christmas eve-第2节

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are　all　plucked；　the　privilege　ceases。



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

repeatedly　before　we　could　make　ourselves　heard。　On　our　arrival

being　announced；　the　squire　came　out　to　receive　us；　accompanied　by　his

two　other　sons；　one　a　young　officer　in　the　army；　home　on　leave　of

absence；　the　other　an　Oxonian；　just　from　the　university。　The　squire

was　a　fine　healthy…looking　old　gentleman；　with　silver　hair　curling

lightly　round　an　open　florid　countenance；　in　which　the

physiognomist；　with　the　advantage；　like　myself；　of　a　previous　hint

or　two；　might　discover　a　singular　mixture　of　whim　and　benevolence。

　　The　family　meeting　was　warm　and　affectionate：　as　the　evening　was　far

advanced；　the　squire　would　not　permit　us　to　change　our　travelling

dresses；　but　ushered　us　at　once　to　the　company；　which　was　assembled　in

a　large　old…fashioned　hall。　It　was　composed　of　different　branches　of　a

numerous　family　connection；　where　there　were　the　usual　proportion　of

old　uncles　and　aunts；　comfortable　married　dames；　superannuated

spinsters；　blooming　country　cousins；　half…fledged　striplings；　and

bright…eyed　boarding…school　hoydens。　They　were　variously　occupied；

some　at　a　round　game　of　cards；　others　conversing　around　the　fireplace；

at　one　end　of　the　hall　was　a　group　of　the　young　folks；　some　nearly

grown　up；　others　of　a　more　tender　and　budding　age；　fully　engrossed

by　a　merry　game；　and　a　profusion　of　wooden　horses；　penny　trumpets；　and

tattered　dolls；　about　the　floor；　showed　traces　of　a　troop　of　little

fairy　beings；　who；　having　frolicked　through　a　happy　day；　had　been

carried　off　to　slumber　through　a　peaceful　night。

　　While　the　mutual　greetings　were　going　on　between　young　Bracebridge

and　his　relatives；　I　had　time　to　scan　the　apartment。　I　have　called

it　a　hall；　for　so　it　had　certainly　been　in　old　times；　and　the　squire

had　evidently　endeavored　to　restore　it　to　something　of　its　primitive

state。　Over　the　heavy　projecting　fireplace　was　suspended　a　picture

of　a　warrior　in　armor；　standing　by　a　white　horse；　and　on　the

opposite　wall　hung　a　helmet；　buckler；　and　lance。　At　one　end　an

enormous　pair　of　antlers　were　inserted　in　the　wall；　the　branches

serving　as　hooks　on　which　to　suspend　hats；　whips；　and　spurs；　and　in

the　corners　of　the　apartment　were　fowling…pieces；　fishing…rods；　and

other　sporting　implements。　The　furniture　was　of　the　cumbrous

workmanship　of　former　days；　though　some　articles　of　modern　convenience

had　been　added；　and　the　oaken　floor　had　been　carpeted；　so　that　the

whole　presented　an　odd　mixture　of　parlor　and　hall。

　　The　grate　had　been　removed　from　the　wide　overwhelming　fireplace；

to　make　way　for　a　fire　of　wood；　in　the　midst　of　which　was　an

enormous　log　glowing　and　blazing；　and　sending　forth　a　vast　volume　of

light　and　heat：　this　I　understood　was　the　Yule　clog；　which　the

squire　was　particular　in　having　brought　in　and　illumined　on　a

Christmas　eve；　according　to　an　ancient　custom。*



　　*　The　Yule　clog　is　a　great　log　of　wood；　sometimes　the　root　of　a

tree；　brought　into　the　house　with　great　ceremony；　on　Christmas　eve；

laid　in　the　fireplace；　and　lighted　with　the　brand　of　last　year's　clog。

While　it　lasted；　there　was　great　drinking；　singing；　and　telling　of

tales。　Sometimes　it　was　accompanied　by　Christmas　candles；　but　in　the

cottages　the　only　light　was　from　the　ruddy　blaze　of　the　great　wood

fire。　The　Yule　clog　was　to　burn　all　night；　if　it　went　out；　it　was

considered　a　sign　of　ill　luck。

　　Herrick　mentions　it　in　one　of　his　songs：…



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Come；　bring　with　a　noise；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　My　merrie；　merrie　boyes；

　　　　　　　　　　　The　Christmas　log　to　the　firing；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　While　my　good　dame；　she

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Bids　ye　all　be　free；

　　　　　　　　　　　And　drink　to　your　hearts　desiring。



　　The　Yule　clog　is　still　burnt　in　many　farmhouses　and　kitchens　in

England；　particularly　in　the　north；　and　there　are　several

superstitions　connected　with　it　among　the　peasantry。　If　a　squinting

person　come　to　the　house　while　it　is　burning；　or　a　person

barefooted；　it　is　considered　an　ill　omen。　The　brand　remaining　from　the

Yule　clog　is　carefully　put　away　to　light　the　next　year's　Christmas

fire。



　　It　was　really　delightful　to　see　the　old　squire　seated　in　his

hereditary　elbow　chair；　by　the　hospitable　fireside　of　his　ancestors；

and　looking　around　him　like　the　sun　of　a　system；　beaming　warmth　and

gladness　to　every　heart。　Even　the　very　dog　that　lay　stretched　at　his

feet；　as　he　lazily　shifted　his　position　and　yawned；　would　look

fondly　up　in　his　master's　face；　wag　his　tail　against　the　floor；　and

stretch　himself　again　to　sleep；　confident　of　kindness　and

protection。　There　is　an　emanation　from　the　heart　in　genuine

hospitality　which　cannot　be　described；　but　is　immediately　felt；　and

puts　the　stranger　at　once　at　his　ease。　I　had　not　been　seated　many

minutes　by　the　comfortable　hearth　of　the　worthy　old　cavalier；　before　I

found　myself　as　much　at　home　as　if　I　had　been　one　of　the　family。

　　Supper　was　announced　shortly　after　our　arrival。　It　was　served　up

in　a　spacious　oaken　chamber；　the　panels　of　which　shone　with　wax；　and

around　which　were　several　family　portraits　decorated　with　holly　and

ivy。　Besides　the　accustomed　lights；　two　great　wax　tapers；　called

Christmas　candles；　wreathed　with　greens；　were　placed　on　a

highly…polished　beaufet　among　the　family　plate。　The　table　was

abundantly　spread　with　substantial　fare；　but　the　squire　made　his

supper　of　frumenty；　a　dish　made　of　wheat　cakes　boiled　in　milk；　with

rich　spices；　being　a　standing　dish　in　old　times　for　Christmas　eve。

　　I　was　happy　to　find　my　old　friend；　minced　pie；　in　the　retinue　of　the

feast；　and　finding　him　to　be　perfectly　orthodox；　and　that　I　need　not

be　ashamed　of　my　predilection；　I　greeted　him　with　all　the　warmth

wherewith　we　usually　greet　an　old　and　very　genteel　acquaintance。

　　The　mirth　of　the　company　was　greatly　promoted　by　the　humors　of　an

eccentric　personage　whom　Mr。　Bracebridge　always　addressed　with　the

quaint　appellation　of　Master　Simon。　He　was　a　tight　brisk　little　man；

with　the　air　of　an　arrant　old　bachelor。　His　nose　was　shaped　like　the

bill　of　a　parrot；　his　face　slightly　pitted　with　the　small…pox；　with

a　dry　perpetual　bloom　on　it；　like　a　frostbitten　leaf　in　autumn。　He　had

an　eye　of　great　quickness　and　vivacity；　with　a　drollery　and　lurking

waggery　of　expression　that　was　irresistible。　He　was　evidently　the

wit　of　the　family；　dealing　very　much　in　sly　jokes　and　inuendoes　with

the　ladies；　and　making　infinite　merriment　by　harping　upon　old

themes；　which；　unfortunately；　my　ignorance　of　the　family　chronicles

did　not　permit　me　to　enjoy。　It　seemed　to　be　his　great　delight　during

supper　to　keep　a　young　girl　next　him　in　a　continual　agony　of　stifled

laughter；　in　spite　of　her　awe　of　the　reproving　looks　of　her　mother；

who　sat　opposite。　Indeed；　he　was　the　idol　of　the　younger　part　of　the

company；　who　laughed　at　every　thing　he　said　or　did；　and　at　every

turn　of　his　countenance。　I　could　not　wonder　at　it；　for　he　must　have

been　a　miracle　of　accomplishments　in　their　eyes。　He　could　imitate

Punch　and　Judy；　make　an　old　woman　of　his　hand；　with　the　assistance

of　a　burnt　cork　and　pocket…handkerchief；　and　cut　an　orange　into　such　a

ludicrous　caricature；　that　the　young　folks　were　ready　to　die　with

laughing。

　　I　was　let　briefly　into　his　history　by　Frank　Bracebridge。　He　was　an

old　bachelor；　of　a　small　independent　income；　which；　by　careful

management；　was　sufficient　for　all　his　wants。　He　revolved　through

the　family　system　like　a　vagrant　comet　in　its　orbit；　sometimes

visiting　one　branch；　and　sometimes　another　quite　remote；　as　is　often

the　case　with　gentlemen　of　extensive　connections　and　small　fortunes　in

England。　He　had　a　chirping　buoyant　disposition；　always　enjoying　the

present　moment；　and　his　frequent　change　of　scene　and　company　prevented

his　acquiring　those　rusty　unaccommodating　habits；　with　which　old

bachelors　are　so　uncharitably　charged。　He　was　a　complete　family

chronicle；　being　versed　in　the　genealogy；　history；　and

intermarriages　of　the　whole　house　of　Bracebridge；　which　made　him　a

great　favorite　with　the　old　folks；　he　was　a　beau　of　all　the　elder

ladies　and　superannuated　spinsters；　among　whom　he　was　habitually

considered　rather　a　young　fellow；　and　he　was　master　of　the　revels

among　the　children；　so　that　there　was　not　a　more　popular　being　in

the　sphere　in　which　he　moved　than　Mr。　Simon　Bracebridge。　Of　late

years；　he　had　resided　almost　entirely　with　the　squire；　to　whom　he

had　become　a　factotum；　and　whom　he　particularly　delighted　by　jumping

with　his　humor　in　respect　to　old　times；　and　by　having　a　scrap　of　an

old　song　to　suit　every　occasion。　We　had　presently　a　specimen　of　his

last…mentioned　talent；　for　no　sooner　was　supper　removed；　and　spiced

wines　and　other　beverages　peculiar　to　the　season　introduced；　than

Master　Simon　was　called　on　for　a　good　old　Christmas　song。　He　bethought

himself　for　a　moment；　and　then；　with　a　sparkle　of　the　eye；　and　a　voice

that　was　by　no　means　bad；　excepting　that　it　ran　occasionally　into　a

falsetto；　like　the　notes　of　a　split　reed；　he　quavered　forth　a　quaint

old　ditty。