第10章 THE SKETCH BOOK(4)

* From the "Flying Eagle," a small Gazette, published December 24th,1652- "The House spent much time this day about the business of theNavy, for settling the affairs at sea, and before they rose, werepresented with a terrible remonstrance against Christmas day, groundedupon divine Scriptures, 2 Cor. v. 16; 1 Cor. xv. 14, 17; and inhonor of the Lord's Day, grounded upon these Scriptures, John xx. 1;Rev. i. 10; Psalm cxviii. 24; Lev. xxiii. 7, 11; Mark xv. 8; Psalmlxxxiv. 10, in which Christmas is called Anti-christ's masse, andthose Massemongers and Papists who observe it, etc. In consequenceof which Parliament spent some time in consultation about theabolition of Christmas day, passed orders to that effect, and resolvedto sit on the following day, which was commonly called Christmas day."Shut up among worm-eaten tomes in the retirement of his antiquatedlittle study, the pages of old times were to him as the gazettes ofthe day; while the era of the Revolution was mere modern history. Heforgot that nearly two centuries had elapsed since the fierypersecution of poor mince-pie throughout the land; when plumporridge was denounced as "mere popery," and roast-beef asanti-christian; and that Christmas had been brought in againtriumphantly with the merry court of King Charles at theRestoration. He kindled into warmth with the ardor of his contest, andthe host of imaginary foes with whom he had to combat; he had astubborn conflict with old Prynne and two or three other forgottenchampions of the Round Heads, on the subject of Christmas festivity;and concluded by urging his hearers, in the most solemn andaffecting manner, to stand to the traditional customs of theirfathers, and feast and make merry on this joyful anniversary of theChurch.

I have seldom known a sermon attended apparently with more immediateeffects; for on leaving the church the congregation seemed one and allpossessed with the gayety of spirit so earnestly enjoined by theirpastor. The elder folks gathered in knots in the church-yard, greetingand shaking hands; and the children ran about crying Ule! Ule! andrepeating some uncouth rhymes,* which the parson, who had joined us,informed me had been handed down from days of yore. The villagersdoffed their hats to the squire as he passed, giving him the goodwishes of the season with every appearance of heartfelt sincerity, andwere invited by him to the hall, to take something to keep out thecold of the weather; and I heard blessings uttered by several of thepoor, which convinced me that, in the midst of his enjoyments, theworthy old cavalier had not forgotten the true Christmas virtue ofcharity.

* "Ule! Ule!

Three puddings in a pule;

Crack nuts and cry ule!"

On our way homeward his heart seemed overflowed with generous andhappy feelings. As we passed over a rising ground which commandedsomething of a prospect, the sounds of rustic merriment now and thenreached our ears: the squire paused for a few moments, and lookedaround with an air of inexpressible benignity. The beauty of the daywas of itself sufficient to inspire philanthropy. Not withstanding thefrostiness of the morning, the sun in his cloudless journey hadacquired sufficient power to melt away the thin covering of snowfrom every southern declivity, and to bring out the living green whichadorns an English landscape even in mid-winter. Large tracts ofsmiling verdure contrasted with the dazzling whiteness of the shadedslopes and hollows. Every sheltered bank, on which the broad raysrested, yielded its silver rill of cold and limpid water, glitteringthrough the dripping grass; and sent up slight exhalations tocontribute to the thin haze that hung just above the surface of theearth. There was something truly cheering in this triumph of warmthand verdure over the frosty thraldom of winter; it was, as thesquire observed, an emblem of Christmas hospitality, breakingthrough the chills of ceremony and selfishness, and thawing everyheart into a flow. He pointed with pleasure to the indications of goodcheer reeking from the chimneys of the comfortable farmhouses, and lowthatched cottages. "I love," said he, "to see this day well kept byrich and poor; it is a great thing to have one day in the year, atleast, when you are sure of being welcome wherever you go, and ofhaving, as it were, the world all thrown open to you; and I amalmost disposed to join with Poor Robin, in his malediction on everychurlish enemy to this honest festival"Those who at Christmas do repine

And would fain hence dispatch 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 andamusements which were once prevalent at this season among the lowerorders, and countenanced by the higher; when the old halls of thecastles and manor-houses were thrown open at daylight; when the tableswere covered with brawn, and beef, and humming ale; when the harpand the carol resounded all day long, and when rich and poor werealike welcome to enter and make merry.* "Our old games and localcustoms," said he, "had a great effect in making the peasant fond ofhis home, and the promotion of them by the gentry made him fond of hislord. They made the times merrier, and kinder, and better, and I cantruly say, with one of our old poets: