New-York tribune., 1868-12-25

As Won pass they stop joyous chanting to wish
yomr hand HSs 60 your pocket search Of Christmas
zen the old village sexton does not look quite 80
grim anG cen Pe ' and the Rectos kind old housekeeper
has given hm glass Of cherry brandy that has warmed
cause iis Christmas Day" The old Norman Church Is
one mass Of evergeens and flowers and full OF happy
Christmas sermon, knowing that 1t VIII be overlooking
with that kndness which he always feels toward them
but Of which it has been his inyarabe practice to m
bosom himself Christmas day since he aud they were
all boys together.
churchyard OF an English village when service ended
Christmas Day. Jolly little chiMrei, running maoiy
about I'm all directions. and jumping Tor very JOY non
est, sturdy aboreTs, gripping tne squire had ~ tne5 @
kindly tones My Lady inquiries after at niue one VINO y
sick at homo, promises 10 stand GOdmOter 10 he as
born baby. How many honest tenant farmer blesses
that landlord quietly in s heart for It has been bad
for the crops and his lorsps balm mas nouueu
vii be remted to all alike" AS they pass their squire
and with respectful sautation, wish him tho Conpl-
OF the Season they feel that had 1t not been or
his kindly thought for them ana ihers ts same SArs'
mas season would have been sad one Tor them all .
But n the world has much heavy work before ~
There is that eating and drinking to be done. 80 9e
and low, rich aud poor hurry home 10 dlnner-that al
and sansnsea those barons beef cunousy spced
hams those stuffed cap0ns aud boars heads, that nYe
year old ale that sparkling MOsee, that very old fOr
! which was laid down the day the present Squire was
born and the Yue log, and the WaSsai bowl what an
opportunity for racy fun Is that Nasshl DoWI lVunE
sters home from school. buslng young LADIES' ntue
gira who are boisterous on tins occasion ohy oul WIZ
and Geranium in their buttonhoe spnster auhs WIN
fine starchylooking caps aud ioIma! ribbons, stAT1
rosy chubbyfaced young rascas who wish Chilstnns C!
would come every day IN the YEAR one h,tet M % aio,ng &
peg IN the family IEving Cop, or Wgssa bowl lhIo h
Is very celebrated puoc,house which mas Shsfu % LOT ~,
centuries In London, which formerly bore inc sign oI
The Peg in the Wassall" IL now hears Tue hosuIu!
degencrated name OF The Pig and Whistle. ,. 10.
| And then begin the Christmas romps aud gam Jols;
Srs o The bacheor unces ma themselves much 10
| he'll agfO OF
holf dozen Growing youugst their backs or bring
ing all fhcir energies to bear Hunt the slipper ana
Kind Mans RuT Respectable maiden ladies' who would
on the previous evening hayo been shocked at te Dae
idea lind themselves Joining heartily ~ siT hoset ue
Coverly or tho Country Dance and wind up by gettng
kissed under the nisetoc, In spte OF ther speel,e ~
one of those hotrid, npcrncn batcbelOr nncies Who
mua have taken TOO much wine after The ladies' Ict Io
dniugroo my dear" suddenly sIglt ustutpalTe a '
is heard outside tho door, which is qufsy g nung opd %
and. with portiy Importance. tho iainy,Dnrr Slriss
into tho room leading ne honsekseper& & & ny .S u
followed nv all the establishment Ifom thG se,Nas l "H ~
mid much gcgng and simperipg ON the part 2 Oh we we
neiehbOrng town canno be thOlGht oi AZ w hai ~ W.
Christmas Day is ordered once more 70 stihe M up ~
my Lord with the Housekecpef ana INC y0EcI ~, sC', ,
of the family pick the best looking ot The maids the
rarners for themselves from among Ihose OF the foot
| men and grooms who are willing to dance nut some v
bashfuness under the circumstances, ana thtn the ue
| begins They really do dance; no one entering lnt9
ana nv LADY, The dance over the butler aud one or two
serving men retire, bnt quickly return, carrying WIN
from 10 to u quarts, and which has never been 9nt M
OF the Iiall nOur, since ~ was pledged 10y INC
Squire OF that period 20 enable him 10 pay tue company
OF soldiers he had raised for the King from amog hs
own tenants, ~ the tmo of The bloody battles between
the Cavaliers and Roundhonds during the Rebellion of
sB Under the direction ~ the squire the butler pro
cecs Ia pour bottle after bottle Of those various
LIQUORS which, with sugar, lemons, and many curlOns
Spices are supposed 10 compound punch. The liquid
fnns- Is then fre aud the Squire nnd his LndJ
having toasted their reaincrs the family pnn0b uONl II
borne triumphantiy to the servants hall.
But by this time. little faces have begun 10 wear
sadly pinched up and sleepy look; slnsler alnts ynwn
ingy reflect and not quite that their behavior
has been altogether dgnihcd becomes them; the
bachelor uncles determine tO make night or H. huh
i0n the younger in The smoking room, an act OF
folly which they bitterly regret The next morning. tho
whole HOUSE. with the exception Of the servants hhl, II
perfectly guet: and the squire and hi- Lady st costly hy
The diving cnbcs Of the Iule log chatting over the VA
rious occurrences of the day aud trusting that tirr
ne ghbur n humber position ~ ic have enjoyed their
Chrlstinas Day equally with Themselves