If you desire a hot drink, and it is likely that you will, if the
tricks you have on hand call you out of doors at midnight, you might
prepare one in this way: Have half-a-dozen lumps of sugar, the juice
of half a lemon, four whole allspice, two whole cloves and half a
teaspoonful of ground cinnamon in a dish; over it pour half a pint of
claret and let it boil for just two minutes, stirring it all the time.
Strain it into hot glasses and grate just a little nutmeg on top as
you serve it. At the first sip the good qualities of this libation
will present themselves to you.