SELWICK HALL, DECEMBER YE XXIII. Four nights hath it taken me to write that last piece, for all the days have we been right busy making ready for _Christmas_. There be in the buttery now thirty great spice-cakes, and an hundred mince pies, and a mighty bowl of plum-porridge [plum-pudding without the cloth] ready for the boiling, and four barons of beef, and a great sight of carrots and winter greens, and two great cheeses, and a parcel of sugar-candy for the childre, and store of sherris-sack and claret, and _Rhenish_ wine, and muscadel. As to the barrels of ale, and the raisins of _Corance_ [currants] and the apples, and the conserves and codiniac [quince marmalade], and such like, I will not tarry to count them. And to-day, and yet again it shall be to-morrow, have _Mother_ and Aunt _Joyce_, and we three maids, trudged all the vicinage, bidding our neighbours to the Hall on _Christmas_ Eve and for the even of _Christmas_ Day. And as to-night am I well aweary, for _Thirlmere_ side fell to my share, and I was this morrow as far as old _Madge's_ bidding her and young _Madge_, and that is six miles well reckoned. _Father_ saith alway that though it be our duty at all times, yet is it more specially at _Christmas_, to bid the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind: so we have them alway of _Christmas_ night, and of _Christmas_ Eve have we a somewhat selecter gathering, of our own kin and close friends and such like: only Master _Banaster_ and _Anstace_ come both times. Then on New Year's Day have we alway a great sort of childre, and merry games and music and such like. But the last night of the old year will _Father_ have no gatherings nor merrymaking. He saith 'tis a right solemn time; and as each one of us came to the age of fourteen years have we parted at nine o' the clock as usual, but not on that night for bed. Every one sitteth by him or herself in a separate chamber, with a Bible or some portion thereof open afore. There do we read and pray and meditate until half-past eleven, at which time all we gather in the great chamber. Then _Father_ reads first the 139th _Psalm_, and then that piece in the _Revelation_ touching all the dead standing afore God: and he prayeth a while, until about five minutes afore the year end. Then all gather in the great window toward _Keswick_, and tarry as still as death until Master _Cridge_ ring the great bell on _Lord_ Island, so soon as he hear the chimes of _Keswick_ Church. Then, no sooner hath the bell died away, which telleth to all around that the New Year is born, then _Father_ striketh up, and all we join in, the 100th _Psalm_-- to wit, "All people that on earth do dwell." And when the last note of the _Amen_ dieth, then we kiss one another, and each wisheth the other a happy new year and God's blessing therein: and so away to bed. I reckon I shall not have no time to write again until _Christmas_ Day is well over.