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are all plucked； the privilege ceases。
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 the
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； comfortable 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 young 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 endeavored to restore it to something of its primitive
state。 Over the heavy projecting fireplace was suspended a picture
of a warrior in armor； standing by a white horse； and on the
opposite wall hung a 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 parlor 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 clog； which the
squire was particular in having brought in and illumined on a
Christmas eve； according to an ancient custom。*
* The Yule clog is a great log of wood； sometimes the root of a
tree； brought into the house with great ceremony； on Christmas eve；
laid in the fireplace； and lighted with the brand of last year's clog。
While it lasted； there was great drinking； singing； and telling of
tales。 Sometimes it was accompanied by Christmas candles； but in the
cottages the only light was from the ruddy blaze of the great wood
fire。 The Yule clog was to burn all night； if it went out； it was
considered a sign of ill luck。
Herrick mentions it in one of his songs：…
Come； bring with a noise；
My merrie； merrie boyes；
The Christmas log to the firing；
While my good dame； she
Bids ye all be free；
And drink to your hearts desiring。
The Yule clog is still burnt in many farmhouses and kitchens in
England； particularly in the north； and there are several
superstitions connected with it among the peasantry。 If a squinting
person come to the house while it is burning； or a person
barefooted； it is considered an ill omen。 The brand remaining from the
Yule clog is carefully put away to light the next year's Christmas
fire。
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 stretched at his
feet； as he lazily shifted his position and yawned； would look
fondly up in his master's face； wag his tail against the floor； and
stretch himself again to sleep； confident of kindness and
protection。 There is an emanation from the heart in genuine
hospitality which cannot be described； but is immediately felt； and
puts the stranger at once at his ease。 I had not been seated many
minutes by the comfortable hearth of the worthy old cavalier； before I
found myself as much at home as if I had been one of the family。
Supper was announced shortly after our arrival。 It 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 tapers； called
Christmas candles； wreathed with greens； were placed on a
highly…polished beaufet among the family plate。 The table was
abundantly spread with substantial fare； but the squire made his
supper of frumenty； a dish made of wheat cakes boiled in milk； with
rich spices； being a standing dish in old times for Christmas eve。
I was happy to find my old friend； minced pie； in the retinue of the
feast； and finding him to be perfectly orthodox； and that I need not
be ashamed of my predilection； I greeted him with all the warmth
wherewith we usually greet an old and very genteel acquaintance。
The mirth of the company was greatly promoted by the humors of an
eccentric personage whom Mr。 Bracebridge always addressed with the
quaint appellation of Master Simon。 He was a tight brisk little man；
with the air of an arrant old bachelor。 His nose was shaped like the
bill of a parrot； his face slightly pitted with the small…pox； with
a dry perpetual bloom on it； like a frostbitten leaf in autumn。 He had
an eye of great quickness and vivacity； with a drollery and lurking
waggery of expression that was irresistible。 He was evidently the
wit of the family； dealing very much in sly jokes and inuendoes with
the ladies； and making infinite merriment by harping upon old
themes； which； unfortunately； my ignorance of the family chronicles
did not permit me to enjoy。 It seemed to be his great delight during
supper to keep a young girl next him in a continual agony of stifled
laughter； in spite of her awe of the reproving looks of her mother；
who sat opposite。 Indeed； he was the idol of the younger part of the
company； who laughed at every thing he said or did； and at every
turn of his countenance。 I could not wonder at it； for he must have
been a miracle of accomplishments in their eyes。 He could imitate
Punch and Judy； make an old woman of his hand； with the assistance
of a burnt cork and pocket…handkerchief； and cut an orange into such a
ludicrous caricature； that the young folks were ready to die with
laughing。
I was let briefly into his history by Frank Bracebridge。 He was an
old bachelor； of a small independent income； which； by careful
management； was sufficient for all his wants。 He revolved through
the family system like a vagrant comet in its orbit； sometimes
visiting one branch； and sometimes another quite remote； as is often
the case with gentlemen of extensive connections and small fortunes in
England。 He had a chirping buoyant disposition； always enjoying the
present moment； and his frequent change of scene and company prevented
his acquiring those rusty unaccommodating habits； with which old
bachelors are so uncharitably charged。 He was a complete family
chronicle； being versed in the genealogy； history； and
intermarriages of the whole house of Bracebridge； which made him a
great favorite with the old folks； he was a beau of all the elder
ladies and superannuated spinsters； among whom he was habitually
considered rather a young fellow； and he was master of the revels
among the children； so that there was not a more popular being in
the sphere in which he moved than Mr。 Simon Bracebridge。 Of late
years； he had resided almost entirely with the squire； to whom he
had become a factotum； and whom he particularly delighted by jumping
with his humor in respect to old times； and by having a scrap of an
old song to suit every occasion。 We had presently a specimen of his
last…mentioned talent； for no sooner was supper removed； and spiced
wines and other beverages peculiar to the season introduced； than
Master Simon was called on for a good old Christmas song。 He bethought
himself for a moment； and then； with a sparkle of the eye； and a voice
that was by no means bad； excepting that it ran occasionally into a
falsetto； like the notes of a split reed； he quavered forth a quaint
old ditty。