Green Mount,
Dec. 22, 1880
This is the last record for the year 1880 & the unpleasant duty of keeping it falls to my lot. The task is particularly sad to me today, for well I know that some of us at least will be absent from our accustomed places when the last record before next Christmas will be read out in our Society. I know though that we will carry away with us pleasant remembrances of the happy hours spent in our dear Society. In a few days now we will be at home & how the thoughts cheer us up for the few remaining days. After much talk about the coming Christmas we went on with the usual exercises. Nannie played "Brattleboro Waltz" which was followed by a piece called "Coming Down the Chimney" from Lulie. Lou played "Old Black Joe" (by Stephen Foster) beautifully. We were all pleased at the manner in which she played it. Truly the old saying is verified in her case viz: "Practice makes perfect." Mattie Kate read "Poor Old Aunt Crown and the Christmas She Didn't mean to Keep," which shows how happy one child is capable of making a home. Lucy read "Christmas Thoughts" (see page on left of screen) very well indeed. Miss Lou read "The Sleet" which was very appropriate as the ground was covered with snow & the trees with ice. Sallie ended the very pleasant evening with "German Triumphant March" which she played beautifully. I hope we will all come back greatly uplifted from our Christmas holiday &be ready to meet bravely the trials and temptations which must come sometimes to mar our happiness. "And though it may be hard to understand, the way through which He leads your life is not mine. May we not safely trust the gracious hand that brings to us so good a Christmas time."
M. K. Faunt Le Roy
