An English gentleman stands at the open gates of his mansion handing out food to the poor who are gathered around. Etching by R. Seymour.

"I'll sing you an old ballad / That was made by an old pate, / Of a fine old English gentleman / Who had an old estate, / He kept a brave old mansion / At a bountiful old rate / With a good old porter to relieve / The old poor at his gate / Like a fine old English gentleman, / All of the olden time. … When winter cold brought Christmas old, / He opened house to all, / And, though three score and ten his years, / He featly led the ball; / Nor was the houseless wanderer / Then driven from the hall, / For, while he feasted all the great, / He ne'er forgot the small - / Like a fine old English gentleman, / All of the olden time."--Henry Russell, 'The fine old English gentleman', 1831