most of the gentry. They
bethought themselves of a blackthorn near one of their villages; and
this thorn was for the nonce declared to be the growth of a slip from
the Christmas-flowering thorn at Glastonbury. If the Buckinghamshire
thorn, so argued the peasants, will only blossom in the night of the
24th of December, we will go to church next day, and allow that the
Christmas by Act of Parliament is the true Christmas; but no blossom
no feast, and there shall be no revel till the eve of old Christmas
Day. They watched the thorn and drank to its budding; but as it
produced no promise of a flower by the morning, they turned to go
homewards as best they might, perfectly satisfied with the success of
the experiment. Some were interrupted in their way by their respective
"vicars," who took them by the arm and would fain have persuaded them
to go to church. They argued the question by field, stile, and
church-gate; but not a Bucks peasant would consent to enter a pew till
the parson had promised to preach a sermon to, and smoke a pipe with,
them on the only Christmas Day they chose to acknowledge.

Now, however, this old prejudice has been conquered, and the "new
style" has maintained its ground. It has even done more, for its
authors have so arranged the years and leap years that a confusion in
the time of Christmas or any other festival is not likely to occur
again.

[75] Cassell's "History of England."

[76] Grose.

[77] Herbert H. Adams.

[78] "Old English Customs and Charities," 1842.

[Illustration]

_CHAPTER XI._

MODERN CHRISTMASES AT HOME.

[Illustration: THE WAITS.]

KING GEORGE THE THIRD

came to the throne on the death of his grandfather, George II.
(October 25, 1760), and the first Christmas of his reign "was a high
festival at Court, when his Majesty, preceded by heralds, pursuivants,
&c., went with their usual state to the Chapel Royal, and heard a
sermon preached by his Grace the Archbishop of York; and it being a
collar day, the Knights of the Garter, Thistle and Bath, appeared in
the collars of their respective orders. After the sermon was over,
his Majesty, Prince Edward and Princess Augusta went into the Chapel
Royal, and received the sacrament from the hands of the Bishop of
Durham; and the King offered the byzant, or wedge of gold, in a purse,
for the benefit of the poor, and the royal family all made offerings.
His Majesty afterwards dined with his royal mother