127 EDITORIAL POSTCRIPT. EDITORS, like ladies, generally contrive to append a 'P.S.' to their letters, but on the present occasion, I have this excuse, that it would be unpardonable in me to forget to unaffectedly give utterance to a sentiment which I honestly affirm swells my bosom, and that is: I WISH THEE AND THINE A HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR! APROPOS! I have just received a Sonnet written expressly for the occasion: : ANOTHER YEAR! BY GEORGE HALSE. ANOTHER YEAR is taken from the span Its interval, and feel that not a day Thrills the bold fancy that presumes to look lie When you get this number in your hand it will be NEW YEAR'S EVE! Now I happen to have a little piece lying before me so charmingly descriptive of a "Fire-side scene on New-Year's Eve," that I am tempted to quote it entire. Its copyright appertaineth to our trusty and well-beloved Brother Jonathan, but as I dare say it is a hundred to one that you have never seen it, I humbly trust you will regard its insertion here with anything, but a frown. Here it is, then! "A happy year! oh! father dear! (Happy as we are now!) To shed its sunshine o'er thy head, Your honored love upon your child For that is bliss, oh! father dear! And let me pour some tender strain Of joy upon thine ear, And wish thee, o'er and o'er again, ་་ A happy year! oh! Mother dear! While praying for you from above, A happy year! Oh! Brother dear! Happy as you are bold— Brave heart!—bright youth !—we used to be Now you are grown a father's hope, And when kind Heaven may bless you A happy year! Oh! Sister dear! Take, sweetest girl, affection's gift, A watch!-to tell what HOURS are worth, All valued by the happy ones "A happy, happy, happy year! To one who, though away, As when he came to woo, Oh! Father dear! you gave me leave My lover!-speed him safely home! His coming will make this indeed A happy, happy year!" Or all the many provinces of France, Brittany is, without contradiction, that one which has ever preserved the most vividly the ancient impress of its national character. There still exists in almost unchanged purity, the wild and ardent superstitions, the curious festivals, and picturesque costumes so prevalent during the middle ages. The remains of feudality, though extinct in principle, but ever living in several local customs, still exist there, side by side with the simple traditions common to the first ages of the church. And even, without pushing our examination further, we discover, without difficulty, under several local customs and usages, the traces of a state of civilization anterior even to Christianity itself. The Druidical menhir, surmounted with its stone cross, which you see standing erect in the middle of some barren heath, or in the open spaces of some primæval forest, is the emblem of this land of Brittany, where all traditions exist, mingled and confounded together; where the histories of the two Iseults, of Merlin, and of Lancelot are linked with the miraculous legends of the saints; and with the belief in intermediary agency introduced by Sabianism. If progress is slow, if civilization advances with halting footsteps, on the other hand nothing perishes from out this sterile land. Out of the mass of the different traditions collected by so many generations of people, so many successive civilizations, are formed those picturesque manners, those strange customs, and local usages, so prevalent even at the present time in this Armorica, less isolated from the rest of the world by its geographical position, than by its peculiar idiom, and its strange, though national repugnances. The Breton peasant is frank, lively, and intelligent; he makes a good soldier and an excellent sailor. And yet, with all this natural cheerfulness of disposition, he ever appears dull, listless, and melancholy, when away from that rude land which he loves to adoration. It is only in the midst of his desolate landes, or within hearing of the murmur of his shores, that he shows himself in all the energy of his active and vigorous character. Naturally gay and lighthearted, he seeks with avidity every ceremony in the shape of spectacle or festival that is to be met with for miles around his native village. The harder, the more laborious, the more monotonous is his every-day life, the more anxiously does he appear to seek by his games and festivals, to escape its saddening influence. All the more important circumstances and affairs of life, whether sad or gay, nuptials or burials, serve as so many pretexts for his rejoicings. It is the same also at the principal epochs of the year. The gayest, the most cheerful, of the many Breton festivals, are those which usher in the spring. Then, not a Sunday comes without bringing with it its pilgrimage to the shrine of some national saint, whose name is inscribed in the calendar, and whose rustic chapel may be discovered in the neighbourhood, rearing its modest belfry amid the sacred grove of patriarchal oaks by which it is surrounded. Women, children, the aged, the sick, all hasten to these festivals. It is to these merry-makings, also, that the young villagers flock in crowds: the maidens, decked in holiday garments of the brightest hue; the youths, with peacock's feathers twined round their broad-brimmed hats; all ripe for fun and frolic, dancing and love-making. In general, among the hardy and unsophisticated races of the country, love is a very simple, and, indeed, insipid affair; it is rather an instinct than a passion. But in Brittany the passion may be said to be in a manner elevated above this prosaic level by the observance of certain customs which contrast in a remarkable manner with those of other countries, in other respects more advanced in the arts of civilization. Each diocese, each parish even, has its own peculiar customs. Thus, for instance, there are certain cantons of the Leonais where the lover approaches his mistress without uttering a word. After a formal salutation he takes her apron string, and begins rolling it between his fingers; if the fair one interrupts him, and withdraws the apron string from his hands, it is a bad sign; and the lover may go and seek elsewhere a less obdurate mistress. If, on the contrary, he is permitted to roll it to the waist, he may regard himself, not as sure of his conquest, but as certain of being accepted for a partner during the festivities of the day. In fact, a young girl, possessing the slightest claims to beauty, and of a respectable family, would not be happy had she not on her return from the dance an escort of at least half-a-dozen of these young gallants. This little band of lovers form a merry procession, they are on the very best terms in the world both with themselves and each other, and chat and sing gaily together along the road home. The young girl's father invariably gives them a most hospitable reception; he advances in person to the threshold to receive them, and the table is spread to do them honour. The very best fare that the house affords is produced for their refreshment: pancakes, fried bacon, and cider in abundance. Meanwhile, the young girl, under pretence of changing her holiday attire, seeks the opportunity of retiring into an adjoining apartment, whither she is quickly followed by her admirers, to each of whom is permitted a short interview, one after the other, according to the order in which they have been accepted for the dance. In general, the young girl during these interviews shows neither love, nor, indeed, a preference: for any of her admirers; she receives them all with perfect affability, but also with a great degree of reserve. These tétesa-tétes last for a greater or less length of time, according to the number of the courtiers, for without committing an act of gross. rudeness, of which there is scarcely an example to be met with in the entire province, it is absolutely necessary before the evening closes, that each shall have had his quarter of an hour's interview. 3 For the rest, these conduites, as they are called, seldom lead to anything, they are regarded in the light of simple civilities, the question of marriage been rarely broached between the parties concerned; indeed, after several years assiduities, our lovers: do not consider themselves in any wise more strictly engaged to each other, than would a fashionable couple at Almacks, after having danced a set of quadrilles together. Very frequently, also, do we see young girls, whose banns have been published, still permitting themselves to be escorted home by their admirers. In this case, the future husband, should he form one of the band, is neither better nor worse treated than the others, and he would be considered as a most ridiculous gallant, as an insupportably jealous lover, did he testify the slightest umbrage, the slightest discontent, at this arrangement. When, however, the relations on both sides are agreed, when the marriage is definitively arranged, the fiancée makes choice of a bridesmaid from among her relations, or intimate friends; and the future husband, on his side, also, chooses his garçon d'honneur. This done, they proceed, for the space of fifteen days, the groomsman and fiancée on the one side, and the |