over's bosom.

CHAPTER XIII.

We were within three days of the New Year. Mr. Arlington, who was quite
learned on the subject, had been amusing us with an account of its
various modes of celebration in various countries. He was perfectly
brilliant in a description of New-York as seen under the sun of a clear,
frosty New-Year's morning, with snow enough to make the sleighing good.
The gay, fantastic sleighs, dashing hither and thither, and their
exhilarated occupants bowing now on this side and now on that, to
acquaintances rushing by almost too rapidly to be distinguished, while
the silvery bells ring out their merry peals on the still air. Then the
festive array which greets the caller at every house within which he
enters. Beauty adorned with smiles and dress, gayly decorated tables,
brightly burning fires, and every thing seeming to speak the welcome not
of mere form, but of hearty hospitality. There is one aspect in which he
presents this day to us, that is peculiarly pleasing. He says, that many
a slight estrangement, springing from some one of those "trifles" which
"make the sum of human life," has been prevented, by the influence of
this day, from becoming a life-long enmity. Thus the New-Year's day
becomes a Peace-maker, and has on it the blessing of Heaven. Long live
the custom which has made it such!

"And how shall we celebrate our New-Year?" asked Col. Donaldson.

"Let us introduce the New-York custom," suggested one.

"That would not do without some previous agreement with your neighbors,"
replied Mr. Arlington, "as their ladies would not probably be prepared
for your visits, and while you were making them, the ladies of your own
family would be left to entertain themselves as they could."

"That will never do," said Col. Donaldson; "better invite all our
neighbors to visit us on that day. Suppose we give them a dinner?"

"Oh, papa!" cried Miss Donaldson in dismay. And "My dear husband!"
ejaculated the smiling Mrs. Donaldson, "where would you find room to
accommodate them all?"

"True--true--we could not dine them in the open air at this season."

"But there would be no such objection to an evening party," said one of
the young Donaldsons. "We have fine sleighing now, and the moon rises
only a little after eight on New-Year's evening; why not invite them for
the evening."

"What, another such stiff affair as Annie insisted on entertaining her
friends the Misses Morrison with the last winte