Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-22
The Old English Squire.

England in these days, knows but little of
thatindependent gentleman, the country squire,
who once gave laws to the parish. So great
was his influence that the quarresome seldom
appealed from the settlement he made of their
chickering's. Ii he asked the time of day, the
reply, delivered with low scrape, would likely
be, 'It is what your worship pleases." There
was no need to go to the window to see whose
arrival was announced by the smack of the
whip. That was the squire's "knock," or
''ring," as we would say, Sometimes he made
known his appearance by the view-halloo, such
as the huntsman uses to let the field know that
he has caught glimpse of the fox.
On Christmas Day he threw open his house to
tenants and to neighbors AS they entered the
hall, they were greeted, no matter if at day
break, by bouncing Christmas log, which, gave
solidity to the glowing fire. made of roots of
trees and great sticks of wood foaming
tankard of beer waited their pleasure, and
stronger drink in which floated toast, nutmeg,
and sugar. was pressed on them by servants.
Huge flitches of bacon hung from the cell
ing of the great hail; stags horns protruded
from the walls; and everywhere the holly, ivy,
bays, laurel and mistletoe said
IA merry Christmas to you, gentlemenm
In the corner by the huge fireplace sat the
squire, in large wooden two-armed chair, with
cushion. Above his head, over the mantle-
piece, hung his guns and fishing-rods, and the
broadswords and daggers which his ancestors
once used. Here he welcomed his guests with
hearty greeting endorsed by an old-time hos
pitality.
Servants fitted in and out, and the spits
loaded with sirloins of beef, turkeys geese,
capons, were turned by turnspits, boys who by
the time all was roasted would be black and
greasy.
The hdckin, as the plum-pudding was then
called, had been boiled so as to be done by day
break If it were not, the maid tried hard to
tInF 20 tIa
found it out, two of them took her by the arms,
and ran her around the market-place, till she
was ashamed of her laziness.
The day. the profuse hospitality; the sharp
appetites and capacious stomachs the pressing
attentions of the squire and his servants, made
all eat heartily. The host aided digestion by
telling his funniest stories and cracking his
funniest jokes Whether good or bad, fresh or
stale, no matter-the guests knew their duty.
All laughed where they should, and exclaimed
"0h !" and "Ah !" at the proper places. 1t
would have been but a shabby return for the
generous hospitality, had not the guests shown
themselves responsive to the hosts efforts to
please. Does not the wit lie in the ear of him
who hears it?
Sir Walter Scott, in 'Marmion," set forth
graphically the Christmas hospitality of those
old English times, when the rich and poor met
together andrecognized, for a day at least, that
the Lord is the maker Of them all.
s'Then opened wide the baron's hall
To vassal, tenant serf, and all;
Power laid her rod of rule aside,
And Ceremony doffed his pride.
The heir with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose.
The lord. underogating, share
The vulgar game of post and pair
All hailed, with uncontrolled delight,
And general voice, the happy night,
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings OF salvation down !"