The irruption of this motley crew, with beat of drum, according to ancient custom, was the consummation of uproar and merriment. Master Simon covered himself 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--a medley of quaint costumes. The worthy Squire contemplated these fantastic sports, and the resurrection of his old wardrobe, with the simple relish of childish delight. But enough of Christmas and its gambols; it is time for me to pause in this garrulity. In writing to amuse, if I fail, the only evil is my own disappointment. If, however, I can by any lucky chance, in these days of evil, rub out one wrinkle from the brow of care, or beguile the heavy heart of one moment of sorrow; if I can now and then penetrate through the gathering film of misanthropy, prompt a benevolent view of human nature, and make my reader more in good humour with his fellow-beings and himself, surely, surely, I shall not then have written entirely in vain. [Illustration: Decoration] Printed in the City of London at the Edinburgh Press Transcriber’s Note For the benefit of those who cannot see it, beneath the illustration with the caption “The dinner was served up in the Great Hall” is a transcription of the poem in manuscript inside the illustration frame. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of An Old Fashioned Christmas Day, by Washington Irving