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Article ARRIVALS, SURVIVALS, AND REVIVALS. ← Page 3 of 7 →
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Arrivals, Survivals, And Revivals.
Hacknied as the reference may be , AVIIO can forget the Christmas revelries of the immortal Sir Roger de Coverley . Thus does the good Knight in his confidences Avith Mr . Spectator in the memorable interview in Gray ' s Inn Walks , describe the festivities at his ancient seat . It has been often reprinted , but surely never tires—can never be too frequently reproduced" He aftei'Avards fell into an account of the diversions Avhich had passed in his house
" during the holidays ; for Sir Roger , after the laudable custom of his ancestors , always " keeps open house at Christmas . I learned from him , that he had killed eight fat hogs "for this season , that he had' dealt about his chines very liberally amongst his " neighbours , and that , in particular , he . had sent a string of hog ' s puddings Avith a " pack of cards to every poor family in the parish . 'I have often thought , ' says Sir " Roger , ' it happens very Avell that Christmas should fall out in the middle of winter . "' It is the most dead , uncomfortable time of the year , when tbe poor people AVOUIC
"' suffer very much from their poverty ancl cold , if they had not good cheer , Avarm "' fires , and Christmas gambols to support them . I love to rejoice their poor hearts " ' ¦ at this season , and to see the old village merry in my great hall . I allow a double " ' quantity of malt to my small beer , ancl set it a running for twelve days to every " ' one that calls for it . I have always a piece of cold beef and a mince pie upon the "' table , and am Avonderfully pleased to see my tenants pass away a whole evening in
" ' playing their innocent tricks and smutting one another . Our friend , Will Wimble , " ' is as merry as any of them , and shows a thousand roguish tricks upon these occasions . '" And surely every reader will echo Mr . Spectator ' s remark , "I was very much delighted " Avith the reflection of my old friend , which carried so much goodness in it ; " nor can I suppose any one , of whatever creed , Avhose eye should rest upon these pages , to be insensible to the exquisitely dry humour of the contest : " He then launched out into
" the praise of the late Act of Parliament for securing the Church of England , and " told me , Avith great satisfaction , that he believed it alread y began to take effect , for " that a rigid dissenter , Avho chanced to diue at his house on Christmas day , had been observed to eat very plentifully of his plum porridge !"
But to come down to our own time . Can Yule-tide ever arrive Avithout our recalling the survival , if not the lwival , of its appropriate sentiments in the pages ol our ever to be regretted friend , and , oh ! incomparable and most agreeable teacher , Charles Dickens 1 Do you not remember Dingley Dell , and the Warclles , ancl the neverto-be-forgotten Christmas , Avhen that expert " linker , " Mr . Wardle , lost his sportsmanlike heart to the little girl Avith fur round the tops of her boots 1 To be sure you do . Have you not often in spirit danced right CIOAVU all the long vista of couples in the immortal country dance so vigorously performed in Mr . Fezziwi g ' s warehouse 1 Of course
you have . And have you ever reverently , gratefully , solemnly , and yet—pardon the apparent paradox—cheerfully , sat Avith poor Bob Cratchit ' s eager children around that impecunious city clerk ' s humble board , and seen the debut of poor Tiny Tim in his triumphant progress , perched on his cheery , albeit care-Avorn , little father ' s shoulder ? " He Avas a little child ancl had a little crutch , " you know , ancl may remind us , and doubtlessly Avas intended to remind us , of a certain other little child that He , whose blessed birth consecrates the season" took and sat upon his knee in the midst . " Do
, you not remember that the infant cri pple ' s shriek of joyous Avelcome Avas the shrillest , as poor Mrs . Cratchit brought in the holly-crowned chef d ' tvuvrc ; ancl have you not in spirit , oh clear gentle Christmas reader , often echoed the pious aspiration of the afflicted baby ' s Yule-tide toast , " God bless us every one 1 "
Oh , Charles Dickens I you were not an author—that is to say , not in the conventional or Mayfair sense . Meretricious gaiety gilded not the ink that lloAved from your pen . You never painted in deluding colours —• " the foolish whine Of the feeble who repine , And turn their good to evil by complaints . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Arrivals, Survivals, And Revivals.
Hacknied as the reference may be , AVIIO can forget the Christmas revelries of the immortal Sir Roger de Coverley . Thus does the good Knight in his confidences Avith Mr . Spectator in the memorable interview in Gray ' s Inn Walks , describe the festivities at his ancient seat . It has been often reprinted , but surely never tires—can never be too frequently reproduced" He aftei'Avards fell into an account of the diversions Avhich had passed in his house
" during the holidays ; for Sir Roger , after the laudable custom of his ancestors , always " keeps open house at Christmas . I learned from him , that he had killed eight fat hogs "for this season , that he had' dealt about his chines very liberally amongst his " neighbours , and that , in particular , he . had sent a string of hog ' s puddings Avith a " pack of cards to every poor family in the parish . 'I have often thought , ' says Sir " Roger , ' it happens very Avell that Christmas should fall out in the middle of winter . "' It is the most dead , uncomfortable time of the year , when tbe poor people AVOUIC
"' suffer very much from their poverty ancl cold , if they had not good cheer , Avarm "' fires , and Christmas gambols to support them . I love to rejoice their poor hearts " ' ¦ at this season , and to see the old village merry in my great hall . I allow a double " ' quantity of malt to my small beer , ancl set it a running for twelve days to every " ' one that calls for it . I have always a piece of cold beef and a mince pie upon the "' table , and am Avonderfully pleased to see my tenants pass away a whole evening in
" ' playing their innocent tricks and smutting one another . Our friend , Will Wimble , " ' is as merry as any of them , and shows a thousand roguish tricks upon these occasions . '" And surely every reader will echo Mr . Spectator ' s remark , "I was very much delighted " Avith the reflection of my old friend , which carried so much goodness in it ; " nor can I suppose any one , of whatever creed , Avhose eye should rest upon these pages , to be insensible to the exquisitely dry humour of the contest : " He then launched out into
" the praise of the late Act of Parliament for securing the Church of England , and " told me , Avith great satisfaction , that he believed it alread y began to take effect , for " that a rigid dissenter , Avho chanced to diue at his house on Christmas day , had been observed to eat very plentifully of his plum porridge !"
But to come down to our own time . Can Yule-tide ever arrive Avithout our recalling the survival , if not the lwival , of its appropriate sentiments in the pages ol our ever to be regretted friend , and , oh ! incomparable and most agreeable teacher , Charles Dickens 1 Do you not remember Dingley Dell , and the Warclles , ancl the neverto-be-forgotten Christmas , Avhen that expert " linker , " Mr . Wardle , lost his sportsmanlike heart to the little girl Avith fur round the tops of her boots 1 To be sure you do . Have you not often in spirit danced right CIOAVU all the long vista of couples in the immortal country dance so vigorously performed in Mr . Fezziwi g ' s warehouse 1 Of course
you have . And have you ever reverently , gratefully , solemnly , and yet—pardon the apparent paradox—cheerfully , sat Avith poor Bob Cratchit ' s eager children around that impecunious city clerk ' s humble board , and seen the debut of poor Tiny Tim in his triumphant progress , perched on his cheery , albeit care-Avorn , little father ' s shoulder ? " He Avas a little child ancl had a little crutch , " you know , ancl may remind us , and doubtlessly Avas intended to remind us , of a certain other little child that He , whose blessed birth consecrates the season" took and sat upon his knee in the midst . " Do
, you not remember that the infant cri pple ' s shriek of joyous Avelcome Avas the shrillest , as poor Mrs . Cratchit brought in the holly-crowned chef d ' tvuvrc ; ancl have you not in spirit , oh clear gentle Christmas reader , often echoed the pious aspiration of the afflicted baby ' s Yule-tide toast , " God bless us every one 1 "
Oh , Charles Dickens I you were not an author—that is to say , not in the conventional or Mayfair sense . Meretricious gaiety gilded not the ink that lloAved from your pen . You never painted in deluding colours —• " the foolish whine Of the feeble who repine , And turn their good to evil by complaints . "