The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 290, December 29, 1827

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Various. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 290, December 29, 1827

OLD SARUM

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

RECOLLECTIONS OF MELROSE ABBEY

EPITAPH

HISTORY OF THE ABBEY

ON WAITS

ORIGIN OF LOVE

TOTTENHAM HIGH CROSS

ARCANA OF SCIENCE

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS

LONDON LYRICS

ROYAL APPETITES

PORSON AND SHERIDAIT

THE "STAY-AT-HOME."

THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS

ART OF DRINKING WINE

STRATFORD-ON-AVON

THE GATHERER

LORD RUSSEL

EPITAPH ON A SCOLD

ON A MAN WHOSE NAME WAS PENNY

DRAMATIC SKETCH OF A THIN MAN

STOLEN GOODS

DECREASE OF LUNACY IN LONDON

INGREDIENTS OF MODERN LOVE

GREAT AND SMALL

THE LAW, PROFESSORS OF, IN ENGLAND:—

EPIGRAM FROM THE SPANISH OF REBOLLEDO

THE LAWYER AND HIS CLIENT

LIMBIRD'S EDITION OF THE

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The manner of spending Christmas Eve can hardly be better described than by the celebrated Wilkie's sketch under that title. Christmas is not now what it was formerly. Wilkie's painting relates to the present time, and I do not know where Christmas is more cheerfully observed in these days than in London—still there is an alteration—no boar's head—no pageantries, no wassailing. In the north of England its approach is denoted by the country people having their wood fires, consisting of huge pieces of stumps of trees piled upon the grate, and by entwining branches of holly over their doors, and by school boys acting some play to a school full of auditors; the yearly one at Brough was St. George, which is now put down by some strolling players who exhibit in the town every Christmas.

These are signals for Christmas, and although there is but one Christmas day, yet the week is generally over before any thing like quietness appears. The morning is ushered in by the ringing of the church bells, and the little maidens playing at the game of prickey sockey, as they call it. See them all dressed up in their best, with their wrists adorned with rows of pins, running about from house to house inquiring who will play at the game. The door is opened, and she cries out,

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Formerly, "An English gentleman at the opening of the great day, i.e. on Christmas Day in the morning, had all his tenants and neighbours enter his hall by day-break. The strong beer was broached, and the black jacks went plentifully about with toast, sugar, nutmeg, and good Cheshire cheese. The hackin (the great sausage) must be boiled by day-break, or else two young men must take the maiden (the cook) by the arms, and run her round the market-place till she is ashamed of her laziness."—From an old Tract, "Round about our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments."

Further, from the same Tract we find that "In Christmas holidayes," the tables were all spread from the first to the last; the sirloins of beef, the minched pies, the plum porridge, the capons, turkeys, geese and plum-puddings, were all brought upon the board, every one ate heartily and was welcome, which gave rise to the proverb, "merry in the hall, where beards wag all."

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