Christmas Day

The Post Office will be open on Christmas Day from 2 to 3 P.M.

Afternoon mails close at 3 P.M.

Jno. Lockwood, P.M.

Friday, December 25, 1863
The Milwaukee Sentinel

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! ~ To Croesus J. Smith, who lives in the splendid large mansion on the corner, and drives along Spring Street in such magnificent style; to Lazarus Baggs, who dwells in the humble cot and eats his bread in the sweat of his brow; to young Napoleon B. and Grace Evangeline, children of the above Croesus, who are riding their new hobby horse or displaying their new toys of costly materials; and equally to the juvenile offspring of the above Lazarus, who is this morning blowing frantically his tin trumpet and "waking the echoes far and near;" ~ to all classes and conditions we wish a Merry Christmas, indeed.

But if there's a rich man who has sat down to his holiday feast without doing something to make easier the lot of the poor, and in doing it voluntarily and unostentatiously, we hope his turkey may be tough, his meats unsavory, his Christmas pudding scalding hot, and his wine sour and stale.

To the soldier, especially, as merry a Christmas as their rough life can afford them, and many of them will have it merry wherever they are, for after all we carry the materials for enjoyment within ourselves, and are indebted more to the inner than the outer world for whatever of cheer or gloom we experience throughout life.

Go ahead, boys, make the best of it, as you have already well learned how to do, and rest assured you are not forgotten at home to-day. Every family, almost, has a 'vacant chair' at its table, placed for some absent one; absent, alas! perhaps 'in that land from whose borne no traveler returns!'

But sorrow must not be the prevailing emotion to-day ~ pleasure must abound. Sleigh bells must jingle, the voice of laughter ring out from the merry riders; skates must ring on the glare ice; music must sound to the measured motion of 'flying feet.'  To-morrow we go plodding on as usual; to-day let us have a ~  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

from the Federal Capital

Washington, Dec. 21, 1863
For the last few days we have been favored with pretty snug winter weather, a heavy rain on Thursday having been followed by a severe freeze, which has stiffened the mud very materially, and made good skating for the benefit of the juveniles.

December 26, 1863
SANTA CLAUS ARRIVED

Some very matter-of-fact people have always pretended that this fine old fellow was an entirely imaginary being; and that the stockings that were hung by the chimney corner at night and were found filled with good things in the morning, were not stuffed by old Santa Claus, descending through the sooty chimney, but that rather the children's minds were stuffed with nonsense by the same persons who had stuffed their stockings with gifts. Now we were always loath to give up the idea of a real, personal Santa Claus, and were glad to be confirmed in our original impressions by seeing, dashing down past the post office last evening, a strange looking equipage,

"With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
We knew in a minute it must be St. Nick."

But his carriage is no longer drawn by "eight tiny reindeer." He has got reduced some way or other to a single donkey, and that a small one, but of good mettle, and he dashed bravely through the crowd, down to the Newhall House, and up the steps into the office, where Santa Claus dismounted and hopped briskly about the house with his huge basket of candies and other 'goodies' on his back, peering into the corners for stockings to fill with his favors. But he was evidently too early by several hours, and disconcerted at seeing so many present, and soon made his exit.

"He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle"

Mr. J.C. Mann, serving in Company H, 7th Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers writes us from Washington that he receives a package of our paper regularly and that he distributes them to the boys from Grant. 
He gives a cheery account of the manner
Christmas was spent at Arlington. 
A nice dinner was provided by the officers for all the men. 
They had oysters, nice butter and cigars as extra fare. 
In the evening all who wished, attended a ball. 
We have not room for Mr. Mann's letter entire. 
He closes by asking the friends at home to write
oftener and hope for a better day.

Diary of Emilie Quiner, Madison, Wisconsin

Wednesday, 18th - Expected company in the evening, baked all morning. Went up to Camp (Randall) with Pa & Ma this afternoon. Went to see Dr. Casey about sending our boxes with the 12th, and concluded to do so. Found Mrs. Wiser at home on our return. Mrs. De Mott & Mrs. Davis also came to tea & Mr. & Mrs. Crusen in the evening. We had coffee which so exhilarated Fannie so that we could not go to bed and so sat down to play chess after they were gone. Played one game which lasted nearly three hours.

Thursday, 19th - Three or four young ladies came in the afternoon to tie comforters. We tied, then they stayed in the evening & Mr. Craig & Mr. Smith came in the evening.

Friday, 20th - Sewed all day.

Saturday, 21st - Sewed on soldiers shirts - Went up town in the afternoon, Played chess in the evening.

Sunday, 22nd - Cold & snowy today. Went to church this morning. Read Shirley a part of the afternoon....

Monday, 23rd - Went up town this morning & to Addie Prispe's in the afternoon. While there Geo. C. Smith came for Addie & I to go to Sun Prairie to visit a lodge. I came home and we started about 4 o'clock.
We were to stop at M. Bush's and got some supper but were later and so went on  - got there at half past seven and went directly to the scene of operations, staid until about two o'clock in the morning, then went to Mr. Bush's who with his good wife kindly entertained us at this this unreasonable hour, and then started for home, where we arrived about 6 AM, tired enough.

Tuesday, 24th - Did not feel very bright today. Went to the Lodge in the evening.

Wednesday, 25th - The day passed as Christmas days are wont to do.
Passed most of the day in the kitchen, had a nice dinner.
Went to the Sociable in the evening, had a very pleasant time.

December, 1861

Yorkshire Spiced Beef

(A Christmas Tradition in many Celtic Areas) (Recipie is for 8-10 people)
8 lb skirt of beef
1 lb salt
2 tsp black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground mace
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
2 lbs carrots, scraped and sliced
2 lbs onions, peeled and quartered
1 bunch of celery cut in 2" lengths
1 1/2 lbs leeks cut in 2" pieces
Dumplings

Get beef several days before cooking. Lay it out and rub with most of salt, rub it in and then sprinkle the rest over the meat. Leave in a cool place overnight. In the morning, drain off the liquid and dry the meat, removing all the salt that is on the surface. Mix the herbs together and rub into the meat, roll up tightly and tie in several places. Store in a cool place till ready to cook. Put in heavy pan and add water. Boil then simmer 1 1/2 hours covered, removing scum as it forms. At the end of this time, add all vegetables but leeks and bring to a boil again, reduce heat and cook an hour, add leeks, then dumplings and cook one-half hour more. Remove meat to a serving plate and surround with vegetables and dumplings. If to be served cold, put a plate over it and weigh it down till completely cold. Serve with gherkins. The broth and leftovers make a second serving soup the next day or meal. Thicken with barley or split peas for soup.  

Dessert: Blackberry Pie 

In November 1851, a Norwegian immigrant living in Beloit wrote back to Norway "Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries thrive here. From these they make a wonderful dish combines with syrup and sugar, which is called pai. I can tell you that is something that glides easily down your throat.'
Blackberry Pie was on the brief menu Lincoln personally chose for his Inaugural Luncheon on March 4, 1861, at Willard's Hotel right after the Capitol ceremonies. (The rest was Mock Turtle Soup, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Parsley Potatoes and Coffee) His participation in the choices was noted as very unusual as outside of a partiality to cornbread, honey and a good cup of coffee, he showed a noted lack of interest in food. After the luncheon, the family went directly to the Executive Mansion.
Blackberry Pie is also unusual in that till the 1830's these berries were on the noxious weed list and until it was used as medicinal syrup, did not creep into the food preferences.

Prepare pastry for a two crust pie and line a pie pan with half. Chill this and remaining pastry while preparing the fruit. Mix 4 cups blackberries, 3 tablespoons flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Spoon into the pie shell and dot with 1 tablespoon butter. Cover with top crust, cut slits in crust and bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 35 to 40 minutes until browned.