At last Xmas Eve has arrived. It has approached subconsciously, so that I felt a shock when it was there, and found it hard to awaken the ‘Stimmung’ [atmosphere, mood] of old times. Then those two days were held sacred by me and I walked through paradise while they lasted. It was on a Xmas Eve that, for the first time seeing the stars, I thought them holes in the floor of heaven, through which the glory of God’s kingdom peeped forth. Having gone in to view my presents on the same night, I took no notice of these, at all, but kept searching, beneath the piano and tables – I was looking for the ‘Christkindlein’! [little Christ child]– Having spent the morning in preparations, night at last fell, tea was over, bible was read in German by Pappie, the house was incensed, when suddenly all the bells were rung, we all dashed upstairs and there sung ‘Stille Nacht’ [Silent Night] around the lighted Xmas tree. Then we looked at our presents. I got stamps and a puzzle from Julia, book from Horgans and from Sophie, crackers and chocolates from Prof. Sullivan, Schwindkarte [card by the Austrian painter Moritz von Schwind] from Fr. Engelmann, and ₤2 in money from Mám, Nannie, Fr. Pat, Miss O’Brien and Aunt Elsa. Poor Mám is giving me a lovely coat after Xmas. Everything went splendidly, yet I am determined to get still more piety and Stimmung in the Xmas of next year.
[Written at the end of the previous page:] Looked at presents, practised hymns, and then, having brought ‘Ecce Sacerdos’, dedicated by Pappie to the Bishop, to the latter’s palace, went to Farran Ferris and played during Mass. Was unsatisfied – harmonium terrible. Dashed to Cathedral and was in time to turn over for Sanctus at High Mass. The choir and band performed magnificently: everybody was delighted – home at 3!
