“A merry Gentleman of my Acquaintance desires I will insert, that the old Folks in the Days of yore kept open House at _Christmas_ out of Interest; for then, says he, they receive the greatest part of their rent in Kind; such as Wheat, Barley or Malt, Oxen, Calves, Sheep, Swine, Turkeys, Capon, Geese, and such like; and they not having Room enough to preserve their Cattle or Poultry, nor Markets to sell off the Overplus, they were obliged to use them in their own Houses; and by treating the People of the country, gained credit amongst them, and riveted the Minds and Goodwill of their Neighbours so firmly in them that no one durst venture to oppose them. The ’Squire’s Will was done whatever came on it; for if he happened to ask a Neighbour what it was a Clock, they returned with a low Scrape, it was what your Worship pleases. “The Dancing and Singing of the Benchers in the great Inns of the Court in _Christmas_, is in some sort founded upon Interest; for they hold, as I am informed, some Priviledge by Dancing about the Fire in the middle of their Hall, and singing the Song of _Round about our Coal Fire_, &c. “This time of the year being cold and frosty, generally speaking, or when Jack-Frost commonly takes us by the Nose, the Diversions are within Doors, either in Exercise or by the Fire-side. “Country-Dancing is one of the chief Exercises.... “Then comes Mumming or Masquerading, when the ’Squire’s Wardrobe is ransacked for Dresses of all Kinds, and the coal-hole searched around, or corks burnt to black the Faces of the Fair, or make Deputy-Mustaches, and every one in the Family except the ’Squire himself must be transformed from what they were.... “Or else there is a match at _Blind-Man’s-Buff_, and then it is lawful to set anything in the way for Folks to tumble over.... “As for _Puss in the Corner_, that is a very harmless Sport, and one may romp at it as much as one will.... “The next game to this is _Questions and Commands_, when the Commander may oblige his Subject to answer any lawful Question, and make the same obey him instantly, under the penalty of being smutted, or paying such Forfeit as may be laid on the Aggressor; but the Forfeits being generally fixed at some certain Price, as a Shilling, Half a Crown, &c., so every one knowing what to do if they should be too stubborn to submit, making themselves easy at discretion. “As for the game of _Hoop and Hide_, the Parties have the Liberty of hiding where they will, in any part of the House; and if they happen to be caught the Dispute ends in Kissing, &c. “Most of the Diversions are Cards and Dice, but they are seldom set on foot, unless a Lawyer is at hand, to breed some dispute for him to decide, or at least to have some Party in. “And now I come to another Entertainment frequently used, which is of the Story-telling Order, _viz._ of Hobgoblins, Witches, Conjurors, Ghosts, Fairies, and such like common Disturbers.” [Illustration: Decoration] As Joseph was a-walking