And with this, a great crown of crimson and white blossoms, set on a tall, gaily-painted pole and adorned with bright coloured ribbons, came nid-nodding down the box-tree alley to the middle of the lawn opposite Walden's study window, where it was quickly straightened up and held in position by the eager hands of some twenty or thirty children, of all sizes and ages, who, surrounding it at its base, turned their faces, full of shy exultation towards their pastor, still singing, but in more careful time and tune: "The Heavenly gates are open wide, Our paths are beaten plain, And if a man be not too far gone, He may return again.
The moon shines bright and the stars give light A little before it is day, So God bless you all, both great and small, And send you a merrie May!"