ATTRACTIONS OF WINTER WEATHER 299 



For though we fancy u the fine old host " dropped his 

 fis, though he welcomed that very rough diamond 

 the inimitable Bob Sawyer as a familiar friend, and 

 extended his hospitalities to a seedy strolling actor like 

 Jingle nevertheless the Manor Farm must live in 

 the memories of Englishmen and their descendants 

 in specula s<eculorum. We cordially echo the hearty 

 sentiment of Mr. Weller : " Your master's a wery 

 pretty notion of keepin' everything up, my dear. I 

 never see such a sensible man as he is, or such a reg'lar 

 genTm'n " ; as we assent to the grateful utterance of 

 Mr. Pickwick, when sitting down " by the huge fire of 

 logs, to a substantial supper and a mighty bowl of 

 wassail " " this is indeed comfort." 



But the whole of the winter sketches, of which that 

 supper on Christmas Eve is but one in a series, are 

 as delightful as they are characteristic of manners that 

 are departing. The drive along the frost-bound roads 

 on the outside of the Muggleton mail, after the cod- 

 fish and the barrels of oysters had been forced into 

 the gaping fore-boot ; the change of horses at the inn 

 in the market-town it was only a slow coach, we 

 must remember when Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Tupman 

 came so near being left behind, when they had run up 

 the yard to refresh themselves at the tap ; the walk 

 along the frozen lanes to the farm ; the meeting with 

 the house-party, the reception, the supper, the rubbers, 

 and the hot elder-wine to follow ; the wedding next 

 day, and the breakfast that sent the poor relations to 

 bed. Of course there is a dash of Christmas romance 



