In the afternoon the boys went abroad bearing gifts, and the girls kept
open house at home receiving visitors bringing more Christmas presents.
In the evening, children's parties were in order, with traditional games
brought over from the old country by the Walloons. Old fashioned
costumes were worn at these parties, Utrecht velvet being much in favor.
My velvet suit proved available in more than one of our Brook Farm
costume shows--only it was not worn at Christmas time.
It must have been one of the last days of December when Gerrish brought
us a belated Christmas box and Christmas letters from home. That was the
first intimation coming to Althea and myself that our most precious
holiday was at hand. Dumfounded, we realized too late that Christmas Day
had passed without our knowing it. It was simply incredible! We could
not comprehend, much less be reconciled to, such an inconceivable state
of affairs. Our trouble, however, was all our own. No one else had any
part or lot in it except John Cheever.
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