Christmas, a happy time : a tale, calculated for the amusement and in[s]truction of young persons

CHRISTMAS A HAPPY TIME -,

CAI.Ct'J.A TED FOR

THE AMUSEMENT \NI> INSTRUCTION

.OF

YOl'NCJ PERSO
P Y MISS MAN T.

LONDO
VLLMAN, 42, HO L BORN HILL.

1833

Price OM Shilling.

CHILDREN'S BOOK
COLLECTION

*

LIBRARY OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

A HAPPY TIME ;

CALCULATED FOR
THE AMUSEMENT AND INTRUCTION

OF

YOUNG PERSONS.

BY MISS MANT.

LONDON:
T. ALLMAN, 42, HOLBORN HILL,

9

1832.

CHRISTMAS,

A HAPPY TIME.

HARRIET and Elizabeth Mortimer were
two very pretty, and generally speak
ing, very good little girls. Their kind
papa and mamma had taken a great
deal of pains that they should be good,
and it was very seldom that they vex
ed them by being otherwise. A very
happy time was now expected in the
family at Beech Grove, by the arrival
of John and Fredric Mortimer from
school : it was within a few days of
Christinas ; and as the sisters and bro
thers had never, till the last few
months, been separated, their meeting

A3

6

together again was looked forward to
with general and lively pleasure,

'Do you see anything of the stage,
' Elizabeth ? said Harriet to her sister,,
who had been running down to the end
of the plantation to peep over the gate,
and listen if she could hear the ap
proach of wheels.

e No : there is nothing in sight/ re
plied Elizabeth, whose teeth chattered
from the cold, while her hands were so
benumbed, she could scarcely close
the gate, which she had ventured to
open about half an inch.

' They will never come/ said Har
riet ; but you should not open the gate,
' you know papa and mamma both
' told us we should not do that. And

f how cold you are ! you are all over in
f a shiver. Come let us have a run
* round, and that will warm you. Re-
' member mamma begged of us not to
'stand still in this sharp cutting wind/

c Yes, so she did,' replied Elizabeth ;
' and indeed it is very, very cold, down
' at that corner. And they will not
' come any the sooner for our standing
' there/

And according to Harriet's proposal,
the two little girls began to run round
the grounds, which put them in a com
plete glow ; and Elizabeth's fingers
very soon ceased to ache with cold.

As they passed the green house, they
saw the gardener matting up some
myrtles on the outside; and Elizabeth

8

stopped, to enquire at what time the
coach was likely to pass.

( I look for it every minute, Miss,'
replied the man ; and that's the reason
' I keep about here, that I may be
f handy to help the young gentlemen
' out, and bring in the boxes and that.
' 1 look for them to be much grown,
< Miss, for 'tis a fine bit now since we
chave seen them. 1 don't know what
' Master John will say about his myr-
f tie that he used to be so proud of,
' for I am afraid its dead. But hark ye,
' Miss — sure that's wheels. — Yes, and
'there comes a coach too.'

And away posted the gardener, and
both the little girls after him.

It was a coach ; and it was a very

noisy one, or at least the passengers
were very noisy. Such a blowing of
horns, and hallooing and huzzaing.
But the coach went by without stop
ping at the gate; and although the gar-
diner ran after it, and endeavoured to
speak with the coachman, his voice
was drowned in the multitude of little
voices within and without the coach ;
and he was obliged to return, disap
pointed himself, to the disappointed
young ladies, who stood anxiously
looking out, within the gate.

Before there was time to express any
regret, another coach appeared in
sight, and this might be the coach so
much longed for. This also approach
ed with shouting and blowing of horns;
again the gardener put himself forward
5 A

10

and this time the coach seemed to
draw down towards the gate. Har
riet even fancied she saw her dear bro
ther John looking out of one of the
windows. But again she was disappoin
ted. The coachman, though he drew
to the side of the road,, scarcely allow
ed his horses to stop; and flinging the
servant a letter, which he took from
his waistcoat pocket, again he flou
rished his whip, and again the coach
passed on.

' A letter for your papa, Miss/ said
the gardener, picking it up and offer
ing it to the young ladies: 'Shall I take
' it to James to carry in ?'

'No ; I will — I will/ exclaimed both
the little girls at once. Elizabeth,
though the youngest, generally contri-

il

ved to be forwardest; and seizing upon
the letter, as the gardener held it be
tween his finger arid thumb, she scam
pered away, followed by Harriet, and
they both arrived almost breathless in
the drawing-room.

' The coaches are both past, papa,'
said Harriet, 'without John and Pred-
f rick* ; and as soon as the information
had been given, she burst into tears.

* But here is a letter, which will tell
' about it, 1 dare say, papa,' added
Elizabeth, f To John Mortimer, Esq.
' Beech Grove, 'she continued, reading
the direction, as she presented the let
ter. • It is John's writing, papa.'

Mrs. Mortimer looked uneasy ; and
Mortimer broke the seal of the

12
letter with some little alarm.

' It is all well, said the kind father,
almost directly ; c nothing to appre-
' bend, my love/ added he, as he han
ded the letter across to his wife.

, The letter was as follows : —
My DEAR PAPA,

No room for us in either

of the coaches — inside or out. Mr. Brown is
going to send us in a post chaise, with two other
boys.

Your affectionate and dutiful Son,

JOHN MORTIMER.

'Our pleasure is only delayed for a
' few hours,, said Mr. Mortimer, as he
put an arm round the neck of each of

13

his little girls. ' They will be here in
' the course of a short time, no doubt,
' and have you got every thing ready
f to receive them ?'

'Oh yes, papa, quite ready, 'replied
Elizabeth, who was slipping her neck
from under her father's arm, with the
intention of again returning to the
bottom of the shrubbery. Harriet di
rectly followed her towards the door,

'And where now my little girls/ said
Mrs. Mortimer ; not to the shrubbery
' again this evening ?'

' We were going, mamma/ replied
Elizabeth : c had you rather we should
' not ?'

' I had/ answered Mrs, Mortimer ;

r you have been out nearly two hours,
( and the air is now very sharp and
s cold ; the sun is set, and in a short
' time it will be quite dusk, You can
e watch the road from the play- room
' window : and I think it very likely
' your brothers will not be here before
' quite night.'

Both the little girls would have pre
ferred another run in the shrubbery,
and another peep over the gate at the
end of it: but they were accustomed
to know, that their mother's judgment
was better than their own ; and with
out a murmur, therefore they repaired
to the school -room.

5 Oh ! there they are, — there they

'are, said Elizabeth, before she had

-arcelv reached the window: 'It must

15

' be my brothers, — I am sure it was a
e post-chaise.'

* Where — where? said Harriet, jump
ing up upon the window scat^and
straining her eyes to catch a sight of
the desired object,

' I cannot see it now replied Eliza
beth, 'it is gone behind the elm trees by
€ the^side of the road : we shall see it
' again, present! v. Do go, dear Harri-
' et, and as& mamma if we may go
'down and meet them/

' But I do not know they are com-
' ing/said Harriet : *do dear Elizabeth
' tell me where you saw them, I do
4 not think you could have seen them:
4 and if you did, they must be a great
' way off.'

16

' Oh there — there, Harriet, cannot
' you see them now ?' said Elixabeth,
putting her armround her sister's neck;
' There, — just by the mill, this side of
c the elms. Now they are gone again.'

'Yes, I see them,' replied Harriet ;
f and now they are come out again
1 from behind old Jackson's cottage.
' Oh, now I see them very plain. — I
* can almost make them both out.'

' Oh, I can make them quite out/
said Elizabeth ; ' and they have got a
' horn, too, and are blowing away: and
'( John is shaking his handkerchief.
' Oh, I wish we might go down and
' meet them.'

And both the children began jump
ing about in an ectacy of joy. At this

17

moment Mr. and 'Mrs. Mortimer en
tered the play-room. 'They are com*
' ing, papa, — they are coming, mam-
' ma/ said Harriet and Elizabeth both
together. Mrs. Mortimer had thrown
a large cloak and hood over her, and
Mr. Mortimer had his hat in his hand.

e We were coming to fetch you to
'meet them,' said Mr. Mortimer. —
' Come, make haste, or they will be
' here before we can be out of the
' house ; for the young gentlemen tra-
' vcl rapidly with their four horses.5

Harriet and Elizabeth hastened after
their father and mother, who were
preparing to lead the way to the
shrubbery, but before they were out
of the hall door, the post chaise and
four was rattling down the avenue and

18

in a few minutes the two lads were
pressed to the hearts of their beloved
parents and their affectionate sisters.

As the two other youths who accom
panied the Mortimer's were eager to
pursue their journey, the chaise was
soon on its return down the avenue :
and John and Frederick, who. with
all their happiness, could not help
finding out that they were very cold
and hungry, were glad to be summon -
ned to the dining-roorn, and to feel the
warm carpet, and see the blazing fire,
and the smoking meat upon the table.
Between eating and talking there was
a great deal to do ; the former, how
ever, it was most necessary to attend
to for a short time ; and when their
hunger was satisfied, and they drew
with their father and mother, and

19

Elizabeth and Harrietround the cheer
ful and enlivening fire, and a more
happy party perhaps could hardly be
imagined. Before the boys went to
school) each of the children had low
stools of their own, which it had al
ways been their delight to sit upon,
when summoned to the dining-room
after dinner ; for at that time they had
been accustomed to have their own
dinner in the nursery. Now, however,
they were to be indulged by dining
with their parents, when the family
dinner hour was moderately early, and
there was no large party at table; and
on the present occasion the same little
stools which had been such favourites
formerly were now brought again in
to use. The girls had almost feared
proposing them, as they knew not

20

what changes the boy's school might
have occasioned in their brother's hab
its ; but no sooner was the cloth remo
ved and the grace said, than the active
little Frederick flew to the sideboard,
and took possession of his old and fa
vourite seat. John followed his ex
ample ; those of the two little girls
were already standing by the two cor
ners of the chimney-piece, and Fred
rick between mamma and Elizabeth,
and John between papa and Harriet,
very soon settled themselves and made
the family circle complete. Into the
middle of this circle a favourite little
terrier now leaped, and began his
gambols, while the old pet Tibby the
cat, which the children had all been
accustomed to carry about from in
fants, came rubbing her sides against

the young strangers, and began pur
ring to be taken notice of.

As the day had closed long before the
dinner had disappeared, theboyscould
only hear all there was to be heard to
night, about any alterations or im
provements which had taken place
ince their absence; — what success
heir sisters had met with, in keeping
up their stock of rabbits and poultry;
— whether the ice-house had been yet
illed ; — how went on old Neddy the
donkey, if he was yet too old to be
idden; — whether the myrtles were
tlive, and their own gardens had been
ul I of flowers ; and a variety of other
nquiries, extremely interesting to
them, and which would havedoubtless
been made by many of my young
eaders on similar occasions as those

on which we are writing. Harriet and
Elizabeth were equally -glad to reply
to all their brother's questions, and
they had a great many to ask in return.
Whether they liked school as well as
home. — whether they always had meat
and pudding, & as much as they liked
of both ; — what plays they played at,
and if they had good-natured compan
ions. Th^re was an abundance to say
upon all these subjects ; and then Mr.
and Mrs. Mortimer had their inquiries
to make about books and classes, and
sums, and school hours, and play hours
and going to bed, and getting up, so
that the tongues all ran very nimbly ;
and doubtless there remained plenty
more to say,whenat length little Fred
rick's words began to lengthen them
selves as he uttered them, and his eyes
were with difficulty strained open.

Mr. Mortimer gave him a pat, and
asked him how early he had been up
in the morning1 ? He had scarcely been
in bed the whole night ; he had since
performed a journey of near seventy
miles, and as he was not yet seven
years of age, it was not to wondered at
that sleep should thus be striving to
get the better even of his feelings of
joy and happiness, J ohn, who was only
two years older than his brother did
not shew much less symptoms of fa
tigue ; and Mrs. Mortimer proposed
having the tea immediately, that the
boys might get to bed. This plan was
instantly agreed to, their heads were
soon snug on their pillows; and in the
morning they both awoke in high
health and joyous spirits.

It was now that Mr. and Mrs. Mor-

timer could see how much their dear
boys were grown, and how well they
were looking. John triumphantlystood
beside his sister Harriet, who was a
year older than himself, and told her
he should be very soon taller than she
was ; and Fredrick had actually out
stripped the little Elizabeth, who told
one more year than he did. The girls
however were reconciled to this ac-
cquired superiority of stature., by dis
covering that papa was a great deal
taller than mamma, though they were
both exactly the same age ; and Fred
rick concluded the whole dissertation,
by adding that to be sure, men ought
be taller than women

' It does not much signify what are
( yonr heights, my dear children/ said
Mr. Mortimer, affectionately gazing

upon the whole group, ' if you are
' but good and amiable. I should be
'very glad to see my young Fred a

* brave grenadier/ added the fond fa
ther placing his hand upon the head
of his young son: 'but I shall be much

* better pleased to see him a good man.
' But now who is for a walk ? — the
' morning is bright and fair, and those
' who do not mind the cold, away for
' your great coats and hats, and 1 will
' take a walk with you to the ice-
' house, and see if the men are begin-
( ning to fill it.

It was not necessary to repeat this
invitation, and towards the ice-house
the party immediately proceeded As
they passed through the park they
went by a sheet of water, on which du-

ring the summer, had been a boat, but
^vhich now was caked over with ice,
and had every appearance of being
hard enough to bear the weight of a
man with his skates on. John and
Fredrick were both running to the
edge : and had not their father been
with them would have immediately
ventured on an amusement, hardy and
bracing when followed with'prudenee,
but which requires the caution of ex
perience, not to be carelessly indul
ged in.

'Wait till to-morrow, boys/ said Mr.
Mortimer/ the ice is not strong enough
* to bear you to-day. In another four
' and twenty hours, I think it w ill be
' safe, should the frost continue, and I
' have directed James to prepare my
c skates/

The boys both desisted, for they had
been very early taught to submit to
the opinion of their father : but Fred-
ric could not help saying, ' I think it
' would bear,, papa:' and feeling more
disappointment than his looks perhaps
expressed.

fWe can very well wait another day,
' Frederick/ said John, as he saw his
brother's disappointment on walking
on.

' Perhaps the frost may be broken
then,' replied Frederick ; but he soon
found other amusement, and bounded
over the stile into the lane, before the
rest of the party had scarcely lost sight
of the sheet of water in the park.
' Oh, here are the men with a load/

B5

8

said Frederick, as his father came in
sight, ' fine thick ice, papa — oh, so
' thick, 1 am sure it must be hard
jough to slide where that thick ice
( xnnes from.'

Th at ice is taken from a mere hole/
replied Mr. Mortimer: 'from that dir-
' ty little patch of water by the side of
e yonder hedge — do you see ? It is very
' shallow, and is therefore soon encrus-
' ted : but even before it was cut by
' the pickaxe, it would not have been
' smooth enough to have slidden upon,
' and now you see it is all in pieces,
' and you might as well try to slide on
' a heap of stones.'

By this time all the party had cros
sed the stile, and were proceeding a-
loiig the lane.

f I wonder you do not have the ice-
4 house filled from the water in the park
' papa/ said Harriet. ' This is such
4 dirty, nasty-looking stuff.'

* You have before seen in what man-
' ner the ice-house is filled/ replied
Mr. Mortimer ; 'that the ice is all bro-
* ken, almost pounded to pieces, and
4 then stored below ground ; and I have
' also told you that it is never eaten,
' and it signifies little whether it is en-
' tirely pure or not. The house will be
' rendered as cold by this ice, as by
' that from the park, and that is all
' which is necessary. And it would be
4 a pity to spoil the appearance of the
'other, unless it were necessary ; par-
' ticularly as John and Frederick and
4 myself hope to have same good slides
4 upon it during the holidays/

30

Haying stopped to ask a few ques
tions of the men employed in convey
ing the ice from the pond, Mr. Mor
timer now proceeded with his children
to a farm-house not very far distant,
where they all met a very hearty wel
come, and where the boys' attention
was arrested by two little grey ponies,
which were in the meadow adjoining
the farm yard,

"Well — what do you think of them,'
said Mr. Mortimer. They were pro
nounced beautiful by both the boys,
and their father then told them they
had been purchased for their use, and
that of their sisters ; but that they
would not be fit to be ridden till the
summer. He designed to have them
properly broken in by the next holi«
days,and the boys were delighted with

31

the prospect of riding them on their
uext return from school.

'If the young gentlemen would like
' a ride this Christmas, Sir/ said the
kind farmer, 'my Thomas's poney is a
4 nice quiet little fellow, and Tom
would be proud to lend him.' John
and Frederick looked at each other,
and at their father, but at length John
suggested, that as only one could ride
at a time they had better put off their
rides till the summer ; and Harriet and
Elizabeth were both pleased that such
was the decision.

The next visit was to the parsonage,
where many a round happy counten
ance greeted the return of the young*
Mortimers : and while Mr. Mortimer
was engaged in conversation with the

excellent pastor of the village, Mr.
Wexford, the young people were in
troduced into the play-room of the
little Wexfords. Mr. Wexford rr.ade a
petition that the young people should
spend the day together : but as it was
the first of the Mortimers being at
home, their father declined it for them,
at the same time promising that they
should have the indulgence in a short
time: and also expressing a hope that
the Wcxford's would return the visit
at Beech Grove.

At that time of the year there was
little to be seen out of doors, but one
curiosity the Wexford's described, to
which they were very anxious to intro
duce their young friends : and this
was a little groupe of robin-red-breasts
which had been hatched in their sum-

mer-house,and which now took shelter
there every night, and were regularly
fed by the family.

e The gardener says they do not do
' us much good /said Maria Wexford.
as they approached the summer house;
4 but 1 do not like that they should be
' destroyed/

* Oh no, J could not have them
' destroyed, 'replied Harriet Mortimer-
* even if they spoiled my flowers, they
' are such pretty creatures. But where
' are John and Fredrick ?'

John and Fredrick had scampered
off with the young Wex fords, and
presently returned with apan of bread
crumbs, which they had begged from
the cook, and which they now hoped
to see the red-breasts eat.

But the little creatures were alarmed
at seeing so many visitors ; or the sun
enticed them to extend their flight
beyond the green house ; for on the
entrance of the boys, they all took
wingand flew away.

"I am sorry we frightened them/
said Harriet.

( Do you not think they will ever
' come back again ?' asked Elizabeth.

( Oh yes, they will be back in the
* evening or before/ replied Maria
Wexford ; ' they often fly out in the
' day-time when it is fine. But perhaps
( you would like to run round the gar-
' den ; you will be cold standing still.'

The party was preparing for a race

35

when Mr. Mortimer appeared to sum
mon that part of it which belonged
to him ; and, having arranged a day
with Mr, VV ex ford, for the families to
meet at Beech Grove, Mr. Mortimer
and his children returned towards the
park.

As they approached the sheet of
water, which Frederick again survey
ed with a longing eye, they perceived
that Mr. Wexford's large Newfound
land dog had followed them from the
parsonage, and the boys directly began
throwing stones and sticks before them
for the animal to run after and bring
back to the in.

This dog was particularly fond of
the water, and John having thrown a
stick to the edge of it, it had slipped

36

over the side and the fine animal im
mediately sprang after it. The boys
for an instant were both inclined to
smile at the animal's finding footing,
when he had expected to sink in the
water, but they both turned pale, and
looked at their father, when they al
most immediately saw him disappear
under the ice. It had been so partially
frozen that the weight of the dog in
plunging, had broken it, and he had
sunk to rise no more, Mr Mortimer's
heart sickened as he contemplated
what might have been the case had his
own children ventured on the ice, and
he blessed God that their dispositions
were such, as to make them obedient
to his wishes. Every means were taken
for the recovery of the dog, and after
some hours he was extricated from
the ice ; but he was perfectly dead,

t^f

$cThcirruiS',7.1fanc>verS'*}faiii>rerSif': Jan-t' 1625.

37

and apparently had been so some
time.

As Mr, Mortimer and his children
continued their walk towards the
house, they heard a shrill shouting
from the direction of the village ;^-it
seemed like tha shouting of young
voices, and was evidently that of joy-
fulness. The attention of the children
was immediately attracted towards it,
and Mr. Mortimer indulged them by
moving in its direction. John and
Frederick were very soon out of sight,
and in a few minutes they returned to
relate the cause of the acclamations
they had heard. They proceeded from
the children of the parish school, who
had just been dismissed by their mas
ter and mistress, and were to be treat-

ed with a week's holiday. Hurra —
hurra — cried all the little noisy fellows,
as Mr. Mortimer came up ; while the
squeaking voices of the little girls
joined in the cry, at the same time as
they jumped, and danced, and frisked
about happy and joyous as little birds.
The young Mortimers hastened to
wards the gate, and as they opened it,
the young crowd gave them another
hurra ; and two or three of the biggest
of the boys approached, and making
their village nods to the squire, at
the same time touching their hats,
they offered their Christmas pieces for
exhibition. Mr. Mortimer gave these
little lads sixpence each, and calling to
the gardener to get him a few shil
lings' worth of halfpence from the vil
lage shop, he bade the happy group of
children stop a few minutes near the

39

gate. This they were most glad to do,
and on the return of the gardener,
John and Frederick, commissioned by
their father, gave each of the little
girls two-pence, and Harriet and
Elizabeth had the same pleasing com
mission to execute towards the boys.
All was joy and hilarity ; and when
Mr. Mortimer told them that onChrist-
mas-day they were to come to his
house, to have some beef and plum-
pudding, all the little happy counten
ances shone with delight.

lev

* And now run on, and get home/
said Mr: Mortimer : for your parents
will be waiting for you at their din-
' ners. And take care you do not get
' into any mischief in the course of the
4 next week : and if you go out to slide
mind that the ice is well hardened

40

' before you venture on it. And a mer-
' ry Christmas to you all.'

'Merry Christmas to you, Sir/ re
plied the biggest boy, who was a very
well-spoken lad, and looked as happy,
though he made less noise than the
rest. "Merry Christmas — MerryChrist-
mas, ' was echoed from a number of
little voices around him ; and with a-
nother joyous shout, the motley group
proceeded onwards through the vil
lage.

Mr. Mortimer now left his children,
and proceeded also through the village
where he had himself business to tran
sact. The children went into the house
to get their luncheon of bread and jam,
and after the girls had rested them
selves, their mother promised to take a

41

stroll with them and their brothers
round the garden and through the
green-houses. At this time of year
there was little to see ; but still what
little there was, was worth seeing, and
a stroll with main ma was always a
treat.

* What piles of shirts and round
frocks! mamma/ said John, while
they were eating their luncheon. 'And
' what numbers of frocks ! why, you
* you might set up a shop almost.'

'Cannot you guess what these frocks
' and shirts are all for ?' said Harriet.

' I can,' said the quick little Frede
rick. * They are for the children we
' saw in the lane just now; and they
c3

43

* are to have them against Christmas/

'You are right, Frederick/ replied
his mother ; ( and I have been taking
' the opportunity of this holiday of
' your sisters, to loook them over and
' parcel them out/

Just now the door opened, and a
housemaid appeared with a large bas
ket of shoes and stockings, and another,
with women's gowns and men's frocks.

' How pleased all the poor people
'will be, mamma !' said Elizabeth, ta
king up a gown from the basket ; fit is
'rather coarse cloth though, I think,

' mamma/'

' It would be very coarse for you
' to wear, Elizabeth," replied Mrs.
Mortimer, * because vou are born in a

48

the little boy ; cbut I have done now t
' and now shall we go out again ?'

r Did you call on nurse this rnorn-
' ing ?' said Mrs. Mortimer.

' No, mamma, I quite forgot her/
replied Frederick; 'but we will go now
r shall we, John, while mamma finishes
' sorting the things ?*

'You must never forget her, my dear
' boy/ replied the tender mother ; 'for
' without her care of you, when your
' own mother was too weak to attend
' to you, you would not have been the
' stout active boy you now are/

' I hope you have a nice gown and
f petticoat for nurse, mamma ?' said
Frederick*

44

• Providence has placed a large for-
' tune at his disposal ; and one end of
f its being given, was, that he might
' clothe the naked and feed the hun-
f grY' Christmas would not be a time
' of much rejoicing to the poor, were
' not the rich to assist them in making
' it so : and I hope all rny dear chil-
' dren, while they are enjoying them-
' selves with every comfort and in-
' dulgence around them, will be ren-
' dered happier by reflecting that the
' inhabitants of every cottage in the
' village are rejoicing at the same
' time/

'We shall not have a party on Christ-
' mas-day, shall we, mamma ?* asked
John.

'None, excepting our own family,

45

' John/ replied Mr?. Mortimer. ' I
f hope both your uncles will be with
' us, and your grandpapa and graud-
' marnma have promised to come over
' from Cannon Hill. The Mortimers
• from Haversly too I expect, and
f these I think will complete our circle
' round the Christmas fire.

'Oh, I hope grandpapa will come,
said Frederick, * because he has al-
' ways such a number of batties and
'fighting stories to tell, and he is so
' droll besides.'

'And I am sure I hope uncle Philip
' will come,' said Elizabeth ; e for he
4 is so fond of play, and jumping me
cup to the ceiling.'

'I think you are getting almost too
^

46

* big for this play/ said Mrs. Morti
mer ; ' and so uncle Phflip would feel

* in his arms, I believe, were he to at-
' tempt to jump you now.'

' We shall all dine with you then,
f mamma, shall we not ?' said Eliza
beth ; 'if there is no other company.
e You know they are relations, and
' are all fond of us children.'

' Yon shall all dine in the room, cer-

* tainly/ said Mrs. Mortimer ; ' but if
' the four young Mortimers come, I
' think some of you will be obliged to
' dine at the side table, but that none
' of you will mind.'

'Oh, we do not mind that at all, ma-
6 ma/ said Harriet ; but we had rather
e not have anv of the Mortimers with

47

' us, for they are so nide and noisy,
f and papa always thinks that we make
r the noise ; and I am sure it is always
' their fault, though we cannot help
'laughing at them/

'You see, in the instance of your
( cousins, Harriet, said Mrs. Mortimer,
'the disadvantage of never having

* any restraint put on little girl's edu-
' cations. I myself have seen that they
f occasionally are boisterous and over-
f bearing in their manners; but the
f fault is not their own. And, if you re-
' member,, one day when they were

* with us, without their own father and
' mother, they were as orderly and
c well-behaved as possible. — But will
' you never have finished your lunch-
f eon, Frederick ?'

* I was so hungry, mamma/ replied

f state of affluence, and therefore it is

* becoming that you should be drest

• according to the fortune of your pa-
' pa. But to give fine garments to the
c poor would be no kindness to them,
4 nor a fit manner of shewing our be-
' nevolence towards them*

'I think papa is very good and kind,
'do not you, mamma ? * said Harriet,
looking very stedfastly at her mother.

'Your father has a great pleasure
' in benefiting any one it is in hispow-
c er to serve, and is as you observe,
f Harriet, one of the kindest of men.
f But he does no more than his duty,
e and this he would himself tell you,
' in being a vigilant guardian over the
' necessities of his poor neighbours.
c4

49

f She has not been forgotten/ replied
Mrs, Mortimer ; ' and you shall have
'the pleasure of carrying the bundle
' prepared for her yourself. There it
' is : — the cotton gown, and stuff pet-

* ticoat, the shoes, stockings, and

* apron, lying together at the corner
' of the table/

Frederick, with a little of his mo
ther's assistance, soon made these sep
arate articles into a bundle ; and the
two boys set off for Nurse Winscomb's
cottage.

The stroll round the garden did not
take place on that day ; for the boys
met their father returning from the
cottage of the nurse, and he took them
with him to call on a gentleman resi
ding about two miles distant, and

50

whose family were to be invited, with
a few others, to meet together in the
Christmas week. The young people
were to be indulged with a little dance;
and although neither John nor Frede
rick knew much about dancing, they
were pleased at the idea of joining
with those who did, and already began
to talk over the little young ladies of
the neighbourhood, and to settle with
whom they would, and with whom
they would not dance.

They came home quite tired, and
only in time to have their dress chan
ged before dinner, Harriet and Eliza
beth thought they had been absent a
long while j and on their return into
the drawing-room, were ready with
their smiling countenances to receive
these dear boys

51

The next morning after breakfast,
Mr. Mortimer employed a few hours
in examining his boys in the improve
ments they had made during the last
half-year ; for he had wisely resolved,
for the comfort of the whole family,
that the entire day was not to be given
up to play. During this time,, Harriet
and Elizabeth were occupied with
their mamma ; and after this as the day
continued bright, though cold, it was
determined to put into effect the pro
posed stroll of yesterday. And first to
the farm -yard, where the poultry-maid
supplied them with corn : and with
this enticement, the fowls arid ducks
were called together and numbered,
and the various beauties of both enu
merated. This speckled hen had been
such a good mother, and a good hand
ful of grain was tossed to her ; — then

the beautiful little bantam had been
nursed in a stocking', and wag so tame
that it would come and eat out of the
hand ; — then there was the fine old
cock that crowed so loud he might be
heard all orer the parish, and a hand
ful was thrown to him ; — then there
was th-3 young one which the old one
drove about so, that it could get noth
ing to eat; — Harriet made his neces
sities her care : but it was useless to
throw him any: for the old cock would
not allow him to come near the grain,

f Nasty greedy fellow/ said Eliza
beth, ' I am sure there is enough for
' all, but the young cock cannot get u
' morsel/

' I believe we must get rid of him/
observed Mrs. Mortimer ; 'for it is

53

' miserable to see him driven about so/

4 He is to be killed next, Madam,'
answered the poultry-maid, who now
approached with two fowls hanging
from her hands, from which drops of
blood were falling.

Mrs. Mortimer moved away with the
children : for she saw that Harriet tur
ned pale at the eight of the blood,

* I cannot think how Jane can kill
' the fowls, mrnrna/ said Elizabeth ; I
' am sure I could not, if we never had
' any at all.'

'I should be very sorry if you could,
' my dear little girl, for there is no ne-
'cessityfor your doing it; and with-
* out conquering your feelings often-

' derncss, you never could acquire the
f resolution to do it. In Jane's situa-
( ation it \vas necessary for her to ha-
'bituate herself to an employment
' which devolves to her as the rearer

* of the poultry: but I assure you it
' was a long time before she could first
'bring herself to deprive those crea-
' tares of life which she had been ac-

• customed to look after and feed. And
' even now 1 belive when she can meet
f with the gardener or groom, she most
' generally employs them/

'Are there no ducks, mamma ? said
Frederick : 'we used to have such a
' number.'

' There is your old favourite drake
' just stopping under the gate/ replied
Mrs, Mortimer : ' and we will follow

55

' him into the field, for it is rather cold
'standing still.'

They then went into the field, and
after that carne round to the green
house, where the gardener was very
busily employed in gathering some
beautiful grapes,

' How nice and warm it is here,' said
several of the children, on entering the
house. The gardener then approached
to ask the young gentlemen how they
did, and to tell them how much they
were grown, and to say that he hoped
they would like the grapes. John and
Frederick answered all the old man's
questions with kindness and civility ;
and as the young party were leaving
the green-house, he asked them who-

56

ther they should not want some flowers
and evergreens against their little
dance ?

'Oh yes, if you please, gardener/ was
the ready and quick answer : — f we
e may, mamma, may we not ?' said
Harriet, looking up at her mother be
fore she gave her reply.

'The gardener may give you what
' he can spare/ replied Mrs. Mortimer
' And gardener/ added she, looking
back towards the green-house, ( desire
c your grandson to go into the copses,

* and bring home a little cart of holly,
' that we may have the kitchen well

* ornamented, when the tenantry come
c to their dinner/

c He shall be sure to do it, ma'am,'

57

replied the gardener. ' 1 look we shall
' have a merry Christmas, and I do like
e to see the room well dressed up.'

As Tom, the gardener's grandson,
was a steady; well-behaved lad, Mrs,
Mortimer allowed John and Frederick
to accompany him to the copses, in
search of the holly. Harriet and Eliza
beth would, no doubt, very much have
liked to belong to the party also, but
they were easily convinced of the pro
priety of their not doing so, and were
therefore satisfied to see their brothers
drive off with Torn Harding, and re
turn in two or three hours afterwards,
walking by the side of the little vehi
cle, which then appeared a moving
shrub of red-berried holly.

On Christmas-day the expected par-

58

ty met round the hospitable dinner-
table of Mr. Mortimer, having all of
them arrived on the preceeding day at
the grove,, excepting the other branch
of the Mortimer family, who attended
their own parish church in the morn
ing, and did not arrive till the hour of
dinner.

The children of the villlage school,
all in their new clothes, and with a
sprig of holly in their bosoms and but
ton holes, walked from the church to
the Grove ; and there partook, as they
had been invited to do, of beef and
pudding, and good home-brewed beer
The young Mortimers waited upon
them at dinner, and before they left
the Lodge, presented them each with
a pluinb cake; and Mrs. Mortimer
gave them each an amusing little book

59

to read to themselves arid their pa
rents, who had not like themselves
possessed the advantages of learning
to read.

The family dinner party went off
as happily as that in the kitchen. The
young Mortimers all sat together at
the side table, and their papa, had not
once occasion to call them out for be
ing noisy, though they were merry
and cheerful enough. It was certainly
true, as Harriet had said, that her cou
sins would be noisy ; on this day, how
ever, being dispersed amongst the par
ty at the large table, they were very
orderly and wrell-behaved ; and after
dinner, when the young people had
had taken as much fruit as was good
for them, they retired into their play-

D3

60

room together : they sat round the bla
zing fire there provided for them, very
comfortably and happily, and without
one word of dissension till they were
again called back for tea into the
drawing room,

The next day was the day appoin
ted for the dinner of the tenantry, and
busy indeed were the young Morti
mers, in dressing up the Hall, and ma
king it look smart and lively. A very
large party assembled here to enjoy
the squire's hospitable table, at which
he himself presided ; and the day after
this, the labouring cottagers and their
wives met in the same room atone
o'clock, round a table well covered
with meat pies, legs of mutton, roast
beef, potatoes, and plum pudding.
They brought with them those of their

61

children, \vho were too young to be
in the school : and, on this occasion,
all the new round frocks, and cotton
gowns were exhibited. Little Frede
rick led his nurse up to the head of the
table, and was very attentive to her ;
and whenever her plate was empty,
he took care that it should not remain
long so

This party went off as happily as
the last ; and two days after was to
take place the little dance, so anxious
ly looked forward to, not only by the
Mortimers, but by all the young peo
ple in the neigbourhood. The Wex-
fords came very early in the morning,
to assist their young friends in prepa
ring the ball-room ; and the gardener
had taken good care to provide plenty
of shrubs and flowers, for the necessary

decoration, Mrs. Mortimer lent her
assistance where it was required, and
she was only fearful that the children
would tire themselves before the plea
sure of the evening commenced ; for
Mr. Mortimer had now pronounced
the sheet of water in the park suffici
ently frozen to bear any weight that
might be ventured on it ; and he had
given several village lads permission
to slide there, and prepare it for the
use of his own boys. He now called
upon both his own lads, and the young
Wexfords, to join him, and for John he
had provided a pair of scates. John
met with a great many tumbles, to the
amusement, not only of himself, but of
his companions ; but he had no serious
bruises, and soon jumped up and
laughed at hisownawkwardness.Fred-
erick longed to try the skaf op *"

63

Mr. Mortimer thought him too little
to venture upon them, so that he was
obliged to be satisfied with sliding.
And very prettily he did slide, and very
much did Elizabeth wish to slide with
him ; for she was indeed a merry little
girl, besides being always desirous of
doing every thing which she saw her
brother Frederick engaged in. But
mamma thought it not a very fit a-
musement for little girls; so Elizabeth
joined Harriet and the Miss Wexfords
in a run round the park, all of them
occasionally returning to the ice, to
see how the skaters aud sliders went
on.

The hour of dinner was a very early
one on this day, for the evening party
was to be an early one. The young
people, with their papas and mammas

64

began to assemble at a very unfashion
able honr, as early indeed as seven
o'clock, and by eight they \vere all
dancing away very merrily. Dancing
was kept up with great spirit till to
wards eleven, when there was a sum
mons to supper. Another hour was
spent in taking refreshments, and du
ring this time there was much merri
ment, and many jokes passing round,
as well amongst the elder part of the
assembly, as in that with which we
are more particularly interested. Soon
after twelve the party began to sepa
rate ; — all had appeared to be very wrell
satisfied with the pleasure they had
been enjoying ; — every one seemed in
high good-humour and glee /and all
the young visitors, as well as the four
Mortimers, joined in acknowledging
that the dance had gone off very well

65

indeed ; and in pronouncing that cer
tainly f Christmas was a very happy
' time.'

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