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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



The Aviary and its Occupants will be continued in 

 our next. 



Communications Received. — Bomb yx Atlas.— D. — 

 W. II. -Anna.— W.M.— W.Cox.— W. Spencer— Thanks. 

 We have, in our First Volume, given a firsc-rate Re- 

 ceipt for making German Paste. Leave out the hemp- 

 seed ; and use blanched almonds (mixed) in its stead. — 

 G. Green.— J. N. M. 



To Correspondents.— As we always print one number 

 of the Journal in advance, such of our Correspondents 

 as may not receive replies to their questions in the cur- 

 rent number, must bear in mind that they are not for- 

 gotten. We pay marked attention to all favors. 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 

 Saturday, December 18, 1852. 



Another Week will bring us to 

 Christmas. How very many hearts beat 

 high at the sound of that word ! It certainly 

 is full of expressive meaning. 



We have often insisted upon it, that half 

 our pleasures consist in the anticipation of 

 pleasure. Our imagination goes far ahead 

 of our positive enjoyments. Hence the ex- 

 pression — we "live in hope." Well for us is 

 it that we can do so. It is a wise provision 

 of nature. Hope is a safe anchor. 



The Christmas of the olden time has long 

 since been forgotten. That was a Christmas ! 

 The very account of what was eaten and 

 drunk during that festival, fills one with 

 amazement. The sports, too, — how varied 

 and how curious ! 



Our Christmas is of a quieter kind. We 

 are not fashioned, we imagine, quite in the 

 same manner as our forefathers were. What 

 they disposed of in the matter of eatables and 

 drinkables is incredible. We cannot do one- 

 twentieth part of the execution they did ; and 

 yet we shall do sufficient to keep the medical 

 men in affluence for the next twelve months. 



Twelfth -cakes, custards, plum-puddings, 

 mince-pies, tarts, wine, brandy, and liqueurs, 

 will from to-day be in unceasing requisition 

 for very many weeks to come. Meantime, 

 the poor, harmless, inoffensive stomachs, that 

 are to be receptacles of these " dainties," and 

 to digest them, — if they can, look tremblingly 

 on, and passively wonder where it will all 

 end. So do we. 



Whilst we now write, there is a general 

 preparation for "breaking up" in schools. 

 Lessons may be " set;" but those lessons will 

 not be learnt. Precepts may be gravely en- 

 forced ; but they will nevertheless be lightly 

 regarded. The heart thinks of " home." It 

 can take heed of nothing else. Oh ! how 

 well can we remember the many sleepless 

 nights we had, at school, when talking to 

 our school-fellows about the happy day for 

 going home ! Then — the ceremony of writing 

 the " breaking-up letter" to Papa and 

 Mamma ! 



We expect now, daily, to hear the high- 

 ways resound with the joyous cries of roys- 

 tering boys coming home for the holidays. 

 Many of them still return in coaches, not- 

 withstanding the facilities offered by rail- 

 ways.* We can even now see their ruddy, 

 happy faces, — full of fun, and " up" to every- 

 thing. We can overhear them planning sun- 

 dry little affectionate surprises for Maria ; 

 speaking of feats (never before heard of) 

 to "come off" under the misseltoe, — and 

 pleasantries innumerable to be put into 

 practical operation the first opportunity 

 that offers. Joyous rogues ! Give a loose to 

 your exuberant fancies. Plan, — execute, — 

 and be happy while ye have the license. If 

 ever we envy the feelings of Papas and Main- 

 mas, it is when we see them embrace their 

 boys and girls fresh from school. The re-union 

 is a holy one ; the joys of beholding them all 

 again safely returned are better felt than 

 described. But we must now take a peep at 

 what is going on preparatory to Christmas. 



The first decided " move" towards the 

 Christmas festivities in London, is the arrival 

 of prize oxen, exhibited at the annual Cattle 

 Show. These have arrived, — have been ad- 

 mired ; and whilst we write, are being slaugh- 

 tered. When next met with, they Avill be in 

 homoeopathic combination (a la suet) with the 

 ingredients of a Christmas plum-pudding. 



From this day forward, the London shops 

 will be " a picture" to gaze upon. Every- 

 thing that the young heart delights in, every- 

 thing that the eye can covet, everything that 

 can tempt the appetite — will be exhibited in 

 endless profusion by day ; and have a still 

 stronger light thrown upon it by night. Oh ! 

 the many anxious, longing, inquisitively-pretty 

 eyes that may now be seen, peering in at 

 every shop window ! A pretty cap, or a smart 

 ribbon, is a killing bait. 



No one rejoices to watch the " progress of 

 events" more than we do, — when the weather 

 is seasonable, and a good stirring frost causes 

 folk to move trippingly on. A cold, bright 

 day, — when the sun peeps cheerily down and 

 gilds the passing scene — makes people quite 

 good-tempered and jolly. Their eyes sparkle, 

 their chins look amiably crisp, their faq.es 

 round and " short," and their noses " trim." 

 They walk too at a rate of speed that circu- 

 lates the blood, and are all activity. We look, 

 and they look ; we smile, and they smile. In 

 that look, and in that smile, lurks a world of 

 merry meaning. Rely on it, the holly, and 

 the misseltoe-bough are in the near distance ; 

 and associated with them come thoughts most 



* The oft-recurring and frightful accidents on all 

 railways, render this precaution on the part of 

 parents absolutely necessary. Nobody now feels 

 " safe" or comfortable when travelling by rail. 

 —En. K. J. 



