IwasletbrieflyintohishistorybyFrankBracebridge。Hewasan
oldbachelor，ofasmallindependentincome，which，bycareful
management，wassufficientforallhiswants。Herevolvedthrough
thefamilysystemlikeavagrantcometinitsorbit；sometimes
visitingonebranch，andsometimesanotherquiteremote；asisoften
thecasewithgentlemenofextensiveconnectionsandsmallfortunesin
England。Hehadachirpingbuoyantdisposition，alwaysenjoyingthe
presentmoment；andhisfrequentchangeofsceneandcompanyprevented
hisacquiringthoserustyunaccommodatinghabits，withwhichold
bachelorsaresouncharitablycharged。Hewasacompletefamily
chronicle，beingversedinthegenealogy，history，and
intermarriagesofthewholehouseofBracebridge，whichmadehima
greatfavoritewiththeoldfolks；hewasabeauofalltheelder
ladiesandsuperannuatedspinsters，amongwhomhewashabitually
consideredratherayoungfellow，andhewasmasteroftherevels
amongthechildren；sothattherewasnotamorepopularbeingin
thesphereinwhichhemovedthanMr。SimonBracebridge。Oflate
years，hehadresidedalmostentirelywiththesquire，towhomhe
hadbecomeafactotum，andwhomheparticularlydelightedbyjumping
withhishumorinrespecttooldtimes，andbyhavingascrapofan
oldsongtosuiteveryoccasion。Wehadpresentlyaspecimenofhis
last—mentionedtalent，fornosoonerwassupperremoved，andspiced
winesandotherbeveragespeculiartotheseasonintroduced，than
MasterSimonwascalledonforagoodoldChristmassong。Hebethought
himselfforamoment，andthen，withasparkleoftheeye，andavoice
thatwasbynomeansbad，exceptingthatitranoccasionallyintoa
falsetto，likethenotesofasplitreed，hequaveredforthaquaint
oldditty。
NowChristmasiscome，
Letusbeatupthedrum，
Andcallallourneighborstogether，
Andwhentheyappear，
Letusmakethemsuchcheer，
Aswillkeepoutthewindandtheweather，etc。
Thesupperhaddisposedeveryonetogayety，andanoldharperwas
summonedfromtheservants’hall，wherehehadbeenstrummingall
theevening，andtoallappearancecomfortinghimselfwithsomeofthe
squire’shome—brewed。Hewasakindofhanger—on，Iwastold，ofthe
establishment，and，thoughostensiblyaresidentofthevillage，was
oftenertobefoundinthesquire’skitchenthanhisownhome，theold
gentlemanbeingfondofthesoundof\"harpinhall。\"
Thedance，likemostdancesaftersupper，wasamerryone；someof
theolderfolksjoinedinit，andthesquirehimselffigureddown
severalcouplewithapartner，withwhomheaffirmedhehaddanced
ateveryChristmasfornearlyhalfacentury。MasterSimon，whoseemed
tobeakindofconnectinglinkbetweentheoldtimesandthenew，and
tobewithalalittleantiquatedinthetasteofhis
accomplishments，evidentlypiquedhimselfonhisdancing，andwas
endeavoringtogaincreditbytheheelandtoe，rigadoon，andother
gracesoftheancientschool；buthehadunluckilyassortedhimself
withalittlerompinggirlfromboarding—school，who，byherwild
vivacity，kepthimcontinuallyonthestretch，anddefeatedallhis
soberattemptsatelegance：—sucharetheill—assortedmatchesto
whichantiquegentlemenareunfortunatelyprone！
TheyoungOxonian，onthecontrary，hadledoutoneofhismaiden
aunts，onwhomtherogueplayedathousandlittleknaverieswith
impunity：hewasfullofpracticaljokes，andhisdelightwastotease
hisauntsandcousins；yet，likeallmadcapyoungsters，hewasa
universalfavoriteamongthewomen。Themostinterestingcoupleinthe
dancewastheyoungofficerandawardofthesquire’s，abeautiful
blushinggirlofseventeen。FromseveralshyglanceswhichIhad
noticedinthecourseoftheevening，Isuspectedtherewasalittle
kindnessgrowingupbetweenthem；and，indeed，theyoungsoldierwas
justtheherotocaptivatearomanticgirl。Hewastall，slender，
andhandsome，and，likemostyoungBritishofficersoflateyears，had
pickedupvarioussmallaccomplishmentsonthecontinent—hecould
talkFrenchandItalian—drawlandscapes，singverytolerably—dance
divinely；but，aboveall，hehadbeenwoundedatWaterloo：—what
girlofseventeen，wellreadinpoetryandromance，couldresist
suchamirrorofchivalryandperfection！
Themomentthedancewasover，hecaughtupaguitar，and，lolling
againsttheoldmarblefireplace，inanattitudewhichIamhalf
inclinedtosuspectwasstudied，beganthelittleFrenchairofthe
Troubadour。Thesquire，however，exclaimedagainsthavinganythingon
ChristmasevebutgoodoldEnglish；uponwhichtheyoungminstrel，
castinguphiseyeforamoment，asifinaneffortofmemory，
struckintoanotherstrain，and，withacharmingairofgallantry，
gaveHerrick’s\"Night—PiecetoJulia。\"
Hereyestheglow—wormlendthee，
Theshootingstarsattendthee，
Andtheelvesalso，
Whoselittleeyesglow
Likethesparksoffire，befriendthee。
NoWillo’theWispmislightthee；
Nosnakenorslow—wormbitethee；
Buton，onthyway，
Notmakingastay，
Sinceghostthereisnonetoaffrightthee，
Thenletnotthedarktheecumber；
Whatthoughthemoondoesslumber，
Thestarsofthenight
Willlendtheetheirlight，
Liketapersclearwithoutnumber。
Then，Julia，letmewoothee，
Thus，thustocomeuntome，
AndwhenIshallmeet
Thysilveryfeet，
MysoulI’llpourintothee。
Thesongmightormightnothavebeenintendedincomplimentto
thefairJulia，forsoIfoundhispartnerwascalled；she，however，
wascertainlyunconsciousofanysuchapplication，forshenever
lookedatthesinger，butkepthereyescastuponthefloor。Her
facewassuffused，itistrue，withabeautifulblush，andtherewasa
gentleheavingofthebosom，butallthatwasdoubtlesscausedby
theexerciseofthedance；indeed，sogreatwasherindifference，that
sheamusedherselfwithpluckingtopiecesachoicebouquetof
hot—houseflowers，andbythetimethesongwasconcludedthe
nosegaylayinruinsonthefloor。
Thepartynowbrokeupforthenightwiththekind—heartedold
customofshakinghands。AsIpassedthroughthehall，onmywaytomy
chamber，thedyingembersoftheYuleclogstillsentforthadusky
glow，andhaditnotbeentheseasonwhen\"nospiritdaresstir
abroad，\"Ishouldhavebeenhalftemptedtostealfrommyroomat
midnight，andpeepwhetherthefairiesmightnotbeattheirrevels
aboutthehearth。
Mychamberwasintheoldpartofthemansion，theponderous
furnitureofwhichmighthavebeenfabricatedinthedaysofthe
giants。Theroomwaspanelledwithcornicesofheavycarvedwork，in
whichflowersandgrotesquefaceswerestrangelyintermingled；anda
rowofblack—lookingportraitsstaredmournfullyatmefromthewalls。
Thebedwasofrich，thoughfadeddamask，withaloftytester，and
stoodinanicheoppositeabowwindow。Ihadscarcelygotintobed
whenastrainofmusicseemedtobreakforthintheairjustbelowthe
window。Ilistened，andfounditproceededfromaband，whichI
concludedtobethewaifsfromsomeneighboringvillage。Theywent
roundthehouse，playingunderthewindows。Idrewasidethe
curtainstohearthemmoredistinctly。Themoonbeamsfellthrough
theupperpartofthecasement，partiallylightinguptheantiquated
apartment。Thesounds，astheyreceded，becamemoresoftandaerial，
andseemedtoaccordwiththequietandmoonlight。Ilistenedand
listened—theybecamemoreandmoretenderandremote，and，asthey
graduallydiedaway，myheadsunkuponthepillow，andIfellasleep。
THEEND。
1819—20
THESKETCHBOOK
CHRISTMAS
byWashingtonIrving
CHRISTMAS
Butisold，old，goodoldChristmasgone？Nothingbutthehairof
hisgood，gray，oldheadandbeardleft？Well，Iwillhavethat，
seeingIcannothavemoreofhim。
HUEANDCRYAFTERCHRISTMAS。
Amanmightthenbehold
AtChristmas，ineachhall
Goodfirestocurbthecold，
Andmeatforgreatandsmall。
Theneighborswerefriendlybidden，
Andallhadwelcometrue，
Thepoorfromthegateswerenotchidden
Whenthisoldcapwasnew。
OLDSONG。
NOTHINGinEnglandexercisesamoredelightfulspellovermy
imagination，thanthelingeringsoftheholidaycustomsandrural
gamesofformertimes。Theyrecallthepicturesmyfancyusedto
drawintheMaymorningoflife，whenasyetIonlyknewtheworld
throughbooks，andbelievedittobeallthatpoetshadpaintedit；
andtheybringwiththemtheflavorofthosehonestdaysofyore，in
which，perhaps，withequalfallacy，Iamapttothinktheworldwas
morehomebred，social，andjoyousthanatpresent。Iregrettosay
thattheyaredailygrowingmoreandmorefaint，beinggradually
wornawaybytime，butstillmoreobliteratedbymodernfashion。
TheyresemblethosepicturesquemorselsofGothicarchitecture，
whichweseecrumblinginvariouspartsofthecountry，partly
dilapidatedbythewasteofages，andpartlylostintheadditionsand
alterationsoflaterdays。Poetry，however，clingswithcherishing
fondnessabouttheruralgameandholidayrevel，fromwhichithas
derivedsomanyofitsthemes—astheivywindsitsrichfoliageabout
theGothicarchandmoulderingtower，gratefullyrepayingtheir
support，byclaspingtogethertheirtotteringremains，and，asit
were，embalmingtheminverdure。
Ofalltheoldfestivals，however，thatofChristmasawakensthe
strongestandmostheartfeltassociations。Thereisatoneofsolemn
andsacredfeelingthatblendswithourconviviality，andliftsthe
spirittoastateofhallowedandelevatedenjoyment。Theservices
ofthechurchaboutthisseasonareextremelytenderandinspiring。
Theydwellonthebeautifulstoryoftheoriginofourfaith，and
thepastoralscenesthataccompanieditsannouncement。They
graduallyincreaseinfervorandpathosduringtheseasonofAdvent，
untiltheybreakforthinfulljubileeonthemorningthatbrought
peaceandgood—willtomen。Idonotknowagrandereffectofmusicon
themoralfeelings，thantohearthefullchoirandthepealing
organperformingaChristmasantheminacathedral，andfilling
everypartofthevastpilewithtriumphantharmony。
Itisabeautifularrangement，also，derivedfromdaysofyore，that
thisfestival，whichcommemoratestheannouncementofthereligion
ofpeaceandlove，hasbeenmadetheseasonforgatheringtogether
offamilyconnections，anddrawingcloseragainthosebandsofkindred
hearts，whichthecaresandpleasuresandsorrowsoftheworldare
continuallyoperatingtocastloose；ofcallingbackthechildrenofa
family，whohavelaunchedforthinlife，andwanderedwidely
asunder，oncemoretoassembleaboutthepaternalhearth，that
rallyingplaceoftheaffections，theretogrowyoungandlovingagain
amongtheendearingmementosofchildhood。
Thereissomethingintheveryseasonoftheyearthatgivesacharm
tothefestivityofChristmas。Atothertimeswederiveagreat
portionofourpleasuresfromthemerebeautiesofnature。Our
feelingssallyforthanddissipatethemselvesoverthesunny
landscape，andwe\"liveabroadandeverywhere。\"Thesongofthe
bird，themurmurofthestream，thebreathingfragranceofspring，the
softvoluptuousnessofsummer，thegoldenpompofautumn；earthwith
itsmantleofrefreshinggreen，andheavenwithitsdeepdelicious
blueanditscloudymagnificence，allfilluswithmutebut
exquisitedelight，andwerevelintheluxuryofmeresensation。But
inthedepthofwinter，whennatureliesdespoiledofeverycharm，and
wrappedinhershroudofsheetedsnow，weturnforour
gratificationstomoralsources。Thedrearinessanddesolationof
thelandscape，theshortgloomydaysanddarksomenights，whilethey
circumscribeourwanderings，shutinourfeelingsalsofromrambling
abroad，andmakeusmorekeenlydisposedforthepleasureofthe
socialcircle。Ourthoughtsaremoreconcentrated；ourfriendly
sympathiesmorearoused。Wefeelmoresensiblythecharmofeach
other’ssociety，andarebroughtmorecloselytogetherbydependence
oneachotherforenjoyment。Heartcallethuntoheart；andwedrawour
pleasuresfromthedeepwellsofloving—kindness，whichlieinthe
quietrecessesofourbosoms；andwhich，whenresortedto，furnish
forththepureelementofdomesticfelicity。
Thepitchygloomwithoutmakestheheartdilateonenteringtheroom
filledwiththeglowandwarmthoftheeveningfire。Theruddyblaze
diffusesanartificialsummerandsunshinethroughtheroom，and
lightsupeachcountenanceinakindlierwelcome。Wheredoesthe
honestfaceofhospitalityexpandintoabroaderandmorecordial
smile—whereistheshyglanceoflovemoresweetlyeloquent—than
bythewinterfireside？andasthehollowblastofwintrywind
rushesthroughthehall，clapsthedistantdoor，whistlesaboutthe
casement，andrumblesdownthechimney，whatcanbemoregratefulthan
thatfeelingofsoberandshelteredsecurity，withwhichwelookround
uponthecomfortablechamberandthesceneofdomestichilarity？
TheEnglish，fromthegreatprevalenceofruralhabitthroughout
everyclassofsociety，havealwaysbeenfondofthosefestivalsand
holidayswhichagreeablyinterruptthestillnessofcountrylife；
andtheywere，informerdays，particularlyobservantofthereligious
andsocialritesofChristmas。Itisinspiringtoreadeventhedry
detailswhichsomeantiquarieshavegivenofthequainthumors，the
burlesquepageants，thecompleteabandonmenttomirthand
good—fellowship，withwhichthisfestivalwascelebrated。Itseemedto
throwopeneverydoor，andunlockeveryheart。Itbroughtthe
peasantandthepeertogether，andblendedallranksinonewarm
generousflowofjoyandkindness。Theoldhallsofcastlesand
manor—housesresoundedwiththeharpandtheChristmascarol，and
theirampleboardsgroanedundertheweightofhospitality。Eventhe
poorestcottagewelcomedthefestiveseasonwithgreendecorations
ofbayandholly—thecheerfulfireglanceditsraysthroughthe
lattice，invitingthepassengerstoraisethelatch，andjointhe
gossipknothuddledroundthehearth，beguilingthelongevening
withlegendaryjokesandoft—toldChristmastales。
Oneoftheleastpleasingeffectsofmodernrefinementisthe
havocithasmadeamongtheheartyoldholidaycustoms。Ithas
completelytakenoffthesharptouchingsandspiritedreliefsofthese
embellishmentsoflife，andhasworndownsocietyintoamoresmooth
andpolished，butcertainlyalesscharacteristicsurface。Manyofthe
gamesandceremonialsofChristmashaveentirelydisappeared，and，
likethesherrissackofoldFalstaff，arebecomemattersof
speculationanddisputeamongcommentators。Theyflourishedintimes
fullofspiritandlustihood，whenmenenjoyedliferoughly，but
heartilyandvigorously；timeswildandpicturesque，whichhave
furnishedpoetrywithitsrichestmaterials，andthedramawithits
mostattractivevarietyofcharactersandmanners。Theworldhas
becomemoreworldly。Thereismoreofdissipation，andlessof
enjoyment。Pleasurehasexpandedintoabroader，butashallower
stream；andhasforsakenmanyofthosedeepandquietchannelswhere
itflowedsweetlythroughthecalmbosomofdomesticlife。Societyhas
acquiredamoreenlightenedandeleganttone；butithaslostmany
ofitsstronglocalpeculiarities，itshomebredfeelings，itshonest
firesidedelights。Thetraditionarycustomsofgolden—hearted
antiquity，itsfeudalhospitalities，andlordlywassailings，have
passedawaywiththebaronialcastlesandstatelymanor—housesin
whichtheywerecelebrated。Theycomportedwiththeshadowyhall，
thegreatoakengallery，andthetapestriedparlor，butareunfitted
tothelightshowysaloonsandgaydrawing—roomsofthemodernvilla。
Shorn，however，asitis，ofitsancientandfestivehonors，
ChristmasisstillaperiodofdelightfulexcitementinEngland。Itis
gratifyingtoseethathomefeelingcompletelyarousedwhichholds
sopowerfulaplaceineveryEnglishbosom。Thepreparationsmakingon
everysideforthesocialboardthatisagaintounitefriendsand
kindred；thepresentsofgoodcheerpassingandrepassing，those
tokensofregard，andquickenersofkindfeelings；theevergreens
distributedabouthousesandchurches，emblemsofpeaceand
gladness；allthesehavethemostpleasingeffectinproducingfond
associations，andkindlingbenevolentsympathies。Eventhesoundof
theWaits，rudeasmaybetheirminstrelsy，breaksuponthemidwatches
ofawinternightwiththeeffectofperfectharmony。AsIhavebeen
awakenedbytheminthatstillandsolemnhour。\"whendeepsleep
fallethuponman，\"Ihavelistenedwithahusheddelight，and，
connectingthemwiththesacredandjoyousoccasion，havealmost
fanciedthemintoanothercelestialchoir，announcingpeaceand
good—willtomankind。
Howdelightfullytheimagination，whenwroughtuponbythesemoral
influences，turnseverythingtomelodyandbeauty！Theverycrowing
ofthecock，heardsometimesintheprofoundreposeofthecountry，
\"tellingthenightwatchestohisfeatherydames，\"wasthoughtby
thecommonpeopletoannouncetheapproachofthissacredfestival。
\"Somesaythatever’gainstthatseasoncomes
WhereinourSavior’sbirthiscelebrated，
Thisbirdofdawningsingethallnightlong；
Andthen，theysay，nospiritdaresstirabroad；
Thenightsarewholesome—thennoplanetsstrike，
Nofairytakes，nowitchhathpowertocharm，
Sohallow’dandsograciousisthetime。\"
Amidstthegeneralcalltohappiness，thebustleofthespirits，and
stiroftheaffections，whichprevailatthisperiod，whatbosomcan
remaininsensible？Itis，indeed，theseasonofregeneratedfeeling—
theseasonforkindling，notmerelythefireofhospitalityinthe
hall，butthegenialflameofcharityintheheart。
Thesceneofearlyloveagainrisesgreentomemorybeyondthe
sterilewasteofyears；andtheideaofhome，fraughtwiththe
fragranceofhome—dwellingjoys，reanimatesthedroopingspirit；as
theArabianbreezewillsometimeswaftthefreshnessofthedistant
fieldstothewearypilgrimofthedesert。
StrangerandsojournerasIamintheland—thoughformeno
socialhearthmayblaze，nohospitableroofthrowopenitsdoors，
northewarmgraspoffriendshipwelcomemeatthethreshold—yetI
feeltheinfluenceoftheseasonbeamingintomysoulfromthehappy
looksofthosearoundme。Surelyhappinessisreflective，likethe
lightofheaven；andeverycountenance，brightwithsmiles，and
glowingwithinnocentenjoyment，isamirrortransmittingtoothers
theraysofasupremeandever—shiningbenevolence。Hewhocanturn
churlishlyawayfromcontemplatingthefelicityofhis
fellow—beings，andcansitdowndarklingandrepininginhis
lonelinesswhenallaroundisjoyful，mayhavehismomentsofstrong
excitementandselfishgratification，buthewantsthegenialand
socialsympathieswhichconstitutethecharmofamerryChristmas。
THEEND。
1819—20
THESKETCHBOOK
ENGLISHWRITERSONAMERICA
byWashingtonIrving
\"MethinksIseeinmymindanobleandpuissantnation，rousing
herselflikeastrongmanaftersleep，andshakingherinvincible
locks：methinksIseeherasaneagle，mewinghermightyyouth，and
kindlingherendazzledeyesatthefullmid—daybeam。\"MILTONONTHELIBERTYOFTHEPRESS。
ITISwithfeelingsofdeepregretthatIobservetheliterary
animositydailygrowingupbetweenEnglandandAmerica。Great
curiosityhasbeenawakenedoflatewithrespecttotheUnitedStates，
andtheLondonpresshasteemedwithvolumesoftravelsthroughthe
Republic；buttheyseemintendedtodiffuseerrorratherthan
knowledge；andsosuccessfulhavetheybeen，that，notwithstandingthe
constantintercoursebetweenthenations，thereisnopeople
concerningwhomthegreatmassoftheBritishpublichavelesspure
information，orentertainmorenumerousprejudices。
Englishtravellersarethebestandtheworstintheworld。Whereno
motivesofprideorinterestintervene，nonecanequalthemfor
profoundandphilosophicalviewsofsociety，orfaithfulandgraphical
descriptionsofexternalobjects；butwheneithertheinterestor
reputationoftheirowncountrycomesincollisionwiththatof
another，theygototheoppositeextreme，andforgettheirusual
probityandcandor，intheindulgenceofspleneticremark，andan
illiberalspiritofridicule。
Hence，theirtravelsaremorehonestandaccurate，themoreremote
thecountrydescribed。Iwouldplaceimplicitconfidenceinan
Englishman’sdescriptionsoftheregionsbeyondthecataractsofthe
Nile；ofunknownislandsintheYellowSea；oftheinteriorof
India；orofanyothertractwhichothertravellersmightbeaptto
pictureoutwiththeillusionsoftheirfancies；butIwould
cautiouslyreceivehisaccountofhisimmediateneighbors，andof
thosenationswithwhichheisinhabitsofmostfrequentintercourse。
HoweverImightbedisposedtotrusthisprobity，Idarenottrusthis
prejudices。