66

oldest oxen fall upon their knees, and (as he expressed general or local custom to have the block bandaged it in the idiom of the country) make a cruel moan like round in nine places, and as each bandage, in succesChristian creatures.” To those (says a writer before sion, was burnt off, to hand round a service of ale, cited) who regard the analogies of the human mind- mingled with spirits, to the party assembled. Brand who mark the progress of tradition—who study the dif- states the usage of burning the Christmas Block in fusion of certain fancies, and their influence upon man- Devonshire and the north of England. "At Ripon, in kind-an anecdote related by Mr. Howison, in his Yorkshire,” says a writer in 1790,“ on Christmas Eve, "Sketches of Upper Canada," is full of comparative the chandlers sent large mold candles, and the coopers interest. He mentions meeting an Indian, at midnight, logs of wood, generally called Yule Clogs, which are creeping cautiously along, in the stillness of a beautiful always used on Christmas Eve ; but should it be so moonlight Christmas-Eve. The Indian made signals to large as not to burn all that night, which is frehim to be silent; and, when questioned as to his reason, quently the case, the remains are kept till Old Christreplied—“Me watch to see the deer kneel; this is mas Eve." Christmas night, and all the deer fall upon their knees, In former times, it was customary on the 24th of to the Great Spirit, and look up."

December, to roast apples on a string, till they dropped In some places, particularly in Derbyshire, it is as into a large bowl of spiced ale. Furmity, we are told, serted that the watchers on this mysterious eve may always formed part of the supper on this Even; and hear the ringing of subterranean bells, and in the “there was a prevalent superstition that bread baked mining districts the workmen declare that high mass is then never would turn mouldy.” In addition to the solemnly celebrated in that cavern which contains the above “old and popular customs,” others, of a local richest lode of ore,-that it is brilliantly lighted up, nature, are, or were formerly, observed at this season, and that the divine office is chanted by unseen choristers. which deserve to be recorded in these pages. In Ireland, Germany, and probably in some parts of In Devonshire, they still bless the orchards at this England also, the night of Christmas-Eve is regarded as time, according to the old verses :a season of omens, and usages exist for “ gathering its

“ Wassail the trees, that they may bear auguries" having a resemblance to those practised in

You many a plum, and many a pear: Scotland at Halloween, which we have elsewhere de

For more or less fruits they will bring scribed.

As you do give them wassailing."
OLD AND POPULAR CUSTOMS.
“ Domestic and religious rite

In some places (we are told) they walk in procession to
Gave honour to the holy night;

the principal orchards in the parish. In each orchard, The damsel donned her kirtle sheen ;

one tree is selected as the representative of the rest, The hall was dressed with holly green ;

and is saluted with a certain form of words. They then Forth to the wood did merry-men go

either sprinkle the tree with cyder, or dash a bowl of To gather in the misletoe.

cyder against it. In other places, only the farmer and Then open’d wide the baron's hall, To vassals, tenant, serf and all ;

his servants assemble on the occasion, and, after imPower laid his rod of rue aside;

mersing cakes in cyder, hang them on the apple-tree. And ceremony doffed his pride.

They then sprinkle the tree with cyder, pronounce The heir with roses in his shoes,

their incantation, dance round the tree, and then go That night might village partner choose;

home to feast. A contributor to the Gentleman's MagaThe lord, underogating share

zine for February, 1795, thus describes an amusement The vulgar game of post and pair.'

practised on Christmas Eve at the mansion of a worthy All hailed with uncontrolled delight

baronet, at Ashton, near Birmingham, down to the And general voice the happy night,

end of the last century. He writes :-"As soon as

That to the cottage, as the crown,

supper is over, a table is set in the hall. On it is placed Brought tidings of salvation down.”

a brown loaf, with twenty silver threepences stuck on It was thus that the vigil of the REDEEMER's birthday the top of it, a tankard of ale, with pipes and tobacco; was formerly celebrated in “Merrie England." Towards and the two oldest servants have chairs behind it, to sit evening the church bells rang out joyously; sportive as judges, if they please. The steward brings the serparties assembled round the fire ; candies of an unusual vants, both men and women, by one at a time, covered size were ignited in token of the advent of the “Light with a winnow-sheet, and lays their right hand on the of light;" and the Yule Clog, or Christmas block, loaf, exposing no other part of the body. The oldest of brought in with much ceremony and kindled on the the two judges guesses at the person, by naming a hearth. In reference to this last practice Herrick name, then the younger judge, and lastly the oldest blithesomely sings :

again. If they hit upon the right name, the steward “ Come bring, with a noise,

leads the person back again; but, if they do not, he

takes off the winnow-sheet, and the person receives a My merry, merry boys, The Christmas log to the firing;

threepence, makes a low obeisance to the judges, but While my good dame she

speaks not a word. When the second servant was Bids ye all be free,

brought, the younger judge guessed first and third; and And drink to your heart's desiring.

thus they did alternately, till all the money was given “With the last year's brand

away. Whatever servant had not slept in the house the Light the new block, and

preceding night forfeited his right to the money. No For good success in his spending,

account is given of the origin of this strange custom, On your psaltries play,

but it has been practised ever since the family lived That sweet luck may

there. When the money is gone, the servants have full Come while the log is a teending." I

liberty to drink, dance, sing, and go to bed when they As the servants, remarks a chronicler of old customs, please.” “At York,” says Stukeley, only a century ago, were entitled to ale at their meals while the block lasted,

on the eve of Christmas-Day, they carry misletoe to the they usually endeavoured to get as large a one as the high altar of the cathedral, and proclaim a public and fire-place would admit of; and hence it is scarcely sur universal liberty, pardon, and freedom to all sorts of inprising to learn, that, in the time of the Civil War, a ferior, and even wicked people, at the gates of the city, good house in England (that of Hagmond Abbey, near

towards the four quarters of Heaven.” “In the Isle of Shrewsbury) was burnt down in consequence of the Man,” relates Waldron, “on the 24th of December, kindling of a too large Yule clog. It was either a towards evening, all the servants have a holiday;

they go not to bed all night, but ramble about till the bells (1) Burning.

ring in all the churches, which is at twelve o'clock :

prayers being over, they go to hunt the wren; and, after In Roman Catholic countries mass is never said at having found one of these poor birds, they kill her, and night, except on the above vigil. Such, in mediæral lay her on a bier; bring her to the parish church, and times, was the practice throughout Christendom; and bury her' with a whimsical kind of solemnity,' singing “well indeed,” exclaims Mr. Digby, "might the church dirges over her in the Manks language, which they call appear a delightful place on that blessed night, when her knell; after which Christmas begins.” At Dews- the altar, illuminated by a sudden splendour, probury, Yorkshire, one of the church bells is tolled as at claimed in symbol the happy day which had risen upon a funeral on Christmas Eve; and any one asking whose the world. Nothing was even wanting that could add bell it was, would be told that it was the devil's knell. majesty to the solemn scene in the estimation of men “ The moral of it is, that the devil died when Christ of secular minds. Emperors and kings claimed as a was born." This custom was discontinued for many privilege the honour of reading the Seventh Lesson, years, but revived by the vicar in 1828. Little troops which records the decree of Cæsar Augustus." Anof boys and girls go about at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and ciently, on Christmas Eve, every one kept wateh, like other places in the north of England, some nights before, the shepherds, while minstrels chanted carols in eeleand on the night of, Christmas Eve, knocking at the bration of the Nativity. This observance is still retained doors, singing their

Christmas carols, and wishing a in the Isle of Man. The people assemble in vast numhappy New Year. They get in return, at the houses bers at church, where the divine office is solemnized, they stop at, pears, apples, nuts, and money. At Folk and followed by a sermon; after which, the congregation stone, Kent, the fishermen formerly chose eight of the remain in the sacred edifice, singing carols, until midlargest and best whitings out of every boat when they night. “ In Rome, on this Even,” relates the author of came home from their fishery, sold them apart from Rural Life in England, “the pipes of the Calabrian the rest, and out of the money arising from them they minstrels are heard in the streets. The decorators are made a feast every 24th of December, which they called busy in draping the churches, clothing altars, and fesa Rumbald. The master of each boat provided this tooning façades. Nuns and ladies are preparing dresses, feast for his own company. This usage has been long crowns, necklaces, and cradles, for the Madonna and discontinued.

Child of their respective churches. The cannons of St. Our space will not allow of our descanting upon such Angelo announce the festival; shops are shut, and Continental customs as appertain to the vigil of the saloons deserted. The midnight supper and the midNativity: one, however, peculiar to Germany, is of too night bands begin the 'holy revel; and the splendid interesting a nature to be passed over without mention. pomp in which the august ceremonies are performed at The children make little presents to their parents, and the churches of the Quirinal, St. Louis, and the Ara to each other, and the parents to their children. For Cali, is succeeded by a banquet, of which even the three or four months before Christmas the girls are all poorest child of indigence contrives to partake. The busy; and the boys save their pocket-money to make people from the mountains of the Campagna flock in to or purchase these presents. Then, on the evening before witness and to enjoy the fête, and present a strange Christmas-Day, one of the parlours, into which the sight of wild figures amid the inhabitants of the city. parents must not go, is lighted up by the children. A The churches are lit up with thousands of wax tapers; great bough of yew or birch is fastened on the table, at the cradle of Christ is removed from the shrine at the a little distance from the wall; a multitude of little chapel of Santa Maria Maggiore, and carried in proces. tapers are fixed on the bough, but not so as to burn it sion to the chapel of the Santa Croce ; and the pope till they are nearly consumed ; and coloured paper, &c. himself performs divine service in the Sixtine Chapel." hangs and flutters from the twigs. Under this bough the children lay out, in great order, the presents they mean for their parents, still concealing in their pockets

WOMAN'S COURAGE. what they intend for each other. Then the parents are introduced, and each presents his little gift; they then

The annals of 1780 record a remarkable case where a bring out the remainder, one by one, from their pockets, long course of robbery was brought to light, and a trightand present them, with kisses and embraces. On the ful murder prevented in the very act, by a woman's next day, in the great parlour, the parents lay on the courage. Abraham Danford, the chief criminal in the table the gifts for the children. A 'scene of sober joy transaction, himself detailed with minute accuracy his succeeds ; as, on this day, after an old custom, the course from the first act of dishonesty to the ferocious mother tells privately to each of her daughters, and the outrage which cost him his life. The skill and tact father to his sons, that which he has observed most requisite for carrying out his first plans hardly prepare praiseworthy, and that which was most faulty, in their us for the more rutfianly atrocity which concludes his conduct. Formerly, and still in all the smaller towns and villages throughout North Germany,” says Cole- At that period, money was chiefly sent by parcel, ridge, “ these presents are sent by all the parents to and an ingenious plan occurred to him by which he some one fellow, who, in high buskins, a white robe, a could, with little risk, put himself in possession of any mask, and an enormous flax wig, personates Knecht parcel which struck him as likely to be of particular Rupert, i.e. the servant Rupert. On Christmas night, yalue, while it yet lay in the carrier's office previous to he goes round to every house, and says that Jesus Christ, delivery. “The method (says his confession) which I his Master, sent him thither. The parents and elder chiefly put in practice, was forging the post-marks of children receive him with great pomp and reverence, the different towns, which I put on a piece of paper, while the little ones are most terribly frightened. He then made up as a letter, and then went to the inns where inquires for the children, and according to the character the coaches caine, and heard the parcels called over; which he hears from the parents, he gives them the in- then went to a public-house near, and wrote the direc tended present, as if they came out of heaven from Jesus tion of the letter the same as was on the parcel I had CHRIST. Or, if they should have been bad children, he fixed on. The book-keeper seeing the direction the gives the parents a rod, and, in the name of his Master, same, and the post-mark on it, they usually gave me recommends them to use it frequently. About seven

what I asked for, on paying their demand.” or eight years old, the children are let into the secret, of their value, and of six of these thefts that he records,

The addresses on the parcels would give him some idea and it is curious how faithfully they kcep it.

five contained considerable sums of money. Among his RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES.

first experiments, was one on Messrs. Smith, Wright, « On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;

and Grey, bankers, by which he got a parcel with 5001, That only night in all the year

enclosed. Having gone on a considerable time with Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.”

impunity, and become an adept at forging, he now

career.

6

practised upon the same house in another way, by forging SIR WALTER SCOTT'S TOMBSTONE.
an accepted bill, which he lodged in the bank till it
became due.

We find the following interesting particulars, regardThis pretended bill he directed to an ing the monument to be placed over Sir Walter Scott's empty house in Water-lane, Blackfriars, and some days grave at Dryburgh Abbey, in the Inverness Courier :before it was due, he hired this house, and with an im pudent show of haste and anxiety, requested for the

“The Aberdeen papers state that a monumental stone key, under pretence of getting it aired before he entered for the grave of Sir Walter Scott has been constructed upon it. The owner of the house being made acquainted

there : with the haste of his new tenant, and not much liking

* At the works of Messrs. Macdonald and Leslie of his appearance, now went to one Mrs. Bouchier, the Aberdeen, there has just been executed a massive tomblandlady of a public-house opposite, of whose good sense

stone, which is to be placed on the contiguous graves of he had had reason to form a high opinion, and requested the late Sir Walter Scott, and of Lady Scott, at Dryburgh her to keep watch upon the man's proceedings, which Abbey. It consists of a large block of the beautiful red she promised to do.

granite, cut from Messrs. Macdonald and Leslie's quarFor some time, nothing remarkable happened, but on

ries at Stirling Hill, near Peterhead, on the property of the day on which the bill became due, Messrs. Smith, the Earl of Aberdeen. The block is seven feet long, by Wright, and Grey, despatched one of their clerks, William six and a half feet broad, and weighs nearly five tons. Waits

, a quaker, to pay the money to the person indi. The upper surface is cut in the form of the top of a cated in the bill. It is not quite certain whether Dan double sarcophagus. On the one compartment is the ford meditated violence beforehand; it may be that the following inscription :man's subdued and defenceless appearance suggested the

'Sir Walter Scott, Baronet, attack at the moment; but the presence of an accom

Died September 21, A.D. 1832.' plice, prepared for any atrocity, leads rather to the sup: On the other :position that the crime was premeditated; and that taking for granted that a clerk calling to discount a bill

• Dame Charlotte Margaret Carpenter, might have other errands of the same kind before him,

Wife of and, therefore, much money on his person, they had

Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford, Baronet, planned, in cold blood, to rob and murder him.

Died at Abbotsford, May 15, A.D. 1826.' Mrs. Bouchier, who, after the instructions she had received, was on the watch, observed on that day two material of which the tombstone is composed, and will

* The letters are very deeply cut in the imperishable men enter the house, and open the parlour window. prove faithful to the record of departed genius and Some time after, a third person, a quaker, came up; worth with which they are charged, in defiance of the knocked at the door, was admitted, and the door closed elemental action of many a future age.' and fastened behind him. Something in the circumstances and the appearance of the first men excited her

“We happen to know some of the incidents connected suspicion, and she kept her eye and her attention fixed with this Monument, which, as they relate to the “mighty upon the house. Presently she thought she heard a

dead," and explain the cause of the long delay in its strange noise proceed from it, not loud, but which she erection, are worthy of recital. Many years since, the could not account for. She crossed over the street, and late Sir Francis Chantrey promised to furnish a design listening attentively, soon heard the word “murder" for the Dryburgh monument. His numerous engagepronounced in a hoarse, faint voice, succeeded by a kind with this intention, and it seemed to be utterly forgotten.

ments, however, and his declining health, interfered of groaning, which very much alarmed her: and looking At length, on the suggestion of Mr. Lockhart, Mr. Cadell, through the key-hole of the house door, she saw two men dragging the unfortunate quaker down the cellar stairs. the publisher, called on the eminent sculptor and re

“ You shall have it,” said On this, she screamed out to the passers-by, that they minded him of bis offer. were murdering a man within the house, and while she Chantrey: “ Dryburgh, you know, is a ruin, and the knocked violently at the door, called upon the people in structure above Sir Walter's grave will come down some the street to break it open ; but with that apathy which stormy morning. Now, my purpose is to put over the is sometimes met with in such a crisis, no one would grave a huge granite block that will defy all such asstir, or regard her exclamations. Enraged at their stu- saults, and baffle time itself.” He hastily sketched an pidity, she broke open the parlour window herself, and outline of what he proposed; but the design went no as she was forcing her way through, one of the villains farther, and death soon carried off the artist. His friend who had been interrupted and alarmed by the knocking, and assistant, Mr. Allan Cunningham, was then applied opened the door, and was running off at full speed. At

to; he recollected the conversation, found Chantrey's the sight of him, however, the lookers-on roused them- rough sketch, and extended it in the form of a more selves, set up a cry of stop thief, and presently regular drawing. He was next authorised to arrange made him their prisoner. The other ruffian Mrs. with the Aberdeen granite workers, and on the very Bouchier herself seized by the throat, and dragged him evening that he died-only a few hours before his deacross the street to her own house. It appeared that the This was the last line traced by his busy hand, and, as

- Allan wrote to Mr. Cadell closing the transaction. villains had first robbed the poor man of his pocketbook, and then, to stop his cries, had nearly throttled such, his family asked and obtained possession of it. him, while they were hurrying him down the back-cellar And thus, after the sudden deaths of two remarkable stairs, there to complete their crime by his murder. A men, who sought to honour the memory of one still design which would certainly have been carried out, but greater, the simple massive structure which they defor this woman's fortitude and presence of mind, thus signed has been completed. providentially interfering for his protection.

“Such burial the illustrious Hector found!” When the two prisoners were brought before the Lord Chantrey had a partiality for huge granite sepulchres, Mavor for examination, William Waits, as a quaker, independently of the fitness of such an erection for the refused to give evidence upon oath of the assault that grave of Scott. He ordered that his own tomb at Norhad been made upon him. Arguments were used in ton, in Derbyshire, should be composed of wrought vain, and it was much feared that the villains would granite, covered by an enormous square of the same escape for want of sufficient evidence against them. In material, and that even this lasting memorial might . the end, however, Mrs. Bouchier's testimony, and that be carefully preserved, he left by his will yearly sums to of her assistants, was deemed conclusive. The prisoners the Vicar and Schoolmaster of Norton, payable only were condemned and executed, with several others, at so long as his tomb shall last," and ten poor boys of Tyburn, having previously made great professions of the parish shall be instructed to remove the moss and penitence and contrition.

nettles from around the edifice. This seems to argue a

cease

"fond desire and longing after immortality;" yet it, king's meat, which was thus performed : having called might be intended to ripen into useful fruit. Some for a dish of meat, he wiped the bottom of the dish, among the successive generations of poor boys who pluck and also the cover, within and without; tasted it, the nettles from the grave of the sculptor may be led to covered it, and caused it to be conveyed to the royal think of his high art and his fame, and to emulate his table; and, attended by a procession of all the great genius-for he, too, was once a poor boy. The busts of officers of the household, including the earl-marshal, Chantrey are, however, his best monument,—the living, with his rod; the great high steward, with his white intellectual marble will outlast the ponderous masses of staff; the lord high constable, with his constable's staff; dead granito."

rode up the hall on horseback, preceding the first course. Thirty-two dishes of hot meat were brought up by the

knights of the bath, bareheaded, followed by a supply of Poetry.

other dishes by private gentlemen. Then the lord of

the manor of Addington had the satisfaction of placing [In Original Poetry, the Name, real or assumed, of the Author is the mess of dillegrout before their majesties, and was printed in Small Capitals

under the title; in Selections, it is afterwards knighted for his pains.--Strickland's Queens printed in Italics at the end.)

of England, vol. IX.

A GUEST TOO MANY.
THE CONTEST.
Two shepherds had a friendly strife,

The colonel who commanded on the frontier discovered
Who would sing the sweetest lay;

that there were “crimps" on the other side. They were A third came by when words were rife,

well-dressed and disguised, and came over to tamper To give the prize away.

with the men. The day after Lord Durham's reriew, a They sat them down beneath the shade

number of visitors came over from the opposite shore, Of a wide chesnut tree,

among them one of these crimps, who, unfortunately for While flocks were busy at the blade,

himself, pitched on the colonel's orderly, a peninsular And murmur'd low the sea.

veteran, who allowed him to go on, and afterwards One took his pipe and gaz’d around,

pointed him out to his colonel, as he was turning into On bright fields smiling by;

the great table-d'hôte at which we all dined, together He caught th' exulting wild bird's sound,

with the visitors who daily came to see the lions. After He gazed upon the sky.

dinner the colonel got up. He was a magnificent The lazy breeze all soothing blew,

fellow- a noble figure- the hero of a hundred fights. And joyful he began,

He began with a little soft sawder; the Yankees And o'er the wave the glad notes flew,

were all attention :-"He regretted that there should And through the woods they ran.

be a set of persons on the other side who tried And joy was in the shepherd's eyes,

to induce his men to desert their colours, and The birds e'en listened long;

forfeit their honour and allegiance to the queen of The umpire felt ne'd gained the prize,

England. There is such a man here present "here Who had sung such happy song.

he beckoned to his orderly to step forward, on which a The song had ceas'd; the smile had fled,

man, covered with rings and chains, was observed to As ripple on the sea,

turn deadly pale—“who, by his appearance ought to And downcast was the other's head,

be above such rascally actions." Upon a “Yes, sir, And sad he seemed to be.

that's he," from the orderly, the colonel, with Herculean Upon the earth he fixed his eye,

strength, took hold of the fellow by the collar, and, His thoughts how far were they ;

lifting him completely off his seat, gave him a kick in Like troubled waters is the sigh,

that part where the smallest particle of honour, be As they forsake the lea.

there any, is supposed to be seated, and handed him Through his own spirit had he gonc,

over to a file of the guard, to see him safe to the other Through many hopes and fears,

side of the water.—Echoes from the Backwoods. Vol. ii. He took his pipe, and sadly on IIe sung with swelling tears.

LEARNING is like a river, whose head, being far in the Upon the bosom of the two,

land, is, at first rising, little and easily viewed: but The low note struck its tone, And true it was, ah! it was true,

still, as you go, it gapeth with a wider bank: not withAs each one stood alone.

out pleasure, and delightful winding; while it is on

both sides set with trees, and the heauties of various The echoes fell, no voice arose,

flowers; but still, the further you follow it, the deeper To tell how little he had done; The silence and the still repose,

and the broader it is; till, at last, it enwaves itself in Proclaimed that he had won.

the unfathomed ocean. There you see more water;
but no shore, no end of that liquid, fluid vastness-

Feltham's Resolves.
Miscellaneous.

N.B. The Second Volume of this periodicalis now ready; Corers for binding, with Table of Contents, may be ordered of any Book

seller. “I have here made only a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own, but the string that ties

CONTENTS. them."-Montaigne.

Page

Page The Death-Bed (with Illus- Sir W. Scott's Tombstone... 127 tration)

113 POETRY ANCIENT CORONATION CEREMONIES.

Heidelberg.

The Contest .................

128 A Christmas Party in the

MISCELLANEOUS: Most of the ancient ceremonies observed at the Country, Chap. Ill...... 117

Ancient Coronation Cere. coronation banquets of the Anglo-Norman and Plan

Sir F. Head's Emigrant...... 120

128 tagenet services were revived by James the Second Popular Year-Book....

p. 142.

.... 114

London Magazine:

A JOURNAL OF ENTERTAINMENT AND INSTRUCTION

FOR GENERAL READING.