OLD HOLIDAY AMUSEMENTS. 365 



young heads, that we have been robbed of, are in 

 especial request to form a bush, dependent from 

 the centre of the kitchen or the servant's hall, 

 which in this season of license and festivity becomes 

 a station for extra liberty, as every female passing 

 under it becomes subject to the salutation of her 

 male companion. This centre bush is often the 

 object of particular decoration, being surrounded 

 by the translucent berries of the mistletoe, and 

 those of the ivy, dipped in blue and white starch. 

 But at this season I have noticed one remarkable 

 decoration among the natives of the principality. 

 A large white turnip is stuck as full as possible of 

 black oats, so as to hide almost the substance in 

 which they are set, and sometimes having com- 

 partments of white oats ; and being placed upon a 

 candlestick, or some other elevation, on the mantle- 

 tree, presents an extraordinary hedgehog-like ap- 

 pearance. The first adoption of this purely rural 

 fancy, and its designation, I am perfectly unac- 

 quainted with ; but, when it is well executed, it 

 requires attentive examination to detect the device. 



We are no votarists of fortune here, nor do we 

 trouble ourselves concerning predestinate ordina- 

 tions, or like subtilties ; but when we notice pass- 

 ing events, we lament the ills and are pleased with 

 the good luck of a neighbour : and a little turn 

 happened lately to a parishioner, which in former 

 times, when events were viewed under aspects 



