sts the pleasure of Mr. Lindsay's company to meet a few
friends on the evening of the Feast of St. Ambrose, December 7th,
Wednesday.

THE PARSONAGE, December 6th.

It was the luckiest thing in the world. They always made a little
festival of that evening at the Rev. Ambrose Eveleth's, in honor of his
canonized namesake, and because they liked to have a good time. It came
this year just at the right moment, for here was a distinguished stranger
visiting in the place. Oxbow Village seemed to be running over with its
one extra young man,--as may be seen sometimes in larger villages, and
even in cities of moderate dimensions.

Mr. William Murray Bradshaw had called on Clement the day after his
arrival. He had already met the Deacon in the street, and asked some
questions about his transient boarder.

A very interesting young man, the Deacon said, much given to the reading
of pious books. Up late at night after he came, reading Scott's
Commentary. Appeared to be as fond of serious works as other young folks
were of their novels and romances and other immoral publications. He,
the Deacon, thought of having a few religious friends to meet the young
gentleman, if he felt so disposed; and should like to have him, Mr.
Bradshaw, come in and take a part in the exercises.--Mr. Bradshaw was
unfortunately engaged. He thought the young gentleman could hardly find
time for such a meeting during his brief visit.

Mr. Bradshaw expected naturally to see a youth of imperfect constitution,
and cachectic or dyspeptic tendencies, who was in training to furnish one
of those biographies beginning with the statement that, from his infancy,
the subject of it showed no inclination for boyish amusements, and so on,
until he dies out, for the simple reason that there was not enough of him
to live. Very interesting, no doubt, Master Byles Gridley would have
said, but had no more to do with good, hearty, sound life than the
history of those very little people to be seen in museums preserved in
jars of alcohol, like brandy peaches.

When Mr. Clement Lindsay presented himself, Mr. Bradshaw was a good deal
surprised to see a young fellow of such a mould. He pleased himself with
the idea that he knew a man of mark at sight, and he set down Clement in
that category at his first glance. The young man met his penetrating and
questioning look with a frank, ingenuous, open aspect, before which he
felt himself disarmed, as it were, and thrown upo