Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Tuesday, Dec. 24, 1918 [December 24, 1918] Wea [Weather]
Dull.
A bright rosy sunrise followed
by a dull; cloudy day ending
in a warm rain as twilight fell.
Garden birds. A Chickadee, a Crow,
10 Starlings perched in tree top
in Jungle.
Spent most of day in house,
writing letters. Starting out in late P.M.
I took Christmas cards to various
houses in the neighborhood including
the Almys' where "Junior" received
me very cordially & talked entertainingly
of his gas mask work & how it has
been applied to the activities of our
army in France.

Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Wednesday, Dec. 25, 1918 [December 25, 1918] Wea [Weather]
Dull
 Literally a green Christmas as
regards our lawns, verdant with
grass & showing no trace of snow or
frost, but a rather gloomy Christmas
also because of dark lowering skies
& some drizzling rainfall. here
was little or no wind stirring.
  Garden birds. Ten or a dozen Starlings
greedily eating Parkman apples; a
Hairy Woodpecker high in Catalpa
front of Museum.
  C. [Caroline Brewster] came to dine with E.R.S. [Elizabeth R. Simmons] & me
for the first time in this house
since Sept. 5, Gambel brought her
up by motor at 11.45 & took her back
at 3. She first visited the poultry yard
& was much pleased with the 16 Plym.
Rock pullets [Plymouth Rock pullet]. After dinner I played
3 records (Te Deum "Carry me back to
Ole Vir" & Christmas Carols) & we had
a good talk by hall fire.
  Called on neighbor Bruce at 5 P.M. &
talked with him 2 hours. He discussed
the present ominous social conditions
with remarkable intelligence & reasonableness.