Produced by Louise Hope and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) [Transcriber's Note: Rows of closely spaced asterisks are in the original. Spelling and punctuation have been left unchanged, except as noted at the end of the file.] [Illustration: JOHN BROWN ESQ. AS HE APPEARED EVERY EVE] CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR Showing What Mr. Brown Did, Thought, And Intended To Do, During That Festive Season. Now First Edited From The Original MSS. (Mess). With Notes and Illustrations By LUKE LIMNER, Esq. London: William Tegg and Co., 85, Queen Street, Cheapside. M.DCCC.L. Prime Movers. JOHN BROWN, Esq.-- _Citizen of London and Suburban Snob._ JOHN BROWN, Jun., Esq.-- _"Fast Gent;" Son and Heir to the above "Brick!"-- I believe you, my boys, rather!_ Master THOMAS BROWN.-- _Apple of his Mother's eye-- "her Tommy-wommy"-- "her dear boy"-- "her jewel of a pet."_ Captain BONAVENTURE DE CAMP.-- _Officer, late of the Hon. E. I. Co's. Service, but now at the service of any one._ LATIMER DE CAMP.-- _Master of (He) Arts; Elder Son of the above, of Nobodynose College, Oxford._ WELLESLEY DE CAMP.-- _Cadet of Sandboys Military College._ SOAVO SPOHF.-- _Composer; Organist at St. Stiff's the Martyr; Mr. Brown's ex-friend._ JOHN (BROWN).-- _Footman to John Brown, Esq.; late Private in the 44th foot._ TOBIAS STRAP.-- _Grocer in Greens, Landlord to Mr. Spohf, and Supernumerary help to any body._ ICHABOD STRAP.-- _(Son of his sire) commonly called "Alphonso," but sometimes "Buttons."_ Mrs. BENIGMA BROWN.-- _Rib of John Brown, Esq.-- Ruler of his roast and boiled._ Miss JEMIMA BROWN. } _Eligible Young Ladies-- very so-- to any one inclined to a Miss ANGELINA BROWN. } matter-o'-money-all alliance._ Lady LUCRETIA DE CAMP.-- _Spouse of "the Captain;" Lady in her own right (and wrong)._ DEBORAH STRAP.-- _(Consort of T. S. above) Pue-packer at St. Stiff's the Martyr._ _Guests, Cooks, Maids, Lanthorn-bearers, extra Flunkeys, Police, &c., &c., &c., &c._ SCENE.-- _Victoria and Albert Villas, Mizzlington, near London._ TIME.-- _Christmas._ List of Plates. PAGE John Brown, Esq., as he appeared every Evening _Frontispiece._ The Carol--"Tidings of Comfort and Joy!" 1 The Waits serenading Victoria and Albert Villas 5 Christmas Eve--The Market--Brown buying Holly 13 Christmas Dinners--Good Living, at least, Once a Year 18 The Pudding, as it ought to have appeared 23 Bringing in the Yule-log 25 Boxing-day--The Beadle offended 28