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68
Läsebok. N:o 76 — 77. 68
engagements. By little and little he restored it to its former
state; the clinking of gold was no more heard at night in the
chamber of the deceased priest, but began to be heard by
day in the pocket of the living mason. In a word, he
increased rapidly in wealth, and became one of the richest
men in Granada. He gave large sums to the Church, by
way, no doubt, of satisfying his conscience, and never
revealed the secret of the vault, until on his death-bed to
his son and heir.
IITa sit ingto n Irving.
73. English Customs.
Christmas is a merry time in England; friends meet,
who seldom see eaeh other, and good cheer and smiling faces
abound; and, for days and weeks before and after ISew-year’s
day, friends and relations assemble at each other’s houses in
many a pleasant family group. Among the rich, gay parties
are formed; and among the poor, sons and daughters trudge
miles upon miles from their places of service, in order to
see their aged parents. Eoast-beef and plum-pudding is the
old-fashioned Christmas dinner, and many people would
scarcely think Christmas was really come, if they did not make
mince-pies for the occasion. Mince-pie is generally made of
boiled beef, suet, raisins, currants, and apples, chopped up
together with candied lemon peel, sugar, nutmeg, cloves,
and cinnamon. Some brandy is poured in, and then the
whole is baked in a rich paste. Almost every one who calls
in is asked to eat a mince-pie, and some people amuse
themselves in telling you that you will have just as many happy
months in the year, as you eat different sorts of mince-pie.
At night all get round the fire, the brown jug is filled to
the very brim, and many a tale is repeated that has been
told twenty years ago.
On Valentine’s Day, the 14th of February every year,
young persons amuse themselves in choosing Valentines, or
particular friends for the year. This is done by sending
letters to one another, generally in verse, with a drawing;
many of these are very nonsensical.
May-Day, the first day of the month, and of summer,
according to popular notions, is one of the liveliest of the
year, for great numbers walk abroad, early in the morning,
while the sun is shining and the lark singing, to go a-maying,
as it is called, that is to gather May flowers; they generally
bring home a sprig, and many bring a bough of the
hawthorn in blossom. In country places, too, a tall May-pole is
set up, adorned with garlands of flowers, for the village
people to dance round. In olden times London also abounded
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