Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-12-24
CHRISTMAS At ARLINGTON.
As Robert f.. Ire Saw IL twenty
Five Years Ago.

As Robert f.. Ire Saw IL twenty
Five Years Ago.
picture Of Chrisfmls scenes at
Arlington Hnu*., nearly quarter of &.
century aga. Is very satisfactorily given
III letter from Gen. Chen brevet
ColoneD Lee, addressed to his eldest
son, CuctI:.. NOW the Presid. ut If " l.
iugton and Les University. The letter.
list III thu yicIas'tusies at tti*. war, ti,-
never before been III print At the I ms
OF IT. writ ny Col. Lee was on duty a.
euk iheor "t1ic-r In charge of tn dtfeu
siv- WORKS i'll Baltimore Harbor, Il
position which he hcia III tue intstva;
JrtTts,u nlS Return from tue Mex ca1
Wiz aud Ia $ appointment IN 1882 to be
Superintendent at West Pulnt. In
these yesrs the fsUlly circle was often
united At ArlIugton. the home of his
wife, 1htre her father, George WASH
ington Parke Oustis, the adopted son
of the first President, was then still.
living, aud III the epJ .yment of health &.
There are, of course, many details not
given III the letter which would nave
made cur realization of tbs Christmas
&C mes nore complete. as there ar" IL
few which. forming part of a family
letter, are I'M m aterlal, but We are afir
ded = chal ming sketch III the narrative
of the father to hi. absent son, and
now that the Christmas cheer is no
longer spr>at at Arlington Wa may
look back to it's enjoy N ent beyond the
claS'n OF tie var with especial interest.
The Il tier says:
ARLINGTON. 18th December, 1851.
We Came on last Wednesday mora
ing Ii was q bitter cold day, aud W.,
were Kept waiting an hour in the depot
at Bait more for the cars, which we're
deieiued by thu SNOW acd frost on tn.
rails. We found our grandfather at
til" Washington depot, Daniel aud tl-
old Carriage aid horses, aud young
Donie! on the, colt Mildred. Iour
mother, grandfather, Mary Eliza, the
little people, aud tue baggage L Thought
load enough for the ca.rl.9e, so Roo-
Dey aud | took our feet i'll our hands
and walked over. We looked for the
Aune Chase, in which to lift to
Ro ps Hill, but congratu ;st:d orr
selves that We missed her, for she
only overlook u after We had paased
Jackson City. and was scsrce:y out of
sight when We turned mp the Washin;
ton turnpike. TIE snow impeded rue
Carriage ss we'll rs US, and We reached
here shortly after it. Tue children
were delighted a getting back. and
pas .eo tue evening in devising pleas
ures for the morrow. They weee IL
upon US before day on ChrIstm as
morning, to overhaul their stock iugs.
Ml!drt d thinks she drew the priza IN
the shape of beautiful new doll; tan
gelnas lufrn,lties We're so great Ehat
she vas lett in Baltimore; and this
new treasure wss entirely unexpe cted
The cakes, candies, hooks, etc. were
overlooked in the caresses she bestowed
uron her., aud ste was scsrce'y out of
her arms ali day. Rooney got among
his gifts uIca pair of boots, which he
particular warted, and the girls, ]
nope, Were equally pleased with their
presents, books and tiinkets.
Your mother. Mary, Rooney, and
Went into church, aud the twins skated
back on the canal. Rooney having taken
his skates along for the purpose, Gan
We flied his place in the carriage with
Mss Sarah StuaIt. one of Mas COM
rades, Minnie Lloyd was detained at
home to assist her mother at dinner,
but your Auat Maria brought her and
Miss Lucretla FItzhugn out the next
day, aud, Wallace Stilee and his broth
er arriving at tue same time, We had
quite table fS,l.
The young people have been quite
assiduous III their attentions to each
other, as their amusements have been
necess srily indoors, but the beaux
have successfully maintained their re-
serve SO far, Notwithstanding the Cap
tivasing advances of the bellies. The
first y they tried skating, but the
ice VAS soft aud rough, aud it was
abandonded III despair. They have nos
moved Oat of tile house sslnce. To-day
the twins We're obliged to leave us. and
wnen the carriage came to the door
Minny Lloyd aud Sarah Stuart reluc-
ttnt:y confessed that their mamas or
dered them to return home in the first
ctrriage. We have only, therefore,
Wallace and Edward Stiles anG Mss
Lucretia Fitzhugh in addition to our
fsmily circle,
I need not describe to you our
anIusements, you have witnessed them
so often /; nor the turkey, cold ham,
plum pudding, mince pies, ETC., at
dinner. / hope you will enjoy them
again, or some equally as good.
rhe weather has been bitter cs!d. L
do not recollect such weather Il can
only Judge by my feelings (since the
winter of 1915 I have not been to
Washington yet. but will endesvor to
get over to morrow. I am wri ing
this to mail then. The. family have
;. tired, but / know should he charged
with much love from every individual,
we're they aware OF my wiring. so
sl: e;v,s II without bidding My Jon
uave many happy years, ali bringing
: on an iGcrea*e IF virture and wisdom,
all witne slug your prosperity in this
life, all bringing you nearer everlast-
lUg happine>s hereafter /! May God in
81 mercy grant me this my, constant
prayer. ..... r
had received no letter from you
when l LETT Baltimore. nor shall get /
any till return. which will be if moth
II & Larpens, to morrow a week, 9th |
JANUARY. 1852. You will then be in
he midst of your examination. 1 shall |
De very anxious about you. Give mo |
,he earliest intelligence of your stand |
ug, and stand up before them boldly, |
do your best aud shall be |
~. r. E. LEE. !