The William Brown House is decorated for the Holidays with the preparations for a holiday party. Entertainment will include dancing in the tavern room, cards and games in the River Room, supper and desserts, and plenty of drinks. One guest will not be joining in the fun, however. Poor Mr. Black is laid low with an ague (perhaps the flu) and has taken to his bed. The doctor will soon come and bleed him if the other medicines he had left have had no effect.