some of that cotton flannel, to make me a pair of
pantaloons," said Tom.

"I say, Ella," said Will, "when are you going to housekeeping? Your
cooking stove is standing down in the street; 'pon my word, John is
loading some coal on the dray with it."

"Ella, isn't that going to be sent to my office?" said Tom; "do you know
I do so languish for a new stove with a teakettle in the top, to heat a
fellow's shaving water!"

Just then, another ring at the door, and the grinning waiter handed in a
small brown paper parcel for Miss Ella. Tom made a dive at it, and
staving off the brown paper, developed a jaunty little purple velvet
cap, with silver tassels.

"My smoking cap, as I live!" said he; "only I shall have to wear it on
my thumb, instead of my head--too small entirely," said he, shaking his
head gravely.

"Come, you saucy boys," said Aunt E., entering briskly, "what are you
teasing Ella for?"

"Why, do see this lot of things, aunt! What in the world is Ella going
to do with them?"

"O, I know!"

"You know! Then I can guess, aunt, it is some of your charitable works.
You are going to make a juvenile Lady Bountiful of El, eh?"

Ella, who had colored to the roots of her hair at the _expose_ of her
very unfashionable Christmas preparations, now took heart, and bestowed
a very gentle and salutary little cuff on the saucy head that still wore
the purple cap, and then hastened to gather up her various purchases.

"Laugh away," said she, gayly; "and a good many others will laugh, too,
over these things. I got them to make people laugh--people that are not
in the habit of laughing!"

"Well, well, I see into it," said Will; "and I tell you I think right
well of the idea, too. There are worlds of money wasted, at this time of
the year, in getting things that nobody wants, and nobody cares for
after they are got; and I am glad, for my part, that you are going to
get up a variety in this line; in fact, I should like to give you one of
these stray leaves to help on," said he, dropping a ten dollar note into
her paper. "I like to encourage girls to think of something besides
breastpins and sugar candy."

But our story spins on too long. If any body wants to see the results of
Ella's first attempts at _good fairyism_, they can call at the doors of
two or three old buildings on Christmas morning, and they shall hear all
about it.

EARTHLY CARE A HEAVENLY DISCIPLINE.

"Why should these cares my heart divide,