Cambridge.
Ther. [Thermometer] FRI. DEC.24, 1909 [Friday. December 24, 1909] Wea. [Weather]
Fine.
  Clear & cool with fresh W. [west] wind.
Although there is no snow the ground 
is hard frozen and the river, as
far as one can see from the foot of
Sparks Street, encased in ice and
covered with skaters, mostly boys.
The Back Bay Basin is still open in
places. I do not know about ponds. 
  Christmas shopping in Harvard
Square in forenoon buying a number 
of things. Spent afternoon in
Museum tying up & marking presents.
  Took a lot of things around in 
the neighborhood this evening. I have
given five jars of jasper whites. They 
are in fullest bloom now & very pretty. 
Walter Deane called in P.M. Gilbert [Robert Alexander Gilbert]
& George dressed the front hall with greens.
2 Chickadees seen in garden. 
Cambridge.
Ther. [Thermometer] SAT. DEC. 25, 1909 [Saturday, December 25, 1909] Wea. [Weather]
Dull.
Cloudy & cold with a bitter chill
in the air but with little or no wind.
Snow began falling early this evening
& the ground is now covered an inch
deep or more. It will at least lay
the dust which has been most annoying 
along Brattle St. of late. 
  We three C. [Caroline], E.R.S.[Elizabeth R. Simmons] & I opened our
Christmas presents just after breakfast.
C. had great numbers of them, I only a 
few but all things I wanted, the 
best the copy of Vanity Fair ["Vanity Fair"] 1st ed. [edition]
I saw at Elson's in London. C. bought
it soon after that & now gives it me. 
C. & Merina dined in Peace Room, I
at the Thayers with a large family party
among them Will Thayer & Susan, Ezra
& Ethel & their children, Miss Eastwood,
Miss Johnson, Jack & Sarah [Ames?] etc.
  Got back at 4. & sat with C. an hour.
Called at the Almys at 6. & saw nearly
all the family. E.R.S. read aloud to me 
in our hall after supper.