The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 290, December 29, 1827. Various

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СКАЧАТЬ logs are burning,

      Their ovens they with baked meate choke,

      And all their spits are turning."

      And in another place we hear that

      "The wenches with their wassell bowles

      About the streete are singing."

      Wassail-bowl.—Formerly it was customary to wassail on Christmas Eve, or drink health to the apple trees.

      "Wassaile the trees that they may beare

      You many a plum and many a peare,

      For more or lesse fruits they will bringe,

      And do you give them wassailing."

HERRICK.

      Sir Thomas Acland informed Mr. Brand, in 1790, that at Werington, on Christmas Eve, "it was then customary for the country people to sing a wassail or drinking song, and throw the toast from the wassail-bowl to the apple-trees, in order to have a fruitful tree."

      In many towns in Cumberland it is the practice on Christmas Eve to roast apples before the fire on a string, and hold under them a bowl of spiced ale (called there mulled ale) and let them roast on until they drop into the ale.

      We have the following picture of a country squire from Grose:—"His chief drink the year round was generally ale, except at this season, the fifth of November, or some other gala days, when he would make a bowl of strong brandy punch, garnished with a toast and nutmeg. In the corner of his hall by the fire-side stood a large wooden two-armed chair, and within the chimney corner were a couple of seats. Here at Christmas he entertained his tenants assembled round a globing fire made of the roots of trees and other great logs, and told and heard the traditionary tales of the village, respecting ghosts and witches, till fear made them afraid to move. In the mean time the jorum of ale was in continual circulation."

      Christmas Presents.—A friend of mine at Appleby, in Westmoreland, who is aware of my writing this article, says, "Pray recollect the old custom we have here of making little presents one to another. You know it is the practice here for little girls to send numerous presents to their sweethearts, secured as tightly with wax and brown paper

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      "Ancient Wilts,"–Sir R.C. Hoare, speaking of Stonehenge, expresses his opinion that "our earliest inhabitants were Celts, who naturally introduced with them their own buildings customs, rites, and religions ceremonies, a

1

"Ancient Wilts,"–Sir R.C. Hoare, speaking of Stonehenge, expresses his opinion that "our earliest inhabitants were Celts, who naturally introduced with them their own buildings customs, rites, and religions ceremonies, and to them I attribute the erection of Stonehenge, and the greater part of the sepulchral memorials that still continue to render its environs so truly interesting to the antiquary and historian." Abury, or Avebury, is a village amidst the remains of an immense temple, which for magnificence and extent is supposed to have exceeded the more celebrated fabric of Stonehenge; Some enthusiastic inquirers have however, carried their supposition beyond probability, and in their zeal have even supposed them to be antediluvian labours! Many of the barrows in the vicinity of Sarum have been opened, and in them several antiquarian relics have been discovered. In short, the whole county is one of high antiquarian interest, and its history has been illustrated with due fidelity and research.

2

Richard of Cirericesler, p. 31, 68, 113.

3

Cott. Coll. Faustina, b. 3, MSS. Brit Mus.

4

Brompton Twysd.. 866.

5

Dodsworth's History of Salisbury Cathedral.

6

Roger de Hoveden.

7

Ibid.

8

Petrus Blesensis, Epist, 105.

9

See MIRROR, p. 330.

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