tolls sweetly in the silent air. Here is night and rest. An
awful sense of thanks makes the heart swell, and the head bow, as
I pass to my room through the sleeping house, and feel as though
a hushed blessing were upon it.



ROUND ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE



The kindly Christmas tree, from which I trust every gentle reader
has pulled out a bonbon or two, is yet all aflame whilst I am
writing, and sparkles with the sweet fruits of its season. You
young ladies, may you have plucked pretty giftlings from it; and
out of the cracker sugar-plum which you have split with the
captain or the sweet young curate may you have read one of those
delicious conundrums which the confectioners introduce into the
sweetmeats, and which apply to the cunning passion of love.
Those riddles are to be read at your age, when I daresay they are
amusing. As for Dolly, Merry, and Bell, who are standing at the
tree, they don't care about the love-riddle part, but understand
the sweet-almoned portion very well. They are four, five, six
years old. Patience, little people! A dozen merry Christmases
more, and you will be reading those wonderful love-conundrums,
too. As for us elderly folks, we watch the babies at their
sport, and the young people pulling at the branches: and instead
of finding bonbons or sweeties in the packets which we pluck off
the boughs, we find enclosed Mr Carnifex's review of the
quarter's meat; Mr Sartor's compliments, and little statement