add very much to Joe's comfort. This Emilie was like a spirit of peace
pervading the whole family. She was so sure to win Edith to obey her
mamma, to stop John if he went a little too far in his jokes with his
sister, to do sundry little services for Mrs. Parker, and to make
herself such an agreeable companion to Emma, and Caroline, that they all
agreed they wished that they had her always with them. Edith confessed
to Emilie one day that she thought Emma and Caroline wonderfully
improved, and as to her mamma, how very seldom she was cross now.

"We are very apt to think other persons in fault when we ourselves are
cross and irritable, this may have been the case here, Edith, may it
not?"

"Well! perhaps so, but I am sure I am much happier than I was, Emilie."

"'_Great peace_ have they that love God's law,' my dear, 'and nothing
shall offend them.' What a gospel of peace it is Edith, is it not?"

The great work in hand, just now, was the Christmas tree. These
Christmas trees are becoming very common in our English homes, and the
idea, like many more beautiful, bright, domestic thoughts, is borrowed
from the Germans. You may be sure that Emilie and aunt Agnes were quite
up to the preparations for this Christmas tree, and so much the more
welcome were they as Christmas guests.

"I have plenty of money," said Joe, "but I don't know, somehow, what
sort of present to make, Miss Schomberg, yet I think I might pay for
all the wax lights and ornaments, and the filagree work you talk of."

"A capital thought," said Emilie, and she took his purse, promising to