Old Christmas Recalled - online book

Washington Irving's description of Old Christmas, Illustrated

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	20                               THE STAGE COACH
	The coach was crowded, both inside and out, with passengers, who, by their talk, seemed principally bound to the mansions of relations or friends to eat the Christmas dinner; It was loaded also with hampers of game, and baskets and boxes of delicacies ; and hares hung dangling their long ears about the coachman's box,—presents from distant friends for the impending feast. I had three fine rosy-cheeked schoolboys for my fellow-passen­gers inside, full of the buxom health and manly spirit which I have observed in the child­ren of this country. They were returning home for the holidays in high glee, and promising themselves a world of enjoyment. It was delight­ful to hear the gigantic plans of pleasure of the little rogues, and the impracticable feats they were to perform during their six weeks' emancipation