CHRISTMAS EVE 1914 87 



who cannot often afford to take a half-holiday, and 

 therefore put a true value upon any that they do 

 have. Their wives take things more seriously, 

 for besides having their arms full of parcels they 

 lead tired, fretful children by the hand. 



As I wend my way homeward I notice that a 

 familiar bush of holly has a visitor hidden half- 

 way up its stem, in amongst the prickly branches. 

 It is a young ploughboy from the farm near by, 

 who is cutting branch after branch from the 

 centre of the tree and flinging them to the ground. 

 He deplores the lack of berries on them and asks 

 me if I have any good trees in my garden. No 

 doubt he would readily pay a moonlight visit of 

 inspection if there were a prospect of such a prize. 

 I assure him that this year red berries are as 

 scarce as mistletoe. 



It is already dark as I steal round the house, 

 laden with packages containing the last wants of 

 a hungry household, for no further provisions will 

 reach us until three days hence, when holidays are 

 over. I have managed to secure just those little 

 trifles that sometimes are forgotten by the trades- 

 man when he calls, because this week he has the 

 requirements of so many to satisfy. The half- 

 pound of butter or the extra Canadian cheese 

 are what should keep the housekeeper calm and 

 prevent her anxious mind from worrying at a 

 moment when all her attention has to be centred 

 upon the turkey and plum pudding. 



In the two offices I find figures clad in pale-blue 

 coats, standing upon chairs to wreathe holly, ivy, 

 and mistletoe round the pictures. Very gay it 



