old christmas-第3部分

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　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　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