Old　Christmas
  by　Washington　Irving
  But　is　old；　old；　good　old　Christmas　gone？　　Nothing　but　the　hair　of
  his　good；　gray；　old　head　and　beard　left？　　Well；　I　will　have　that；
  seeing　that　I　cannot　have　more　of　him。
  Hue　and　Cry　after　Christmas。
  CONTENTS
  CHRISTMAS
  THE　STAGE…COACH
  CHRISTMAS　EVE
  CHRISTMAS　DAY
  THE　CHRISTMAS　DINNER
  A　man　might　then　behold
  At　Christmas；　in　each　hall
  Good　fires　to　curb　the　cold；
  And　meat　for　great　and　small。
  The　neighbours　were　friendly　bidden；
  And　all　had　welcome　true；
  The　poor　from　the　gates　were　not　chidden；
  When　this　old　cap　was　new。
  Old　Song
  Christmas
  There　is　nothing　in　England　that　exercises　a　more　delightful　spell　over　my　imagination　than　the　lingerings　of　the　holiday　customs　and　rural　games　of　former　times。　　They　recall　the　pictures　my　fancy　used　to　draw　in　the　May　morning　of　life；　when　as　yet　I　only　knew　the　world　through　books；　and　believed　it　to　be　all　that　poets　had　painted　it；　and　they　bring　with　them　the　flavour　of　those　honest　days　of　yore；　in　which；　perhaps　with　equal　fallacy；　I　am　apt　to　think　the　world　was　more　home…bred；　social；　and　joyous　than　at　present。　　I　regret　to　say　that　they　are　daily　growing　more　and　more　faint；　being　gradually　worn　away　by　time；　but　still　more　obliterated　by　modern　fashion。　　They　resemble　those　picturesque　morsels　of　Gothic　architecture　which　we　see　crumbling　in　various　parts　of　the　country；　partly　dilapidated　by　the　waste　of　ages；　and　partly　lost　in　the　additions　and　alterations　of　latter　days。　Poetry；　however；　clings　with　cherishing　fondness　about　the　rural　game　and　holiday　revel；　from　which　it　has　derived　so　many　of　its　themes；as　the　ivy　winds　its　rich　foliage　about　the　Gothic　arch　and　mouldering　tower；　gratefully　repaying　their　support　by　clasping　together　their　tottering　remains；　and；　as　it　were；　embalming　them　in　verdure。
  Of　all　the　old　festivals；　however；　that　of　Christmas　awakens　the　strongest　and　most　heartfelt　associations。　　There　is　a　tone　of　solemn　and　sacred　feeling　that　blends　with　our　conviviality；　and　lifts　the　spirit　to　a　state　of　hallowed　and　elevated　enjoyment。　The　services　of　the　church　about　this　season　are　extremely　tender　and　inspiring。　　They　dwell　on　the　beautiful　story　of　the　origin　of　our　faith；　and　the　pastoral　scenes　that　accompanied　its　announcement。　　They　gradually　increase　in　fervour　and　pathos　during　the　season　of　Advent；　until　they　break　forth　in　full　jubilee　on　the　morning　that　brought　peace　and　good…will　to　men。　　I　do　not　know　a　grander　effect　of　music　on　the　moral　feelings　than　to　hear　the　full　choir　and　the　pealing　organ　performing　a　Christmas　anthem　in　a　cathedral；　and　filling　every　part　of　the　vast　pile　with　triumphant　harmony。
  It　is　a　beautiful　arrangement；　also　derived　from　days　of　yore；　that　this　festival；　which　commemorates　the　announcement　of　the　religion　of　peace　and　love；　has　been　made　the　season　for　gathering　together　of　family　connections；　and　drawing　closer　again　those　bands　of　kindred　hearts　which　the　cares　and　pleasures　and　sorrows　of　the　world　are　continually　operating　to　cast　loose；　of　calling　back　the　children　of　a　family　who　have　launched　forth　in　life；　and　wandered　widely　asunder；　once　more　to　assemble　about　the　paternal　hearth；　that　rallying…place　of　the　affections；　there　to　grow　young　and　loving　again　among　the　endearing　mementoes　of　childhood。
  There　is　something　in　the　very　season　of　the　year　that　gives　a　charm　to　the　festivity　of　Christmas。　　At　other　times　we　derive　a　great　portion　of　our　pleasures　from　the　mere　beauties　of　nature。　Our　feelings　sally　forth　and　dissipate　themselves　over　the　sunny　landscape；　and　we　〃live　abroad　and　everywhere。〃　　The　song　of　the　bird；　the　murmur　of　the　stream；　the　breathing　fragrance　of　spring；　the　soft　voluptuousness　of　summer；　the　golden　pomp　of　autumn；　earth　with　its　mantle　of　refreshing　green；　and　heaven　with　its　deep　delicious　blue　and　its　cloudy　magnificence；　all　fill　us　with　mute　but　exquisite　delight；　and　we　revel　in　the　luxury　of　mere　sensation。　　But　in　the　depth　of　winter；　when　nature　lies　despoiled　of　every　charm；　and　wrapped　in　her　shroud　of　sheeted　snow；　we　turn　for　our　gratifications　to　moral　sources。　　The　dreariness　and　desolation　of　the　landscape；　the　short　gloomy　days　and　darksome　nights；　while　they　circumscribe　our　wanderings；　shut　in　our　feelings　also　from　rambling　abroad；　and　make　us　more　keenly　disposed　for　the　pleasures　of　the　social　circle。　　Our　thoughts　are　more　concentrated；　our　friendly　sympathies　more　aroused。　　we　feel　more　sensibly　the　charm　of　each　other's　society；　and　are　brought　more　closely　together　by　dependence　on　each　other　for　enjoyment。　Heart　calleth　unto　heart；　and　we　draw　our　pleasures　from　the　deep　wells　of　living　kindness；　which　lie　in　the　quiet　recesses　of　our　bosoms：　and　which　when　resorted　to；　furnish　forth　the　pure　element　of　domestic　felicity。
  The　pitchy　gloom　without　makes　the　heart　dilate　on　entering　the　room　filled　with　the　glow　and　warmth　of　the　evening　fire。　　The　ruddy　blaze　diffuses　an　artificial　summer　and　sunshine　through　the　room；　and　lights　up　each　countenance　into　a　kindlier　welcome。　Where　does　the　honest　face　of　hospitality　expand　into　a　broader　and　more　cordial　smilewhere　is　the　shy　glance　of　love　more　sweetly　eloquentthan　by　the　winter　fireside？　and　as　the　hollow　blast　of　wintry　wind　rushes　through　the　hall；　claps　the　distant　door；　whistles　about　the　casement；　and　rumbles　down　the　chimney；　what　can　be　more　grateful　than　that　feeling　of　sober　and　sheltered　security　with　which　we　look　around　upon　the　comfortable　chamber　and　the　scene　of　domestic　hilarity？
  The　English；　from　the　great　prevalence　of　rural　habits　throughout　every　class　of　society；　have　always　been　fond　of　those　festivals　and　holidays　which　agreeably　interrupt　the　stillness　of　country　life；　and　they　were；　in　former　days；　particularly　observant　of　the　religious　and　social　rites　of　Christmas。　　It　is　inspiring　to　read　even　the　dry　details　which　some　antiquarians　have　given　of　the　quaint　humours；　the　burlesque　pageants；　the　complete　abandonment　to　mirth　and　good…fellowship　with　which　this　festival　was　celebrated。　It　seemed　to　throw　open　every　door；　and　unlock　every　heart。　　It　brought　the　peasant　and　the　peer　together；　and　blended　all　ranks　in　one　warm　generous　flow　of　joy　and　kindness。　　The　old　halls　of　castles　and　manor…houses　resounded　with　the　harp　and　the　Christmas　carol；　and　their　ample　boards　groaned　under　the　weight　of　hospitality。　　Even　the　poorest　cottage　welcomed　the　festive　season　with　green　decorations　of　bay　and　hollythe　cheerful　fire　glanced　its　rays　through　the　lattice；　inviting　the　passenger　to　raise　the　latch；　and　join　the　gossip　knot　huddled　around　the　hearth；　beguiling　the　long　evening　with　legendary　jokes　and　oft…told　Christmas　tales。
  One　of　the　least　pleasing　effects　of　modern　refinement　is　the　havoc　it　has　made　among　the　hearty　old　holiday　customs。　　It　has　completely　taken　off　the　sharp　touchings　and　spirited　reliefs　of　these　embellishments　of　life；　and　has　worn　down　society　into　a　more　smooth　and　polished；　but　certainly　a　less　characteristic　surface。　Many　of　the　games　and　ceremonials　of　Christmas　have　entirely　disappeared；　and　like　the　sherris　sack　of　old　Falstaff；　are　become　matters　of　speculation　and　dispute　among　commentators。　　They　flourished　in　times　full　of　spirit　and　lustihood；　when　men　enjoyed　life　roughly；　but　heartily　and　vigorously；　times　wild　and　picturesque；　which　have　furnished　poetry　with　its　richest　materials；　and　the　drama　with　its　most　attractive　variety　of　characters　and　manners。　　The　world　has　become　more　worldly。　　There　is　more　of　dissipation；　and　less　of　enjoyment。　　Pleasure　has　expanded　into　a　broader；　but　a　shallower　stream；　and　has　forsaken　many　of　those　deep　and　quiet　channels　where　it　flowed　sweetly　through　the　calm　bosom　of　domestic　life。　　Society　has　acquired　a　more　enlightened　and　elegant　tone；　but　it　has　lost　many　of　its　strong　local　peculiarities；　its　homebred　feelings；　its　honest　fireside　delights。　　The　traditionary　customs　of　golden…hearted　antiquity；　its　feudal　hospitalities；　and　lordly　wassailings；　have　passed　away　with　the　baronial　castles　and　stately　manor…houses　in　which　they　were　celebrated。　　They　comported　with　the　shadowy　hall；　the　great　oaken　gallery；　and　the　tapestried　parlour；　but　are　unfitted　to　the　light　showy　saloons　and　gay　drawing…rooms　of　the　modern　villa。
  Shorn；　however；　as　it　is；　of　its　ancient　and　festive　honours；　Christmas　is　still　a　period　of　delightful　excitement　in　England。　It　is　gratifying　to　see　that　home　feeling　completely　aroused　which　seems　to　hold　so　powerful　a　place　in　every　English　bosom。　　The　preparations　making　on　every　side　for　the　social　board　that　is　again　to　unite　friends　and　kindred；　the　presents　of　good　cheer　passing　and　repassing；　those　tokens　of　regard；　and　quickeners　of　kind　feelings；　the　evergreens　distributed　about　houses　and　churches；　emblems　of　peace　and　gladness；　all　these　have　the　most　pleasing　effect　in　producing　fond　associations；　and　kindling　benevolent　sympathies。　　Even　the　sound　of　the　waits；　rude　as　may　be　their　minstrelsy；　breaks　upon　the　mid…watches　of　a　winter　night　with　the　effect　of　perfect　harmony。　　As　I　have　been　awakened　by　them　in　that　still　and