old christmas-第3章

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　kitchen　of　an　English　inn。　　It　was　of　spacious　dimensions；　hung　round　with　copper　and　tin　vessels；　highly　polished；　and　decorated　here　and　there　with　a　Christmas　green。　　Hams；　tongues；　and　flitches　of　bacon　were　suspended　from　the　ceiling；　a　smoke…jack　made　its　ceaseless　clanking　beside　the　fireplace；　and　a　clock　ticked　in　one　corner。　　A　well　scoured　deal　table　extended　along　one　side　of　the　kitchen；　with　a　cold　round　of　beef　and　other　hearty　viands　upon　it；　over　which　two　foaming　tankards　of　ale　seemed　mounting　guard。

Travellers　of　inferior　order　were　preparing　to　attack　this　stout　repast；　while　others　sat　smoking　and　gossiping　over　their　ale　on　two　high…backed　oaken　seats　beside　the　fire。　　Trim　house…maids　were　hurrying　backwards　and　forwards　under　the　directions　of　a　fresh；　bustling　landlady；　but　still　seizing　an　occasional　moment　to　exchange　a　flippant　word；　and　have　a　rallying　laugh；　with　the　group　round　the　fire。　　The　scene　completely　realised　Poor　Robin's　humble　idea　of　the　comforts　of　midwinter。


　　　　　〃Now　trees　their　leafy　hats　do　bare；　　　　　　　To　reverence　Winter's　silver　hair；　　　　　　　A　handsome　hostess；　merry　host；　　　　　　　A　pot　of　ale　now　and　a　toast；　　　　　　　Tobacco　and　a　good　coal　fire；　　　　　　　Are　things　this　season　doth　require。〃*


*　Poor　Robin's　Almanack；　1684。


I　had　not　been　long　at　the　inn　when　a　postchaise　drove　up　to　the　door。　　A　young　gentleman　stepped　out；　and　by　the　light　of　the　lamps　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　countenance　which　I　thought　I　knew。　　I　moved　forward　to　get　a　nearer　view；　when　his　eye　caught　mine。　　I　was　not　mistaken；　it　was　Frank　Bracebridge；　a　sprightly；　good…　humoured　young　fellow；　with　whom　I　had　once　travelled　on　the　Continent。　　Our　meeting　was　extremely　cordial；　for　the　countenance　of　an　old　fellow　traveller　always　brings　up　the　recollection　of　a　thousand　pleasant　scenes；　odd　adventures；　and　excellent　jokes。　　To　discuss　all　these　in　a　transient　interview　at　an　inn　was　impossible；　and　finding　that　I　was　not　pressed　for　time；　and　was　merely　making　a　tour　of　observation；　he　insisted　that　I　should　give　him　a　day　or　two　at　his　father's　country…seat；　to　which　he　was　going　to　pass　the　holidays；　and　which　lay　at　a　few　miles'　distance。　〃It　is　better　than　eating　a　solitary　Christmas　dinner　at　an　inn；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　can　assure　you　of　a　hearty　welcome　in　something　of　the　old…fashion　style。〃　　His　reasoning　was　cogent；　and　I　must　confess　the　preparation　I　had　seen　for　universal　festivity　and　social　enjoyment　had　made　me　feel　a　little　impatient　of　my　loneliness。　　I　closed；　therefore；　at　once　with　his　invitation：　the　chaise　drove　up　to　the　door；　and　in　a　few　moments　I　was　on　my　way　to　the　family　mansion　of　the　Bracebridges。



Christmas　Eve


Saint　Francis　and　Saint　Benedight　Blesse　this　house　from　wicked　wight；　From　the　night…mare　and　the　goblin；　That　is　hight　good…fellow　Robin；　Keep　it　from　all　evil　spirits。　Fairies；　weezels；　rats；　and　ferrets：　　　　　　　　From　curfew　time　　　　　　　　To　the　next　prime。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CARTWRIGHT。


It　was　a　brilliant　moonlight　night；　but　extremely　cold；　our　chaise　whirled　rapidly　over　the　frozen　ground；　the　post…boy　smacked　his　whip　incessantly；　and　a　part　of　the　time　his　horses　were　on　a　gallop。　　〃He　knows　where　he　is　going；〃　said　my　companion；　laughing；　〃and　is　eager　to　arrive　in　time　for　some　of　the　merriment　and　good　cheer　of　the　servants'　hall。　　My　father；　you　must　know；　is　a　bigoted　devotee　of　the　old　school；　and　prides　himself　upon　keeping　up　something　of　old　English　hospitality。　　He　is　a　tolerable　specimen　of　what　you　will　rarely　meet　with　nowadays　in　its　purity；　the　old　English　country　gentleman；　for　our　men　of　fortune　spend　so　much　of　their　time　in　town；　and　fashion　is　carried　so　much　into　the　country；　that　the　strong；　rich　peculiarities　of　ancient　rural　life　are　almost　polished　away。　　My　father；　however；　from　early　years；　took　honest　Peacham*　for　his　textbook；　instead　of　Chesterfield：　he　determined；　in　his　own　mind；　that　there　was　no　condition　more　truly　honourable　and　enviable　than　that　of　a　country　gentleman　on　his　paternal　lands；　and；　therefore；　passes　the　whole　of　his　time　on　his　estate。　　He　is　a　strenuous　advocate　for　the　revival　of　the　old　rural　games　and　holiday　observances；　and　is　deeply　read　in　the　writers；　ancient　and　modern；　who　have　treated　on　the　subject。　Indeed；　his　favourite　range　of　reading　is　among　the　authors　who　flourished　at　least　two　centuries　since；　who；　he　insists；　wrote　and　thought　more　like　true　Englishmen　than　any　of　their　successors。　　He　even　regrets　sometimes　that　he　had　not　been　born　a　few　centuries　earlier；　when　England　was　itself；　and　had　its　peculiar　manners　and　customs。　　As　he　lives　at　some　distance　from　the　main　road；　in　rather　a　lonely　part　of　the　country；　without　any　rival　gentry　near　him；　he　has　that　most　enviable　of　all　blessings　to　an　Englishman；　an　opportunity　of　indulging　the　bent　of　his　own　humour　without　molestation。　　Being　representative　of　the　oldest　family　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　a　great　part　of　the　peasantry　being　his　tenants；　he　is　much　looked　up　to；　and；　in　general；　is　known　simply　by　the　appellation　of　'The　Squire；'　a　title　which　has　been　accorded　to　the　head　of　the　family　since　time　immemorial。　　I　think　it　best　to　give　you　these　hints　about　my　worthy　old　father；　to　prepare　you　for　any　little　eccentricities　that　might　otherwise　appear　absurd。〃


*　Peacham's　〃Complete　Gentleman；〃　1622。


We　had　passed　for　some　time　along　the　wall　of　a　park；　and　at　length　the　chaise　stopped　at　the　gate。　　It　was　in　a　heavy；　magnificent　old　style；　of　iron　bars；　fancifully　wrought　at　top　into　flourishes　and　flowers。　　The　huge　square　columns　that　supported　the　gate　were　surmounted　by　the　family　crest。　　Close　adjoining　was　the　porter's　lodge；　sheltered　under　dark　fir…trees；　and　almost　buried　in　shrubbery。

The　post…boy　rang　a　large　porter's　bell；　which　resounded　through　the　still；　frosty　air；　and　was　answered　by　the　distant　barking　of　dogs；　with　which　the　mansion…house　seemed　garrisoned。　　An　old　woman　immediately　appeared　at　the　gate。　　As　the　moonlight　fell　strongly　upon　her；　I　had　full　view　of　a　little　primitive　dame；　dressed　very　much　in　the　antique　taste；　with　a　neat　kerchief　and　stomacher；　and　her　silver　hair　peeping　from　under　a　cap　of　snowy　whiteness。　　She　came　curtseying　forth；　with　many　expressions　of　simple　joy　at　seeing　her　young　master。　　Her　husband；　it　seems；　was　up　at　the　house　keeping　Christmas　eve　in　the　servants'　hall；　they　could　not　do　without　him；　as　he　was　the　best　hand　at　a　song　and　story　in　the　household。

My　friend　proposed　that　we　should　alight　and　walk　through　the　park　to　the　hall；　which　was　at　no　great　distance；　while　the　chaise　should　follow　on。　　Our　road　wound　through　a　noble　avenue　of　trees；　among　the　naked　branches　of　which　the　moon　glittered　as　she　rolled　through　the　deep　vault　of　a　cloudless　sky。　　The　lawn　beyond　was　sheeted　with　a　slight　covering　of　snow；　which　here　and　there　sparkled　as　the　moonbeams　caught　a　frosty　crystal；　and　at　a　distance　might　be　seen　a　thin；　transparent　vapour；　stealing　up　from　the　low　grounds；　and　threatening　gradually　to　shroud　the　landscape。

My　companion　looked　round　him　with　transport：〃How　often；〃　said　he；　〃have　I　scampered　up　this　avenue；　on　returning　home　on　school　vacations！　　How　often　have　I　played　under　these　trees　when　a　boy！　I　feel　a　degree　of　filial　reverence　for　them；　as　we　look　up　to　those　who　have　cherished　us　in　childhood。　　My　father　was　always　scrupulous　in　exacting　our　holidays；　and　having　us　around　him　on　family　festivals。　　He　used　to　direct　and　superintend　our　games　with　the　strictness　that　some　parents　do　the　studies　of　their　children。　He　was　very　particular　that　we　should　play　the　old　English　games　according　to　their　original　form　and　consulted　old　books　for　precedent　and　authority　for　every　'merrie　disport；'　yet　I　assure　you　there　never　was　pedantry　so　delightful。　　It　was　the　policy　of　the　good　old　gentleman　to　make　his　children　feel　that　home　was　the　happiest　place　in　the　world；　and　I　value　this　delicious　home…　feeling　as　one　of　the　choicest　gifts　a　parent　can　bestow。〃

We　were　interrupted　by　the　clangour　of　a　troop　of　dogs　of　all　sorts　and　sizes；　〃mongrel；　puppy；　whelp；　and　hound；　and　curs　of　low　degree；〃　that；　disturbed　by　the　ringing　of　the　porter's　bell；　and　the　rattling　of　the　chaise；　came　bounding；　open…mouthed；　across　the　lawn。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃The　little　dogs　and　all；　　　　　Tray；　Blanch；　and　Sweetheartsee；　they　bark　at　me！〃


cried　Bracebridge；　laughing。　　At　the　sound　of　his　voice　the　bark　was　changed　into　a　yelp　of　delight；　and　in　a　moment　he　was　surrounded　and　almost　overpowered　by　the　caresses　of　the　faithful　animals。

We　had　now　come　in　full　view　of　the　old　family　mansion；　partly　thrown　in　deep　shadow；　and　partly　lit　up　by　the　cold　moonshine。　　It　was　an　irregular　building　of　some　magnitude；　and　seemed　to　be　of　the　architecture　of　different　periods。　　One　wing　was；　evidently　very　ancient；　with　heavy　stone…shafted　bow　windows　jutting　out　and　overrun　with　ivy；　from　among　the　foliage　of　which　the　small　diamond…shaped　panes　of　glass　glittered　with　the　moonbeams。　　The　rest　of　the　house　was　in　the　French　taste　of　Charles　the　Second's　time；　having　been　repaired　and　altered；　as　my　friend　told　me；　by　one　of　his　ancestors；　who　returned　with　that　monarch　at　the　Restoration。　　The　grounds　about　the　house　were　laid　out　in　the　old　formal　manner　of　artificial　flower…beds；　clipped　shrubberies；　raised　terraces；　and　heavy　stone　balustrades；　ornamented　with　urns；　a　leaden　statue　or　two；　and　a　jet　of　water。　　The　old　gentleman；　I　was　told；　was　extremely　careful　to　preserve　this　obsolete　finery　in　all　its　original　state。　　He　admired　this　fashion　in　gardening；　it　had　an　air　of　magnificence；　was　courtly　and　noble；　and　befitting　good　old　family　style。　　The　boasted　imitation　of　nature　in　modern　gardening　had　sprung　up　with　modern　republican　notions；　but　did　not　suit　a　monarchical　government；　it　smacked　of　the　levelling　system。　I　could　not　help　smiling　at　this　introduction　of　politics　into　gardening；　though　I　expressed　some　apprehension　that　I　should　find　the　old　gentleman　rather　intolerant　in　his　creed。　　Frank　assured　me；　however；　that　it　was　almost　the　only　instance　in　which　he　had　ever　heard　his　father　meddle　with　politics；　and　he　believed　that　he　had　got　this　notion　from　a　member　of　Parliament　who　once　passed　a　few　weeks　with　him。　　The　Squire　was　glad　of　any　argument　to　defend　his　clipped　yew…trees　and　formal　terraces；　which　had　been　occasionally　attacked　by　modern　landscape　gardeners。

As　we　approached　the　house；　we　heard　the　sound　of　music；　and　now　and　then　a　burst　of　laughter　from　one　end　of　the　building。　　This；　Bracebridge　said；　must　proceed　from　the　servants'　hall；　where　a　great　deal　of　revelry　was　permitted；　and　even　encouraged；　by　the　Squire　throughout　the　twelve　days　of　Christmas；　provided　everything　was　done　comformably　to　ancient　usage。　　Here　were　kept　up　the　old　games　of　hoodman　blind；　shoe　the　wild　mare；　hot　cockles；　steal　the　white　loaf；　bob　apple　and　snapdragon：　the　Yule　log　and　Christmas　candle　were　regularly　burnt；　and　the　mistletoe；　with　its　white　berries；　hung　up　to　the　imminent　peril　of　all　the　pretty　housemaids。*


*　See　Note　A。


So　intent　were　the　servants　upon　their　sports；　that　we　had　to　ring　repeatedly　before　we