Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-12-13

their bright red berries began 10 appear Al
the windows. The scene brought To min,
an old writer's account OF Christmas prep
parations Now capons and hens, be
sides turkeys. geese and ducks, with bee
aud mutton-must all die-fnr in twelve
days multitude of people will not be fed
with little. Now plums and spice. sugar
aud honey, square it among pies and
broth Now or never must music be
in tune, for the youth must dance and sing
| TO get them a heat, while the aged sit by
the fire The country maid leaves half her
market, AMI must be sent again, if she for
! gets a pair of cards on Christmas eve.
| Great is the contention Of Holly aud Ivy.
| whether master or dame wears the
breeches. Dice and cards benefit the but
ler; AMI ii the cook do not lack wit, he will
sweetly lick his fingers"
was reused from this ht of luxurious
meditation by q shout from my little tray
cling companions They had been look
ing out of the coach windows for the last
few miles, recognizing every tree and cot
taSN "a 'bN1 hPpiOothCh hhu Autlt
was a general burst of joy-"There's joint
and there's old Carlo aud there's Bantam!"
cried the happy little rogues, clapping
their hands.
At the end of a lane, theTc WAI al on
sober looking servant in livery, waiting for
them; he was accompanied hy superan
nuated pointer, aud by the redoubtable
Bantam, little old rat Of a pony. with II
shaggy mane and long rusty tail. who
stood doing quietly by the road side, little
dreaming of the busting times that await
ed him
was pleased To see the fonine4s with
which the little fellows leaped about the
steady old footman and hugged the point
er, who wrigglcd his whole body for Joy.
But Bantam wa4 the great object Of inter
est; all wanted To mount at once, and il
was with some difficulty that John arrang
ed that they should ride by turns, and the
eldest shonld ride first
on they set at last; one on the pony.
with the dog bounding and barking before
him, and the others holding Johns hands;
both talking at once and overpowering
him with questions about home, and with
school anecdotes. | looked after them
with feeling in which | do not know
whether pleasure or melancholy prcdoIni-
mated; for ] was reminded f thnsc days
when, like them, had neither known care
nor sorrow, and a holiday was the sum
NIT of earthly felicity. We stopped few
moments afterwards, to water the horses;
and on resuming our route, turn of the
road brought us in sight of neat country
seat. | could just distinguish the forms Of
a lady ana two young girls on the portico,
and saw my little comrades, with Ban
tam, Carlo, and old John, trooping along
the carriage road. | leaned out of the
coach window, in hopes Of witnessing the
from my sight.
In the evening We reached village
where | had determined to pass the night.
As We drove into the great gateway of the
inn, | saw, ON one side, the light Of Il
rousing kitchen fire bcamed through Il
window. entered, and admired for the
hundredth time, that picture of con
venience, neatness, and broad honest en-
joyment. the picture of an English inn. 1t
was of spacious dimensions, hung ronnd
with copper and tin vessles highly polish
ed, and decorated here aud there with a
Christmas green. Hams, tongues and
& Ial 3 h.
ceiling; a smoke jack made its ceaseless
clanking beside the fire place, and clock
ticked i'll one corner. \ well secured deal
table extended along one side of the kitcli-
hearty yiands, upon it, over which two
foaming tankards of ale seemed m0unting
guard Travellers of inferior order were
preparing To attack this stout repast,
whilst others sat smoking and gossiping
over their ale on two high-backed oaken
settles beside the fire Trim housemaids
We're hurrying backwards and forwards,
under the directions of bustlng landlady;
but still seizing an occasional moment To
exchange ilippant word, and have n rally
ing laugh, with the group round tho fire.
The scene completely realized Poor Rob
ina humble idea of the comforts of mid
winter:
Now trees their leaiy hats do bare
TO reverence Winters silver hair;
a handsome hostess, merry host,
A pot of ale and now toast
Tobacco and good coal fire.
4 a .fl.
had not been long at the inn when
post -chaise drore up to the door. A young
gentleman stepped out, and by the light of
the lamps | caught glimpse Of a counte
nance which | thought knew | moved
forward to get nearer view, when his eye
caught mine. | was not mistaken il was
Frank Bracebridge, sprightly, good hu-
mored young fellow, with whom ! had
once travelled on the continent. Our
meeting was extremely cordial, for the
countenance of an old fellow traveller al
ways brings up the recollection of a thou
sand pleasant scenes, odd adventures, and
excellent jokes. To discuss all these in n
transient interview at an inn, was impossi
bic; and finding that | was not pressed for
time and was merely making Il tour of OBJ
seryation, he insisted that should give
him day or two at his fathers country
seat, to which he was going to pass the
holidays, and which lay at a few miles
distance at is better than eating a soli
tary Christmas dinner at an inn" said he,
"and can assure you of a hearty wei
come, in something of the old fashioned
style" His reasoning was cogent, and
must confess the preparation / had seen
for universal festivity and social enjoyment
had made feel a little impatient of my
loneliness / closed therefore, at once,
with his invitation; the chaise drove up to
the door, and in few moments l was on
my way to the family mansi on of the
Bracebridges.
Poor Robins Almanack. l69i
Thomas had Been Lett Out.
A number of book men were relating
professional anecdotes the other night.
"a bout twenty wears ago sold one of