The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-12-25

mystery to feast your brilliant intellect upon.
I shall leave you in company with Mr.. K.''
So saying; Ibowed and left the room. De.
tecti9e 4. remarked, in Maubray's language,
as crossed the door.sill:
!" You are, John, the truest of friends! !"
? 'tFrom the New York Tlmes.]
Christmas at Arlington House
As ROBERT E. LEI. SAW IrrTWESTY.FIvE YEARS
YEARS AGO,
A picture of Christmas scenes at Arlington
House nearly q quarter Of century ago is
very; satisfactorily giYenin a letter from
| General (then brevet ColoneD Lee, adj
dressed to his eldest SOD; Gusts, now the
President. of Washington and Lee Univer-
sity. The letter, lost in the ,vicissitudes OF
the war, has never. before been In print AT
the time of-its writing Colonel Lee was on
duty as engineer officer in charge OF the de-
fensive works Ia Baltimore barbor, posi-
ton wich be held 10 the interval between his
return from the Mexican war and his appoint
ment in 1852 to be superintendent at West
Point. In these years the family circle was
often united at Arlington, the home of his
wife, where her father, George Washington
Parke; Gusts, the adopted son of the first
President, was then still living and in the
enjoyment of health. There are, of course,
many details not given in the letter which
would have made our realization of the
Christmas scenes more complete, as there are
a few which, forming part of family letter,
| are inmaterial, but We are afforded charm
I ing sketch in the narrative Of the father to
| his absent sou, and now that the Christmas
! cheer is no longer spread at Arlington we
may look back to its enjoyment beyond the
| chasm of the war with especial interest
The letter says:
ARbINGToN, 18th December, 1851.
| We came on last Wednesday morning. 1t
was a bitter cold day, and we were kept
| waiting an hour in the del0t at Baltimore
for the cars, which were detained by the
snow and frost in the rails. We found yours
gran dfather at the Washington DEPOT, Daniel
and the old carriage and horses, and young
Daniel on the colt Mildred. Your mother,
grandfather, Mary Eliza, the little people,
and the baggage, thought load enough for
the carriage, SO iRooney and 1 took our feet
in our hands and walked over. We looked
for the Anne Chase, In which to get lift to
| Roop's Hill, but congratulated ourselves
afterWard that we missed her, for she only
overlook US after we had passed Jackson
City, and was scarcely out Of sight when
we turned I'D the Washington turnpike.
The snow impeded the carriage as well as
us, and We reached here shortly after It.
The children were delighted at getting back,
and passed the evening In devlsing pleasures
for the morrow. They were in upon us be-
fore day on Christmas morning, to overhaul
their stockings. Mildred thinks she drew
the prize in the shape of beautiful new
doll; tAnseina's infirmities were so great
that She was left in Baltimore, and this new
treasure was entirely unexpected. The cakes,
candies, books, &C., were overlooked IN the
carresses she bestowed upon her, and she
was scarcely out Of her arms all day. Rooney
got among his gifts a nice pair Of boots,
which be particularly wanted, and the girls,
hope, were equally we'll pleased with their
presents, books and trinkets.
Your mother, Mary, Rooney, and went
into church, and Rooney and the twins
STATED back on the canal (Rooney having
taken his skates along for the purpose),
and we filed bis place In the carriage with
Miss Sarah Stuart, one of MIS- comrades.
/ Minny Lloyd was detained at home to assist
her mother at dinner, but your Aunt Maria
brought her and Miss Lucretia FifZhush
out the next day, and Wallace Stiles and his
brother arriving at the same time, we mad
quite tableful. "
The young people have been quite assid.
uous lin their attentions TO eacn other, as
their amusements have been necessarily IN
doors; but the beaux have successfully
maintained their reserve so far, notWlth-
standing the captivating advances OF the
bellies. The first day they tried skating, but
the ice was soft and rough, and"lt was aoan,
doned 10 despair. They have not moved
out of the house since. To-day the twins
were obliged to leave US, and when the car.
rage came. to the door Minny Lloyd and
Sarah Stuart reluctantly confessed that their
marnmas ordered them to return n the first
carriage. We have only, therefore, Wallace
and Edward Stiles and Miss Lucretia Fiz.
hugh in addition to our family circle.
need not. describe to you our amuse-
ments: you have witnessed them so often;
nor the turkey, cold hum, plum-puddng,
mince-pies, Sc, at dinner. hope you will
epioy them again, or some equally as good.
The weather has been bitter cold. do
not recollect such weather q can only Judge
by nv feelings) since the winter OF 1850. l
have not been to Washington yet, but Will
endeayor to get over tomorrow. am
writing this to mail then. The family have
u retired but know should be charged
with much love from every Individual were
they aware of my writing, so will give 1t
without bidding. May you have many happy
years, all bringing you an increase OF virtue
and wisdom, all witnessing your prosperity
in this life, all bringing you nearer everlast-
ing happiness hereafter. may moa constant m ant
great, mercy grant me THIS my eonS'Au'
prayer.
| had received no letter from you when l
left Baltimore, nor shall get any Till L re-
turn, which Will be, if nothing happens; to-
morrow week, 9th January, 1852. You
will then be in the midst of your examIna-
ton. + shall be very anxious about you.
Give me the earliest intelligence OF your
standing, and stand up before them boldly,
manfully; do four best, and shall be satls'
fed.
r. E. LEE.
4 The venerable George Washington Parke Cnstis
| A younger SON, known by this pet name Ia the
family. -, .,a
! t ngelina - was evidently doll, thus saper-
| seeded DIV n newer and more comely favor1te1 on