After the dinner table was removed, the hall was
given up to the younger members of the family, who,
prompted to all kind of noisy mirth by the Oxonian and
Master Simon, made its old walls ring with their merriment,
as they played at romping games. I delight in
witnessing the gambols of children, and particularly at
this happy holiday season, and could not help stealing
out of the drawing-room on hearing one of their peals
of laughter. I found them at the game of blindman's-buff.
Master Simon who was the leader of their revels,
and seemed on all occasions to fulfil the office of that ancient
potentate, the Lord of Misrule, was blinded in the
midst of the hall. The little beings were as busy about
him as the mock fairies about Falstaff; pinching him,
plucking at the skirts of his coat, and tickling him with
straws. One fine blue-eyed girl of about thirteen, with
her flaxen hair all in beautiful confusion, her frolic face
in a glow, her frock half torn off her shoulders, a complete
picture of a romp, was the chief tormentor; and
from the slyness with which Master Simon avoided the
smaller game, and hemmed this wild little nymph in corners,
and obliged her to jump shrieking over chairs, I suspected
the rogue of being not a whit more blinded than
was convenient.