The sketch-book of Geoffrey Crayon, gent[pseud.] together with Abbotsford and other selections from the writings of Washington Irving .. . -yard of themansion by a band of young men, lithe and supple in their forms andgraceful in their movements, who, I was told, went the rounds of thevillages and country-seats during the Christmas holidays. I specify these rural pageants and ceremonials, which I saw duringmy sojourn in this neighborhood, because it has been deemed thatsome of the anecdotes of holiday customs given in my preceding 36 THE SKETCH-BOOK writings related to usages which have entire
The sketch-book of Geoffrey Crayon, gent[pseud.] together with Abbotsford and other selections from the writings of Washington Irving .. . -yard of themansion by a band of young men, lithe and supple in their forms andgraceful in their movements, who, I was told, went the rounds of thevillages and country-seats during the Christmas holidays. I specify these rural pageants and ceremonials, which I saw duringmy sojourn in this neighborhood, because it has been deemed thatsome of the anecdotes of holiday customs given in my preceding 36 THE SKETCH-BOOK writings related to usages which have entirely passed away. Criticswho reside in cities have little idea of the primitive manners and ob-servances which still prevail in remote and rural neighborhoods. In fact, in crossing the Trent one seems to step back into oldtimes ; and in the villages of Sherwood Forest we are in a black-letterregion. The moss-green cottages, the lowly mansions of gray stone,the Gothic crosses at each end of the villages, and the tall May-polein the centre, transport us in imagination to foregone centuries,everything has a quaint and antiquated air. D.]. Barlborough Hall CHRISTMAS [Comment. — The first of the Christmas papers is merelyan introductory essay and follows the usual model. A generalstatement sets forth indirectly Irvings own special interestin the subject, then statements less general narrow the broadsubject of holiday customs and rural games to the specialfestivities and customs of Christmas time, to commemoratewhich the following essays were written. The last paragraphdefines the point of view and the interest of the author him-self. D.] But is old, old, good old Christmas gone ? Nothing but the hair ofhis good, gray, old head and beard left ? Well, I will have that, see-ing I cannot have more of him. — Hue and Cry after Christmas. A man might then behold At Christmas, in each hallGood fires to curb the cold, And meat for great and neighbors were friendly bidden. And all
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