with, its flexible twigs, and the grayish reverse of its foliage, produces a very pretty effect. We contributed a basket-full of ground-pine, both the erect and running kinds, with some glittering club-moss, and glossy pipsissiwa, for our share; it is not every year that we can procure these more delicate plants, as the snow is often too deep to find them. Neither the holly, the cedar, the arbor vitæ, 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, 21st.—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 doughnuts, 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 way; and cranberries are preparing for tarts. Ducks and turkeys 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 consideration; and fresh oysters are arriving in the village from the
