New-York tribune., 1869-01-06
TWELFTH DAY IN ENGLAND.
OLD CHRISTMAS DAY.

III Is almost another CHRISTMAS. anu Is lndeed citeu
both Old Christmas and Little Christmas" How
. stranger in London, he stands staring with
astOnished gaze into the confectionery shop windows
Oh the 9Th of January, must wonder what it is all
about Did his imagination partake of the vivid
rather than the stolid he might be inclined to sup
pose that all the world was agoing to get married
together widdies and ALL in spite of the earnest
postulations of the elder Mr.. Weller against that
great folly There ranged tier above tier shelves
and counters, he the most enticing captivating
looking ced-cakes. as delicately rich as any
gourmet could desire and beautifully decorated
with parti-colored true lovers knots sugar
arch-lOollng little Cupids. Temples OF Hymen ana
Venus in fact, everything that couId possibly De
token the sweets and bliss of earthly love But the
stranger would be altogether mistaken, No one has
Tue slightest idea of matTImOny on TINS happy event
full day. No. this is Twelfth Day, and, though many
little people will in the evening become kings and
Queens, Dukes and DucheSSes. Lords and Ladies,
still il is Only for the snOnce, and these little
matrimonial arrangements owe their origin entirely
TO those waits and strays of fortune which the draw
ing by lottery of the Twelfth Night characters has
imposed oil It's somewhat shy and embarrassed little
veDtuTers.
If our strangers curiosity should get the better of
him and induce him to enter this very attractive
cOnfeclOners shop he would be still more mystlled,
for the elegant Young ladies who attend to custom
eTs wants from behind the counter: would quickly
unrOl for his edcatiOn beautifully cOlored sheet
OF portraits of all the Kings and Queens, Dukes ana
Duchesses. great soldiers Sailors actors, ard other
remarkable peTsOnages who have ever adorned the
pages of English history; They would show nm
how he looked in garland of flowers or IN a crown
of holly aud mlstetOe. in the shop mirror, ana then
exhibit TO him with easy nonchalance the most lovely
things in twelfthda cakes at all prices from ten To
Fifty guineas, and. with bewiching naiyete, ask HIM
which he would like packed up if he requires more
than one, aud how many Of the c0loTed portrait
sheets he would like to go with them.
But our stranger is shrewd and not TO be easily
taken in. and he humby lnqulres-Havent You got
something little cheaper After much obstinate
ma I'M hQ SfT
of hesitation and sklllful attempts at persuasion by
the elegant young ladies' he manages to escape with
an overgrown bun, iced with the most suspicious
looking white sugar for the moderate cost OF nan
crown; which bun he is only too glad 10 thrust INTO
the shiverng hands of the first little 6eggar gl ne
meets who proceeds rlumphantly TO the family dust
bin, in aneighbOrng alley there to SIT and munchlt
But Twelfth Day is nevertheleSsIa most important
era i'm the little life of juvenile English society. only
second to Christmas and New-Year's day, because a
surfet of good things these occasions has rather
taken the edge oil their appetite for sweet things of
all sorts lt is amusing, II is really curious 10 notice
what little gOunetS children become IN what they
eat what little oORROsSepS IN what they drink, after
three OF four nights of nfante dissipation. Three
DAYS education III the enjoyment of s1pertiuous lux
uries leads the now refined palate of childhood to
discard the custard for the minque giGc6 Orangeade
for sherry negus and some OF the Older boys will
even ask Tor seltzer water.
But we mOralizing, and must NAL ke all possible
haste 70 escort our stranger TO the Twelfth Night
chldrens party which we have TellglOusy gwen
our word Of honor to attend.
These little gentlemen and ladies arrive in splen-
did carriages. attended by stately, powdered foot
men. They have their luxurious wrappers, furs and
warm woOlen boots 10 slip Off just like grOwn-up
people, and they walk with an air of habit, like
their elders TO the room appropriated for shawls and
~SISaKs md for giving dainty repoyatng touches to
any little thing tEat nav have become deranged OF
displaced in the carriage lhey VIII then SGlemnly
promise their respective nurses to be good children
wish them good night, and without the slightest
signs of embarrassment, enter the drawlng-room
And what charming scene here meets the ave =.
crowd OIL o. the STesSS @e%IeS. !tle eHeaaGs VIII
chanting little short tUe dresses of every shape and
style floating mass of white tqrletdn, ribbons, and
furbeows dancing about in all directions many Of
them flirting in their little way, and exhibiting all the
airs and of 1Sall apparently doing all they
and S to make Won % Wish t ayG@' yon we're sms
enough young enough. and Hght-hearted enough TO
NJoln in their childish glee.
Presently the lady Of the house appears carrying
basket in each hand filled with mysterious looking
bits of paper These bits of paper have been cut from
the sheet of Twelfth Night characters and are all
carefully doubled up. Each little hoy draws paper
from basket each little girl from the other with
fear and trembling This is the all-impOrtant event
This fatal drawing allots to each their partner for
the evening, and 1T may be distastetul one When
the drawing is completed these paper characters
which all numbered are carefully pinned on to
the bOsOms of their respective prOprletOTs and the
little partners hurry Oft 10 the big Christmas tree IN
order to secure the prizes corresponding with the
number of their characters. That Christmas tree is
perfeet Marvel of Peru 10 the infant mind. Ii is
prOfusely decorated with elegantly dressed dolls,
drums, flags banners, whistles, all kinds OF toys,
every bOugh several brilliant colored Christmas can
dies are brightly burning. This unI1yaled conblna-
ton OF nature ana art has taken the whole laWmihy
sad dismantled spectacle 1t will present III the
morning .
This important business having been satisfactorily
got through, all those various amusements III which
children particularly delight await their return TO
the drawing room. Dissolying views, magic Ian
terms dancing dolls and wonderful gentleman, who
by the aid OF a mysterious silver wand, produces half
dozen bowls of fish from the pocket of his dress
coat. and then makes tlmid little boy turn purple
in the face, by drawing BARRIERS pole at least seven
feet long the timd little boy verify believes, from
his tmid little throat sensation which hannts him.
sleeping OF waxing, lOr Ihe remainder OF tne ugnt
And now II is announced that supper is ready, and
the heavy business o. the evenings entertainment
Immediately commences. The supper table is appa-
rently laden with everything that ingenuity could
devise make little children i'll. RICH creams jellies
tpsey cakes barley sugar baskets Tites and oiRgueS
pac6s with Twelfth Day cake and the most delicious
bon bons, scattered III all directions, utterly re-
gardess of consequences. IL is very anus
ing 10 watch these little things at supper.
NhaU comprehensive glance they take OF
the table before answering the servants In
gury, What will You take and then. as
n general thing they will choose something which is
particularly unwhOesOme. and which wOnld give
their nurses bad attack Of the cold shlyers Oh the
spot, to them eat. When all have eaten and
drank as much their vtiated little appettes will
permit the little chief courtier of the evening has to
propose the health of the little king and his buShng
little queen, for which compliment his temporary
majesty nervOusly returns thanks and then proposes
the health Of his temporary royal partners maids of
honor for whom the chef cOurtier returns thanks.
The royal toasting over they all repair once more 10
the drawing How entirely these little people
seem TO have shaken off all their shyness and stiff
ness in the supper-rOOm. They now dance and rOmp
in the most perfectly natural manner and would evi-
IDENTIFY like TO make night Of il, did not certain
stern looking personages Omni0usly make their ap-
pearanee in the door way, and inform them that
their carriage is waiting and that it is time TO go
home. SO, our little kings and queens, our little
lords and ladies' take stately leave of one another
and condescendngly cOnsignng themselves to the
tender care of their nurses to be taken home, are
soon fast asleep in The carriage