gns, amidst laughter, fun, and
jollity. The origin of this custom is not known, but it is supposed to
be one of great antiquity.

"'The illustration is from a sketch by Mr. Colebrooke, Stockdale.'"

We may add that, in the seventeenth century, a similar custom seems to
have been observed in some places on Christmas Eve, for in Herrick's
_Hesperides_ the wassailing of fruit trees is among the Christmas Eve
ceremonies:--

"Wassail the trees, that they may beare
You many a plum, and many a peare;
For more or less fruits they will bring,
As you do give them wassailing."

CHRISTMAS MORNING IN EXETER CATHEDRAL.

Writing from Exeter, in 1852, a correspondent says "the custom of
welcoming this season of holy joy with 'psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs' lingers in the cathedral city of Exeter; where, during
Christmas Eve, the parish choirs perambulate the streets singing
anthems, with instrumental accompaniments. The singing is protracted
through the night, when the celebration often assumes a more secular
character than is strictly in accordance with the festival. A more
sacred commemoration is, however, at hand.

"At a quarter-past seven o'clock on Christmas morning the assemblage
of persons in the nave of Exeter Cathedral is usually very numerous:
there are the remnants of the previous vigil, with unwashed faces and
sleepy eyes; but a large number are early risers, who have left their
beds for better purposes than a revel. There is a great muster of the
choir, and the fine Old Hundredth Psalm is sung from the gallery to a
full organ, whose billows of sound roll through the vaulted edifice.
The scene is strikingly picturesque: all is dim and shadowy; the red
light from the flaring candles falling upon upturned faces, and here
and there falling upon a piece of grave sculpture, whilst the grey
light of day begins to stream through the antique windows, adding to
the solemnity of the scene. As the last verse of the psalm peals
forth, the crowd begins to move, and the spacious cathedral is soon
left to the more devout few who remain to attend the morning service
in the Lady-chapel."

A WELSH CHRISTMAS.

From the "Christmas Chronicles of Llanfairpwllycrochon," by R. P.
Hampton Roberts, in _Notes and Queries_, December 21, 1878, we quote
the following:

"Now Thomas Thomas, and Mary Jones, and all their neighbours, had
great veneration for Christmas, and enjoyed much pleasure in
looking forward to the annual