It gave new strength to the spirit, and, situated as he was, it was his soul, not his body, that needed fortifying.
He decided that Christmas was near at hand, and he decided to celebrate it.

With the count of time lost it was impossible for him to know the exact day, but he fixed upon one in his mind, and resolved to use it whether right or wrong in date.

The mere fact that he celebrated it would make it right in spirit.

It might be the 20th or the 30th of December, but if he chose to call it the 25th, the 25th it would be.
Endowed so liberally with fancy and with such a power of projecting the mind, it was easy for him to make believe, to turn imagination into reality.

And this power was heightened by his loneliness and isolation, and by the turning in of his mind so tremendously upon itself.
After the thought of a Christmas dinner was struck out by his fancy it grew fast, and he made elaborate preparations.