Christmas at Craigflower

From Verney's letter of December 26, 1862:
"At 5 P.M. I went up to dine with the McKenzies of Craig Flower: here was assembled a large party; dinner was followed by toasts, not forgetting 'absent friends', toasts were followed by songs, songs by tea, tea by charades, charades, by dancing, dancing by blind-man's-bluff, and blind-man's-bluff was the entertainment followed by all. The amusements of the evening were sprinkled with negus, and the crannies were stopped with Scotch cake and bun: then being warmed with hospitality and genial heartiness, a cement of friendship was run in, which at once took a natural polish. The first yawn was observed on the countenance of the smallest child at about 12.25., and at 1.15. I was in bed on board the 'Grappler': there were no signs of breaking up when I left, and for all I know, they may be dancing yet."

Source: Pritchard, Vancouver Island Letters of Edmund Hope Verney, 110-111.