LIFE AND STUDY IN EUROPE 57 



festivities. Several other young people were present and, 

 besides the Dr's 4 children, a little boy and girl from a neigh- 

 boring family. On entering the house we heard the voices of 

 the children in one of the parlors where they were staying, 

 impatient for the signal that should announce that the tree 

 was ready and summon them to receive the Christmas pres- 

 ents. After waiting some time the door of the Dr. 's study 

 was opened, the children were led in, and we followed. On 

 one table were the gifts for the Dr. On another were arranged 

 as many plates as were guests invited, and on or near them 

 were cakes, nuts, candies, etc. On a sofa and floor were 

 arranged presents for the children, and in a corner stood the 

 Christmas tree, a pine branch 5 or 6 ft. high, set upright on 

 a wooden pedestal, having little candles made of various 

 colored material burning at the end of the twigs, and hung 

 with ribbons, colored paper and a host of nuts, raisins, little 

 cakes, etc. Each one now was conducted to his portion of 

 good things, and we began shortly to look at each other's 

 presents and amuse ourselves in conversation, which you may 

 be assured did not slip my tongue quite so easily as it would 

 have done could I have spoken in English. Dr. Zenker received 

 many nice gifts from his good wife, new curtains to his study 

 windows, a huge piece of "stolle" or fruit cake as big as a 

 very thick stick of stove wood, a box of cigars, — for every he 

 German smokes, — a fine medallion of Goethe the great Poet, 

 given by, an American, and cakes, candies etc. The children 

 of course had the fine things. One had a kitchen with dishes, 

 stove, hams hanging on the wall and all the fixings complete, 

 another had a chamber with furniture, dolls, etc. The little 

 boy received a riding horse, a gun, a flute. I found on my 

 place a teacup and saucer made in Leipsic and having a pic- 

 ture of the city upon it. Tea cakes, sausages, herrings, and 

 other simple refreshments were at times distributed. We 

 talked lots of German, were all vastly happy, and at 10 o 'clock 

 bid the Dr. and Doctorinn good night. They wished us "to 

 sleep well, ' ' and ' ' to come and see them right quickly again, ' ' 



