old christmas-第5节

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e　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　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。　　Beside　the　accustomed　lights；　two　great　wax　tapers；　called　Christmas　candles；　wreathed　with　greens；　were　placed　on　a　highly…polished　buffet　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　humours　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　smallpox；　with　a　dry　perpetual　bloom　on　it；　like　a　frost…bitten　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　innuendoes　with　the　ladies；　and　making　infinite　merriment　by　harpings　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　everything　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　unacommodating　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　favourite　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　a　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　humour　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：


　　　　　　　　　　〃Now　Christmas　is　come；　　　　　　　　　　　　Let　us　beat　up　the　drum；　　　　　And　call　all　our　neighbours　together；　　　　　　　　　　　　And　when　they　appear；　　　　　　　　　　　　Let　us　make　them　such　cheer　　　　　As　will　keep　out　the　wind　and　the　weather；〃　　　　　　　　　　　　etc。


The　supper　had　disposed　every　one　to　gaiety；　and　an　old　harper　was　summoned　from　the　servants'　hall；　where　he　had　been　strumming　all　the　evening；　and　to　all　appearance　comforting　himself　with　some　of　the　Squire's　home…brewed。　　He　was　a　kind　of　hanger…on；　I　was　told；　of　the　establishment；　and　though　ostensibly　a　resident　of　the　village；　was　oftener　to　be　found　in　the　Squire's　kitchen　than　his　own　home；　the　old　gentleman　being　fond　of　the　sound　of　〃harp　in　hall。〃

The　dance；　like　most　dances　after　supper；　was　a　merry　one；　some　of　the　older　folks　joined　in　it；　and　the　Squire　himself　figured　down　several　couples　with　a　partner　with　whom　he　affirmed　he　had　danced　at　every　Christmas　for　nearly　half　a　century。　　Master　Simon；　who　seemed　to　be　a　kind　of　connecting　link　between　the　old　times　and　the　new；　and　to　be　withal　a　little　antiquated　in　the　taste　of　his　accomplishments；　evidently　piqued　himself　on　his　dancing；　and　was　endeavouring　to　gain　credit　by　the　heel　and　toe；　rigadoon；　and　other　graces　of　the　ancient　school；　but　he　had　unluckily　assorted　himself　with　a　little　romping　girl　from　boarding…school；　who；　by　her　wild　vivacity；　kept　him　continually　on　the　stretch；　and　defeated　all　his　sober　attempts　at　elegance；such　are　the　ill…　assorted　matches　to　which　antique　gentlemen　are　unfortunately　prone！

The　young　Oxonian；　on　the　contrary；　had　led　out　one　of　his　maiden　aunts；　on　whom　the　rogue　played　a　thousand　little　knaveries　with　impunity；　he　was　full　of　practical　jokes；　and　his　delight　was　to　tease　his　aunts　and　cousins；　yet；　like　all　madcap　youngsters；　he　was　a　universal　favourite　among　the　women。　　The　most　interesting　couple　in　the　dance　was　the　young　officer　and　a　ward　of　the　Squire's；　a　beautiful　blushing　girl　of　seventeen。　　From　several　shy　glances　which　I　had　noticed　in　the　course　of　the　evening；　I　suspected　there　was　a　little　kindness　growing　up　between　them；　and；　indeed；　the　young　soldier　was　just　the　hero　to　captivate　a　romantic　girl。　　He　was　tall；　slender；　and　handsome；　and　like　most　young　British　officers　of　late　years；　had　picked　up　various　small　accomplishments　on　the　Continenthe　could　talk　French　and　Italian　draw　landscapes；sing　very　tolerablydance　divinely；　but　above　all　he　had　been　wounded　at　Waterloo；what　girl　of　seventeen；　well　read　in　poetry　and　romance；　could　resist　such　a　mirror　of　chivalry　and　perfection！

The　moment　the　dance　was　over；　he　caught　up　a　guitar；　and　lolling　against　the　old　marble　fireplace；　in　an　attitude　which　I　am　half　inclined　to　suspect　was　studied；　began　the　little　French　air　of　the　Troubadour。　　The　Squire；　however；　exclaimed　against　having　anything　on　Christmas　eve　but　good　old　English；　upon　which　the　young　minstrel；　casting　up　his　eye　for　a　moment；　as　if　in　an　effort　of　memory；　struck　into　another　strain；　and；　with　a　charming　air　of　gallantry；　gave　Herrick's　〃Night…Piece　to　Julia：〃


　　　　〃Her　eyes　the　glow…worm　lend　thee；　　　　　　The　shooting　stars　attend　thee；　　　　　　　　And　the　elves　also；　　　　　　　　Whose　little　eyes　glow　　　　　　Like　the　sparks　of　fire；　befriend　thee。

　　　　〃No　Will…o'…the…Wisp　mislight　thee；　　　　　　Nor　snake　or　glow…worm　bite　thee；　　　　　　　　But　on；　on　thy　way；　　　　　　　　Not　making　a　stay；　　　　　　Since　ghost　there　is　none　to　affright　thee。

　　　　〃Then　let　not　the　dark　thee　cumber；　　　　　　What　though　the　moon　does　slumber；　　　　　　　　The　stars　of　the　night　　　　　　　　Will　lend　thee　their　light；　　　　　　Like　tapers　clear　without　number。

　　　　〃Then；　Julia；　let　me　woo　thee；　　　　　　Thus；　thus　to　come　unto　me；　　　　　　　　And　when　I　shall　meet　　　　　　　　Thy　silvery　feet；　　　　　　My　soul　I'll　pour　into　thee。〃


The　song　might　have　been　intended　in　compliment　to　the　fair　Julia；　for　so　I　found　his　partner　was　called；　or　it　might　not；　she；　however；　was　certainly　unconscious　of　any　such　application；　for　she　never　looked　at　the　singer；　but　kept　her　eyes　cast　upon　the　floor。　Her　face　was　suffused；　it　is　true；　with　a　beautiful　blush；　and　there　was　a　gentle　heaving　of　the　bosom；　but　all　that　was　doubtless　caused　by　the　exercise　of　the　dance；　indeed；　so　great　was　her　indifference；　that　she　was　amusing　herself　with　plucking　to　pieces　a　choice　bouquet　of　hothouse　flowers；　and　by　the　time　the　song　was　concluded；　the　nosegay　lay　in　ruins　on　the　floor。

The　party　now　broke　up　for　the　night　with　the　kind…hearted　old　custom