Old Christmas Recalled - online book

Washington Irving's description of Old Christmas, Illustrated

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	THE CHRISTMAS DINNER	155
	self with glory by the stateliness with which, as Ancient Christmas, he walked a minuet with the peerless, though giggling, Dame Mince-Pie. It was followed by a dance of all the characters, which, from its medley of costumes, seemed as though the old family portraits had skipped down from their frames to join in the sport. Different centu­ries were figuring at cross hands and right and left; the dark ages were cutting pirou­ettes and rigadoons ; and the days of Queen Bess jigging merrily down the middle, through a line of succeeding generations. The worthy Squire con­templated these fantastic sports, and this resurrection of his old wardrobe, with the simple relish of childish de-