As emblematical of hospitality’s festive 
month. 
“ The cluster’d berries claim the eye 
O’er the bright holly’s gay green leaves:” 
We therefore weave our garland with this 
glossy foliage intermixed with its vermilion 
berries, from the centre of which we suspend 
a branch of mirth-inspiring misletoe. 
Peacham says “ December must be ex¬ 
pressed with a horrid and fearful aspect, clad 
in Irish rugge, or coarse freeze girt upon him, 
instead of a garland upon his head, three or 
four night-caps, with a Turkish turban over 
them. His nose red, his mouth and beard 
clogged with icicles, at his back a bundle of 
holly, ivy, or misletoe, holding in furred mit¬ 
tens the sign of Capricornus. 
We shall conclude our emblems of the 
months by Peacham’s instructions to the pain¬ 
ters of the seventeenth century. 
