The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

! y 7
was the matter he WAS surrounded by the
whole body and kissed by every one of
/ them.
/ Then, after the dancing and the fun.
! "FiH up" cried Mr. Wardle ut will be
| two hours good before you see the bot
tom Of the bowl through the deep rich
/ color Of the wassall; fiji up all round, and
] now for the song" Thus saying, the
merry old gentleman, in n good, round,
/ sturdy vioce, sang his Christmas song:
l care not for SPRING on his tickle wing
Lot the blossoms and buds be borne;
He woos them amain with his treacherous
Iaia
And he scatters them ere the morn.
An inconsistent elf, he knows not himself,
Nor his own changing mind an hour
He'll smile in your face, and, with wry
grimace.
He'll wither your youngest flower.
/ Let the summer sun to his bright home run,
He shall never be sought by me;
When he's dimmed by a cloud / can laugh
aloud,
And care not how sulky he be!
For his darling child is the madness wild
That sports in fierce feyers train;
And when love is too strong, 1t don't last
long
AS many nave louIu ~ lltil pam
A mild harvest night by the tranquil light
OF the modest and gentle moon,
Has Il far swceter sheen, for me, l ween,
Than the broad and unbushing noon,
But every leaf awakcns my grief,
As it lieth beneath the tree;
SO let autumn air be never so fair,
1t by no means agrees with me.
But my song 1 troll out for Christmas
stout;
The hearty, the true, and the bold
a bumper 1 drain, and with might and main
Give three cheers for this Christmas cid.
Wen usher him in with merry din
That shah gladden. his joyous heart.
And Wen keep him up, while there's bite
or sup.
And in fellowship good we'll part
In his fine honest pride he scorns 70 hide
One jot Of his hard-weather scars:
/ They're no disgrace, for there's much the
same trace
On the cheeks OF our bravest tars.
Then again l sing till the roof doth ring.
And il echoes from wall 10 wall
10 The stout old wight, fair welcome to-
night,
As the King Of the Seasons all!
No wonder the song was unanimously
applauded for I'm sure it was well sung.
and then, as Dickens pertinenuy re-
marks, FOR friends and dependents make
capital audience"
And then the ball at Manor Farml All
what a time!
The best sittingroOm at Manor Farm
was a good, long. dark, panelled room.
with high chimney piece and a cana
clous chimney up which you could have
driven Of tho
wheels and ALL AT the upper end Of the
ROOM seated in a shady bower Of holly
| and evergreens were the two best fid-
dlers and the only harp in all Muggleston
In all sorts of recesses, and all kinds Of
brackets, stood massive old silver can
diesticks and four branches each The
carpet was up, the candles burnt bright,
the fire blazed and cracked on the
hearth, and merry voices and light-heart-
ed laughter rang through the room. If
amy of the old English yeomen had
| turned into fairies when they died, 1t
was just the place in which they would
have held their reyels.
II anything could have added to the
interest CT this agreeable scene ii would
have been the remarkable fact of Mr.
Iiekwck's appearing without his CATERS
Tor the first time within the memory of
his oldest friends.
You mean to dance?" said Wardle.
"Of course l do" replied Mr.. PiclTick
Don't you see / am dressed for the pur-
poseY' Mr.. Pickwick called attention to
/ his speckled silk stockings and smartly
tied pumps
You in silk stockings" exclaimed Mr.
Tupman, loosely.
And why not, sir-why not?" said Mr.
Plckwick. turning warmly upon him.
on OF course, there is no reason why
you shouldn't wear them" responded Mr.
Tupman.
- imagine not, sir; imagine not"
sad Mr.. Pickwick in very peremp-
tory tone.
Ar Tupman had contemplated a laugh,
nut ne found 1t was serious matter, so
ne looked grave and said they were a
pretty pattern.
Il hope they are" said Mr.. Piclwick,
hXihg his eyes upon his friend. "You
see nothing extraordinary I'm the stock
lngs' as stockings, / trust. sir?"
certainly not. oh. certainly not" re-
pled Mr. Tupman. He walked away and
Pfom a drawing by Cruikshank)
Mr. Pickwick's countenance resumed its
customary benign expression
We are all ready. ! believe" said Mr..
Flckwick who was stationed with the old
lady at the top Of the dance and had AL
reaoy made four false starts In his anx-
iety 10 commence
Then begin at once" said Wardle.
"Now!"
up went the two fiddles and the one
harp, and of went Mr.. Pickwick into
hands across, when there was a general
c.apping Of hands and a cry Of stop,
stopr'
WHAT'S the natter" said Mr.. Pick
WICK who w9s only brought 10 bv the
nddies and harp desisting and could have
been stopped by no other earthly power
II the house had been on fire.
Where's Arabella Allen?" cried a dozen
voices.
And WinlSler' added Mr.. Tupman.
Here We erei' exclaimed that gentle