcopal man of let-
ters who compiled the first Hebrew dic-
tionary in the United States, that he, the
distinguished Professor of Oriental and
Greek Literature, that his gifted pen had
been guilty of this unmitigated deception.
And so it is that this man whowrote a
verse for his children is today enshirned int
he hearts of all children. On the day before
Christmas there will be a pilgrimage of
children...a lantern processikon to his grave
in New York's Trinity Churchyard.
For you see, Dr. Clement Clarke Moore,
for all the works of which he was most pro-
ud, is remembered for the one whimsical
verse which embarrassed him.
Forgotten is his Compendious Lexicon.
Remembered is the verse which he wrote
for his children.
We know best his verse which begins "
'Twas the night before Christmas...."
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1987—PAGE IB
What better time to
say, "we wish you a
holiday that's happy In
every way,,,with special
thanks to you!"
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JEWELLERY
5247932
148 The Square - Goderich
the
Seasons best
to all our many
acquaintances.
NATI®NAL
TRUST
A I )1, v on of Nanu.vl b u wi ld and in.a t
524-7381
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May your
Christmas be
aglow in
the spirit of
joy and peace
We would like to take this time to
thank our customers for their patronage.
SUPERIOR PROPANE
365 Regent St., Goderich
524-2661
RAY'S LAWN
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Join in the excitement of the Christmas spirit!
May this holiday be the happiest yet...
filled with lots of Yuletide cheer.
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