ised to grace with my presence."

Just then two fine handsome boys, the pictures of health and good
nature, rushed in. These were Robert and Albert Wharton, home from
school for the Christmas holidays.

"Mother, what will you give us for our entertainment?" they cried.

"Have you a table and seats?" she asked.

"Yes, all made of snow," said Albert. "But don't let us tell her all
about it, Bob; I want to surprise her."

"I think your entertainment, to be in keeping with your furniture, ought
to be of snow and icicles," said Mrs. Wharton; "but, whatever it is, I
am sorry that I cannot visit your snow palace to-day."

"Oh! that's too bad, mother; it will spoil all our fun. But, say, will
you give us something to eat?"

"Yes; I leave Emily mistress of the keys for to-day, and you may call
upon her for pies, cake, or anything the store-room contains; only be a
little moderate, and don't leave us entirely destitute."

"It won't be half so pleasant without you, mother," said Robert; "but we
shall have quite as many as our palace can accommodate, if all these go.
Hallo! here's Agnes! Why, Aggy, how do you do? I didn't see you before."

At this moment the sleigh was seen coming up the lane, and Mrs. Wharton
hastened to get ready to accompany the doctor to the Hemlocks.

"I want to whisper to you, dear mother, one minute," said little Grace.

"What more Christmas secrets?" asked her mother.

A whispered consultation here took place, some request being urged with
great eagerness by Grace; and the pleasant "Yes, yes," from her mother,
made her bright eyes dance with joy.

As Mrs. Wharton was driving from the door, Albert called out:

"Mother, may the baby go with us?"

"Yes, if Kitty will wrap him up well," was the answer, and the sleigh
flew down the lane, and was soon out of sight.

Agnes was now hurried off by her young cousins to inspect the various
preparations for Christmas, and was made the repository of some most
important secrets, "of which she must not give a hint for the world."
She saw the purse Effie was knitting for Albert, and the guard-chain
Grace was weaving for Robert, and the mittens for Harry, and the socks
for the baby, and the pen-wiper for papa, and the iron-holder for mamma;
and then Effie took her aside alone, to show her something she was
making for Grace; and Grace took her aside alone, to show something she
had bought with "her own money" for Effie; and there was a beautiful
book for Co