old christmas-第6章

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　more　such　ancient　worthies　of　the　pen；　were　his　standard　authorities；　and；　like　all　men　who　know　but　a　few　books；　he　looked　up　to　them　with　a　kind　of　idolatry；　and　quoted　them　on　all　occasions。　　As　to　his　songs；　they　were　chiefly　picked　out　of　old　books　in　the　Squire's　library；　and　adapted　to　tunes　that　were　popular　among　the　choice　spirits　of　the　last　century。　　His　practical　application　of　scraps　of　literature；　however；　had　caused　him　to　be　looked　upon　as　a　prodigy　of　book…knowledge　by　all　the　grooms；　huntsmen；　and　small　sportsmen　of　the　neighbourhood。

While　we　were　talking　we　heard　the　distant　toll　of　the　village　bell；　and　I　was　told　that　the　Squire　was　a　little　particular　in　having　his　household　at　church　on　a　Christmas　morning；　considering　it　a　day　of　pouring　out　of　thanks　and　rejoicing；　for；　as　old　Tusser　observed：


　　　　　〃At　Christmas　be　merry；　and　thankful　withal；　　　　　　　And　feast　thy　poor　neighbours；　the　great　and　the　small。〃


〃If　you　are　disposed　to　go　to　church；〃　said　Frank　Bracebridge；　〃I　can　promise　you　a　specimen　of　my　cousin　Simon's　musical　achievements。　　As　the　church　is　destitute　of　an　organ；　he　has　formed　a　band　from　the　village　amateurs；　and　established　a　musical　club　for　their　improvement；　he　has　also　sorted　a　choir；　as　he　sorted　my　father's　pack　of　hounds；　according　to　the　directions　of　Jervaise　Markham；　in　his　〃Country　Contentments；〃　for　the　bass　he　has　sought　out　all　the　'deep　solemn　mouths；'　and　for　the　tenor　the　'loud　ringing　mouths；'　among　the　country　bumpkins；　and　for　'sweet　mouths；'　he　has　culled　with　curious　taste　among　the　prettiest　lasses　in　the　neighbourhood；　though　these　last；　he　affirms；　are　the　most　difficult　to　keep　in　tune；　your　pretty　female　singer　being　exceedingly　wayward　and　capricious；　and　very　liable　to　accident。〃

As　the　morning；　though　frosty；　was　remarkably　fine　and　clear；　the　most　of　the　family　walked　to　the　church；　which　was　a　very　old　building　of　gray　stone；　and　stood　near　a　village；　about　half　a　mile　from　the　park　gate。　　Adjoining　it　was　a　low　snug　parsonage；　which　seemed　coeval　with　the　church。　　The　front　of　it　was　perfectly　matted　with　a　yew…tree　that　had　been　trained　against　its　walls；　through　the　dense　foliage　of　which　apertures　had　been　formed　to　admit　light　into　the　small　antique　lattices。　　As　we　passed　this　sheltered　nest；　the　parson　issued　forth　and　preceded　us。

I　had　expected　to　see　a　sleek；　well…conditioned　pastor；　such　as　is　often　found　in　a　snug　living　in　the　vicinity　of　a　rich　patron's　table；　but　I　was　disappointed。　　The　parson　was　a　little；　meagre；　black…looking　man；　with　a　grizzled　wig　that　was　too　wide；　and　stood　off　from　each　ear；　so　that　his　head　seemed　to　have　shrunk　away　within　it；　like　a　dried　filbert　in　its　shell。　　He　wore　a　rusty　coat；　with　great　skirts；　and　pockets　that　would　have　held　the　church　Bible　and　prayer…book；　and　his　small　legs　seemed　still　smaller；　from　being　planted　in　large　shoes　decorated　with　enormous　buckles。

I　was　informed　by　Frank　Bracebridge　that　the　parson　had　been　a　chum　of　his　father's　at　Oxford；　and　had　received　this　living　shortly　after　the　latter　had　come　to　his　estate。　　He　was　a　complete　black…　letter　hunter；　and　would　scarcely　read　a　work　printed　in　the　Roman　character。　　The　editions　of　Caxton　and　Wynkin　de　Worde　were　his　delight；　and　he　was　indefatigable　in　his　researches　after　such　old　English　writers　as　have　fallen　into　oblivion　from　their　worthlessness。　　In　deference；　perhaps；　to　the　notions　of　Mr。　Bracebridge；　he　had　made　diligent　investigations　into　the　festive　rites　and　holiday　customs　of　former　times；　and　had　been　as　zealous　in　the　inquiry　as　if　he　had　been　a　boon　companion；　but　it　was　merely　with　that　plodding　spirit　with　which　men　of　adust　temperament　follow　up　any　track　of　study；　merely　because　it　is　denominated　learning；　indifferent　to　its　intrinsic　nature；　whether　it　be　the　illustration　of　the　wisdom；　or　of　the　ribaldry　and　obscenity　of　antiquity。　　He　had　pored　over　these　old　volumes　so　intensely；　that　they　seemed　to　have　been　reflected　into　his　countenance　indeed；　which；　if　the　face　be　an　index　of　the　mind；　might　be　compared　to　a　title…page　of　black…letter。

On　reaching　the　church　porch；　we　found　the　parson　rebuking　the　gray…headed　sexton　for　having　used　mistletoe　among　the　greens　with　which　the　church　was　decorated。　　It　was；　he　observed；　an　unholy　plant；　profaned　by　having　been　used　by　the　Druids　in　their　mystic　ceremonies；　and　though　it　might　be　innocently　employed　in　the　festive　ornamenting　of　halls　and　kitchens；　yet　it　had　been　deemed　by　the　Fathers　of　the　Church　as　unhallowed；　and　totally　unfit　for　sacred　purposes。　　So　tenacious　was　he　on　this　point；　that　the　poor　sexton　was　obliged　to　strip　down　a　great　part　of　the　humble　trophies　of　his　taste；　before　the　parson　would　consent　to　enter　upon　the　service　of　the　day。

The　interior　of　the　church　was　venerable　but　simple；　on　the　walls　were　several　mural　monuments　of　the　Bracebridges；　and　just　beside　the　altar　was　a　tomb　of　ancient　workmanship；　on　which　lay　the　effigy　of　a　warrior　in　armour；　with　his　legs　crossed；　a　sign　of　his　having　been　a　crusader。　　I　was　told　it　was　one　of　the　family　who　had　signalised　himself　in　the　Holy　Land；　and　the　same　whose　picture　hung　over　the　fireplace　in　the　hall。

During　service；　Master　Simon　stood　up　in　the　pew；　and　repeated　the　responses　very　audibly；　evincing　that　kind　of　ceremonious　devotion　punctually　observed　by　a　gentleman　of　the　old　school；　and　a　man　of　old　family　connections。　　I　observed；　too；　that　he　turned　over　the　leaves　of　a　folio　prayer…book　with　something　of　a　flourish；　possibly　to　show　off　an　enormous　seal…ring　which　enriched　one　of　his　fingers；　and　which　had　the　look　of　a　family　relic。　　But　he　was　evidently　most　solicitous　about　the　musical　part　of　the　service；　keeping　his　eye　fixed　intently　on　the　choir；　and　beating　time　with　much　gesticulation　and　emphasis。

The　orchestra　was　in　a　small　gallery；　and　presented　a　most　whimsical　grouping　of　heads；　piled　one　above　the　other；　among　which　I　particularly　noticed　that　of　the　village　tailor；　a　pale　fellow　with　a　retreating　forehead　and　chin；　who　played　on　the　clarionet；　and　seemed　to　have　blown　his　face　to　a　point；　and　there　was　another；　a　short　pursy　man；　stooping　and　labouring　at　a　bass　viol；　so　as　to　show　nothing　but　the　top　of　a　round　bald　head；　like　the　egg　of　an　ostrich。　　There　were　two　or　three　pretty　faces　among　the　female　singers；　to　which　the　keen　air　of　a　frosty　morning　had　given　a　bright　rosy　tint；　but　the　gentlemen　choristers　had　evidently　been　chosen；　like　old　Cremona　fiddles；　more　for　tone　than　looks；　and　as　several　had　to　sing　from　the　same　book；　there　were　clusterings　of　odd　physiognomies；　not　unlike　those　groups　of　cherubs　we　sometimes　see　on　country　tombstones。

The　usual　services　of　the　choir　were　managed　tolerably　well；　the　vocal　parts　generally　lagging　a　little　behind　the　instrumental；　and　some　loitering　fiddler　now　and　then　making　up　for　lost　time　by　travelling　over　a　passage　with　prodigious　celerity；　and　clearing　more　bars　than　the　keenest　fox…hunter　to　be　in　at　the　death。　　But　the　great　trial　was　an　anthem　that　had　been　prepared　and　arranged　by　Master　Simon；　and　on　which　he　had　founded　great　expectation。　Unluckily　there　was　a　blunder　at　the　very　outset；　the　musicians　became　flurried；　Master　Simon　was　in　a　fever；　everything　went　on　lamely　and　irregularly　until　they　came　to　a　chorus　beginning　〃Now　let　us　sing　with　one　accord；〃　which　seemed　to　be　a　signal　for　parting　company：　all　became　discord　and　confusion；　each　shifted　for　himself；　and　got　to　the　end　as　well；　or　rather　as　soon；　as　he　could；　excepting　one　old　chorister　in　a　pair　of　horn　spectacles　bestriding　and　pinching　a　long　sonorous　nose；　who；　happening　to　stand　a　little　apart；　and　being　wrapped　up　in　his　own　melody；　kept　on　a　quavering　course；　wriggling　his　head；　ogling　his　book；　and　winding　all　up　by　a　nasal　solo　of　at　least　three　bars'　duration。

The　parson　gave　us　a　most　erudite　sermon　on　the　rites　and　ceremonies　of　Christmas；　and　the　propriety　of　observing　it　not　merely　as　a　day　of　thanksgiving；　but　of　rejoicing；　supporting　the　correctness　of　his　opinions　by　the　earliest　usages　of　the　Church；　and　enforcing　them　by　the　authorities　of　Theophilus　of　Cesarea；　St。　Cyprian；　St。　Chrysostom；　St。　Augustine；　and　a　cloud　more　of　Saints　and　Fathers；　from　whom　he　made　copious　quotations。　　I　was　a　little　at　a　loss　to　perceive　the　necessity　of　such　a　mighty　array　of　forces　to　maintain　a　point　which　no　one　present　seemed　inclined　to　dispute；　but　I　soon　found　that　the　good　man　had　a　legion　of　ideal　adversaries　to　contend　with；　having；　in　the　course　of　his　researches　on　the　subject　of　Christmas；　got　completely　embroiled　in　the　sectarian　controversies　of　the　Revolution；　when　the　Puritans　made　such　a　fierce　assault　upon　the　ceremonies　of　the　Church；　and　poor　old　Christmas　was　driven　out　of　the　land　by　proclamation　of　Parliament。*　　The　worthy　parson　lived　but　with　times　past；　and　knew　but　a　little　of　the　present。


*　See　Note　C。


Shut　up　among　worm…eaten　tomes　in　the　retirement　of　his　antiquated　little　study；　the　pages　of　old　times　were　to　him　as　the　gazettes　of　the　day；　while　the　era　of　the　Revolution　was　mere　modern　history。　He　forgot　that　nearly　two　centuries　had　elapsed　since　the　fiery　persecution　of　poor　mince…pie　throughout　the　land；　when　plum…　porridge　was　denounced　as　〃mere　popery；〃　and　roast　beef　as　antichristian；　and　that　Christmas　had　been　brought　in　again　triumphantly　with　the　merry　court　of　King　Charles　at　the　Restoration。　　He　kindled　into　warmth　with　the　ardour　of　his　contest；　and　the　host　of　imaginary　foes　with　whom　he　had　to　combat；　had　a　stubborn　conflict　with　old　Prynne　and　two　or　three　other　forgotten　champions　of　the　Round…heads；　on　the　subject　of　Christmas　festivity；　and　concluded　by　urging　his　hearers；　in　the　most　solemn　and　affecting　manner；　to　stand　to　the　traditionary　customs　of　their　fathers；　and　feast　and　make　merry　on　this　joyful　anniversary　of　the　Church。

I　have　seldom　known　a　sermon　attended　apparently　with　more　immediate　effects；　for；　on　leaving　the　church；　the　congregation　seemed　one　and　all　possessed　with　the　gaiety　of　spirit　so　earnestly　enjoined　by　their　pastor。　　The　elder　folks　gathered　in　knots　in　the　churchyard；　greeting　and　shaking　hands；　and　the　children　ran　about　crying；　Ule！　Ule！　and　repeating　some　uncouth　rhymes；*　which　the　parson；　who　had　joined　us；　informed　me　had　been　handed　down　from　days　of　yore。　　The　villagers　doffed　their　hats　to　the　Squire　as　he　passed；　giving　him　the　good　wishes　of　the　season　with　every　appearance　of　heartfelt　sincerity；　and　were　invited　by　him　to　the　Hall；　to　take　something　to　keep　out　the　cold　of　the　weather；　and　I　heard　blessings　uttered　by　several　of　the　poor；　which　convinced　me　that；　in　the　midst　of　his　enjoyments；　the　worthy　old　cavalier　had　not　forgotten　the　true　Christmas　virtue　of　charity。


*　〃Ule！　Ule！　　　　Three　puddings　in　a　pule；　　　　Crack　nuts　and　cry　ule！〃


On　our　way　homeward　his　heart　seemed　overflowing　with　generous　and　happy　feelings。　　As　we　passed　over　a　rising　ground　which　commanded　something　of　a　prospect；　the　sounds　of　rustic　merriment　now　and　then　reached　our　ears；　the　Squire　paused　for　a　few　moments；　and　looked　around　with　an　air　of　inexpressible　benignity。　　The　beauty　of　the　day　was　of　itself　su