GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS. _Chatham, N. J._ CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE _A good-humoured Christmas chapter, containing an account of a wedding, and some other sports beside, which although in their way, even as good customs as marriage itself, are not quite so religiously kept up, in these degenerate times_ 25 CHAPTER II _The Story of the Goblins who stole a Sexton_ 87 CHAPTER III _How the Pickwickians made and cultivated the acquaintance of a couple of nice young men belonging to one of the liberal professions; how they disported themselves on the ice; and how their visit came to a conclusion_ 118 [Illustration] [Illustration] ILLUSTRATIONS _As brisk as bees, if not altogether as light as fairies, did the four Pickwickians assemble_ Frontispiece _Facing Page_ _Emily Wardle_ 42 _Then the old church bell rang ... and they all returned to breakfast_ 56 _A five and twenty mile walk, undertaken by the males at Wardle’s recommendation_ 64 _Wardle singing the Christmas Carol_ 80 _As he wended his way up the ancient street, he saw the cheerful light of the blazing fires_ 90 _Gabriel started up, and stood rooted to the spot with astonishment and terror_ 96 _A rich and beautiful landscape was disclosed to view_ 110 “_How slippery it is, Sam!_” 130 _Went slowly and gravely down the slide, with his feet about a yard and a quarter apart_ 138 A GOOD-HUMOURED CHRISTMAS CHAPTER [Illustration] CHAPTER I A GOOD-HUMOURED CHRISTMAS CHAPTER, CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF A WEDDING, AND SOME OTHER SPORTS BESIDE, WHICH ALTHOUGH IN THEIR WAY, EVEN AS GOOD CUSTOMS AS MARRIAGE ITSELF, ARE NOT QUITE SO RELIGIOUSLY KEPT UP, IN THESE DEGENERATE TIMES.