CHRISTMAS GREENS. 
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with, its flexible twigs, and. the grayish reverse of its foliage, pro- 
duces a very pretty effect. We contributed a basket-full of 
ground-pine, both the erect and running kinds, with some ghtter- 
ing club-moss, and glossy pipsissiwa, for our share ; it is not every 
year that we can procure these more delicate plants, as the snoAV 
is often too deep to find them. Neither the holly, the cedar, the 
arbor vitse, the cypress, or the laurel, grows in our immediate 
neighborhood, so that we are limited to the pine and hemlock. 
These two trees, however, when their branches are interwoven 
are very well adapted for Christmas wreaths. 
Wednesday/, 20th. — Cooler ; the air more chilly. Walked in 
the afternoon. Gray gnats were still dancing here and there. 
Found a merry party of chicadees in the oak by the mill bridge ; 
their cheerful note falls pleasantly on the ear at this silent season. 
Thursday, 2lst. — Mild, but snowing a httle; we may yet have 
sleighing for Christmas. 
It is a very busy time within doors just now ; various important 
labors connected with Christmas cheer are going on. Cake-jars 
are filling up with crullers, flat, brown, and crisp ; with dough- 
nuts, dark, full, and round ; with raisined olecokes, with spicy, 
New- Year cookies, all cakes belonging to the season. Waffles, 
soft and hard, make their appearance on the tea-tables ; mince- 
pies, with their heavy freight of rich materials, are getting under 
Avay ; and cranberries are prejjaring for tarts. Ducks and tur- 
keys are fattening in the poultry-yards ; inquiries are heard after 
any grouse or woodcock that have been shot on the hills ; after 
any salmon-trout, or bass, that may have been caught in the 
lake. Calves'-head soup and calves'-foot jellies are under con- 
sideration ; and fresh oysters are arriving in the village from the 
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