Sir Anthony Fitzherbert's
Book of Husbandry, Markham's Country Contentments, the Tretyse of
Hunting, by Sir Thomas Cockayne, Knight, Isaac Walton's Angler,
and two or three more such ancient worthies of the pen were his
standard authorities; and, like all men who know but a few books,
he looked up to them with a kind of idolatry and quoted them on
all occasions. As to his songs, they were chiefly picked out of
old books in the squire's library, and adapted to tunes that were
popular among the choice spirits of the last century. His
practical application of scraps of literature, however, had
caused him to be looked upon as a prodigy of book-knowledge by
all the grooms, huntsmen, and small sportsmen of the
neighborhood.
While we were talking we heard the distant toll of the village
bell, and I was told that the squire was a little particular in
having his household at church on a Christmas morning,
considering it a day of pouring out of thanks and rejoicing; for,
as old Tusser observed,--
"At Christmas be merry, and thankful withal,
And feast thy poor neighbors, the great with the small."
"If you are disposed to go to church," said Frank Bracebridge, "I
can promise you a specimen of my cousin Simon's musical
achievements.
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