declared that only a poetical, noble mind deserved this gift. It
consisted of an illuminated French print, the subject a simple but
touching idea. You saw a frozen lake, nothing but one expanse of
ice as far as the horizon. The ice was broken, and near to the
opening lay a hat with a red lining, and beside it sat a dog with
grave eyes, still and expectant. Around the broken opening in the
ice were seen traces of the dog having scratched into the hard
crust of ice. "Il attend toujours" was the simple motto.

"That is glorious!" exclaimed Otto. "An affecting thought! His
master has sunk in the depth, and the faithful log yet awaits him.
Had that picture only fallen to my lot!"

"It is lovely!" said Sophie, and a melancholy glance made the young
girl still more beautiful.

Soon after Wilhelm's turn came.

"Open the packet, thou shalt see
The very fairest gaze on thee!"
ran the verse. He opened the packet, and found within a small
mirror. "Yes, that was intended for a lady," said he; "in that case
it would have spoken the truth! in my hands it makes a fool of me.

"For me nothing certainly remains but my number!" said Otto to his
neighbor, as all the gifts appeared to be distributed.

"The last is number 33," said the cousin, and drew forth a roll of
paper, which had been hidden among the moss. It was unrolled. It
was an old pedigree of an extinct race. Quite at the bottom lay the