Viewing page 145 of 187

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

141

horse set in it; a much needed new fountain pen, a Waterman with a transparent barrel in which I can watch the ink; some toy actors and other interesting things.

When we had finished our exclamations and examinations we brought in the red wedding chest which we had fixed the night before and set it on the floor by the Christmas tree. There we ate our breakfast.  For the first time we s^[[copy editing mark for changing the order of letters]]ued our new wedding present napkin rings which I had had made at the same time I had the rings done.

Breakfast over and everything in order we went over to Ting Hsiang Hutung bearing gifts, and we received some to bring back.  I particularly rejoiced in a new belt and purse which Lurry gave me, and Dorothy got several things to please her, especially some old plates with fish patterns she had been wanting for special fruit plates.

We went in to Ruby's on our way home and found the youngsters having abeautiful timewith their Christmas tree and their toys, and both Clem and Margaret quite happy, in spite of the never abesnt shadow of their jobless future.

Lurry and Tom and Violet took dinner with us, and it was a wonderful dinner.  We had a new round black lacquer table we had bought a day before, and with the little Christmas tree I got from home a year or so ago alight, and little Santas for three different Christmases of mine away from home it made a brave show.  We had soup, duck, which Icarved with much pleasure, vegetables, salad, a brandy plum pudding, and fruit, nuts,candy and coffee, accompanied with the contents of a bottle of Graves Bordeaux, which we had purchased out of our custom for this more than customary occasion.  Never was a first Christmas dinner inna new home a greater success, and never was there a better hostess to make it such.

Y. C. Fu came in and brought us some rubbings, after the guests were gone, and then Dorothy and I went up to the Miles for a little while. We had a light supper in front of the fire at the Ennises', then we came home, lighted our own Christmas tree, and presently went to bed, completely happy.