It was Christmas Eve, of all nights in the year,
And old Schneider Von Groot, who was full of good cheer,
Was seeking his home, like a jolly old elf,
And was singing a drinking song all to himself,
Of the glories of beer, and of schnapps, and of wine,—
Of the draught that makes mortal clay feel so divine,—
Of the drink that drowns sorrow, misfortune and care—
Before which life’s ills vanish into thin air.
He sat down by the wayside; his pipe he pulled out;
And he filled it, and lit it, and giving a shout,
He lay back on the bank as he puffed away care—
For he felt not the chill of the frosty night air;
But gently and peacefully sank into rest,
And enjoyed for the time the sweet sleep of the blest.{2}
He was soon into dreamland, and the first thing he saw
Was a queer little elf with a book of the law.
The page it lay open, and what do you think
Was the law? It was written that all men should drink.
Not water or milk, but the strongest of schnapps;
Such as Dutchmen for ages have used for night caps.
The schnapps flowed in rivers. Each man could afford
Every day in the year to get drunk as a lord.
The schnapps it cost nothing on land or on sea,
And says Schneider Von Groot, “it’s the country for me.
I’ll never get sober, but always keep tight,
And I’ll drink like a fish from the morning till night.”
And old Schneider Von Groot, who was full of good cheer,
Was seeking his home, like a jolly old elf,
And was singing a drinking song all to himself,
Of the glories of beer, and of schnapps, and of wine,—
Of the draught that makes mortal clay feel so divine,—
Of the drink that drowns sorrow, misfortune and care—
Before which life’s ills vanish into thin air.
He sat down by the wayside; his pipe he pulled out;
And he filled it, and lit it, and giving a shout,
He lay back on the bank as he puffed away care—
For he felt not the chill of the frosty night air;
But gently and peacefully sank into rest,
And enjoyed for the time the sweet sleep of the blest.{2}
He was soon into dreamland, and the first thing he saw
Was a queer little elf with a book of the law.
The page it lay open, and what do you think
Was the law? It was written that all men should drink.
Not water or milk, but the strongest of schnapps;
Such as Dutchmen for ages have used for night caps.
The schnapps flowed in rivers. Each man could afford
Every day in the year to get drunk as a lord.
The schnapps it cost nothing on land or on sea,
And says Schneider Von Groot, “it’s the country for me.
I’ll never get sober, but always keep tight,
And I’ll drink like a fish from the morning till night.”
And while he was speaking, a little old chap,
Who looked then as though he’d just woke from a nap,
Climbed up on his face and sat down on his nose,
And two little demons were perched on his toes.
One got in each ear, and one sat in each eye;
And no matter how much he might struggle or try,
They would not shake off, but they stuck fast as glue,
And then he discovered the villainous crew
Were all drunk as pipers, and ready to fight,
And poor Schneider Von Groot was all trembling with fright
When the battle began, and he wished himself back
With the old Burgomaster, Von Gilder Von Schack.{3}
Who looked then as though he’d just woke from a nap,
Climbed up on his face and sat down on his nose,
And two little demons were perched on his toes.
One got in each ear, and one sat in each eye;
And no matter how much he might struggle or try,
They would not shake off, but they stuck fast as glue,
And then he discovered the villainous crew
Were all drunk as pipers, and ready to fight,
And poor Schneider Von Groot was all trembling with fright
When the battle began, and he wished himself back
With the old Burgomaster, Von Gilder Von Schack.{3}
The fiends bound him with wythes of the willow and fir;
And they tied him so fast that the man couldn’t stir.
So they struggled and fought till the wounded and dead
...
And they tied him so fast that the man couldn’t stir.
So they struggled and fought till the wounded and dead
...