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. The bachelors
have been exceedingly kind to me, and I rejoiced at having a nice cake
to send them Christmas morning. But alas! I forgot that the little
house was fragrant with the odor of spice and fruit, and that there
was a man about who was ever on the lookout for good things to eat. It
is a shame that those cadets at West Point are so starved. They seem
to be simply famished for months after they graduate.
It so happened that there was choir practice that very evening, and
that I was at the chapel an hour or so. When I returned, I found the
three bachelors sitting around the open fire, smoking, and looking
very comfortable indeed. Before I was quite in the room they all stood
up and began to praise the cake. I think Faye was the first to mention
it, saying it was a "great success"; then the others said "perfectly
delicious," and so on, but at the same time assuring me that a large
piece had been left for me.
For one minute I stood still, not in the least grasping their meaning;
but finally I suspected mischief, they all looked so serenely
contented. So I passed on to the dining room, and there, on the table,
was one of the precious cakes - -at least what was left of it, the very
small piece that had been so generously saved for me. And there were
plates with crumbs, and napkins, that told the rest of the sad
tale - and there was wine and empty glasses, also. Oh, yes! Their early
Christmas had been a fine one. There was nothing for me to say or
do - at least not just then - so I went back to the little living-room
and forced myself to be halfway pleasant to the four men who were
there, each one looking precisely like the cat after it had eaten the
canary! The cake was scarcely cold, and must have been horribly
sticky - and I remember wondering, as I sat there, which one would need
the doctor first, and what the doctor would do if they were all seized
with cramps at the same time. But they were not ill - not in the
least - which proved that the cake was well baked. If they had
discovered the other one, however, there is no telling what might have
happened.
At half after ten yesterday the chaplain held service, and the little
chapel was crowded - so many of the enlisted men were present. We sang
our Christmas music, and received many compliments. Our little choir
is really very good. Both General Phillips and Major Pierce have fine
voices. One of the infantry sergeants plays the organ now, for it was
quite too hard for me to sing and work those old pedals. Once I forgot
them entirely, and everybody smiled - even the chaplain!
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