ith Eva to help me; and I'd
like Rosie to go with me another time to help me choose one for Evelyn."

"I think I shall be able to gratify you in that; and to give you more
time for Christmas work, I will release you from the task of taking care
of your own rooms, till after the holidays, and have them attended to
by one of the servants," said the captain. "But now bid good night and
go to your bed."

"Oh thank you, dear papa," she cried joyously, and obeyed at once
without a murmur.

The weather next day was favorable, and the shopping a decided success.
The ladies and little girls returned somewhat weary with their
exertions, but in fine spirits, Lulu feeling particularly happy over a
present for Rosie, which every one thought was sure to be acceptable.

A few days later her father took her and Rosie together, Evelyn being
left out of the party in order that her present might be selected
without her knowledge.

Indeed in the afternoon of every pleasant day, from that to the one
before Christmas, the Woodburn carriage might have been seen driving to
and from the city; and on almost every occasion Lulu was one of its
occupants.

But on the twenty third she preferred to stay behind--so much that she
wanted a share in was going on at, or near home; first the trimmings
with evergreens of several rooms in the mansion, then of the
school-house for the poor whites of the neighborhood, which Capt.
Raymond had caused to be built on a corner of his estate--paying a
teacher that the children might be instructed without cost to their
parents.

A fine large Christmas tree was set up in it, another in the
school-house for the blacks at Ion.

The colored people employed on the Fairview estate attended there also,
and were to have a share in the entertainment provided for those of
Woodburn and Ion; so the children of the three families united in the
work of ornamenting first one building, then the other, finding it great
sport, and flattering themselves that they were of great assistance,
though the older people who were overseeing matters, and the servants
acting under their direction, were perhaps of a different opinion. Yet
the sight of the enjoyment of the little folks more than atoned for the
slight inconvenience of having them about.

Christmas came on Wednesday and the holidays had begun for them all the
Friday before. Lessons would not be taken up again till after New Year's
day.

It had been decided at Woodburn t