CHRISTMAS GREENS. 
433 
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, botli the erect and running kinds, Avith some glitter- 
ing club-moss, and glossy pipsissiwa, for our share ; it is not every 
year that Ave can procure these more delicate plants, as the snow 
is often too deep to find them. Neither the holly, the cedar, the 
arbor vitae, the cypress, or the laurel, grows in our immediate 
neighborhood, so that Ave are limited to the pine and hemlock. 
These two trees, howeA'er, Avhen their branches are interwoven 
are very well adapted for Christmas Avreaths. 
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, 21si. — Mild, but snowing a little; Ave may yet have 
sleighing for Christmas. 
It is a very busy time Avithin doors just noAv ; various important 
labors connected Avith Christmas cheer are going on. Cake-jars 
are filling up Avith crullers, flat, broAvn, and crisp ; Avith dough- 
nuts, dark, full, and round ; Avith raisined olecokes, Avith spicy, 
New-Year cookies, all cakes belonging to the season. Waffles, 
soft and hard, make their appearance on the tea-tables ; mince- 
pies, Avith 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 Avoodcock that have been shot on the hills ; after 
any salmon- trout, or bass, that may haA’e been caught in the 
lake. Calves’-head soup and cah^es’-foot jellies are under con- 
sideration ; and fresh oysters are arriving in the village from the 
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