ten o'clock
The dancing concluded with the rollicking merry-go-round , called , in these days , the `` Virginia Reel , '' but in the olden times known as `` Sir Roger de Coverly , '' in which all hands -- men , women and children , young and old -- joined heartily , and none more heartily than Miss Sibby . `` Enjoy yourself as long as you can , sez I ! '' she hastily whispered into the ear of Le , as he whirled her around in the giddy maelstrom of that mad dance . At ten o'clock the fiddlers had rest to their elbows and the banjo players to their hands , when they were marched off to the kitchen , to partake of good Christmas cheer . In the parlor the guests were seated in somewhat stiff and formal rows , on sofas and chairs ranged along the wall , while two menservants , Jake and Jerry , bearing large trays of refreshments , made the circuit of the room -- Jerry going first , with a great plum cake and plain pound cake , each beautifully frosted and decorated , and neatly cut from the center to the edge , ready for helping , and a pile of small , china plates and damask napkins . Le Force , walking beside this waiter , served each guest with a plate , a napkin and a slice of each cake . Behind Jerry came Jake , bearing another large tray laden with cut-glass goblets filled to the brim with snowy , frothy eggnog , or amber apple toddy , or golden lemon punch .