Old Christmas . nceived the idea of a Christmasmummery or masking; and having called into his assistance the Oxonian and the youngofficer, who were equally ripe for anything thatshould occasion romping and merriment, theyhad carried it into instant effect. The oldhousekeeper had been consulted; the antiqueclothes-presses and wardrobes rummaged, andmade to yield up the relics of finery that hadnot seen the light for several generations; theyounger part of the company had been privatelyconvened from the parlour and hall, and thewhole had been bedizened out into a burlesqueimitation of an antique
Old Christmas . nceived the idea of a Christmasmummery or masking; and having called into his assistance the Oxonian and the youngofficer, who were equally ripe for anything thatshould occasion romping and merriment, theyhad carried it into instant effect. The oldhousekeeper had been consulted; the antiqueclothes-presses and wardrobes rummaged, andmade to yield up the relics of finery that hadnot seen the light for several generations; theyounger part of the company had been privatelyconvened from the parlour and hall, and thewhole had been bedizened out into a burlesqueimitation of an antique mask. Master Simon led the van, as AncientChristmas, quaintly apparelled in a ruff,a short cloak, which had very much the aspectof one of the old housekeepers petticoats, and ahat that might have served for a village steeple,and must indubitably have figured in the daysof the Covenanters. From under this his nosecurved boldly forth, flushed with a frost-bittenbloom, that seemed the very trophy of a Decern- #*rv. Gbe Cbrtetmae Dinner in ber blast. He was accompanied by the blue-eyed romp, dished up as Dame Mince Pie,in the venerable magnificence of a faded brocade,long stomacher, peaked hat, and high-heeledshoes. The young officer appeared as RobinHood, in a sporting dress of Kendal green, anda foraging cap with a gold tassel. The costume, to be sure, did not bear testi-mony to deep research, and there was an evidenteye to the picturesque, natural to a young gallantin the presence of his mistress. The fair Juliahung on his arm in a pretty rustic dress, asMaid Marian. The rest of the train hadbeen metamorphosed in various ways; the girlstrussed up in the finery of the ancient bellesof the Bracebridge line, and the striplings be-whiskered with burnt cork, and gravely clad inbroad skirts, hanging sleeves, and full-bottomedwigs, to represent the character of Roast Beef,Plum Pudding, and other worthies celebratedin ancient maskings. The whole was underthe control of the Oxonian, in
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishernewyorkgpputnam
