Jane, John & Fred came down to tea this evening; Mr. Barnesley joined us; talking about Christmas parties & the difficulty of our raising one now that there is a split between Eliza & Jane; elucidating as much as we could of their quarrel, as I accompanied her home.
Fred came down with a note from Jane to say she didn't wish to be a hindrance to our having a Xmas eve party & would endeavor to procure a few lady visitors; but I don't want a repetition of the effects of our last party, with its unpleasant divisions for Charles George's proceeding in regard to Eliza Alforth don't seem to please anyone at all, except himself & perhaps her; Mr. Alforth forbids Eliza seeing him after his "clandestine" conduct; & the Boughton folks are in consternation that such going have originally began from their party.
walked up to the Roses to ask Fanny & Mary Anne to come to my juvenile party on Xmas eve which I have decided to have; then to the Wilsons to ask them.-
Our juvenile party this evening; present Jane & Fred Walker, Miss Jones, & Tiz & Alice, Josua, Sarah, Ruth, Willy, Charley & Pruey Griffin68; Mrs Hyde & Ernest; Wm Jobbins; Mary, Eliza, Rich & Emily Wilson; Fanny and Mary Anne Rose (my specials) Emily, Susan, Alice & Arthur Brock, Adelaide & Kate Hilbourne with CG, & self 30 of us; a very noisy party, the usual routine of games at forfeits, dancing & tea & supper; broke up about 2 o'clock.
Letter, a Christmas greeting from Uncle Clepham this morning. Jane & Fred had stayed all night, late breakfast together, then up with them to Boughton & had dinner there, Mr. Needham had invited self & CG to dinner with him & I accepted the invitation but considering after my vegetarian principles "their unsocial nature", I fairly request him to excuse & in a kindly spirit he did.
in the evening Mrs. Griffin held her party; CG & I [were] there; Mr. Howells & their own family; tea & supper; blind man's buff; hunt the whistle, games at forfeits, country dances etc. & until 2 in the morning.
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