Old Christmas Recalled - online book

Washington Irving's description of Old Christmas, Illustrated

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	52                                   CHRISTMAS EVE
	formal terraces, which had been occasionally attacked by modern landscape-gardeners. As we approached the house, we heard the sound of music, and now and then a burst of laughter from one end of the building. This, Bracebridge said, must proceed from the servants' hall, where a great deal of revelry was permitted, and even encouraged, by the Squire through­out the twelve days of Christmas, provided everything was done conformably toancient usage. Here were kept up the old games of hoodman blind, shoe the wild mare, hot cockles, steal the white loaf, bob apple, and snapdragon : the Yule log and Christmas candle were regularly