The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-12-26
Yule-Tide in England.

The greatest of all English festivities
is now near at hand. We are hailing
its approach with unbounded gladness
and delight Already nature has APP
prised us of its nearness. The glory of au-
tumnal sunset and the variegated gran
deur of the foliage have passed away
and we have been brought face to face
with the stern realities of winter.
When first awakened from the calm
serenity of slumber, this morning, we
felt the blood run icily through our
veins as we discovered the unmistaka-
bic signs of "Jack Frost" whose gro
tesque and weird engravings of Ice
landic scenery were figured with ar
tistic accuracy upon the frosted glass.
We have been expecting this grim and
hoary monster for some time past, and
have been somewhat surprised at his
long tarrying; but he was never more
welcome than now. The close and
muggy atmosphere of the past few
weeks has sickened US of warm weather
and given us relish for something
more seasonable. 1t has come, and we
give it kindly greeting. Old age looks
best with silvery locks; and so old
Father Christmas, as the children love
to call him, is always more beautiful
when his garments are white. This
aged sire is worthy of respect, and, in
fact, he gets more in England than he
does in America. We have learned to
love him, and as he comes to us year
by year, with his outstretched arms, full
of kindness and manifold blessings, we
feel our hearts grow larger'in sympathy
and we feel the better and the truer for
his sojourn among us. We have many
things to remind us of Christmas, chief
among which are "the waits,n who
have already commenced their mid
night musical entertainments. The
company referred to is band of musi-
clans who are in the habit of playing
appropriate music during the hours of
eleven P. NJ. and five A. NJ in different
parts of the town, in order to charm the
sleepy inhabitants with their sweet
strains of melody. They come to us
for silver thanks on " Boxing day." the
day after Christmas, and known in En-
gland as the day for giving Christmas
boxes or presents away, when they
make their touching appeal, 1.-The
smallest contribution thankfully re-
reminder at night, we have many others
during the day. On every hand we
hear it mentioned and see the prepare
lions for this grand gala. Storekeep-
ers are busily engaged in displaying to
the best advantage their gorgeous as
sortment of Christmas goods. The
grocers are particularly busy. Every
one is trying to Guido his neighbor in
the exhibition of raisins, currants and
candied peel, which are the necessary
commodities for the old-fashioned En-
glish plum-pudding. This historic pud-
ding is so closely associated with the
enjoyment of Christmas day that with
out it we should be minus the chief at
traction. Steaming hot, after having
been boiled for portion of three or
four consecutive days, this delicious vi
and is brought on to the festive board
gayly decked with holly and blazing
with the flames from ignited spirits, to
satisfy the remaining vestige of appe-
tte which roast beef and turkey have
failed to appease. For three or four
weeks previous housewives are busy
stoning plums, making mince-meat,
chopping suet and stirring buildings for
the Christmas feast. In this last task ,
however, they are helped by every
member of the family, from the snowy
haired grandfather to the tiny, dimpled
babe, who think it a part of their duty
to have 6 finger in the pie" by giving
it stir for luck. Our English homes
are made to look bright and cheerful
through the additional attraction of
mistletoe, holly and evergreen, which
are the principal decorations at this sea-
son of the year. Among young people
of a loving and lovable age the mistle-
toe bough is source of great pleasure
and enjoyment. 1t brings with it a
dessert of a pleasing nature that can
not fail to procure participation. A
large or small bunch of it is placed over
the hall-door or beneath some dazzling
chandelier. where il is not likely TO at