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curtain rolls itself up majestically; and The Play begins! The devoted dog
of Montargis avenges the death of his master; foully murdered in the
Forest of Bondy; and a humorous Peasant with a red nose and a very little
hat; whom I take from this hour forth to my bosom as a friend (I think he
was a Waiter or an Hostler at a village Inn; but many years have passed
since he and I have met); remarks that the sassigassity of that dog is
indeed surprising; and evermore this jocular conceit will live in my
remembrance fresh and unfading; overtopping all possible jokes; unto the
end of time。 Or now; I learn with bitter tears how poor Jane Shore;
dressed all in white; and with her brown hair hanging down; went starving
through the streets; or how George Barnwell killed the worthiest uncle that
ever man had; and was afterwards so sorry for it that he ought to have
been let off。 Comes swift to comfort me; the Pantomimestupendous
Phenomenon!when clowns are shot from loaded mortars into the great
chandelier; bright constellation that it is; when Harlequins; covered all
over with scales of pure gold; twist and sparkle; like amazing fish; when
Pantaloon (whom I deem it no irreverence to compare in my own mind to
my grandfather) puts red…hot pokers in his pocket; and cries 〃Here's
somebody coming!〃 or taxes the Clown with petty larceny; by saying;
〃Now; I sawed you do it!〃 when Everything is capable; with the greatest
ease; of being changed into Anything; and 〃Nothing is; but thinking makes
it so。〃 Now; too; I perceive my first experience of the dreary sensation
often to return in after…lifeof being unable; next day; to get back to the
dull; settled world; of wanting to live for ever in the bright atmosphere I
have quitted; of doting on the little Fairy; with the wand like a celestial
Barber's Pole; and pining for a Fairy immortality along with her。 Ah; she
comes back; in many shapes; as my eye wanders down the branches of my
Christmas Tree; and goes as often; and has never yet stayed by me!
Out of this delight springs the toy…theatre;there it is; with its familiar
proscenium; and ladies in feathers; in the boxes!and all its attendant
occupation with paste and glue; and gum; and water colours; in the
getting…up of The Miller and his Men; and Elizabeth; or the Exile of
Siberia。 In spite of a few besetting accidents and failures (particularly an
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unreasonable disposition in the respectable Kelmar; and some others; to
become faint in the legs; and double up; at exciting points of the drama); a
teeming world of fancies so suggestive and all…embracing; that; far below
it on my Christmas Tree; I see dark; dirty; real Theatres in the day…time;
adorned with these associations as with the freshest garlands of the rarest
flowers; and charming me yet。
But hark! The Waits are playing; and they break my childish sleep!
What images do I associate with the Christmas music as I see them set
forth on the Christmas Tree? Known before all the others; keeping far
apart from all the others; they gather round my little bed。 An angel;
speaking to a group of shepherds in a field; some travellers; with eyes
uplifted; following a star; a baby in a manger; a child in a spacious temple;
talking with grave men; a solemn figure; with a mild and beautiful face;
raising a dead girl by the hand; again; near a city gate; calling back the son
of a widow; on his bier; to life; a crowd of people looking through the
opened roof of a chamber where he sits; and letting down a sick person on
a bed; with ropes; the same; in a tempest; walking on the water to a ship;
again; on a sea…shore; teaching a great multitude; again; with a child upon
his knee; and other children round; again; restoring sight to the blind;
speech to the dumb; hearing to the deaf; health to the sick; strength to the
lame; knowledge to the ignorant; again; dying upon a Cross; watched by
armed soldiers; a thick darkness coming on; the earth beginning to shake;
and only one voice heard; 〃Forgive them; for they know not what they
do。〃
Still; on the lower and maturer branches of the Tree; Christmas
associations cluster thick。 School…books shut up; Ovid and Virgil
silenced; the Rule of Three; with its cool impertinent inquiries; long
disposed of; Terence and Plautus acted no more; in an arena of huddled
desks and forms; all chipped; and notched; and inked; cricket…bats; stumps;
and balls; left higher up; with the smell of trodden grass and the softened
noise of shouts in the evening air; the tree is still fresh; still gay。 If I no
more come home at Christmas…time; there will be boys and girls (thank
Heaven! ) while the World lasts; and they do! Yonder they dance and
play upon the branches of my Tree; God bless them; merrily; and my heart
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dances and plays too!
And I do come home at Christmas。 We all do; or we all should。 We
all come home; or ought to come home; for a short holidaythe longer; the
betterfrom the great boarding…school; where we are for ever working at
our arithmetical slates; to take; and give a rest。 As to going a visiting;
where can we not go; if we will; where have we not been; when we would;
starting our fancy from our Christmas Tree!
Away into the winter prospect。 There are many such upon the tree!
On; by low…lying; misty grounds; through fens and fogs; up long hills;
winding dark as caverns between thick plantations; almost shutting out the
sparkling stars; so; out on broad heights; until we stop at last; with sudden
silence; at an avenue。 The gate…bell has a deep; half…awful sound in the
frosty air; the gate swings open on its hinges; and; as we drive up to a
great house; the glancing lights grow larger in the windows; and the
opposing rows of trees seem to fall solemnly back on either side; to give
us place。 A