CHAPTER XXXV 
WE CLOSE THE BOOKS FOR 796 
THE morning after Christmas broke clear, with 
a wind from the south that promised to make 
quick work of the snow. The young people 
were engaged for the evening, as indeed for most 
evenings, in the hospitable village, and they 
spent the day on the farm as pleased them best. 
There were many things to interest city-bred 
folk on a place like Four Oaks. Everything was 
new to them, and they wanted to see the work- 
ings of the factory farm in all its detail. They 
made friends with the men who had charge of 
the stock, and spent much time in the stables. 
Polly and I saw them occasionally, but they did 
not need much attention from us. We have 
never found it necessary to entertain our friends 
on the farm. They seem to do that for them- 
selves. We simply live our lives with them, and 
they live theirs with us. This works well both 
for the guests and for the hosts. 
The great event of the holiday week was a 
New Year Eve dance at the Country Club. 
Every member was expected to appear in person 
or by proxy, as this was the greatest of many 
functions of the year. 
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