There was silence in the hall for a moment and then the squire spoke out with a cheery welcome, for he heartily appreciated the amusement.
"Bring in your gallant crew. Ho, there, children, move to one side and give them room for fair play." This latter to various groups of merrymakers in the hall.
The whist players dropped their cards, the hall occupants withdrew to either side, and the elderly parties around the squire ceased their conversation to give full attention to the antics of these new merrymakers.
The herald bowed to the squire and company and waved his wand, and in capered a queer, uncouth figure in mask and flowing wig and whiskers. The young children burst into peals of laughter at his grotesque movements, and he had to uphold his authority and gain silence for himself by thumping the floor vigorously with his tall staff. He had a right to demand attention, for he was Father Christmas; his round, cheery face proclaimed it, even without his speech which he proceeded to make.
"Here come I, old Father Christmas,
Welcome or welcome not,
I 'ope hold Father Christmas
Will never be forgot;
I bring the cold of winter time,
That kisses red the nose;
I bring the snow, the rain, the frost
That bites and stings the toes;
But, then, I'm welcome anyway
Because I am the seer
That brings the nuts, and cake, and pies
Of happy Yuletide cheer."
Father Christmas executed a few joyous capers, but was interrupted by the herald who, with a little fear on his countenance, stated:
"Father Christmas, thee must stand aside a bit for I think I see an enemy of thine and of our good Christmas cheer a-coming."
Father Christmas moved aside with a shake of his hoary locks and muttered:
"Ah, 'tez the Saracen, I fear,
I would our bold St. George were near."
All eyes were fastened on the door through which the valorous Turk, in his green turban, was entering, his face a little more ferocious by the wound received from St. George's sword in the contest on the public road. The Saracen has some difficulty in expressing himself in good English, but that was to be attributed to his Turkish training. Flourishing his sword he began: