In one part of Lancashire there is another very curious spring, the water of which takes fire, and burns like oil, on a lighted candle being applied to its surface. There is a great deal of coal in the neighborhood of this spring, and it is supposed that the flame is caused by the same gas, which, under the name of fire-damp, occasions such dreadful explosions in coal mines.

CHAPTER XXV.

Parley tells of English Customs.

Christmas. Twelfth

Night. April Fool Day. Good Friday. May Day Lord Mayor's Day.

I was always fond of knowing the different customs of different countries, and have been accustomed to make every inquiry about them: I will tell you ofa few that are observed in England. Christmas is a merry time there; friends meet, who seldom see each other, and

good cheer and smiling faces abound, and, for days and weeks, friends and relations assemble at each other's houses in many a pleasant family group. Roast beef and plum pudding are the old fashioned Christmas dinner, and many people would scarcely think Christmas was really come, if they did not make mince pies.

Twelfth Day is the twelfth day after Christmas day, and used to be kept as a feast more than it is now. In towns, the confectioners pile up their windows with rich cakes, covered over with iced sugar; these cakes are ornamented with figures, flowers, and fruit, and one, generally, is bought to put before parties. Pictures of different characters are drawn on paper, such as kings, queens, soldiers, sailors, milkmaids, farmers, and so on, and the young people draw for them. Whatever character any one draws, he or she must act the part of that character till the party breaks up; this occasions a great deal of diversion.

April Fool Day will, no doubt, be kept up many years to come, but I never could find out what the custom sprung from that is practised on that day. I

up

have heard that prayers used to be offered on that day for all of weak understanding, such as lunatics, and silly people, and perhaps it was the case. No sooner do young persons, and many grown people, too, rise in a morning, on the first day of April, than they begin to put some joke or other upon those around them, sending them on fruitless errands, or calling them to look at something, when there is nothing to look at.

On Good Friday, buns, made rather sweet, with caraway seeds in them, are much eaten; they have a cross, no doubt in remembrance of the cross of Calvary, upon them, and as they are usually eaten hot, so they are called hot cross buns. Thousands and thousands of them are sold on Good Friday.

At an early hour on the First of May, different parties of chimney-sweeps set off to go round the neighborhood, kicking up a strange clatter, and dancing at every house. Their faces are painted in an odd way, and their clothes are odder still. They are dressed up in strips of paper, and shreds of linen, of all colors of the rainbow, with caps of the same kind on their heads. One carries a dust pan and brush, which he knocks

together. Another shakes and rattles two hard dry bones between his finger, and makes noise enough to be heard half a mile off. A third gingles a steel triangle. A fourth, dressed like a woman, has a salt box and a wooded spoon; and what with the clattering of the spoon and the box lid, you hardly know how to bear the noise. But the oddest figure of all is what is called Jack in the Green; this is a boy or man in the very middle of large boughs of laurel, who whirls round and round like a top. Well! all these keep hopping, and jumping, and turning round together, making as much noise as they can, and then handing a ladle with a long handle, to the windows and doors for money. A pretty penny they get in the course of the day, I assure you, and glad enough are they at night to get to bed after their hard day's dancing.

There is a gay day in London, called Lord Mayor's Day: I will tell you why it is so called. On that day the lord mayor takes upon himself the honours and duties of his high situation. Off he sets in a grand barge, attended by the liveries of several of the city companies, to go to the barons at Westminster. Well! after being

presented there, he take the oaths of office. O, if you were to see the river Thames on that day you would not forget it! There sail along the splendid barges, while the flags are floating in the air; the music playing, and the people in boats, or crowding together on the bridges, waving their hats and handkerchiefs, or shouting, just as they please. At Black Friar's Bridge, the whole party leave the water and get again into their grand carriages, in order that they may dine at Guildhall. The sheriff's carriage is very grand, but the state carriage of the lord mayor is much more gay. Fancy that you see this splendid carriage, and a great number of others with the richest liveries; the city companies in procession; men in armour on horses, with bands of music, and flags flying; fancy these things, and that all London is collected together, crushing, cramming, shouting, laughing, and squealing, and then you will be able to form some notion of Lord Mayor's Day.

I have told you some strange things, but have others to tell you of yet.