old christmas-第3节

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st　knot　is　generally　at　the　blacksmith's；　to　whom　the　passing　of　the　coach　is　an　event　fruitful　of　much　speculation。　　The　smith；　with　the　horse's　heel　in　his　lap；　pauses　as　the　vehicle　whirls　by；　the　Cyclops　round　the　anvil　suspend　their　ringing　hammers；　and　suffer　the　iron　to　grow　cool；　and　the　sooty　spectre　in　brown　paper　cap；　labouring　at　the　bellows；　leans　on　the　handle　for　a　moment；　and　permits　the　asthmatic　engine　to　heave　a　long…drawn　sigh；　while　he　glares　through　the　murky　smoke　and　sulphureous　gleams　of　the　smithy。

Perhaps　the　impending　holiday　might　have　given　a　more　than　usual　animation　to　the　country；　for　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　everybody　was　in　good　looks　and　good　spirits。　　Game；　poultry；　and　other　luxuries　of　the　table；　were　in　brisk　circulation　in　the　villages；　the　grocers'；　butchers'；　and　fruiterers'　shops　were　thronged　with　customers。　　The　housewives　were　stirring　briskly　about；　putting　their　dwellings　in　order；　and　the　glossy　branches　of　holly；　with　their　bright　red　berries；　began　to　appear　at　the　windows。　　The　scene　brought　to　mind　an　old　writer's　account　of　Christmas　preparations：〃Now　capons　and　hens；　besides　turkeys；　geese；　and　ducks；　with　beef　and　muttonmust　all　die；　for　in　twelve　days　a　multitude　of　people　will　not　be　fed　with　a　little。　　Now　plums　and　spice；　sugar　and　honey；　square　it　among　pies　and　broth。　　Now　or　never　must　music　be　in　tune；　for　the　youth　must　dance　and　sing　to　get　them　a　heat；　while　the　aged　sit　by　the　fire。　　The　country　maid　leaves　half　her　market；　and　must　be　sent　again；　if　she　forgets　a　pack　of　cards　on　Christmas　eve。　　Great　is　the　contention　of　Holly　and　Ivy；　whether　master　or　dame　wears　the　breeches。　　Dice　and　cards　benefit　the　butler；　and　if　the　cook　do　not　lack　wit；　he　will　sweetly　lick　his　fingers。〃

I　was　roused　from　this　fit　of　luxurious　meditation　by　a　shout　from　my　little　travelling　companions。　　They　had　been　looking　out　of　the　coach…windows　for　the　last　few　miles；　recognising　every　tree　and　cottage　as　they　approached　home；　and　now　there　was　a　general　burst　of　joy〃There's　John！　and　there's　old　Carlo！　and　there's　Bantam！〃　cried　the　happy　little　rogues；　clapping　their　hands。

At　the　end　of　a　lane　there　was　an　old　sober…looking　servant　in　livery　waiting　for　them：　he　was　accompanied　by　a　superannuated　pointer；　and　by　the　redoubtable　Bantam；　a　little　old　rat　of　a　pony；　with　a　shaggy　mane　and　long；　rusty　tail；　who　stood　dozing　quietly　by　the　roadside；　little　dreaming　of　the　bustling　times　that　awaited　him。

I　was　pleased　to　see　the　fondness　with　which　the　little　fellows　leaped　about　the　steady　old　footman；　and　hugged　the　pointer；　who　wriggled　his　whole　body　for　joy。　　But　Bantam　was　the　great　object　of　interest；　all　wanted　to　mount　at　once；　and　it　was　with　some　difficulty　that　John　arranged　that　they　should　ride　by　turns；　and　the　eldest　should　ride　first。

Off　they　set　at　last；　one　on　the　pony；　with　the　dog　bounding　and　barking　before　him；　and　the　others　holding　John's　hands；　both　talking　at　once；　and　overpowering　him　by　questions　about　home；　and　with　school　anecdotes。　　I　looked　after　them　with　a　feeling　in　which　I　do　not　know　whether　pleasure　or　melancholy　predominated：　for　I　was　reminded　of　those　days　when；　like　them；　I　had　neither　known　care　nor　sorrow；　and　a　holiday　was　the　summit　of　earthly　felicity。　We　stopped　a　few　moments　afterward　to　water　the　horses；　and　on　resuming　our　route；　a　turn　of　the　road　brought　us　in　sight　of　a　neat　country　seat。　　I　could　just　distinguish　the　forms　of　a　lady　and　two　young　girls　in　the　portico；　and　I　saw　my　little　comrades；　with　Bantam；　Carlo；　and　old　John；　trooping　along　the　carriage　road。　I　leaned　out　of　the　coach…window；　in　hopes　of　witnessing　the　happy　meeting；　but　a　grove　of　trees　shut　it　from　my　sight。

In　the　evening　we　reached　a　village　where　I　had　determined　to　pass　the　night。　　As　we　drove　into　the　great　gateway　of　the　inn；　I　saw　on　one　side　the　light　of　a　rousing　kitchen　fire　beaming　through　a　window。　　I　entered；　and　admired；　for　the　hundredth　time；　that　picture　of　convenience；　neatness；　and　broad；　honest　enjoyment；　the　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　tim