The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-01-02
christmas Eve.

IL was IL DfllllduL moonlight nlSnC, OUT
extremely cold. Our chaise whirled
rapidly over the frozen ground; the post
boy 'smacked his whip incessantly, and
a part Of the. time his horses were on
a gallop. "He, knows where. he is go
ing" said my com panion, laughing, "and
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
pitality. - = He was always
scrupulous in exacting our. holidays, and
having us around him on family fes-
rivals. 1t was the policy of the good old
gentleman to make his children feel that
home was the .happiest place lin i the
world, and l value this. delicious home
feeling as one Of. the choicest gifts Il
parent can bestow,".:* 49, -: =. ::
The squire ushered us at once. to- the
company, which was assembled in a
large, old -fashioned hall. 1t was COM
posed of different branches of a numer-
GUS family connection: They
were variously occupied and a PROPULSION
Of wooden horses, penny: trumpets.. and
tattered dolls about the floor showed
traces Of a little troop Of fairy beings
who had frolicked through a happy day.
While the mutual greetings were 60
ing Oh between Bracebridge and his rela-
tives [ had time to scan the apartment
= Il r. 81 The crate had been removed
from the wide, Overhanging fireplace, to
make way for Il fire of wood, in the
midst of which was an enormous log,
glowing and blazing, and sending forth a
vast volume of light and heat. This,
understood, was the Yule-log, which the
squire was particular in having brought
in and illumined on Christmas eve, ac-
cording to ancient custom.
It was really delightful to see the old
squire seated in his hereditary elbow
chair by the hospitable freside of his an
sun of a system beaming warmth and
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 master
face, .wag his tail against the floor and
stretch himself again to sleep, sure of
kindness and protection.
Supper was announced shortly after
our arrival. 1t was served up in a
spacious oaken chamber, the panels of
which shone with wax, and around
which were several family portraits,
decorated with holly and ivy. Besides
the accustomed lights. two great wax
wreathed with green's, were placed On a
highly polished buffet among the family
plate. The table was abundantly spread
with substantial fare, put the squire
made his supper Of frumenty, dish
made of wheat cakes boiled in milk,
with rich spices, being standing dish
happy to find my OIL friend, minced pie,
in the retinue 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
per, was a merry one. Some of the
himself figured down several couples
with partner with whom he affirmed
he had danced at every Christmas for
nearly half century
The party broke up for the night with
the kind hearted old custom of shaking
hands. AS I passed through the hall on
the way to my chamber, the dying en-
dusky glow, and, had it not been the
season when ''no spirit dares stir
abroad" I should have been half tempt
ed to steal from my room at midnight
and peep whether the fairies might not
be at their revels about the hearth. = =
had scarcely got into bed when a
strain of music seemed to break forth in
the air just below the window. I lis
| tened, and found it proceeded from a
band which I concluded to be the waits
from some neighboring village. I drew
aside the curtains to hear them more dis
tinctly. The moonbeams fell through the
upper part Of the easement, partially
lighting up the Anticipated apartment.
The sounds as they receded became more
soft and aerial, and seemed to accord
with quiet and moonlight. listened and
listened. They became more and more
tender and remote, and as they gradually
died away my head sank upon the pillow
and fell asleen= observation-disclosures