1827.] A Christmas Parti/. 47 



the main broadside of jokes prepared for their reception ; but a few ran- 

 dom jests, flung after them at a venture, hit notwithstanding ; and one 

 amongst them, containing an insinuation that Jacob had stolen a match 

 to avoid keeping the wedding, touched our bridegroom, a man of mettle 

 in his way, on the very point of honour the more especially as it pro- 

 ceeded from a bluff old bachelor of his own standing honest George 

 Bridgwater, of the Lea at whose hospitable gate he had discussed 

 many a jug of ale and knoll of bacon, whilst hearing and telling the news 

 of the country side. George Bridgwater to suspect him of stinginess ! 

 the thought was insupportable. Before he reached the Bell he had 

 formed, and communicated to Hester, the spirited resolution of giving a 

 splendid party in the Christmas week a sort of wedding-feast or house- 

 warming ; consisting of smoking and cards for the old, dancing and sing- 

 ing for the young, and eating and drinking for all ages ; and, in spite of 

 Hesters decided disapprobation, invitations were given and preparations 

 entered on forthwith. 



Sooth to say, such are the sad contradictions of poor human nature, 

 that Mrs. Frost's displeasure, albeit a bride in the honey-moon, not only 

 entirely failed in persuading Master Frost to change his plan, but even 

 seemed to render him more confirmed and resolute in his purpose. Hester 

 was a thrifty housewife ; and although Jacob was apparently, after his 

 fashion, a very gallant and affectionate husband, and although her interest 

 had now become his and of his own interest none had ever suspected 

 him to be careless yet he did certainly take a certain sly pleasure in 

 making an attack at once on her hoards and her habits, and forcing her 

 into a gaiety and an outlay which made the poor bride start back 

 aghast. 



The full extent of Hester's misfortune in this ball, did not, however, 

 come upon her at once. She had been accustomed to the speculating 

 hospitality of the Christmas parties at the Swan, whose host was wont 

 at tide times to give a supper to his customers, that is to say, to furnish 

 the eatables thereof the leg of mutton and turnips, the fat goose and 

 apple-sauce, and the huge plum-puddings of which light viands that 

 meat usually consisted, on an understanding that the aforesaid custo- 

 mers were to pay for the drinkables therewith consumed ; and, from the 

 length of the sittings, as well as the reports current on such occasions, 

 Hester was pretty well assured that the expenditure had been most 

 judicious, and that the leg of mutton and trimmings had been paid for 

 over and over. She herself being, as she expressed it, " a lone woman, 

 and apt to be put upon," had never gone farther in these matters than a 

 cup of hyson and muffins, and a cup of hot elder-wine, to some of her 

 cronies in the neighbourhood ; but, having considerable confidence both 

 in the extent of Jacob's connexions and their tippling propensities, as 

 well as in that faculty of getting tipsy and making tipsy in Jacob him- 

 self, which she regarded f with one auspicious and one dropping eye," 

 as good and bad for her trade, she had at first no very great objection to 

 try for once the experiment of a Christmas party ; nor was she so much 

 startled at the idea of a dancing dancing, as she observed, being a mighty 

 provoker of thirst ; neither did she very greatly object to her husband's 

 engaging old Timothy, the fiddler, to officiate for the evening, on con- 

 dition of giving him as much ale as he chose to drink, although she 

 perfectly well knew what that promise implied, Timothy's example 

 being valuable on such an occasion. But when the dreadful truth stared 



