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the appellation of 'The Squire；' a title which has been accorded to the head of the family since time immemorial。 I think it best to give you these hints about my worthy old father； to prepare you for any little eccentricities that might otherwise appear absurd。〃
* Peacham's 〃Complete Gentleman；〃 1622。
We had passed for some time along the wall of a park； and at length the chaise stopped at the gate。 It was in a heavy； magnificent old style； of iron bars； fancifully wrought at top into flourishes and flowers。 The huge square columns that supported the gate were surmounted by the family crest。 Close adjoining was the porter's lodge； sheltered under dark fir…trees； and almost buried in shrubbery。
The post…boy rang a large porter's bell； which resounded through the still； frosty air； and was answered by the distant barking of dogs； with which the mansion…house seemed garrisoned。 An old woman immediately appeared at the gate。 As the moonlight fell strongly upon her； I had full view of a little primitive dame； dressed very much in the antique taste； with a neat kerchief and stomacher； and her silver hair peeping from under a cap of snowy whiteness。 She came curtseying forth； with many expressions of simple joy at seeing her young master。 Her husband； it seems； was up at the house keeping Christmas eve in the servants' hall； they could not do without him； as he was the best hand at a song and story in the household。
My friend proposed that we should alight and walk through the park to the hall； which was at no great distance； while the chaise should follow on。 Our road wound through a noble avenue of trees； among the naked branches of which the moon glittered as she rolled through the deep vault of a cloudless sky。 The lawn beyond was sheeted with a slight covering of snow； which here and there sparkled as the moonbeams caught a frosty crystal； and at a distance might be seen a thin； transparent vapour； stealing up from the low grounds； and threatening gradually to shroud the landscape。
My companion looked round him with transport：〃How often；〃 said he； 〃have I scampered up this avenue； on returning home on school vacations！ How often have I played under these trees when a boy！ I feel a degree of filial reverence for them； as we look up to those who have cherished us in childhood。 My father was always scrupulous in exacting our holidays； and having us around him on family festivals。 He used to direct and superintend our games with the strictness that some parents do the studies of their children。 He was very particular that we should play the old English games according to their original form and consulted old books for precedent and authority for every 'merrie disport；' yet I assure you there never was pedantry so delightful。 It was the policy of the good old gentleman to make his children feel that home was the happiest place in the world； and I value this delicious home… feeling as one of the choicest gifts a parent can bestow。〃
We were interrupted by the clangour of a troop of dogs of all sorts and sizes； 〃mongrel； puppy； whelp； and hound； and curs of low degree；〃 that； disturbed by the ringing of the porter's bell； and the rattling of the chaise； came bounding； open…mouthed； across the lawn。
〃The little dogs and all； Tray； Blanch； and Sweetheartsee； they bark at me！〃
cried Bracebridge； laughing。 At the sound of his voice the bark was changed into a yelp of delight； and in a moment he was surrounded and almost overpowered by the caresses of the faithful animals。
We had now come in full view of the old family mansion； partly thrown in deep shadow； and partly lit up by the cold moonshine。 It was an irregular building of some magnitude； and seemed to be of the architecture of different periods。 One wing was； evidently very ancient； with heavy stone…shafted bow windows jutting out and overrun with ivy； from among the foliage of which the small diamond…shaped panes of glass glittered with the moonbeams。 The rest of the house was in the French taste of Charles the Second's time； having been repaired and altered； as my friend told me； by one of his ancestors； who returned with that monarch at the Restoration。 The grounds about the house were laid out in the old formal manner of artificial flower…beds； clipped shrubberies； raised terraces； and heavy stone balustrades； ornamented with urns； a leaden statue or two； and a jet of water。 The old gentleman； I was told； was extremely careful to preserve this obsolete finery in all its original state。 He admired this fashion in gardening； it had an air of magnificence； was courtly and noble； and befitting good old family style。 The boasted imitation of nature in modern gardening had sprung up with modern republican notions； but did not suit a monarchical government； it smacked of the levelling system。 I could not help smiling at this introduction of politics into gardening； though I expressed some apprehension that I should find the old gentleman rather intolerant in his creed。 Frank assured me； however； that it was almost the only instance in which he had ever heard his father meddle with politics； and he believed that he had got this notion from a member of Parliament who once passed a few weeks with him。 The Squire was glad of any argument to defend his clipped yew…trees and formal terraces； which had been occasionally attacked by modern landscape gardeners。
As we approached the house； we heard the sound of music； and now and then a burst of laughter from one end of the building。 This； Bracebridge said； must proceed from the servants' hall； where a great deal of revelry was permitted； and even encouraged； by the Squire throughout the twelve days of Christmas； provided everything was done comformably to ancient usage。 Here were kept up the old games of hoodman blind； shoe the wild mare； hot cockles； steal the white loaf； bob apple and snapdragon： the Yule log and Christmas candle were regularly burnt； and the mistletoe； with its white berries； hung up to the imminent peril of all the pretty housemaids。*
* See Note A。
So intent were the servants upon their sports； that we had to ring repeatedly before we could make ourselves heard。 On our arrival being announced； the Squire came out to receive us； accompanied by his two other sons； one a young officer in the army； home on leave of absence； the other an Oxonian； just from the University。 The Squire was a fine； healthy…looking old gentleman； with silver hair curling lightly round an open； florid countenance； in which a physiognomist； with the advantage； like myself； of a previous hint or two； might discover a singular mixture of whim and benevolence。
The family meeting was warm and affectionate； as the evening was far advanced； the Squire would not permit us to change our travelling dresses； but ushered us at once to the company； which was assembled in a large old…fashioned hall。 It was composed of different branches of a numerous family connection； where there were the usual proportion of old uncles and aunts； comfortably married dames； superannuated spinsters； blooming country cousins； half…fledged striplings； and bright…eyed boarding…school hoydens。 They were variously occupied； some at a round game of cards； others conversing around the fireplace； at one end of the hall was a group of the young folks； some nearly grown up； others of a more tender and budding age； fully engrossed by a merry game； and a profusion of wooden horses； penny trumpets； and tattered dolls； about the floor； showed traces of a troop of little fairy beings； who； having frolicked through a happy day； had been carried off to slumber through a peaceful night。
While the mutual greetings were going on between Bracebridge and his relatives； I had time to scan the apartment。 I have called it a hall； for so it had certainly been in old times； and the Squire had evidently endeavoured to restore it to something of its primitive state。 Over the heavy projecting fireplace was suspended a picture of a warrior in armour standing by a white horse； and on the opposite wall hung helmet； buckler； and lance。 At one end an enormous pair of antlers were inserted in the wall； the branches serving as hooks on which to suspend hats； whips； and spurs； and in the corners of the apartment were fowling…pieces； fishing…rods； and other sporting implements。 The furniture was of the cumbrous workmanship of former days； though some articles of modern convenience had been added； and the oaken floor had been carpeted； so that the whole presented an odd mixture of parlour and hall。
The grate had been removed from the wide overwhelming fireplace； to make way for a 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 I understood was the Yule…log； which the Squire was particular in having brought in and illumined on a Christmas eve； according to ancient custom。*
* See Note B。
It was really delightful to see the old Squire seated in his hereditary elbow…chair by the hospitable fireside of his ancestors； and looking around him like the sun of a system； beaming warmth and gladness to every heart。 Even the very dog that lay stret