Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-12-27
Christmas Eve.

II was q brilliant moonlight night, but
extremely cold. Our chaise wkirled
rapidly over the frozen ground; the post
boy snaeked his whip necessarily, and
part of the time his horses were en-
a sallop. "He knows where he il &C.
ing" said my companion. laughing, land
is eager to arrive in time for some Of
the merriment and good cheer OF the
servants hall. My father is a devotee
of the old school. and prides himself on
keeping up something OF old English hos
pitality. He WAS always
scrupuleus in exacting eur holidays, and
having US around him on family fes-
uvals, 1t was the policy Of the good old
gentleman to make his children feel that
home was the happiest place in the
world, and / value this delicious home
feeling as one of the choicest gifts a
The squire ushered us at once to tha
company, which was Assem- bled in a
large, oldfashioned hall. 1t was COM
posed of different branches of a numer.
GUS family connection. They
were variously occupied, and a profusion
OF wooden horses, penny trumpets aud
tattered dolls about the floor showed
traces of little troop of fairy beings
who had frolicked through a happy day.
While the mutual greetings were GO
ing o., between Bracebrdge and his rela-
tives | had time to scan the apartment.
The CRATE had been removed
from the wide, oYerhanging fireplace TO
make way for a fire of wood, in tbs
midst OF which was an enormous log,
glowing and blazing. and sending forth n
vast volume of light and heat. This,
understood, was the Nule-log, which the
squire was particular in having brought
in and illumined ON Christmas eve, ac-
cordng to ancient custom.
1t was really delightful TO see the ole
squire seated in his hereditary elbow
chair by the hoSpitablc tireside of his an-
cestors, and looking around him like the
sun of a system beaming warmth aud
gladneSs to every heart. Even the very
dog that lay stretched at his feet, as he
lazily shifted his position and yawned.
would look fondly up IN his masters
face, wag his tail against the floor ana
stretch himself again to sleep, sure of
kindness and protection.
Supper was announced shortly after
our arrival. 1t was served up in II
spacious oaicn chamber, the panels of
which Shouc with wax, and around
which were several family portraits,
decorated with holly and ivy. Besides
the accustomed lights, two great wax
tapers. called Christmas candles.
WrealhCd with greens, were placed on
highly polished buffet among the family
plate. The table was abundantly spread
with substantial fare, hut the squire
made his supper of frumcnty, dish
made of wheat cakes boiled in milk,
with rich spices, being n standing dish
in old times for Christmas eve. | was
happy to find my old friend, minced pie,
in the rctinue of the feast.
The supper had disposed every one TO
gayety and an old harper was sum-
moned from the servants hall
The dance, like most dances after sup
moi VrnG - al
older folks joined in 1t and the squire
himself figured down several couples
with q partner with whom he affirmed
he had danced at every Christmas for
nearly half century.
The party broke mp for the night with
the kind hearted old custom Of shaking
hands. As l passed through the hall on
the way to my chamber, the dying en-
bers of the Yule-l0g still sent forth
dusky glow, and. had it not been the
season when no spirit dares stir
abroad | should have been half tempt
ed to steal from my room Mt midnight
sud peep whether the fairies might not
be at their revels about the hearth. e
| had scarcely got into he'd when a
/ strain of music seemed to break forth in
the air just below the window | lis
| tened, and found il proceeded from a
band which | concluded to he the waits
from some nPighboring village | drew
aside the curtains TO hear them more dis
timely. The moonbeams fell through the
upper part of the easement, partially
lighting up the antquatcd apartment.
| The sounds as they reccded became more
| soft and aerial, and seemed to accord
with quiet aud moonlight. listened and
listened. They became more and more
tender and remote. and rs they gradually
died away my head sank upon the pillow
and fell asleep. Washington Irving.