opposite wall. Mariano, with his wonted vivacity, stands before the
old lady tossing a small female specimen of humanity as near to the
ceiling as is compatible with prolonged existence. Angela looks on
admiringly. She does not appear to care much for Mariano now! Why she
takes so much interest in the female baby we leave to the reader to
discover. Old Francisco is there too, bluffer and bolder than ever, and
so is Paulina, with a beautiful dark-haired girl, who is the very image
of the tall handsome man engaged in conversation with Francisco.

It is no accidental coincidence this meeting. It is a family gathering,
planned and carried out from year to year, in commemoration of the day
when the family was delivered from slavery and sorrow.

They have just finished dinner, and there has been much earnest,
thankful converse about the days gone by. They have fought their
battles o'er again. They have re-told the oft-told tales, feeling as if
they were almost new, and have reiterated their gratitude to the God of
Love for His great and manifold mercies.

We have not space to relate all that they said, but we may give the
concluding sentences.

"You're a wild boy, Mariano, as you always were," said the little old
lady with the rippling mouth, as the young man plunged his little
daughter into her lap head-foremost.

"And as I mean to be to the end of the chapter," replied Mariano. "How
often, grandmother, have you not tried to impress on me the importance
of following good examples? Have I not acted on your advice? Doubtless
no man is perfect, and I am far--very far--from claiming to have been
thoroughly successful in my efforts; but I have tried hard. Did I not,
while in Algiers, follow the example of my dear father in exhibiting at
all times a spirit of obstinacy that all but drove the pirates delirious
with rage? Did I not afterwards imitate Lucien, (your pet-pattern), in
getting to me the very best wife that the wide world could produce, and
do I not now intend to follow your own example in remaining young in
spirit until I am old in years? Taunt me not, then, with being wild--
you cannot cure me."

"I fear not," replied the little old lady with a sigh which did not
accord in the slightest degree with the ripples that played round her
lips.

"Wildness runs in the family, mother," said Francisco, with a broad
smile and a glance at Lucien's eldest hope, who had at that moment
succeeded in breaking the s