tmas presents.--In the dance.--The merriest of them all.--As
a conjurer.--Christmas at "Gad's Hill."--Our Christmas dinners.--A New
Year's Eve frolic.--New Year on the Green.--Twelfth Night festivities.

[Picture: Mr. Pickwick slides]

Christmas was always a time which in our home was looked forward to with
eagerness and delight, and to my father it was a time dearer than any
other part of the year, I think. He loved Christmas for its deep
significance as well as for its joys, and this he demonstrates in every
allusion in his writings to the great festival, a day which he considered
should be fragrant with the love that we should bear one to another, and
with the love and reverence of his Saviour and Master. Even in his most
merry conceits of Christmas, there are always subtle and tender touches
which will bring tears to the eyes, and make even the thoughtless have
some special veneration for this most blessed anniversary.

In our childish days my father used to take us, every twenty-fourth day
of December, to a toy shop in Holborn, where we were allowed to select
our Christmas presents, and also any that we wished to give to our little
companions. Although I believe we were often an hour or more in the shop
before our several tastes were satisfied, he never showed the least
impatience, was always interested, and as desirous as we, that we should
choose exactly what we liked best. As we grew older, present giving was
confined to our several birthdays, and this annual visit to the Holborn
toy shop ceased.

When we were only babies my father determined that we should be taught to
dance, so as early as the Genoa days we were given our first lessons.
"Our oldest boy and his sisters are to be waited upon next week by a
professor of the noble art of dancing," he wrote to a friend at this
time. And again, in writing to my mother, he says: "I hope the dancing
lessons will be a success. Don't fail to let me know."

Our progress in the graceful art delighted him, and his admiration of our
success was evident when we exhibited to him, as we were perfected in
them, all the steps, exercises and dances which formed our lessons. He
always encouraged us in our dancing, and praised our grace and aptness,
although criticized quite severely in some places for allowing his
children to expend so much time and energy upon the training of their
feet.

When "the boys" came home for the holidays there were cons