Excerpt from The Dublin University Magazine, Vol. 37: A Literary and Political Journal; January to June, 1851

Since last I wrote to you, my dear Anthony, Christmas has come and gone. Gone is the glory of plumb-pudding and mince-pies_the misletoe and the wassail bowl - the holly and the ivy. But the fond hearts that this holy season has brought together part not thus soon again. Ah, no! They have not for this lef' t their distant homes, disentangled themselves from their world-born cares, and come clustering once more around the hallowed hearths of childhood, that they may rush back into the bustle and coil of life, and seal up again the sweet springs of affection that welled forth from their hearts, touched by the wand of Love, as the living streams gushed from the rock at Meribah, beneath the rod of the law giver of Israel. In the remote regions of the country, the spirit of primitive hospitality is, thank Heaven, too potent for such a rapid disruption of the social union and the friends who assemble at Christmas are sure to see the waninrr year to an end in each other's company, and let the new year dawn upon an sanctify their friendship. Fell, then, you may be sure Uncle Saul's mansion is thronged every chamber has its inhabitant, as every cell in a hive has its parti onlar bee. Each one, during the day, does as he likes, or, if he likes, does nothing at all. There is a greyhound for the hills, if you love coursing; or a rod for the streams, if you are an angler or a day-dreamer. Old Jonathan Ereke will join you in a cigar, or, rather, half a dozen of them, and talk transatlantic poli tics. My uncle will stroll with you through the now leafless woodlands. Will you read? There is a book in the study; but be sure you replace it when you are done. Matilda will sing for you in the drawing-room, Abigail will canter with you on the sward, and all the girls, God bless them, will talk with you by the hour, anywhere and everywhere 1 Thus, by day, each is master of his own time, and may form such combinations as his fancy dictates; but, in the evening, when the chairs are drawn nearer around the fire, and the log burns its brightest, then we are all common property, and each contributes his share to the general stock of pleasure and good humour. Such is the way in which we spend our Christmas holidays in the country, Anthony.

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