old christmas-第7章

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s；　and　looked　around　with　an　air　of　inexpressible　benignity。　　The　beauty　of　the　day　was　of　itself　sufficient　to　inspire　philanthropy。　Notwithstanding　the　frostiness　of　the　morning；　the　sun　in　his　cloudless　journey　had　acquired　sufficient　power　to　melt　away　the　thin　covering　of　snow　from　every　southern　declivity；　and　to　bring　out　the　living　green　which　adorns　an　English　landscape　even　in　midwinter。　　Large　tracts　of　smiling　verdure　contrasted　with　the　dazzling　whiteness　of　the　shaded　slopes　and　hollows。　　Every　sheltered　bank　on　which　the　broad　rays　rested　yielded　its　silver　rill　of　cold　and　limpid　water；　glittering　through　the　dripping　grass；　and　sent　up　slight　exhalations　to　contribute　to　the　thin　haze　that　hung　just　above　the　surface　of　the　earth。　　There　was　something　truly　cheering　in　this　triumph　of　warmth　and　verdure　over　the　frosty　thraldom　of　winter；　it　was；　as　the　Squire　observed；　an　emblem　of　Christmas　hospitality；　breaking　through　the　chills　of　ceremony　and　selfishness；　and　thawing　every　heart　into　a　flow。　　He　pointed　with　pleasure　to　the　indications　of　good　cheer　reeking　from　the　chimneys　of　the　comfortable　farmhouses　and　low；　thatched　cottages。　　〃I　love；〃　said　he；　〃to　see　this　day　well　kept　by　rich　and　poor；　it　is　a　great　thing　to　have　one　day　in　the　year；　at　least；　when　you　are　sure　of　being　welcome　wherever　you　go；　and　of　having；　as　it　were；　the　world　all　thrown　open　to　you；　and　I　am　almost　disposed　to　join　with　Poor　Robin；　in　his　malediction　of　every　churlish　enemy　to　this　honest　festival：


　　　　〃'Those　who　at　Christmas　do　repine；　　　　　　　And　would　fain　hence　despatch　him；　　　　　　　May　they　with　old　Duke　Humphry　dine；　　　　　　　Or　else　may　Squire　Ketch　catch　'em。'〃


The　Squire　went　on　to　lament　the　deplorable　decay　of　the　games　and　amusements　which　were　once　prevalent　at　this　season　among　the　lower　orders；　and　countenanced　by　the　higher：　when　the　old　halls　of　castles　and　manor…houses　were　thrown　open　at　daylight；　when　the　tables　were　covered　with　brawn；　and　beef；　and　humming　ale；　when　the　harp　and　the　carol　resounded　all　day　long；　and　when　rich　and　poor　were　alike　welcome　to　enter　and　make　merry。*　　〃Our　old　games　and　local　customs；〃　said　he；　〃had　a　great　effect　in　making　the　peasant　fond　of　his　home；　and　the　promotion　of　them；　by　the　gentry　made　him　fond　of　his　lord。　　They　made　the　times　merrier；　and　kinder；　and　better；　and　I　can　truly　say；　with　one　of　our　old　poets：


　　　　〃'I　like　them　wellthe　curious　preciseness　　　　　　　And　all…pretended　gravity　of　those　　　　　　　That　seek　to　banish　hence　these　harmless　sports；　　　　　　　Have　thrust　away　much　ancient　honesty。'


*　See　Note　D。


〃The　nation；〃　continued　he；　〃is　altered；　we　have　almost　lost　our　simple；　true…hearted　peasantry。　　They　have　broken　asunder　from　the　higher　classes；　and　seem　to　think　their　interests　are　separate。　They　have　become　too　knowing；　and　begin　to　read　newspapers；　listen　to　alehouse　politicians；　and　talk　of　reform。　　I　think　one　mode　to　keep　them　in　good　humour　in　these　hard　times　would　be　for　the　nobility　and　gentry　to　pass　more　time　on　their　estates；　mingle　more　among　the　country　people；　and　set　the　merry　old　English　games　going　again。〃

Such　was　the　good　Squire's　project　for　mitigating　public　discontent；　and；　indeed；　he　had　once　attempted　to　put　his　doctrine　in　practice；　and　a　few　years　before　had　kept　open　house　during　the　holidays　in　the　old　style。　　The　country　people；　however；　did　not　understand　how　to　play　their　parts　in　the　scene　of　hospitality；　many　uncouth　circumstances　occurred；　the　manor　was　overrun　by　all　the　vagrants　of　the　country；　and　more　beggars　drawn　into　the　neighbourhood　in　one　week　than　the　parish　officers　could　get　rid　of　in　a　year。　　Since　then；　he　had　contented　himself　with　inviting　the　decent　part　of　the　neighbouring　peasantry　to　call　at　the　Hall　on　Christmas　Day；　and　distributing　beef；　and　bread；　and　ale；　among　the　poor；　that　they　might　make　merry　in　their　own　dwellings。

We　had　not　been　long　home　when　the　sound　of　music　was　heard　from　a　distance。　　A　band　of　country　lads；　without　coats；　their　shirt…　sleeves　fancifully　tied　with　ribands；　their　hats　decorated　with　greens；　and　clubs　in　their　hands；　were　seen　advancing　up　the　avenue；　followed　by　a　large　number　of　villagers　and　peasantry。　They　stopped　before　the　hall　door；　where　the　music　struck　up　a　peculiar　air；　and　the　lads　performed　a　curious　and　intricate　dance；　advancing；　retreating；　and　striking　their　clubs　together；　keeping　exact　time　to　the　music；　while　one；　whimsically　crowned　with　a　fox's　skin；　the　tail　of　which　flaunted　down　his　back；　kept　capering　around　the　skirts　of　the　dance；　and　rattling　a　Christmas…box　with　many　antic　gesticulations。

The　Squire　eyed　this　fanciful　exhibition　with　great　interest　and　delight；　and　gave　me　a　full　account　of　its　origin；　which　he　traced　to　the　times　when　the　Romans　held　possession　of　the　island；　plainly　proving　that　this　was　a　lineal　descendant　of　the　sword…dance　of　the　ancients。　　〃It　was　now；〃　he　said；　〃nearly　extinct；　but　he　had　accidentally　met　with　traces　of　it　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　had　encouraged　its　revival；　though；　to　tell　the　truth；　it　was　too　apt　to　be　followed　up　by　rough　cudgel…play　and　broken　heads　in　the　evening。〃

After　the　dance　was　concluded；　the　whole　party　was　entertained　with　brawn　and　beef；　and　stout　home…brewed。　　The　Squire　himself　mingled　among　the　rustics；　and　was　received　with　awkward　demonstrations　of　deference　and　regard。

It　is　true；　I　perceived　two　or　three　of　the　younger　peasants；　as　they　were　raising　their　tankards　to　their　mouths　when　the　Squire's　back　was　turned；　making　something　of　a　grimace；　and　giving　each　other　the　wink；　but　the　moment　they　caught　my　eye　they　pulled　grave　faces；　and　were　exceedingly　demure。　　With　Master　Simon；　however；　they　all　seemed　more　at　their　ease。

His　varied　occupations　and　amusements　had　made　him　well　known　throughout　the　neighbourhood。　　He　was　a　visitor　at　every　farmhouse　and　cottage；　gossiped　with　the　farmers　and　their　wives；　romped　with　their　daughters；　and；　like　that　type　of　a　vagrant　bachelor；　the　bumblebee；　tolled　the　sweets　from　all　the　rosy　lips　of　the　country　around。

The　bashfulness　of　the　guests　soon　gave　way　before　good　cheer　and　affability。　　There　is　something　genuine　and　affectionate　in　the　gaiety　of　the　lower　orders；　when　it　is　excited　by　the　bounty　and　familiarity　of　those　above　them；　the　warm　glow　of　gratitude　enters　into　their　mirth；　and　a　kind　word　or　a　small　pleasantry；　frankly　uttered　by　a　patron；　gladdens　the　heart　of　the　dependant　more　than　oil　and　wine。　　When　the　Squire　had　retired；　the　merriment　increased；　and　there　was　much　joking　and　laughter；　particularly　between　Master　Simon　and　a　hale；　ruddy…faced；　white…headed　farmer；　who　appeared　to　be　the　wit　of　the　village；　for　I　observed　all　his　companions　to　wait　with　open　mouths　for　his　retorts；　and　burst　into　a　gratuitous　laugh　before　they　could　well　understand　them。

The　whole　house；　indeed；　seemed　abandoned　to　merriment。　　As　I　passed　to　my　room　to　dress　for　dinner；　I　heard　the　sound　of　music　in　a　small　court；　and；　looking　through　a　window　that　commanded　it；　I　perceived　a　band　of　wandering　musicians；　with　pandean　pipes　and　tambourine；　a　pretty；　coquettish　housemaid　was　dancing　a　jig　with　a　smart　country　lad；　while　several　of　the　other　servants　were　looking　on。　　In　the　midst　of　her　sport　the　girl　caught　a　glimpse　of　my　face　at　the　window；　and；　colouring　up；　ran　off　with　an　air　of　roguish　affected　confusion。



The　Christmas　Dinner


Lo；　now　is　come　the　joyful'st　feast！　　　Let　every　man　be　jolly；　Eache　roome　with　yvie　leaves　is　drest；　　　And　every　post　with　holly。　Now　all　our　neighbours'　chimneys　smoke；　　　And　Christmas　blocks　are　burning；　Their　ovens　they　with　bak't　meats　choke；　　　And　all　their　spits　are　turning。　　　　　Without　the　door　let　sorrow　lie；　　　　　　　And　if；　for　cold；　it　hap　to　die；　　　　　We'll　bury't　in　a　Christmas　pye；　　　　　　　And　evermore　be　merry。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WITHERS'S　Juvenilia。


I　had　finished　my　toilet；　and　was　loitering　with　Frank　Bracebridge　in　the　library；　when　we　heard　a　distant　thwacking　sound；　which　he　informed　me　was　a　signal　for　the　serving　up　of　the　dinner。　　The　Squire　kept　up　old　customs　in　kitchen　as　well　as　hall；　and　the　rolling…pin；　struck　upon　the　dresser　by　the　cook；　summoned　the　servants　to　carry　in　the　meats。


　　　　〃Just　in　this　nick　the　cook　knock'd　thrice；　　　　　　And　all　the　waiters　in　a　trice　　　　　　　　His　summons　did　obey；　　　　　　Each　serving　man；　with　dish　in　hand；　　　　　　March'd　boldly　up；　like　our　train…band；　　　　　　　　Presented　and　away。〃*


*　Sir　John　Suckling。


The　dinner　was　served　up　in　the　great　hall；　where　the　Squire　always　held　his　Christmas　banquet。　　A　blazing；　crackling　fire　of　logs　had　been　heaped　on　to　warm　the　spacious　apartment；　and　the　flame　went　sparkling　and　wreathing　up　the　wide…mouthed　chimney。　　The　great　picture　of　the　crusader　and　his　white　horse　had　been　profusely　decorated　with　greens　for　the　occasion；　and　holly　and　ivy　had　likewise　been　wreathed　around　the　helmet　and　weapons　on　the　opposite　wall；　which　I　understood　were　the　arms　of　the　same　warrior。　　I　must　own；　by　the　by；　I　had　strong　doubts　about　the　authenticity　of　painting　and　armour　as　having　belonged　to　the　crusader；　they　certainly　having　the　stamp　of　more　recent　days；　but　I　was　told　that　the　painting　had　been　so　considered　time　out　of　mind；　and　that　as　to　the　armour；　it　had　been　found　in　a　lumber　room；　and　elevated　to　its　present　situation　by　the　Squire；　who　at　once　determined　it　to　be　the　armour　of　the　family　hero；　and　as　he　was　absolute　authority　on　all　such　subjects　to　his　own　household；　the　matter　had　passed　into　current　acceptation。　　A　sideboard　was　set　out　just　under　this　chivalric　trophy；　on　which　was　a　display　of　plate　that　might　have　vied　（at　least　in　variety）　with　Belshazzar's　parade　of　the　vessels　of　the　Temple：　〃flagons；　cans；　cups；　beakers；　goblets；　basins；　and　ewers；〃　the　gorgeous　utensils　of　good　companionship；　that　had　gradually　accumulated　through　many　generations　of　jovial　housekeepers。　　Before　these　stood　the　two　Yule　candles；　beaming　like　two　stars　of　the　first　magnitude：　other　lights　were　distributed　in　branches；　and　the　whole　array　glittered　like　a　firmament　of　silver。

We　were　ushered　into　this　banqueting　scene　with　the　sound　of　minstrelsy；　the　old　harper　being　seated　on　a　stool　beside　the　fireplace；　and　twanging　his　instrument　with　a　vast　deal　more　power　than　melody。　　Never　did　Christmas　board　display　a　more　goodly　and　gracious　assemblage　of　countenances；　those　who　were　not　handsome　were；　at　least；　happy；　and　happiness　is　a　rare　improver　of　your　hard…favoured　visage。

I　always　consider　an　old　English　family　as　well　worth　studying　as　a　collection　of　Holbein's　portraits　or　Albert　Durer's　prints。　　There　is　much　antiquarian　lore　to　be　acquired；　much　knowledge　of　the　physiognomies　of　former　times。　　Perhaps　it　may　be　from　having　continually　before　their　eyes　those　rows　of　old　family　portraits；　with　which　the　mansions　of　this　country　are　stocked；　certain　it　is；　that　the　quaint　features　of　antiquity　are　often　most　faithfully　perpetuated　in　these　ancient　lines；　and　I　have　traced　an　old　family　nose　through　a　whole　picture…gallery；　legitimately　handed　down　from　generation　to　generation；　almost　from　the　time　of　the　Conquest。　Something　of　the　kind　was　to　be　observ