OUR first Christmas on the frontier was ever so pleasant, but it
certainly was most vexatious not to have that box from home.
And I
expect that it has been at Kit Carson for days, waiting to be brought
down. We had quite a little Christmas without it, however, for a
number of things came from the girls, and several women of the
garrison sent pretty little gifts to me. It was so kind and thoughtful
of them to remember that I might be a bit homesick just now. All the
little presents were spread out on a table, and in a way to make them
present as fine an appearance as possible. Then I printed in large
letters, on a piece of cardboard, "One box - contents unknown!" and
stood it up on the back of the table. I did this to let everyone know
that we had not been forgotten by home people. My beautiful new saddle
was brought in, also, for although I had had it several weeks, it was
really one of Faye's Christmas gifts to me.
They have such a charming custom in the Army of going along the line
Christmas morning and giving each other pleasant greetings and looking
at the pretty things everyone has received. This is a rare treat out
here, where we are so far from shops and beautiful Christmas displays.
We all went to the bachelors' quarters, almost everyone taking over
some little remembrance - homemade candy, cakes, or something of that
sort.
I had a splendid cake to send over that morning, and I will tell you
just what happened to it. At home we always had a large fruit cake
made for the holidays, long in advance, and I thought I would have one
this year as near like it as possible. But it seemed that the only way
to get it was to make it. So, about four weeks ago, I commenced. It
was quite an undertaking for me, as I had never done anything of the
kind, and perhaps I did not go about it the easiest way, but I knew
how it should look when done, and of course I knew precisely how it
should taste. Eliza makes delicious every-day cake, but was no
assistance whatever with the fruit cake, beyond encouraging me with
the assurance that it would not matter in the least if it should be
heavy.
Well, for two long, tiresome days I worked over that cake, preparing
with my own fingers every bit of the fruit, which I consider was a
fine test of perseverance and staying qualities. After the ingredients
were all mixed together there seemed to be enough for a whole
regiment, so we decided to make two cakes of it. They looked lovely
when baked, and just right, and smelled so good, too! I wrapped them
in nice white paper that had been wet with brandy, and put them
carefully away - one in a stone jar, the other in a tin box - and felt
that I had done a remarkably fine bit of housekeeping.
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