we hear of ladies from the country making j ! purchases of large quantities of raisins anil other ingredients for fruit cake and plumb j pudding, while many a housekeeper in Rich- I ■ raond has given an order to tho butcher for a j ; "spiced round," or to the poultry mnjv for a J turkey of ihe largest dimensions. fThc shop- I keepers nnd merchants vie with each other in I