socks from aunt Agnes; a pair of Edith and Fred's very best canaries.

When his gifts were arranged on his new table, a beautifully made table,
ordered for him by Mr. Parker, and exactly adapted to his prostrate
condition, and Joe saw every one's looks directed towards him lovingly,
and finally received a lovely white camellia blossom from Edith's hand,
he turned his face aside upon the sofa pillow and buried it in his
hands. What could be the matter with him? asked Mrs. Parker, tenderly.
Had any one said any thing to wound or vex him? "Oh no! no! no!" What
was it then? was he overcome with the heat of the room? "No, oh no!"
but might he be wheeled into the dining room, he asked? Mr. Parker
consented, of course, but aunt Agnes was sure he was ill. "Take him some
salvolatile, Emilie, at once."

"No aunt," said Emilie, "he will be better without that, he is only
overcome."

"And is not that just the very thing I was saying, Emilie, child, give
him some camphor julep then; camphor julep is a very reviving thing
doctor! Mr. Parker, won't you give him something to revive him."

"I think," said Emilie, who understood his emotion and guessed its
cause, "I think he will be better alone. His spirits are weak, owing to
illness, I would not disturb him."

"Come," said Mrs. Parker, "let us look at the tree, its treasures are
not half exhausted." Wonderful to say, although Joe had given his purse
to Emilie for the adornment of the tree, there still were presents for
every one from him; and what was yet more surprising to those who knew
that Joe had not naturally much delicacy of feeling or much
consideration for others, each present was exactly the thing that each
person liked and wished for. But John was the most astonished with his
share; it was a beautiful case of mathematical instruments, such a case
as all L---- and all the county of Hampshire together could not produce;
a case which Joe had bought for himself in London, and on which he
greatly prided himself. John had seen and admired it, and Joe gave this
prized, cherished case to John--his enemy John. "It must be intended for
you Fred," said John, after a minute's consideration; "but no, here is
my name on it."

Margaret, at this moment, brought in a little note from Joe for John,
who, when he had read it, coloured and said, "Papa, perhaps you will
read it aloud, I cannot."

It was as follows:--

DEAR JOHN,

I have been, as you must have seen,
very unhappy