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THE SKETCH BOOK
CHRISTMAS EVE
by Washington Irving
Saint Francis and Saint Benedight
Blesse this house from wicked wight；
From the night…mare and the goblin；
That is hight good fellow Robin；
Keep it from all evil spirits；
Fairies； weezels； rats； and ferrets：
From curfew time
To the next prime。
CARTWRIGHT。
IT WAS a brilliant moonlight night； but extremely cold； our chaise
whirled rapidly over the frozen ground； the postboy smacked his whip
incessantly； and a part of the time his horses were on a gallop。 〃He
knows where he is going；〃 said my companion； laughing； 〃and is eager
to arrive in time for some of the merriment and good cheer of the
servants' hall。 My father； you must know； is a bigoted devotee of
the old school； and prides himself upon keeping up something of old
English hospitality。 He is a tolerable specimen of what you will
rarely meet with nowadays in its purity； the old English country
gentleman； for our men of fortune spend so much of their time in town；
and fashion is carried so much into the country； that the strong
rich peculiarities of ancient rural life are almost polished away。
My father； however； from early years； took honest Peacham* for his
text…book； instead of Chesterfield； he determined in his own mind；
that there was no condition more truly honorable and enviable than
that of a country gentleman on his paternal lands； and therefore
passes the whole of his time on his estate。 He is a strenuous advocate
for the revival of the old rural games and holiday observances； and is
deeply read in the writers； ancient and modern； who have treated on
the subject。 Indeed his favorite range of reading is among the authors
who flourished at least two centuries since； who； he insists； wrote
and thought more like true Englishmen than any of their successors。 He
even regrets sometimes that he had not been born a few centuries
earlier； when England was itself； and had its peculiar manners and
customs。 As he lives at some distance from the main road； in rather
a lonely part of the country； without any rival gentry near him； he
has that most enviable of all blessings to an Englishman； an
opportunity of indulging the bent of his own humor without
molestation。 Being representative of the oldest family in the
neighborhood； and a great part of the peasantry being his tenants；
he is much looked up to； and； in general； is known simply by 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
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 postboy 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 a 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
courtesying forth； with many expressions of simple joy at seeing her
young master。 Her husband； it seemed； 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 vapor； stealing up from the low grounds and
threatening gradually to shroud the landscape。
My companion looked around 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 could bestow。〃
We were interrupted by the clamor of a troop of dogs of all sorts
and sizes； 〃mongrel； puppy； whelp and hound； and curs of low
degree；〃 that； disturbed by the ring 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 Sweetheart； see； 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 every
thing was done conformably 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 snap dragon： the Yule clog and Christmas
candle were regularly burnt； and the mistletoe； with its white
berries； hung up； to the imminent peril of all the pretty housemaids。*
* The mistletoe is still hung up in farmhouses and kitchens at
Christmas； and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls
under it； plucking each time a berry from the bush。 When the berries
are all plucked； the privilege ceases。
So intent were the servants upon their sports that we h