The Portland daily press., 1886-02-17

hours in travelling fifteen miles by steam, we
were welcomed in a CHEEKY. coy home, where
English hospitality, which peryades many
private homes here, as much as anywhere in
the world. and American cuisine combined
to spread before US sumptuous feast, to
which our appetites, sharpened by the cold
and exereise--if not by little Wrath-did
full justice. When the pudding came on,
with sprig of holly stuck in the middle,
supported on either side by the stars and
Stripes and Union Jack, we all gave a
cheer, and were ready to forgive our enemy
with the same high-minded magnanimity,
with which Mrs. Cratchit res ponded to Bob's
toast to Scrooge ''Pll drink his health for
your sake and the days" Our thoughts
lsaped so rapidly from place to place, that
with almost omniscient eye, we could see
orr children and beloved friends in many
bright homes, partaking of Gods bounties !;
and with hearty amen, we repeated Tiny
Tins toast "God bless us every one." Our
good friends fain would have kept us over
night to break the spell of the revengeful
spirit, who seemed to be wreaking his ven
geance upon us for some injury of which we
hoped to be innocent; but we rather enjoy
an occasional tilt with those unseen powers
of darkness, who like to thwart poor NOR
tails plans, and we left at the close of day, to
defy his internal majesty. Evidently he had
exhausted his expedientS to torment US, as
we found the trains running for our especial
accommodation, and in good time we were
safely housed. In spite of the frost and ice
we saw delicate tea roses, half blown, on
the houses at Harrow.
Saturday was Booking Day." when every
body puts gift into box for his dust man,
chimney sweep, bootblack, and all who have
faithfully served his household during the
year. On this day every kind of occupation
comes to dead standstill and the working
classes are free to enjoy public entertain
ments. We went in the afternoon with fifty
thousand of our brothers and sister in the
humber walks of life, to the Crystal Palace
to witness the spectacle of Cinderella and the
Christmas Pantomimes. 1t was motley,
enthusiastic crowd, but quite orderly. Be-
hind us were arranged pens, such as one sees
at New England fair, where the poor could
stand, and for sixpence see the show. 1t
was gorgeous spectacle. Everybody hated
the coarse, proud sisters, while sweet Gin
derella won all hearts by her simplicity and
shouted when four real ponies bore her in
triumph across the stage in chariot as light
as sea foam and glittering with gems from
the ocean. This house was brought down
with hurrahs when these ponies were seized
most frantically by the officials, and muzzled
in compliance with the new hydrophobia
law, which is being just now zcalously en-
L l. 1Dx,... 49, L. g
the earth were represented by their minis
tiers riding upon the emblematical animals or
birds. Italy was received with applause,
France and Germany submitting meekly to
the indignity of the muzzle, were presented
with courtly Difference to the Prince; but it
was not so easy to strap down Russia's mouth,
who kicked and tWitched his head, yielding
at last, amidst the Kisses and screeches of the
audience. Finally Uncle Sam in his striped
trousers, astride a spread eagle, stalked into
the ball room as if he cared for nobody and
nobody cared for him. He looked sour and
scornful of court etiquette. 1t was plain to
see they did not care to NEEDLE with him,
as they gave him wider berth, and no one
presumed to offer muzzle to natures I'M
couth nobleman. John Bull brought up the
rear, mounted upon such dropsical lion we
looked to see him topple over with his
wheezy rider. The courtiers gathered around
to pay reverence to his excellency, they pat
ted the ferocious beast, and stroked his taw-
ny locks, when some rash Parnellites and
Gladstonians presented muzzle to the jaws
of the roaring monster They were angrily
thrust aside, and all the court in one chorus
shouted: mo power can muzzle the British
Lion" The fairy scenes were lovely be-
yond description in pearls and flowers of
heavenly tints. So ended our Christmas Do
you think the children will forget it?
NJ C. 2. B.