Jane's Miscellany

 A DOLL'S TEA PARTY

 

Julia and Jane are playing with their dolls. Jane is using the medium of playing tea party to teach her doll, Nell, how to be a proper Edwardian young lady, which she herself is still trying to figure out.

"If we were having tea cake, Nell,” said Jane, “you would have to eat it with a fork, but since we are having muffins, you may eat them with your fingers."

Once the dolls are getting along all right on their own, Jane and Julia sit down to a little tea party of their own.

 WASSAIL! WASSAIL!  ALL OVER THE TOWN!

It was Christmas Eve, and Katherine Alyse and Mia Bella were going out Caroling, so Jane decided they needed something to fortify them and keep their spirits up in the cold.  To that end, she made a large bowl of traditional Elizabethan Wassail.  Nellie had taken her down to Donovan’s Saloon to get a bucket of brown ale (all the other saloons only had German lagers), which Jane spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and plenty of sugar.  Topping it with roasted apples, she warmed it just enough.

            “The trick is not to let it boil,” Jane declared, “else all the spirits go from it, and the Wassail won’t have the proper kick.”

 

            When they had gotten their coats and hats on, Jane called Katherine Alyse and Mia Bella into the parlor and ladled out cups of Wassail for them from the big, pewter punch bowl.

            “It’s down-right nippy out there tonight,” she said, “Have some of this before you skedadle.”

            The girls sipped the drink warily at first, but found it delicious, drained their cups and asked for more.  Jane was happy to oblige. 

            “This drink does strengthen exceedingly,” Jane explained, “It will put you in good voice and dispel all shyness as you go from house to house.”

 

            The girls found that Jane was right; filled with Christmas cheer and in high spirits they made their way to the door, laughing heartily and singing as loudly as they could, though not necessarily in tune.  It would be a jolly Christmas Eve indeed!