Of all the many Xmas trappings
We're most aware of Xmas wrappings.
Try to imagine a Xmas Tree
Without the brilliant hues we see
Hiding the precious gifts inside
And all with pretty ribbons tied!
Wrapping-paper, we tend to think
Must be a very ancient link
To years and years way in the past!
Tradition that's been made to last!
But at the time my mother was born
The paper we now see crushed and torn,
Designed to do nothing else but wrap,
Came about by a mere mishap!
In nineteen-hundred, so we're told,
Tissue-paper alone was sold;
The colours were red and green and white;
No little pictures were in sight.
In 1917 the brothers Hall
Had no tissue-paper left at all!
They had sold-out! What could they do?
They had to think of something new.
Sheets for lining envelopes
Started reviving all their hopes.
Normally these sheets were cut
To fit the envelope sizes but
Now they laid full sheets in view!
They happened to be patterned too!
People raved and people clamoured;
Even on the windows hammered!
The paper sheets ran out the door!
And so they printed more and more!
They made designs of stars and trees
And other emblems such as these.
The Hall brothers built their company
Purely accidentally!
'Hallmark'... the name is known world-wide!
Paper to wrap gifts inside
Became their 'hallmark' (excuse the pun)
And they were copied by everyone.
So the wrapping paper we all know
Appeared not many years ago!
Less than a hundred! A recent addition!
Yet already we call it 'a tradition'!
*
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WONDER
I wonder at the wonder
Surrounding a little story!
A baby born so long ago
Now imbued with pomp and glory.
I wonder at the wonder
If perchance it should be true.
And I wonder at the ways of man
And what belief can do.
I wonder at the wondrous words,
Tale-telling down the ages,
And I wonder at the power of books
And their reverential pages.
I wonder at world-wide beliefs,
Passed down through generations.
Widely accepted everywhere
Without any reservations.
We live in a world of wonder
Whatever's false or true,
And it's a wonder in itself.....
What wondering can do!
*
I wonder at the wonder
Surrounding a little story!
A baby born so long ago
Now imbued with pomp and glory.
I wonder at the wonder
If perchance it should be true.
And I wonder at the ways of man
And what belief can do.
I wonder at the wondrous words,
Tale-telling down the ages,
And I wonder at the power of books
And their reverential pages.
I wonder at world-wide beliefs,
Passed down through generations.
Widely accepted everywhere
Without any reservations.
We live in a world of wonder
Whatever's false or true,
And it's a wonder in itself.....
What wondering can do!
*
