after all, and it is one of our good Master's most constant
themes. He is always talking to us about home, and
encouraging us to talk of and think of it. Emilie seems
like a sister to us, and she enters into all our feelings as
well us you could do yourself.

Well, you will want to know something about our
Christmas doings at school. They have been glorious I
can tell you--such a Christmas tree! Such a lot of
presents in our _shoes_ on Christmas morning; such dinings
and suppings, and musical parties! You must know every
one sings here, the servants go singing about the house
like nightingales, or sweeter than nightingales to my
mind, like our dear "Kanarien Vogel."

You ask for Joe, he is very patient, and kind and good
to us all, he and John are capital friends; and oh, Edith,
it would do your heart good to see how John devotes himself
to the poor fellow. He waits upon him like a servant,
but it is all _love_ service. Joe can scarcely bear him out
of his sight. Herr Franks was asked the other day, by
a gentleman who came to sup with us, if they were brothers.
John watches all Joe's looks, and is so careful
that nothing may be said to wound him, or to remind
him of his great affliction more than needs be. It was a
beautiful sight on New Year's Eve to see Joe's boxes
that he has carved. He has become very clever at that
work, and there was an article of his carving for every
one, but the best was for Emilie, and she _deserted_ it.
Oh, how he loves Emilie! If he is beginning to feel in